Oghul suggested:
 "Locking the door would be difficult, slow, and maybe dangerous. Yet blocking the way out is a good idea. I will stand outside the fort with Temudjin, ready to ride in. We need to make sure that escape is not an option."

 She realised that this approach presented the risk that they be noticed before the brigands entered the fort, and she alleviated this concern:
 "I will spend the night outside with my steed. I do not care much for beds anyway."

 They would ride North for a few minutes and find a decent camping spot, forage for an hour or so, and settle down for the night. Horses sleep very little, and Temudjin kept a vigilant watch over the druidess for most of the night. At the first lights preceding dawn, he made sure she was awake, and they moved into position just behind the fort, waiting for the sounds of the brigands approaching.

The next morning dawns, and everyone takes their place, hidden away except for Oleg.  About an hour after sunrise, the bandits make their appearance, casually sauntering in the front gate of the foot.  There are four of them, mounted on horses, with the cloaked bow-wielding man in front.

"Oleg!  Glad to see you out so bright an early to welcome us!  Ah, but I don't see your lovely wife."

The other bandits behind him laugh and call out: "Ah!  Svetlana, where are you?  Oleg, where are you hiding her?"

Oleg stares at the ground, his face flushed and fists clenching.

The hooded man silences his men and yells out again, clearly enjoying tormenting Oleg.  "Well, Oleg, have you got our 'taxes' this time?  We need them much more than you.  Our bellies are empty and our throats are parched!"

OOC:
Let me know when you want to spring into action.  The bandits are going to move into the square closer to Oleg, dismount their horses, and start loading them, moving to  A4 and A6.

Thurak waits silently in the storehouse, his magic at the ready to blast the bandits when they enter the room.

Staying hidden, readying an action to cast burning hands on as many of the bandits as I can (while avoiding Oleg and any supplies of course) as soon as they open the door.

Saviǣ watches quietly through the crack of the doorway, clenching and relaxing her grip around the hilt of her slender rapier as she waits.

Oleg never told us exactly what to expect so we never planned exactly when to spring the trap! Saviǣ would be waiting for some kind of signal.

 From her spot on the other side of the wall, Oghul had no problem hearing the brigands arrive, and start their threatening spiel. She immediately started walking along the wall, and glanced around the corner to check whether the ruffians had left anyone outside. If there was a sentinel, she would have to take care of them first. If not, she would simply walk to the gate and wait for the signal.

 She was not the most silent she could be, but then noises from outside the fort would not seem alarming to the brigands – she hoped.

  First round: Move to S1, Perception
 Second round: Move to S13, Perception

 Oghul Qaimish rolled 10,18 using d20+2,d20+14 – stealth, perception
This message was last edited by the player at 17:12, Wed 04 Nov 2020.

Hearing the horses, Aeron held off until he heard the sound of the bandits dismounting.  Once they had, he rode out around the corner toward the gate wall.  As soon as he saw a bandit cross his line of sight, he charged.  Aeron landed a heavy blow with his lance, but Mick failed to connect at all with his bite.  He hoped that the others would hear the sound of battle and made a mental note to make a signal if they needed to ambush anyone in the future.


13:50, Today: Aeron rolled 9,8 using 1d20+7,1d4+5.  Horse's attack on charge.
13:49, Today: Aeron rolled 24,17 using 1d20+10,2d8+8.  Charge w/ lance from horseback. -> Should only be vs 22 ac - bonus is +8 on attack w/ charge not +10

The leader of the bandits stays near the entrance to the trading post, his attention split between watching the bandits move to unload Oleg's goods and the road outside.  The man seems jumpy, and several times glances towards the perimeter of the fort when Oghul moves, but does not say anything.

Meanwhile, the three bandits move into the center of the courtyard, one leading the pack horses and two moving to the storeroom and the hidden Thurak.  Grumbling, Oleg moves to the stables just as the trap is sprung.

Caught by surprise, the bandits yell as Thurak covers them in flames.  The bandit leader swivels, moving to fire his bow, but before he can react, Aeron charges him, impaling them man on his lance and killing him instantly.

---

OOC:
Surprise Round
Bandit Leader is DEAD.
Three bandits are alive, but wounded.  Roll initiative, if you beat a 3 you can act before the bandits.

14:49, Today: DM, for the NPC Bandit3, rolled 3 using 1d20+1.  Reflex.
14:49, Today: DM, for the NPC Bandit2, rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Reflex.
14:48, Today: DM, for the NPC Bandit1, rolled 14 using 1d20+1.  Reflex Save.
14:55, Today: DM, for the NPC Bandits, rolled 3 using 1d20-3.  Initiative.
14:53, Today: DM, on behalf of Thurak, rolled 4 using 1d4.  Burning Hands Damage.
14:49, Today: DM, for the NPC Bandit3, rolled 3 using 1d20+1.  Reflex.
14:49, Today: DM, for the NPC Bandit2, rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Reflex.
14:48, Today: DM, for the NPC Bandit1, rolled 14 using 1d20+1.  Reflex Save.

15:31, Today: Saviae Aessildais rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.
Caught off-guard by the sounds of battle starting without a signal, Saviǣ rushes out from the building and into the fray, quickly mounting the table in the way, and thrusts out a hand to send waves of colorful light over the gathered bandits.

Move: To H-17, not sure if the table counts as difficult terrain or requires a hop-up, but here's an acrobatics check to smooth things over.
15:37, Today: Saviae Aessildais rolled 20 using 1d20+9.  Acrobatics.
Standard: Cast Color Spray (should hit all 3 from H17) DC 14, some are shaken from Thurak's blast?

Thurak calls out in a bold voice, ""Surrender or die, scum!" He waits a beat, then if they don't begin surrendering will thrust his hand out, sending a rush of energy to his allies that bolster their spirits and spur them to greater efforts.

Burning hands DC is 16, so they all fail and are shaken as well as taking the 4 damage.
If the bandits don't immediately surrender, Thurak will cast bless, granting all allies within 50 feet a +1 morale bonus to attack rolls and saving throws vs fear.

Before joining the fray, Oghul made sure there was no one left outside who could flee the scene and report back to the other bandits.

She turned into the gate to the fort, but it seemed the first act had already played out. Her horses charged into the midst as they had planned, crushing into the nearest brigand and nearly sending him to the ground.

As the druidess turned her attention to the others, it seemed there was not much more to do or say, so he let the beaten enemy respond to Thurak.

---

T charges and hits AC19 for 8 damage (thanks to bless)

Mid-Round Update:

The remaining bandits freeze, Thurak's spell shaking them.  Saviae sprays them with arcane color, and the bandits fall unconscious to the ground.  Before she can stop, Oghul charges in, attacking one.

OOC: (Oghul can abort her attack if she wishes)
Combat is effectively over.  All surviving bandits failed their save and are unconscious, blinded and stunned for 5 rounds.

Aeron patted Mick and ordered him down from attacking.  "Well, any offers of them to reform now would be highly suspect now.  I am a fair judge of character, but I could not be certain of the intentions of any of them promising to give up their unlawful ways.  They would be doing their very best to appear sincere either way, to avoid the sentence their crimes deserve."

He looked to Oleg, who had been in the area longer than any of the adventurers.  "Are any of these ones that you or Svetlana might have known before they turned to banditry and would be willing to believe that they would truly turn from it?  Or did you see that any of these were less awful or seemed to regret what they were doing before now?"

 Oghul had stayed at the gate of the fort, reading the situation from a safe distance, and keeping an eye out for potential fugitives. Her blooded foal Temudjin had charged forward to crush one of the brigands, and when the spell took upon them, it was just too late to recall him... the horse trampled his target unforgivingly.

 Satisfied that no one was left outside, she rushed in and grabbed the leash to calm Temudjin. The deed however was done. She sent him outside of the fort for a patrol.

 She turned to the others, not exactly apologetic about her mount's reckless charge.
 "I agree that we would struggle to trust them... but I feel like this warrants at least a conversation. Let's bind them and leave them in the stables, and we can talk this through with Oleg and Svetlana."

 As they started the binding process, she commented:
 "My view is, we offer them to either pay their debt off by working here, or return whence they came with a message for their chieftain. That way we know if their repentance is genuine."

 "But the message shall never arrive..." shed added ominously.

---

I figured we might was well limit the question of what to do with subdued enemies... Temudjin has no moral compass.

"Whoever is skilled with rope, please tie up these low-lives." Thurak requests. "I have a suggestion for the interrogation. Let us separate them, and interview each survivor separately. We can test for truthfulness based on what they each say differently. If any seems both truthful and fully repentant, we can leave them alive. Otherwise, after they have told us what we know, well, there is that bounty upon bandit heads."

The elf, ready to follow up with her rapier, surprises herself as all three bandits topple over from her spell. She only wastes a moment gawking before moving in to quickly relieve them of their weapons and toss them safely aside. In the process, she is nearly trampled as well when the wild horse runs in and begins stomping on one of the downed men. After a moment of recovering from that shock she retrieves a length of silk rope from her pack and begins to tie the men's arms behind their backs as she responds, "Whatever you think is best, but I'm no executioner." Once the men are secure she begins to rifle through their pockets and belongings for anything useful.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:54, Wed 10 Mar 2021.

Oleg slowly emerges from hiding, his posture changing as he realizes how quickly the heroes have won.  He stares at the fallen bandits, around the group, and back down to the bandits.

"You...you won?  That fast?  That was barely a fight!"

He shakes his head, and turns down, his face turning red.  He looks up a moment later, wiping a tear from his eye.  "I'll go get Svetlana.  But, thank you.  You did what I couldn't."

He looks over the bandits.  "I recognize these men from their previous trips here to shake us down.  If you have any doubts about what evil lurks in their hearts, you can talk to Svetlana about the threats they made..."

He shakes his head, walking to get his wife, and looks back.  "They've earned no reprieve.  Nothing can make up for what they've shown us of their nature."

OOC:

The leader of the bandits has the following gear:
Alchemist's Fire (2)
Leather Armor
Dagger
Composite Longbow (+2 Strength)
20 Arrows
Rations (2 days)
Silver amulet shaped like a stag's skull (worth about 25gp)
35 gold pieces

Each of the three bandits has the following gear:
Leather Armor
Longbow
20 Arrows
Short Sword
Rations (2 days)
10 gp

"Well like you said, there's a lot less here than before. You probably could have bested them yourself!" Saviǣ attempts to reassure the man as she sorts through the recovered gear. After having a look at it all she determines, "We could probably make use of the rations, alchemist's fires, the identifying amulet, maybe some bits of gear, and two or three of their horses, but the rest might be some recompense for what they've taken from you, Mister Oleg." Then, as she begins dragging one of the men to an unused building, with some difficulty, she says between heaves and grunts, "As the Lord Mayor said ... the punishment is death ... but I bet they'd turn on their friends quick ... if we promise to let them live."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:29, Tue 10 Nov 2020.

"Here is what we shall do. Separate them out. Master Oleg, if we could borrow a few of your storerooms, we will put one of the survivors in each room, under guard by one of us. We will interrogate them one at a time. The key information we need to know is how many else in their group there are, where they are lurking, and any exceptional capabilities amongst them, such as magical skill, and also what security measures they use to protect their camp, such as patrols, pass-codes, and the like. By interrogating them separately, if they lie we will be able to tell by the differences in their answers.

As good Master Oleg said, these wretches have earned no reprieve. We can offer them their lives in exchange for truthful answers, but we are under no obligation to tell the truth to liars and murderers. After we've questioned them, they will be executed for banditry and assault.

If you all agree, I would be glad to act as chief questioner. Some people seem to find my appearance intimidating, the burns might as well be useful for something." Thurak says, referencing his burned face and arms, and his large half-orcish body.

“I agree, we should get as much information from them as we can. The law is clear, penalty for banditry is death by hanging. Though if one of them is convincing enough in his repent, we can always offer leniency.”

She liked to think that people were not inherently evil, and that redemption was possible...

Aeron shook his head.  "I disagree.  These monsters threaten the weak as long as they can, and it would be natural for them to cower before the strong as well.  Let's not offer them freedom.  We can separate them and let them know the penalty of death for their actions, and allow them to offer information as a last act in the hopes that the gods will look favorably upon them when they pass into the next life."

"If any should make good on that offer of redemption we can consider allowing further time to repent, and it would be more credible than offering their lives for information we can't verify, on threat of death.  That is just asking for crocodile tears and lies." He opined.

He looked over the equipment and tested out the leader's bow.  "If they're all armed with bows, everyone who can use one should take one as well.  I agree that Oleg should receive a good portion of what we take from the bandits in the end, as he's suffered under their rule.  But the best way to get to that point is to make sure that we survive to see the deed through.  Otherwise, they might be worse off than if we never came.  If anyone else can use this bow, they should - I'm not much of an archer.  But if no one else can I'll carry it to use if needed until we finish with the bandits."

He looked at the amulet.  "Is this some kind of heretical holy symbol?  I don't know that I've ever seen it before."

09:27, Today: Aeron rolled 15 using 1d20+7.  K: Rel on the stag head amulet/holy symbol.

Oleg readily agrees, and before the bandits can regain their senses, they are separated to different areas of the trading post: the stables (A3), the storage pens (A4), and the guest house (A2) can all hold a temporary prisoner under guard.
OOC:
All characters can make one attempt to interrogate a prisoner, with Bluff/Diplomacy/Intimidate depending on their style and what they offer/threaten.

Thurak walks back and forth, looming over the tied up prisoner. For several minutes, he simply paces, staring at the helpless criminal, and letting the fear build up. Finally, Thurak turns towards the helpless man. "You have committed the crimes of assault and banditry. No doubt if we investigated further, we could find plenty more, but these are enough. These crimes bear the death penalty. We were tempted to simply execute you straight away, but I have decided to offer you a chance for mercy. If you cooperate and answer my questions truthfully, some mercy could be permitted.

I warn you though, your compatriots were given the same option and are right now squealing all they know. I wouldn't advise trying to lie to me." He finishes ominously.

I think this would be bluff to convince him that his allies already talked to us and intimidate to get him to talk, but I could see it being diplomacy. Just in case, I rolled all three:16:31, Today: Thurak rolled 26,24,19 using 1d20+8,1d20+11,1d20+8.  bluff, intimidate, diplomacy.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:02, Wed 18 Nov 2020.

Oghul did not fancy herself an interrogator or a diplomat. She was always too blunt, or a bit awkward, or not quite casual enough to entice conversation. She did not see herself as an executioner either if it came to that though.

She took a chance though, seeing as these brigands were possibly their only chance at getting information on the force rising in the south.

“You know banditry is punishable by death don’t you?” she commenced, not quite sure how to start.
“But if you tell us truthfully what we want to know, there may be an other outcome for you.”

“How many men have you, and where is your base? We have asked the others as well, and if your information doesn’t match, we’ll have a problem, and you won’t be talking to me next, but to the half orc fire sorcerer...” she warned.


OQ rolled 18 using d20-1 — diplomacy

Aeron was not going to lie to the bandit given to him to interrogate.  "You know what you've done, and you know why."  He drew his sword.  "Frankly, I have no desire - and thankfully no need - to judge or punish motives.  I am here to execute justice for crimes committed.  You were caught in the act of banditry, and the sentence is death.  The authority to execute the sentence has been given into my hand."

He considered the man for a moment.  "That said, there is no reason for me not to give you a few moments to make your peace in preparation for the afterlife.  Every god judges his servants by their deeds, and most are willing to accept one's best attempts at penance and repentance."  He cited a few gods and their punishments of their followers that did evil, as well as stories of clemency for those who turned from evil ways - even just before the end.

"You have one minute to pray, then as long as needed for you to give speak to make what restitution you can for your deeds.  Information on whatever this seeming heretical holy symbol is," He held up the skull amulet, "Information about the other bandits, people who were wronged and how: so that we can seek to help them, or whatever comes to mind that might help us undo the evil you have done on your behalf."  He did not sheathe his blade but waited for the bandit's response.

09:13, Today: Aeron rolled 15,3 using 1d20+7,1d20+2.  Knowledge Religion, Diplomacy.

Interrogation with Thurak:

Interrogation with Oghul:

Interrogation with Aeron: