Reinforcements

[harknail]

"Oh sure, you can handle a small group left behind to grab some easy pickings," sneered the bandit, "And still half of you went down at some point. Though you got back up again, which was impressive. But how well are you going to do when you're outnumbered" Then realizing that she'd let something slip, the bandit falls silent again.

[at]

"Left behind?" questions Bishop. If they had been part of a much larger group the trail shouldn't be hard to find.

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

Dak just continues to read his books. Its at this point he is deep into his reading he blocks out what is being said. He has no part in what is going on. Maybe not all adventures were like what they depicted in the adventure books he read/reads.

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

( are we ready to move on with this sean or do players still want to try to get info. Its seams its a bit slow going as of right now.)

[kawaylon1]

Apr 19, 2017 23:20:57 GMT -5 (George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0) said:

( are we ready to move on with this sean or do players still want to try to get info. Its seams its a bit slow going as of right now.)

Hey Dak what ya reading? says Kamon-Do

[harknail]

Options for the group area:
a) try to convince bandit that the group is better at torture than those who delight in it. This will be dificult for a group that isn't evil and doesn't like torture.
b) continue converstation trying to get bandit to occasionally reveal useful information (like that there are a LOT more bandits to deal with).
c) try a different questioning tactic (there is at least one that could work, but the group hasn't thought of it yet)
d) Try magical questioning
e) Try to find more bandits without any help from the captives

At this point I'm just waiting for players to say what they are trying.

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

" The grand tails of Devro & Densen. Its great it has action, bit of romance and laughter. Im at the part where the vilian has them trapped in his keep and gaurds have cut off every excape."

[Basnae]

OOC: we should offer to protect her from the bandits while she's in prison but my character can't offer because she doesn't know anything about the political system in Nentir Vale.

[harknail]

Mika considers how to persuade the bandit to talk: ToUxm_Yxp_1-20+4 =10

But she's not able to come up with something either.

Basnae could always use her psionic powers to question the Bandit. Offering to protect her from the other bandits only works if she believes you can.1-20

[Basnae]

OOC: I'd like to take the help action to give Mika advantage on her persuasion check.

[harknail]

Mika and Basnae discus possibilities between themselves, combining Basnae's knowledge of the mind with Mika's knowledge of methods of persuasion.

Mika Persuasion: UzePKJBbp_1-20+4=20

Mika then goes to Beth Basnae in tow, and again speaking quietly says, "Beth, I think we've come up with a way that might work to get them to talk, but I don't think you're going to like it. The problem is that they're more afraid of their team then they are of us, and particularly the long painful death promised to any that betray them. What we could do is threaten to let the next bandits we encounter know how helpful she was, or she can tell us all she knows in return for a quick death as pain free as we can manage."1-20

[drwonga]

Keiyanna agrees with this course of action.

[harknail]

[Tag Beth, it's your call]

[Jasmine]

"Try it," says Beth. "But we can't actually execute them while they're our prisoners. That's, like, a war crime?"

She thinks for a moment. "I suppose we could offer a trial by combat?"

[harknail]

OOC: This culture doesn't have the concept of "War Crimes", but killing a prisoner after interrogating them would general be considered evil, so the concern is appropriate for any good character.

Mika considers for a moment before answering, "I couldn't promise an easy death if we had no intention of fulfilling that promise. Offering death by combat, letting her die in one on one combat with a sword in her hand should work though. It's a better way to die than just being executed while bound. Especially if she gets to go free if she winds. Shall I go offer that deal?"

[tag Beth to confirm.] Beth was authorized to be judge, jury, and executioner before she left. So Trial by Combat is within her authority. And it's a good idea

[kawaylon1]

May 1, 2017 4:08:14 GMT -5 Jasmine said:

"Try it," says Beth. "But we can't actually execute them while they're our prisoners. That's, like, a war crime?"

She thinks for a moment. "I suppose we could offer a trial by combat?"

Who are you at war with? says kamon-Do

[Jasmine]

May 1, 2017 11:46:07 GMT -5 harknail said:

OOC: This culture doesn't have the concept of "War Crimes", but killing a prisoner after interrogating them would general be considered evil, so the concern is appropriate for any good character.

Mika considers for a moment before answering, "I couldn't promise an easy death if we had no intention of fulfilling that promise. Offering death by combat, letting her die in one on one combat with a sword in her hand should work though. It's a better way to die than just being executed while bound. Especially if she gets to go free if she winds. Shall I go offer that deal?"

[tag Beth to confirm.] Beth was authorized to be judge, jury, and executioner before she left. So Trial by Combat is within her authority. And it's a good idea

"Do it."

[harknail]

OOC: Somehow there seems to be a lot of emotion in those two words...

Mika goes back to talk to the prisoner, with Basnae coming along to help.

Persuasion: 6PoMpgBXp_1-20p_1-20+4 = 23

Mika outlines the deal: don't talk and we keep mentioning how helpful she was whenever other bandits are around. Talk, and she will be granted trial by combat, one-on-one. If she wins the trial by combat, she will be allowed to go free. If she loses, she will have a quick death with her sword in her hand. Both sides were fully aware of how unlikely the banded winning the combat was, but the possibility, however small, was there. Also, win or lose, the group won't mention her anywhere where other bandits might hear.

The bandit reluctantly agrees. She isn't happy with the deal, but is convinced that a quick death is the best that she can get. And with the fear of torture removed, she actually isn't all that loyal to the others. Mika promises that if the bandit answers the groups questions fully and honestly, that Mika will be sure that the bandit gets her trial by combat.

Mika helps the bandit to sit up again, and then announces to the rest of the group, "She's ready to talk."

[tag all for questions]1-20�1-20

[Jasmine]

Let's start with the location of their hideout. Then numbers. How many of them are there? What are the defenses like? Any weak points? Secret back entrances? How many are on watch? How well-armed are they? When do the shifts change? Are there any prisoners in the hideout? What about noncombatants?

[harknail]

Sorry for the delay, got really busy and didn't have any time to work on games for about a week. Trying to catch up with them all now...
Looking at the questions, this looked like it would work better as a conversation. I rephrased a few of the questions to work that way.

Beth: "Let's start with the location of their hideout. "

Bandit: "It's on the far side of the big hill in the distance, behind another hill not quite as large. There's a trail starting at that small forest that leads there."

Beth: "How many people are there in the Raven Roost gang?"

Bandit: "I think about 3 dozen, but I'm not sure since we're never all in one place at the same time."

Beth: "What are the defenses like? "

Bandit: "It's an old manor house, not a keep. The defenses are sentries looking for intruders."

Beth: "Any weak points? "

Bandit: "At night, it's not too hard to sneak past the sentries."

Beth: "Any secret back entrances?"

Bandit: "There is a backdoor that opens in the kitchen, but it's not a secret."

Beth: "How many are on watch?"

Bandit: "It varies. Where on a big raid, only 3 or 4 left to watch the roost or the forests. After a raid, anywhere from 6 to a dozen are left to cover the retreat in case we're followed. In the same at the Raven Roost when most of us are there."

Beth: "How well-armed are they?"

Bandit: "The guys have scimitars and daggers, the gals have longbows and short swords."

Beth: "When do the shifts change?"

Bandit: "When someone comes to relieve you That's usually 2 or 3 times a day at Raven Roost, might be as long as a week at the forest watch points."

Beth: "Are there any prisoners in the hideout?"

Bandit: "Sorta kinda. We don't keep them locked up or anything, just put them to work cooking, cleaning, and providing entertainment. Any of them tried to sneak away, we make an example out of them. Days of screams do wonders for discouraging thoughts of escape."

Beth: "What about noncombatants?"

Bandit: "Same thing."

[tag all]