Season 1 - Episode 5: On the Trail of Alma

[Hywaywolf]

Doughbert watches Longhair closely to see how he reacts. This could get dicey if the bandits have the girl.

[JoeCarr28]

"Was there a human with the horn-helmed goblin?" Blurts Tannen

The leader pauses for a moment, thinking, and then continues, framing his words carefully. "Let's just suppose, for the sake of argument, that there was someone with the goblins. And, let's also pretend, just out of interest, that I happen to know where that person might be. Just supposing, what would that person be worth to you? Or, let's be frank, what would that person be worth to me?"

[Birthright]

"Was there a human with the horn-helmed goblin?" Blurts Tannen

The leader pauses for a moment, thinking, and then continues, framing his words carefully. "Let's just suppose, for the sake of argument, that there was someone with the goblins. And, let's also pretend, just out of interest, that I happen to know where that person might be. Just supposing, what would that person be worth to you? Or, let's be frank, what would that person be worth to me?"

Tannen changes his tone from accommodating to business-like...
"Well, I guess that depends. You see, assuming that we are talking about the same person, there are certain other parties who are eager for the safe return of this person. If you were to facilitate said safe return, we could offer, say, 100 pieces of gold - payable only once we have the person in question out of harms way. Of course, the reward may be more generous again should you assists us in bringing in those who took this person in the first place."

[JoeCarr28]

"Well, I guess that depends. You see, assuming that we are talking about the same person, there are certain other parties who are eager for the safe return of this person. If you were to facilitate said safe return, we could offer, say, 100 pieces of gold - payable only once we have the person in question out of harms way. Of course, the reward may be more generous again should you assists us in bringing in those who took this person in the first place."

"Come now Master Tannen, we were doing so well," Pony-Tail chides condescendingly, "I thought we were going to be straight with one another.”

He clears his throat and takes a slightly harsher tone: “Let me get our negotiations back on track by being perfectly straight with you. Are we talking about the farm girl? The one that brings the reward of 500 pieces of gold? Because if we are, I find your offer of a mere 100 gold pieces somewhat insulting and devious. Why should I give her to you, when I could simply walk into Marketstone village and collect five times the reward from Buffoon Bertie?"

His men visibly tense, but their crossbows remain lowered for now.


Doughbert: HP 5/5. No '0' level spells remaining today.
Hiker: HP 9/9.
Karl: HP 8/8.
Nivek: HP 7/7. 2 '0' level spells remaining today.
Paladin: HP 3/4.
Tannen: HP 9/9.
12 noon, 28th day of Harvestide.

[Hywaywolf]

Doughbert stands up and calls attention to himself (the best he can being a little dude.)

"Sir, I am Doughbert Shorttoes and my only interest is the well being of the girl. May I inquire as to your name, real or not as it pleases you, so we can talk like friends rather than enemies! "

He waits to see if anyone will shoot at him, and if no one does, he will continue.

"yes, you can take the girl to town and collect the $500. She will be safe and I and others in our party will be content with that. Or, if you choose not to go into town for whatever reason, we can offer you all the gold and silver we took from the goblin caves. With the $50 we already gave you that should come close to $200 gp. Its all the coin we have. There is another 800 copper pieces we left in the caves along with the weapons of the goblins.

"So, thats our offer, give us the girl for another $150 gp or take her to town yourself and let us go on our way. We have nothing else to offer you, but a good fight if you decide neither of those other two options satisfy you."

[SmootRK]

Nivek tries to add to the sense of superior firepower by glancing around the woods here and there (regardless of where our friends are located). The thinking is that he is trying to be noticed looking about, but discrete enough that the bandits don't think that he is trying to fool them.

[JoeCarr28]

Doughbert stands up and calls attention to himself (the best he can being a little dude.)

"Sir, I am Doughbert Shorttoes and my only interest is the well being of the girl. May I inquire as to your name, real or not as it pleases you, so we can talk like friends rather than enemies! "

He waits to see if anyone will shoot at him, and if no one does, he will continue.

"yes, you can take the girl to town and collect the $500. She will be safe and I and others in our party will be content with that. Or, if you choose not to go into town for whatever reason, we can offer you all the gold and silver we took from the goblin caves. With the $50 we already gave you that should come close to $200 gp. Its all the coin we have. There is another 800 copper pieces we left in the caves along with the weapons of the goblins.

"So, thats our offer, give us the girl for another $150 gp or take her to town yourself and let us go on our way. We have nothing else to offer you, but a good fight if you decide neither of those other two options satisfy you."

The sudden emergence of Doughbert seems to momentarily catch the bandits off their guard. They appear genuinely surprised - like he's just appeared out of thin air. But the leader quickly composes himself and addresses the halfling: "Whoa little one ... where did you spring from?" and then turning to Tannen "Is he another of yours?"

(Assuming Tannen responds in the affirmative)

"Well, I admire your pluck small sir," he continues with a smirk upon his face "a good fight, indeed." The other bandits chuckle along with their leader.

"Now, thank you for your offers, such as they are. But let me make something very clear to the three of you, and indeed any others that might be skulking in the forest out there. Kitchener and I have, shall we say, something of a history. It would be fair to say that there is no love lost between the two of us. I have absolutely no desire to see Bertie hijack all the glory over the safe return of the farm girl. Because, believe you and me, he will. Never mind the fact that it is you or I that actually did all the hard work. Bertie will have the mayor and villagers believe that her recovery was all down to him. So, I've no wish to see the girl returned to Marketsone to further bolster Kitchener's decepetion that he is a pillar of the community. Unless, of course, you were to suitably compensate me for the emotional distress that it would cause. I'd say 1,000 gold pieces should do the trick."

He continues, "If you can't lay your hands on that sort of money, and it sounds very much as if you can't, then I think I'll take my chances elsewhere. Maybe find out what the goblins would be prepared to pay to have her back. Or perhaps I'll smuggle her down to slave traders in Westport."

"So my mini-friend, that's MY offer. 1000 pieces of gold and you can have the girl here and now. Or else I shall bid you good day. Unless of course, you were serious about the fight ..."

[Hywaywolf]

Doughbert raises his bow but doesn't pull back on the string.

"Nivek, Tannen, I have a bead on Mr. ponytail so you guys might as well come on back into the woods with the rest of us. Looks like our business is done here for the day ...

"Mr. Ponytail ... I would prefer to use a more appropriate address, but alas ... we shall return to town to see if the reward for the girl can be increased to 1000 gold. Its doubtful you'll get that kind of money from the gobs or the slavers so it would be in your best interest to keep her safe until we return."

Doughbert will then stand alert for any action by the bandits. If any of them do anything hostile I will loose toward the bandit leaser then dive back into the cover of the brush/trees.

[Birthright]

Tannen suppresses the urge to respond with any one of a number of sarcastic remarks as to pony-tail's offer.

"Good day it is then." Says Tannen, before turning on his heel and stalking back to the other (non-halfling) members of the group.

[JoeCarr28]

Tannen suppresses the urge to respond with any one of a number of sarcastic remarks as to pony-tail's offer.

"Good day it is then." Says Tannen, before turning on his heel and stalking back to the other (non-halfling) members of the group.

"Oh, and you can tell Kitchener that Morward sends his best regards, " he shouts after Tannen.

And with that the bandit leader turns and walks back into the cave, leaving the five guards to resume their duties.


Doughbert: HP 5/5. No '0' level spells remaining today.
Hiker: HP 9/9.
Karl: HP 8/8.
Nivek: HP 7/7. 2 '0' level spells remaining today.
Paladin: HP 3/4.
Tannen: HP 9/9.
12 noon, 28th day of Harvestide.