11: The Black Brigade

[burke]

Over a pint, Chet tells Varklud what he knows.

The Black Brigade are a band of notorious mercenaries. Their leader, Neptune, is a particularly unfriendly fellow, who according to rumor was discharged from the August Legion because of his cruelty (and that is saying something!).

Neptune has frequented the Small Stalkers Inn from time to time and Chet could swear that he saw him here, in disguise, a fortnight ago.

[ragnorakk]

"Ah, Chet! My thanks - I am still freshly arrived, unfamiliar with the landscape... do not worry - those Brigadeers we brought back will never return to tell this cruel Neptune of your assistance. Do you have any notion of how many men are following Neptune these days - how large the Black Brigade may be?"

After the conversation dwindles, Verklud motions to his companions - "Friends - let's take air outside for a moment."

Once we are out of ear shot, Verklud lays it out.
"We're in over our heads with taking on the bandits. As far as 'find the silks for the merchants' goes, I say why bother? I don't want to die over another man's silks. We'll apologize if necessary, claim we're called away on more urgent matters. Or just stalk off like we're going to the forests - but instead veer off and check out the city of ruins that's caught Quinlan's eye - and if that proves too daunting... it might be good to check in with the Wizard of the Tower - what if that monolith has spawned a haunt? What if the fish-men and dancing daggers have returned? I do worry so...

Anyway - I fear that unless we can lure the leader of the Brigade into a trap, we're asking to be skewered and have our heads hung from the mallorn boughs - and luring him doesn't sound likely to me, as we are playing in his sandbox right now... we can take the bandits we've captured to the ruins with us...

Now that I've said my peace, know that I'll go with if the rest of you think we should do this now."

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

OOC: I think we have stalled here a bit, I think we should either go for the lost merchant or move on.

We could investigate the city or take our prisoners to sell in the arena.

Either way we would be moving forward.

[Hogscape]

Quinlan: "Good work Varklud. Although I value my word - not above my life. I suggest that we return to the Black Brigade when we are made of sterner stuff. In the meanwhile... Visions of that forgotten city have been in my dreams since we passed it... Something is calling me there..."

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Drugan leans in to make himself heard without broadcasting hi words.

"Perhaps our bewitching elven companion can use her personal magnetism to sell our captives to one of the merchants passing through?"

"I would hate to kill them out of hand and there appears to be a severe lack of local justice which would deal with these wanton bushwhackers"

"A few years at hard labor as slaves might teach them the lesson of their ways"

OOC: I think if anyone needs or wants anymore equipment now is the time to go after it.
Also if we take an extra day of rest I can teach the wizards the extra spells I learned.

[Porkbelly]

Poncho: "I'm leaning towards to the same. I say we rest up here first and then strike out for the forgotten city... do some old fashioned adventuring."

"The two prisoners... it might be easier to just let them go once we're out of town, maybe with some message for Neptune. Perhaps one or both might care to join us, but I'm not sure I'd trust them."

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Drugan leans on his crutch and considers Poncho's words.

"Well there are four prisoners and I'm afraid if we let them return to their captain they might rouse the Black Brigade against us and purse us"

"With their horses and superior knowledge of the local lands they would surely make short work of us"

Drugan slaps his knee and grins.

"What if we send one of the prisoners back to Neptune and say we will trade his sergeant and the rest of his men in exchange for safe passage for the merchants silks!"

"When the shipment makes it's way out of the forest, we set his men free"

"The we run like scalded apes for the hills before they have a chance to pursue us"

"What say lads...oh and lass?

[apeloverage]

Alwyn agrees with Drugan's plan in principle, but wants a more certain way of ensuring our escape.

"There are various spells which induce loyalty, create haste in oneself or sluggishness in others, or help to evade pursuit in various ways - does anyone possess any of them?"

"Furthermore...what if the bandits are presented with our offer, but find the silks more desirable than the men?"

[Porkbelly]

Poncho: "Hmm, yes I forgot about the two wounded fellows - we can't really take them with us. But you're right there's a good plan here to see if we can make Neptune come to us."

"I believe these bandits have said that Neptune had not yet managed to capture the merchant, so as far as we know he does not even have the silks.

"Perhaps if we just set one fellow free with a message to ask Neptune to come here under truce and parlay for the release of his comrades. Then we take it from there."

"I'm guessing this trading post has guards and defenses that will keep us all safe enough from a bandit raid."

"What about these spells? A hex to ensure the message is delivered could prove useful."

[danhem]

"I think I've had enough of that forest for now, and these whining merchants. I say we make for the ruins. Let the merchants find their own silks. Anyway, we can't assume the Black Brigade has found the lost merchant or his merchandise. If we go back in there we'll likely have to deal with both."

"I say we see if any of these merchants are on their way to Esperance. We can sell our four captives to them at a discount and they can sell them in the arena."

"We have no reason to believe that Neptune wants his men back. Trying to ransom these villains back to him seems risky, and I'm not sure these people would shelter us from the Black Brigade if things go sour. They seem to be good customers."

"So to the ruins and then the tower I say."

[ragnorakk]

"Good ideas presented... hmmm... I'd forgotten the two wounded also... I must say that I'd wager on Neptune's notorious cruelty taking precedent over a mortgage on these brigands we've captured... though as a lure, he might find himself cross or curious... I've no knowledge of his character other than that noted by his honorarium... perhaps we'd do good to press one of them to tell us of his chief and the Brigade in general.

"If we go to the ruin'd city, I say we take the bandits with us - willing or not they could be used as scouts... I suppose we could extend an invitation to join us, but I'd feel more comfortable extending Charles' trident tines to their backs, as they try the gates for us... in dealing with them, I have no hard time the kind of treatment we'd receive from them were the tables turned...

"If we try to lure or parley with Neptune... I'll say that those spells which magic the mind are unknown to me yet, along with those that might allow us a surer escape... indeed, since leaving the shelter of the Heggsarium, I've found myself to be a rather incapable wizard...

"I suggest that, while we must continue this conversation, we should gather more information.
Perhaps a few of us try to talk to Chet regarding the ruin'd city, while the rest go to the cellar to interrogate our captives - I suppose we could apply some attention to the wounded ones..."

[danhem]

"Yes, more information would be useful. Alright, I will help question our captives. If need be my knives will help as well."

As Charles starts to head back to the inn he suddenly remembers something.

"Didn't Moric warn us to stay away from the ruins?"

He then shrugs and makes his way to the root cellar.

OOC: Looking back we were warned to steer clear of the ruins. I wonder if they are anything like the ruins in Burke's Searchers game.

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

"Well we have a quarter of the Black Brigade in that cellar right now and we've got Neptune's sergeant"

"Thats got to be worth something, if we ask only that the lost merchant is allowed to leave the forest unmolested that might well be worth the trouble of find a new second in command and finding more trustworthy men"

"Without a good second and down four men they may not even want to tangle with the merchants caravan and his guards"

"Anyway we might question the sergeant and see if he thinks Neptune would consider such an offer"

[ragnorakk]

Jan 23, 2010 5:11:38 GMT -5 Toad-Killer-Dog said:

"Well we have a quarter of the Black Brigade in that cellar right now and we've got Neptune's sergeant"

"Aha! I had missed these points, and they do tip the scales more to favor our side! If we can glean more details of Neptune's methods and means, perhaps we can get the better of this yet!"

[apeloverage]

"At least two of us should interrogate the bandits, lest they somehow get the drop on us and try to take hostages" Alwyn suggests. He will help interrogate them if needed, or find more about the ruins.