Octavia points towards the gates.

"Then shouldn't we go off and apprehend him? If he is a bandit spy then he should be put down or enslaved like the rest of them."

She punched a fist into her open hand with a loud smack.

Kesten steps forward and obtains the watchman report on the individual lurking outside Oleg’s a few minutes ago.  The description matches Bokken the potion maker.  The watchman states.
“I saw him and he saw me and he looked spooked and headed back into some brush around back.”

Oleg adds
“Sounds peculiar but Bokken is a strange one; Peter bought in a travois of furs this morning, leaving the poles behind and ate breakfast as he does.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:32, Fri 06 Apr 2018.

The elf was up at the break of dawn practicing with his sword. He would alternate between a dual fisted use to the more traditional single handed swing. Currently the only danger he was manifesting was toward tall blades of grass. As the breakfast was announced, he headed back in and overheard the discussion of the man outside, but made no immediate moves it comments. Anything he would have done it said ended up being moot anyway as the mystery seemed solved.

Finishing his meal, he does add one thing to the conversation. "When we return we should have a visit to Bokken. Not to threaten him, but to make him aware that things are changing and he'll need to announce himself for that point on. Now, if everyone is ready, we're wasting daylight."

The horse he'd picked up was a plain gray  gelding that seemed a bit flighty, as if it was ready to run at any moment, eager to get moving. Which for Filarion just fine.

"We could try to catch up with this Peter to see what he knows if the area, but I feel that we can't take to long."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Fri 06 Apr 2018.

"Let us sally forth and find the scum in the bushes."


She saddled up on her horse and started riding out of the outpost, confident the others would prove themselves worthy companions and provide her back up.

Drezghl sighed a bit. The sun had just barely broke over the plain and Octavia was already amped up, ruining the morning quiet that he enjoyed so much.

"Very well, Octavia, but don't frighten or hurt him.  If this Bokken person can prepare potions, then perhaps he could be a useful ally."


He quickly mounted his sorrel mare and trotted off after her.

You ride out of the gates, although you are thinking about the man in the brush and the man who just left; you catch up with Peter...



Catching up to (120 away) the bearded trapper named Peter,
He spins in his saddle an arrow at the ready.



The man yells at you:
"You lot following me?  It will be a long walk back to Oleg's; I will take your horse right out from under you!"

The man is gruff it is in his voice that you recognize that he likely has some hobgoblin in his bloodline somewhere, not a lot but enough to make you think he is pretty tough.

Perception DC 22 or detect magic

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

The man has nocked and about 11 more animal bane arrows; your horse snorts fearfully

---

Filarion held how hands up to show he was unarmed. "We're not here to attack you, sir. We're only looking for information about the area."

The man looks at you and grunts.

"There's plenty of dangerous animals in these woods. I've heard of a boar, Tuskgutter, that's torn men to pieces. In the hills there's some fighting between kobolds and mites. Both groups of the little buggers have a tendency to attack lone men.  There is also a radish patch near here and some territory I like to trap in.  Any further in and you are sure to be accosted by bandits or worse.  I tend to stay just NorthEast of Oleg's, plenty of game to be had."

The man describes what to you sounds like a large hunting territory within the following hexes: C,D,E both 2 and 3


He looks at your group....
"If your looking for trouble the bandits tracks go straight down to their camp; they are not hiding."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:34, Sun 08 Apr 2018.

The elf nods, "I can respect your claim to that area. Would you be willing to allow others to hunt there? Maybe an opportunity to turn more coin then you're getting from just pelts. I'd be willing to bet you could take a few rich barons to hunt those boars. Also I'd like to try transplanting some of those radishes. I'll give you a cut of the proceeds from the first harvest if you'd like."

Before he can answer, the warrior says, "Don't answer just yet. Think on it. I won't be offended if you reject either or both offer. Just trying to be neighborly. Either way thank you for your time and information, but we have some bandits to put down."

Spurring his gelding, he'd named Linta, it jerks Filarion in its rush to run which produces a woop of excitement from the young elf. The young horse challenges the merger capabilities of it's rider as he holds on for dear life.

Tauron had decide to keep quite after Octavia had made her clams on old temple.
The idea did not sit well with him but for once he kept his mouth shut.

He left one of his donkey behind and traveled on first one with swan sitting behind him looking backwards.

The elf was happy to let others do the talking.
The druid was not a great lover of trappers anyway.

Tatyana respected the man's prowess, and thus gave no indication she was looking for a fight. Instead, she cantered her mount off to the side so that she could listen intently. She pulled out a small scroll and jotted down some notes with her charcoal pencil.

Tuskgutter - boar ravaging countryside.
Kobolds/mites in hills - fighting one another
Radishes - transplant?
Ample game for hunting/trapping to NE

She finishes and puts her materials back into a ready pocket.

Peter seeing that you are not after him continues to ride a straight line of the border between hexes E1 and F2;
Which would be down but to the right.

The bandit trail leads straight down the center of hex F2....

It takes you four hours to ride straight down the center of  hex F2 the land is grassy with few rocks and would be ideal for farming or grazing with rich soil.  At this point the bandit trail continues along the edge of the wood lines (the border between hex E3 an F3) you can see that way has been traveled by horseback over many different days.

Perception DC 20 or knowledge nature/geography Survival DC 15

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

If we ride along in the plains we will be more easily seen if we cut through the woods, we will have cover and possibly concealment but it will slow our progress to the camp. We will either arrive late this evening or early in the morning depending on which way you go..

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This message was last edited by the GM at 12:02, Wed 11 Apr 2018.

Drezghl pulled up on the reins of his mount and raised his fist to call a halt to the party. He examined the fairly obvious trail of the bandits and looked around carefully. Drezghl wheeled his horse around and addressed the group.

"If we follow the path we now ride, we will arrive at the Bandit camp late this evening, but we may be spotted by their sentries and the camp will be awake.  If we move through the forest we would have less of a chance of being spotted, but we won't get there until early morning. They should mostly be asleep except for a couple of guards. The element of surprise would be on our side."

"We must make a decision.", he declared.

Filarion now having come to the same conclusion himself, "I agree. Though it will take longer it will be much easier from the forested side."

Octavia points one mailed finger towards the forest.

"While there is no glory in killing bandits as they slumber, there is also no glory in being perforated by arrows before we can even bring steel to bare. Let us use the forests to mask our approach but when we charge into battle it will be with fire and fury on our lips."

Tauron smiles at the idea of traveling thought the woods and adds.

But there is much glory to be had looking at the tree.  Feeling the grass under ones feet and looking at flowers and bees.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:16, Thu 12 Apr 2018.

Tatyana pulls up short on her mount, listening to the ideas among the party. She quickly agrees with Drezghl and Filarion.

"The cover of the forest and the stealth of the early morning would be excellent allies," she added.

The forest closes in around you.The night is quiet the only sound is your horses hooves as you continue to trek deeper into the woods.  Well spaced birch trees become larger and older oaks trees, thick blankets of moss hang down from the ancient branches.

A misty fog forms in the dark woods the lack of light begins to effect those who cannot see in low light, soon only Activision will make out anything in the dark gloom.

Knowledge nature / survival DC 15

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

You are getting closer to the camp and can likely dismount and sneak into the camp or ride in after waiting for the darkest part of the night to pass

---

As you pause to consider the lack of light.....
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:17, Sun 15 Apr 2018.

Tauron studies the area.  He also tries to talk to some of local bird to see if they help him get plan of the bandit layout.


I could cast on speak with animal tonight and then another first thing in morning.
OOC:
13:00, Today: Secret Roll: Tauron Alphmellon rolled 28 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 20.  Survival.

Tatyana dismounts and tethers her horse to a nearby large oak tree. She double-checks her weapons and gear before moving over to the others.

"We should move in on foot from here," she whispered.

Instead of a bird Tauron finds a possum hanging from a branch a little over head high; the strange creature has pink skin and a pelt of white hair.  Those with no training might think it looks like a small pig hanging upside down by its tail.

Drezghl even finds the thick mist prevents him from seeing more than 45’ into it.

You guess yourselves to be making a final approach on the bandit camp.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:42, Mon 16 Apr 2018.

Dismounting, the elf follows Tatyana's lead and ties his own horse up. He whispers, feeling the oppression of the darkness, "Should we camp for the night and move in the morning?"

With a grunt Octavia dismounts, securing her newly acquired horse. She looked through her supplies and grabbed her spear as well.

"Perhaps someone should stay behind and care for the horses while we are away?"

She glanced over at the quiet bard but moved forward, unwilling to stay and argue the point. She had an energy about her, an excitement for battle that seemed to radiate from her like a glow. She was eager for the hunting and the killing to begin.

A new odor emerged from the thick mist, smoke, a campfire is nearby.

Drezghl

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
About 50 away you can make out the fire itself

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Tauron your animal friend says

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
The camp layout is in the map section already posted...

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The rest of you know you have nearly stopped on top of the bandit camp, the thick fog coming off the river...

Raz ignores the look coming from the Gorum priestess and instead smiles at the rest the group.

"I believe that my services will be best put to use aiding in the assault. If we do it quick there will be little time for anything to befall our steeds and even if something terrible happens, it's not like we paid good money for them, or anything really."

He grinned and wiggled his hands in the air, once again pulling down an ethereal violin.

"I'm sure the bandits will have wagons and horses as well so assuming we carry the day our transportation will be well provided for. I know you might not consider it but my music is better suited in the middle of battle than before or after."

Raz spun around like a dancer before pointing towards the camp with his bow.

"Now! Let us sally forth and rid these lands of bandits once and for all!"

OOC: No way you're getting rid of me THAT easily :P