Sylvia felt her eye twitch. "Don't touch me, ever." Her words were laced with a carefully guarded anger, she hated physical touch unless she approved it or offered it what Junn had just done shot spikes of hate through her. "As for interrogations. I'm interrogating Kressle, and before any if you think twice about it don't bother. The bitch has a position of power in this bunch of degenerates, as such she has more information then whatever bottom feeder you talked to tree shagger." She crossed her arms and took a breath. "Regardless the outcome, if they deserve life or not I could give two hells less, I want Kressle and I'm going to get every, single, drop, of information from her well. Junn, I might need your help with that if you decide to stop being a hands-on ass and cooperate. If you choose not to then I have nothing more to say to you."

Her voice as she spoke was cold, icy even, thus far the only people of this mismatched group of adventurers she actually had any desire to like thus far was the druid, the dancer, the adorable kobold, and the paladin somehow. Junn was in her badbooks but she wouldn't hold it against him, he hadn't looked quite right in the head at the moment.

Achuak distanced himself from the warm bloods as they began to quarel over how to deal with the captives. He did not know the ways of these folk, but considering they were fighting with full intent to kill only minutes ago he figured that the course of action would have been a simple one - kill them.

However, with the magic user and the long eared archer fighting for who gets to interrogate the prisoners, there seemed to be a widening gap between the people.

"Friends." Achuak started. "Let us not fight amongst ourselves. One has already left your cause due to belief and conflict, let us not lose any more! I may not know where this Stag lord resides, but if we work together, we will be able to overcome the wilds and find his location."

"As for the prisoners; we have already obtained much information. Unless you have any particular answers you are looking for, I am against cause pain and harm to another creature - to act as such is to be lower then an animal: it would be to act as a monster."

"I do admit, apart of me says this so that we might quickly deal with this issue and return to my tribe, but I am already seeing that this group is falling apart - everyone wishes to do as he or she pleases. We must find common ground and work together!"

After some argument the issue came down to a vote. Junn wanted to end the bandits’ lives now (with one still conscious, looking fearfully on the proceedings). Sylvia didn’t care about any of the bandits, but was only concerned about interrogating the sadistic leader. Aria felt that the bandits should be given a second chance—just one, note—to mend their ways. Sordin made it clear that he thought the sentry bandit, now leaning against the base of the tree, should be allowed to go, but as a known traitor to the bandits, such that he could not rejoin them. For the rest he leaned slightly in favour of keeping them prisoner.

Achuak cared not for the bandits’ predicament, so the vote came down even to a tie. Aria recommended a compromise—to kill half of them and keep the other half as prisoners at Oleg’s. Namely she suggested the two still conscious for life (though captivity only for one), as well as her first dance partner, adding up to just under half of the bandits, of which only two prisoners.

As before Achuak stated that he hoped to finish matters quickly, and that those to be killed (whether the compromise was accepted or not) would be killed quickly and painlessly as possible. He was dubious that Kressle had any further information to give the party, and was against the idea of torturing her.

Junn paused before walking furter

"Don't lump me in with your friends Kobold I am a monster my past has made sure of that... as for this... this is business, progress, and if your not careful you and all your people will be swept up in it by people far more monsterous then any of us. People who only seek political gain, armies of them that we pave the way for... Perhaps we are monster anyway for what we are going to do and what may result from it"

Junn moved to one of the nearby tents

"Do what you will with them as long as my promise is kept to the one I dont care anymore what you bleeding hearts do with the rest.. I need... a moment "

Junn moved into the tent and closed its opening removeing his armor and weapons save the dagger which he kept near by and sat on the cold earth closed his eyes and began to meditate hopeing to calm the demons and silence the voices for just a few moments and regain the calm balance of sanity

Sylvia sneered. "Fine, I cast my vote to the wind you lot do what you will. Let me know when we are heading back to the post with or without any of them. As for Kressle, if you can't decide what to do with her or any of them soon I'll handle it myself." She was angry, things were not going as she would like. She would look over whatever loot was gathered back at the post but for now she wanted nothing to do with any of them. She had a very dismal outlook on humanity, after seeing how poorly people who should be comrades were getting along it was clear to her. She would continue with the group for now, but much thinking needed to be done on her part. For now she climbed one of the trees to the platform above and sat in a corner petting her snake looking dark and angry, a coiled serpent ready to lunge at the next provocation.

Ortlieb rumbled his voice for attention once more. “I hate to interrupt your… discussions, but I believe I have found something you should see.”

He had cast his own spell-light for the others to see. “Here, I have found tracks. Horses and a wagon. They go north, not south to the river ford. There may be something nearby still.”

The long-haired half-orc followed the tracks along the road for a distance, before they broke off into the forest. Hidden among the trees was the wagon, including the familiar cussing voice of Happs Bydon. He groaned when he saw who was approaching in the light and grumbled a half dozen curses lowly.

He was laying in the back of the wagon, propped up. He was buried under a couple blankets—probably under the doctor’s orders to stay still until his body healed up from its many grievous injuries. Besides the horses, he was alone, by all appearances.

“Just me, I’m afraid,” he said, “If you’re looking for your friend, Kressle’s ‘new lieutenant’ buggered off as soon as the others left to set up the ambush—I can see that went well. He came back a moment later and took a horse. Said we fools were hardly any better than you lot. He hoped our boss was at least half-way competent and then took off.”

Having said his peace, he let his head roll back. “I ain’t gonna scream for my life like some piss-pants babe. If you’re going to kill me, get over with it. If not, though, I have… other services I can offer to the ladies.” He gave Sylvia a sly look and raised an eyebrow. “I assume Kressle is no longer in a position to be jealous, anyhow.”

Sylvia grinned, the tracks had led to more then just the horses and an empty wagon. Here was Happs, this bandit who had so far proven fickle in trust and relations especially when he just had the stuffing beaten out of him. He looked worse for wear and Sylvia already knew the fool wasn't long for this world. She would ensure that.

"Other services? I have a feeling I know what your offering and I might just take you up on them." She strutted towards him climbing onto the cart avoiding him for now. Her eyes looked different, less then human a little snake like as she crawled slowly closer her hips swaying slightly and her shirt doing little to hide her bust. "Poor little Happsy, all tuckered out from the little skirmish, and then left here to rest on his own with no one to keep him company to keep him...warm." Her voiced dripped lust, each word was precise and babied to give it that extra seductive impact. By the end of it she was right up to him, straddling his lap.

She pressed herself down a bit and smiled happily, hands trailing up his sides and arms gently as she leaned in and whispered into his ear. "Don't worry Happsy, I'll make all the pain and cold go away. I'll make you forget all your worries." She caressed his cheeks gently, a gentle kiss on his cheek, another closer to his neck, a third on his neck.

Without any expectation she pulled back, gripping Happs's shoulder and neck she forced his jugular exposed. Her mouth opened wide, to wide, a pair of needle like fangs exposed just dieing to sink into something. That something happened to be Happs. She hissed loud and lunged forward those deadly fangs piercing his jugular and pumping him full of a lethal dose of her venom, normally it would be a horrific painful death but because he was so weak and were the bite was he would die rather quickly.

Once she pulled back she looked normal again, done with the games done with the banter she pulled herself from the doomed man and grinned rather evily. "Goodbye Happs." She spoke softly so he could hear, turning on her heel and heading back to the others who had followed the tracks, a spring in her step and a pleased look on her face.

Pharast 5
Northern Narlmarches
Thorn Ford Camp
The party returned to the freshly scoured bandit camp and set themselves up there for the night. It was decided to set up a watch against the possible return of Nikodim or the nameless sentry, unlikely though it seemed. Besides which, the Greenbelt held other dangers, far more threatening than bandits. Not long before everyone had settled down a distant but piercing howl arose. It was soon joined by a choir of others on the hunt.

There was no danger in the light of the fire and the sound was too distant for them to be hunting anywhere nearby, but the effect was chilling. A subtle reminder of how short the light of the fire reached and how enveloping the surrounding darkness was by comparison. (+8hp Ramathu)

The night passed without further incident. The morning brought a thin groundcover of snow that neither Sylvia nor Ramathu liked very much at all. The hostages awoke with their hands bound and their wounds treated. Without much fuss, Ortlieb got the horses hitched up to the cart and the party all managed to squeeze in more or less, a little tight with the addition of the two prisoners.

A couple hours after they began travelling they came upon the eviserated carcass of a large elk. Ortlieb examined it for a moment and pointed out the tracks of the four wolves—those northern cousins of jackals—that took it down and fed upon its entrails.

They camped that night in the forest, then set off again the next day, arriving at Oleg's in the afternoon.

(Party back at full health)

Pharast 6
South Rostland
Oleg's Trading Post
There were several new arrivals since the Greenbelt Party left the previous night. The trapper who had asked about a man named Breeg Orlivanch was there at the post, as well as three guards led by a man named Kesten Garess, who according to Oleg arrived the day after the party set out. The guards set up tents in the shadow of the palisade.

When the party entered the courtyard, there was a small chorus of cheers, and Oleg's frown almost came loose entirely at the sight of the victorious return. “Did you run into the legendary Tuskgutter out there?” asked on of the guards with a wry grin.

“Or perhaps the famous unicorn of the Narlmarches?” asked the trapper from before.

“Or maybe just an entire bandit camp crushed in three days?” Oleg said with satisfaction. “I don't mean to be taking your prisoners from you, but it seemed better to put them to work, keep idle hands busy, rather than just sitting there wasting away waiting for you to return,” he gestured to where Tanya and Stephan were cleaning out the middens, overseen by one of the new guards.

The other new arrival showed up only the day before. Jhod Kavken, a middle-aged travelling cleric and hunter, priest of Erastil (god of farming, hunting, and family; see Q&A for more info). He offered his help to the Greenbelt party in the form of cheap spellcasting and other services that could be offered by a hunter-priest of Erastil.

Oleg was surprised to see the small green kobold that had joined the party, but when he saw that the little creature was eternally polite and well-mannered and had personally shot that she-devil Kressle at least once, he decided he didn't mind putting Achuak up for the night while he was helping the others.

Introductions were still being made and fresh prisoners transfered to holding when a knock came at the gates. Svetlana went to greet the hunter or trapper who had arrived while discussions were going on, but when she opened the gate to admit the traveller, she immediately realized this was no local woodsman.

“I come seeking the Greenbelt party. Is this Oleg's Trading Post?”

Svetlana nodded absently, then remembering her manners, opened the door wider to allow the stranger in. “Please come in.”

The man stepped compliantly into the Post without a word, drawing the attention of those in the courtyard. He was tall, almost as tall as Ortlieb, though his build was not as thick as the half-orc's. His foreign heritage was not one seen in the Inner Sea region commonly, from over the Crown of the World, from the same distant country as Aria's human parentage, in Tian-Xia.

He wore his black hair in a short tight ponytail and a neatly trimmed goatee. He wore a cuirass covered in small hexagonal plates with a plated skirt—trained eyes would equate this to a studded leather jacket. At his side he had a long curved sword and there was a short bow across his back. It seemed he had walked the way from Restov.

The stranger stood on the threshold and looked at the company gathered in the courtyard, saying nothing.

Sylvia was idly wandering about, others had taken over relaying information and she had chosen to distance herself to cool off. She was used to taking lives and the fight had gone well things considered, but she was starting to have misgivings about the life of an adventurer. She was seated a little ways from the group, cross legged on the ground when the stranger entered. "Suppose we should be friendly...." She sighed and got to her feet stepping to the newcomer.

Once she was in front of him, a polite distance between them she bowed politely. "I'm part of this....party. I can answer your questions what do you need?" She asked, her voice friendly enough if a little distant, but her eyes never left the man as she sized him up and made a few mental notes. He looked tough and if he was allowed entry to the post he couldn't be all bad.

Junn hadnt spoken to anyone in the party since they had returned from the bandit camp a few angry glares here and there but silence none the less he ws in no way pleased by the events that had transpired and didnt really wish to deal with any of the group any longer his devotion to completeing the task they had set out to do now his only motivation to stay with the group but ties were shakey at best and the unforgiving wilderness seemed like a much more appealing place then anywhere with this rag tag bunch of misfits.

Junn had spent most of his time since the return meditation or sparing with some of the nearby trees currently he had managed to secure a ladder and climb atop one of the buildings in the post and lay stareing at the sky upon hearing the unfamiliar voice he peaked over the side of the roof to see the stranger standing there and the Syl approach him. Junn rolled over back onto his back and lay there listening to the conversation that transpired

(I'm making the bold assumption that there is indeed something he could climb ontop of and lay on I know theres a ladder from one of the first posts and since hes fairly light and not wearing anymore then his clothes for the moment that it could support his weight if this not be the case let me know and I'll change it kay thanks`)

[backtrack - shouldn't really involve anyone else unless someone else chooses to be involved but presuming most to not be]

"I guess there's no helping it." Aria murmured as she knelt beside the still form of her second partner that eve. His breathing was shallow but steady, the only indication he was still alive.

She carefully pushed him onto his stomach, sliding his arms down to his sides. Might as well make him comfortable, if he still had any sense while unconscious. Carefully, she drew her kukri out, holding it steady in both hands, carefully poising the blade at his neck.

"May your next life be better than this one." She murmured softly.

The stab was swift, and without hesitation. To hesitate would be to draw it out and cause more pain than was necessary.

"I guess a pyre would be best." She noted idly to herself.

The next morning she'd work on that. No point in leaving carrion behind to attract unwanted predators.

That morning as well, she'd walk over to the prisoners that were awake. "I don't know much about you, but I do know that several of the others would've preferred all of you be slain from being in that group. I asked otherwise, and so there was a compromise. It's an opportunity to start anew, kind of. Don't make me regret it. Shelyn's teaching is to offer second chances. Calistria, however, lets there only be one."

[back at Oleg's]

Marie practically tackled Aria to the ground, or well, may have if she were much larger.

"So, any interesting scents while I was out?" Aria asked the kitty.

Marie either was oblivious to the question or was just ignoring her, quickly pawing at her loose outer clothing as she tried to curl up and be comfortable.

"Guess not." Aria chuckled, before her eyes went a bit distant, "Good." She shook her head a moment, before meeting up with Oleg with the others.

* * *

"Work can be good. Builds character and strength. Or well, that's what my teachers would say." Aria noted, "I have no objections."

"I would like to talk to them later though." Aria added.

Assuming that there are no objections, she makes her way over and likely isn't by the door to see the stranger.

"I'll watch over them for a bit if you want a break at all," She noted to the guard, before making her way inside regardless if the guard left or not.

The man returned a short, quick bow to the strange looking young woman. “Greetings, I am Takahashi Daitetsu.” The man stayed in front of the gate, not intruding further. “I have come to join the Greenbelt party in exploring this land and clearing it of dangers. I wish to add my blade to your cause. May I ask your name, miss?” The man wore little or no expression as he spoke with an air of formality.

Sylvia chuckled and smiled friendly enough. "Sylvia pleasure to meet you. As for joining us? Well come on in and say hello to everyone and they can decide. I'm....indecisive." She spoke with uncertainty, her thoughts she was mulling earlier still dancing in her head. She stood to the side a bit and pointed to the main cluster of people. "Over there, the big guy is Oleg his wife is Svetlana. They are our current hosts please be nice and I hope we can talk again soon." It sounded formal, sort of robotic as her eyes appeared to glaze. She wandered back to where she had been before, sitting cross legged and staring off at nothing.

A new human had come into the fort, and he seemed to be of sturdy stuff. Achuak walked over to the new comer and gave a curt bow.

“I am Achuak Zhinar, a resident of this area and a walker of the green. I am the newest member of this clan, but none-the-less I wish to welcome you among us. We are in need of strong people, as one before me turned against the group… a traitor is the word? He has joined the bandits, and has become an officer of the Stag Lord."

"I should also tell you that the stress is high at the moment, so please forgive any outbursts from the others.”

(In the spirit of moving things along, I’ve decided to exploit the ability of play-by-post to run multiple scenarios simultaneously with back-posts to get all the necessary storytelling in with the roleplaying at once. Just mark the sections of your post as you have been doing with [Takahashi] or [Supper] etc.)

[Ortlieb & Sylvia]
Ortlieb approached Sylvia sometime before supper. Of all the people, she was the first who deserved to know. She had been so accepting of him and Ramathu, after all.

“I’m afraid I must go,” he said without preamble. It would be best to get to the point quickly, he thought. “I had come here with high hopes that I could be a part of this expedition to explore the Greenbelt. While some of the others didn’t quite accept me, I would stay for your sake, at least.

“It is not because of the fighting that I must go.” The druid paused to choose his words. “Ramathu and I are accustomed to much warmer climes than those found in Brevoy. My friend is a mountain dweller, and so more used to the cold than others of his kind. I had thought that this far north would not be too cold for us. Perhaps it is not—perhaps it is only that it is too sudden a transition for us. Yet it remains, Ramathu ill liked the snow that fell a few days ago, and I was not fond of it either. Maybe I will be able to return someday, but I think the cold here in winter will be too much for Ramathu and I all at once.”

The barrel-chested half-orc shifted uncomfortably. Any pretence of short goodbyes had been quashed. He was terribly unhappy to have to leave this one that had accepted him and declared him family so readily. He tried to keep his emotions out of his voice, but he was only mostly successful. “Try not to put too much weight on the quarrels that have been seen so far. These things are expected when tribes first come together and everybody wants to do what they want. Give them time for egos to settle, and I think you will find that you will all be able to get along a little better. If not, and if you have time, perhaps you could come look for me. Maybe even you will have the chance after you are finished exploring—settling new territory for a clan is hard work for everyone, the leaders included, but after all that is done, maybe you will have the time and servants enough that you could spare a messenger to catch up.”

He looked at the little girl. She was young and impulsive now, but he thought that once she had grown up a little and the years matured her outlook, she could be a fine adventurer.

[Ortlieb & Achuak]
The towering half-orc caught up with Achuak just before dinner was ready, holding a small roll of paper in his massive hand. He took a seat next to the kobold to mitigate the extreme difference in their height somewhat.

“We are alike in many ways, Achuak, and not just the colour of our hides. Perhaps we could have gotten to be friends, had we gotten to know each other. I came here to give this to you.” He placed the paper in Achuak’s scaled hand. The kobold peeked at its contents and saw that it was Ortlieb’s copy of the Greenbelt charter. “I know I promised that Ramathu and I would help you rescue your people, and it pains me that I must leave without seeing this task to completion. Ramathu was not meant for this cold climate, and I fear I was not, either. Maybe with time we will grow accustomed to the cold, but I fear Brevoy is too much cold too quickly for us.

“I am not worried, however, that your people will be free of their oppressor. This group only met barely a week ago, and they are still getting over meeting each other—learning how to deal with each other’s eccentricities, my mentor would have said…” The half-orc paused a moment. “Learning how far they can throw each other, my mother would have said.”

[Supper]
(will post actions at supper soon; I’m posting these two ahead of time to give folks something to work with while I work.)