2.1 Chapter 1: Into the Stolen Lands

"Perhaps I can spend some more time with Kressle, though I have my reservations on her turning over a new leaf. She is dangerous and cornered at the moment with very little hope of her life getting better. But if given the right opportunity, maybe.
All I can do is be patient and try.

Dalia gathers up some of the less messy, when thrown food and goes to see Kressle.

Dalia finds that bringing Kessle into the yard opens Kessle up to more then hisses and mumbled threats. Jeathal and Valerie remain nearby as hidden guards nonetheless. The tenants of Calistria's faith seem to strike a cord with Kessle, particularly aspects of revenge. Once talking Kessle tells her story.

A career bandit, she grew up in the River Kingdoms. Never spending more than a week in one spot when growing up, Kessle has banditry in her blood—as a child, she was already helping her parents rob travelers and rough up pilgrims for some quick cash. When her parents were killed during a botched roadside ambush, Kessle fled north from Mivon and into the Greenbelt. She made her way through the region with a bit of luck, only to be caught by the Stag Lord’s bandits. When two of them lost fingers to her hatchets, their thoughts turned from robbery to escape, and she followed the maimed and frightened bandits right up to the Stag Lord’s fort. Impressed with her skill and bravery, the Stag Lord executed the cowards who’d lost fingers and recruited Kessle on the spot. After serving at the fort for a few months, the Stag Lord sent her north to run the Thorn River bandit camp; she has enjoyed the resulting mix of freedom and responsibility. Her "arrangement" with Oleg is only the latest of her initiatives enacted since her arrival in the area.

She tells you that the Stag Lord's fort is a big obvious wooden palisade on the north side of Tuskwater lake, near the Sellen river. Kessle seems open to more questions.

Dalia speaks to Kessle about her life, and asks questions about her time at the Staglords keep. Did Kessle have many friends there? Was the Staglord kind to those who served him?

Kessle barrels over in laugher at Dalia questions. "Was the Staglord kind? Oh man, Castilla people are sure good with the jokes." Kessle says jovially "The Staglord, he likes the sauce, like to a point where is cripples him. Well cripples is the wrong word, drunk out of his mind he is still the toughest bandit in that filthy wooden fort. Anyway I heard that a few weeks ago the drunkard got in a fight with a horse, imagined that the horse spit at him, he has a cruel streak

Looking into the distance "Oh man, the boys are going to suffer when he finds out you took his booze that we had at camp. Hopefully the ones I like will be out on jobs. Most of his people are out and about 'collecting'. Hopefully the staglord punches someone deserving"

I suggest we ask about the forest around the stag lord's keep. Because of the nymph and all.

Kessle doesn't know much about any nymph, other then a general fear of the fey. On the forest "The forest? Allot of has been cut down to build the fort"

That explains the pain and suffering of our forest fey. There will be consequences for us if the forest continues to be cut I fear.

"Perhaps you can enlist the the help of the Fey" Svetlava mentions as she brings more water and snacks to the interrogation If they hate the Staglord so much, maybe they can be put to use rather causing a nuisance? The greenbelt is full of them, trappers always say to avoid the old elk temple or the old sycamore tree as these are known to be infested with the buggers.

"Fey are not known for their helpfulness" Harrim interjects, stirring from his hidden guard post.

"It is a though" Svetlava replies, side-eying Kessle she continue "I do have one request, did you find a wedding ring, this brute stoled it off my hand last month."

I'll have Filbert look through the things we brought back to see if there are any rings. He's actually pretty good at finding shiny things when he takes his time.

"Thank you" Svetlana says gracefully

Filbert digs through the collected loot, but there is no wedding rings.

Filbert did you see any nice gemstones in the loot when you were looking for the ring? I can make us some cool stuff if you find us some nice ones (over 6gp to be exact). Ideally you could find us a handful.

Filbert pulls out a pair of silver earrings and a wooden music box. "Like these?"

Dalia will ask Kessle if she remembers the ring on their next walk about the yard.

Dalia also suggests to the group that perhaps a frontal assault on the stag lord is not the best use of resources. Kessle has told us of his love of the sauce. If he and his band of unhappy men were to acquire a wagon load of cheap ale and a crate of quality spirits. He would definitely keep the high quality stuff for himself and share out the cheap ale to the men to celebrate such a stroke of luck and if such ale and spirits were laced with a subtle sleeping draft then it may not raise any alarms as the keep falls into slumber, leaving the place an easier target for a small group to sneak in.

Sorry Filbert good effort but not what I needed.
I bet I could find us some herbs that could do the trick of putting everyone to sleep. I'll go look around the forest by the fort with Filbert (I got 20 on my herbalism check)

Kessle does remember the ring. "It was a nice prize that was already sent south to the big fort."