2.1 Chapter 1: Into the Stolen Lands

The spunky fighter strikes from the ground, to the surprise of the bandit leader. Shocked Kessle drops to her knees, healing potion smashing to ground and hatchet clanging of a rock.

Dalia faces the purple bandit,

"Now the your leader has fallen, your crew has scattered, if you were to lay down your arms and surrender I could speak on your behalf. We would spare you this day and you would be given the chance to attone for the sins of the past and perhaps find pleasure in a days honest work, building a kingdom we could all be proud if.

The (Purple) bandit, splattered by the blood of the bandit leader, drops her knife and drops to her knees. "Mercy! I ... beg for mercy."

With distained the (yellow) bandit shouts "Sam, you coward!", before popping arrow to her back and running like a frightened rabbit.

He is about 100ft from Silene. If you were to chase ~120ft as Silene would have to dodge, horses, boxes, fallen, the camp, etc.

I'll move up 60 feet and try needle darts

The yellow bandit dodges Silene jagged metal spray, driving deeper into the the thick underbrush like a frightened rabbit.

Dalia applies emergency medical treatment, saving Kessle, the bandit leader from grievous wounds in the process. She looks angry, even as she lay unconscious. The other two bandits were too far gone for a meaningful recovery ... without divine intervention at least.

Octavius manages to calm and ready the slightly emancipated horse, they seem to respond cautiously to kindness. A quick glance at the camp shows most of the loose useful items we with the bandits. There are many boxes, crates, and bags oddly prepped for transport.

A few moments later Jeathal is seen sludging towards the group, she is unhappily soaked head to toe.

I'll help with the group here then track her afterwards. I'm definitely asking Jeathal why they're all wet

Filbert can search for useful stuff we might miss. He's good at that

Yes we will regroup, and after a search of the camp for any information and useful supplies, head back to the fort.

"Oh Octtie, if they are never shown another way how can we assume that they are the way they are because of a desire to live that way. Now if they fail in choosing a better path , once shown then we rain down retribution and vengeance upon them before we send them on to their eternal punishment.

Jeathal returns to the group and helps the search. When questioned to why she is wet. "A bandit choose to flee across the river, no doubt a move of desperation as his insolence was about to be answered." she calmly replies eying her scythe "Do not worry about me, I feel no cold."

Ralf eventually returns, bloodied and covered in mud & thorns "My bandit escaped" he says with a hint of shame

The bandit camp is laden with trade good taken from the local residences of the forest and merchants. Of note are seven crates of furs & pelts worth 1-5 gp per crate, 3 crates of copper ore ~1 gp per crate, 2 crates of herbal liquor 16 bottles (1 gp per bottle), 1 crate of unidentified gnomish? tools.

The more valuable items are hidden under mundane supplies like food, firewood, and tents. From their stash you find 9 gp, 121 sp, a pair of silver earrings worth (~15 gp), a wooden music box worth (~8 gp). Additionally you take 3 hatchets, 2 daggers, 2 shortbows, and 25 arrows from the fallen/captured bandits.

Jeathal also runs back to get the horses and bandit prisoner. However on return the bandit is dead "He tried to escape" she asserts

Is there a nice little mirror or statue n the loot I could use for my ritual since I forgot to buy me one of those?

I vote we take the supplies back to the trading post to secure them and then hunt down the stragglers. Better than waiting in the camp for them to come stab us.

Calistril (February) 29th ~7:00am

Adrenaline from last nights chase and this mornings battle fades with the first rays of the rising sun. Fatigue creeps in to you mind and bodies.

OK maybe a nap with rotating watches, then go back.