Well I don't see these folk as being willing to join us. Does our mage have a hold person spell to cast on the bowman?

I'll have Roger ask the mage quietly.

If we hold him and then we draw our bows and swords and order the rest to put down their arms, we can avoid killing them. I'll have Roger address them then. When he sits up straight and projects his voice there is a regal air to his manner.

He'll tell them of the owner's plight and that this is all that the man has left in life. He'll ask their names and offer them 25 gold each to return the weagon. They will be paid when the party returns and if they steal these goods they will be hunted down.

So what'cha think?

Might work ... any other views ???

There's no telling who or what these people really are...

Eadric will very much be opposed to leaving the men to loot the wagon; this is Tal's livlihood at stake. He would also distrust them with returning the wagon, as per their original intent.

Though that bears the question, if not them then who?

Additionally, if their idea of fortune seeking is thoughtless looting, who is to say they would be trustworthy companions, regardless of the cause.

Bottom line, Eadric is very distrustful of their motivations.

..... is that if we Kill them off and go on our way looking for Tara there will quite possibly be other looters who happen by after we leave!

Any Other Thoughts ???

Killing unnecessarily just taxes character resources. However, I agree with T-O that telling them and then expecting them to do as told is probably not going to happen, and Hammer is right killing them and leaving the wagon is just going to change who gets to loot the wagon. Hold person I think is a 3rd level spell in 2e so I don't have it yet. I will be very opposed to escorting the wagon back to Tal as that is valuable time lost.

the wagon is there sure, but the horses are gone. I doubt the men plan on carrying the wagon anywhere themselves (thus the looting).

I thought Red said the Mage would be level 3. Sorry.

Roger could sweeten the pot and offer one gold now and rest on return.

..... did Jenna ever read the Game Thread ???

"Poof" See you are really a Level three and have more spells.

Low level (2nd level with maybe one 3rd lv mage character; only one spell caster, other than cleric). No magic items. You can pick our your type of armor (nothing higher than Chainmail) and one main weapon for free; you will get 100 gp ea. for miscellaneous equipment.

Send the swiftest rider back to suggest that a group from the town come get the wagon?

Well don't know that they don't have horses. how are they going to haul off the loot?

But a level 3 mage gets level 2 spells. I did read the game thread will post tomorrow, though my thoughts don't change from before I read the thread

Ooops, my bad, you're right about the spell progression.

What can we do to neutralize the bowman?

If all of our archers draw on their archer then we can tell them all to lower their weapons.

I still think the threat and bribe might work.

I didn't manage to post. Though I don't feel bad as neither did the rest of you lol. Do we have any idea as to the sleep/rest progression we're planning for this trip? I'd really rather not waste a spell on an encounter that to be honest Liriel will probably think is pointless and we should let them have the wagon and move on. After all Tal abandoned the goods and he can replace goods, the time spent fighting these guys should be spent chasing after what cannot be replaced :his daughter. So I vote say hi and you can have them and ride on. Or say hi, tell them they can have the goods and search for tracks. Either way in my mind the brigands are largely irrelevant.