3. The Meeting

Bubbles (Darvos). Appears that Tom Collins doesn't believe that you the two surviving members of the party are fully taking the fact that 3 members of the party were just killed rather badly. Whether you're not connect or just feel it was their fault, he really doesn't care the reason. Appears he is willing to let this all matter be forgotten and appears to be treating you as guests at the moment. How this all turns out is mostly in you two's actions. You now have a much greater notion of what Tom Collins is like.

It is very obvious Tom Collins has zero problems with killing people. And he holds full support of his men which obviously are in fact are the bandits. You now are getting a larger picture about how many there are and their strength. This is not just a few bandits bothering the road as has been thought. This is now a major issue that both of you are now involved in.

And who knows perhaps even a third or more might have been rounded up too. (exca314 new character and/or any new players coming in.) Obviously great if exca314 finish up the new character rapidly. It does take me days to make a character generally.

Seeing that there's no other obvious way, he nods. Alright, lead the way. he follows after Tom wherever he's leading.

Garrosh just shrugs and follows Tom and Davros, not like he knew the dead party member for very long anyway.

Tom Collins is an easy man besides being the leader. You follow him to camp and into a semi larger tent. It is large enough to hold several people and table. There he has food brought in. It appears Tom Collins doesn't do much himself. The food is average for the area and nothing special. Most of the meat is no doubt local game.

He starts with a simple question while enjoying some of the food and drink, "So what brings you two here? I don't get guests often."

Seeing food makes the hunters eyes light up, lean or not but due to his upbringing the man is seen eating something almost on all occasions, be it a meal in a tavern or munching on some edible plant while on the way... After an invitation he sits down and white the aspect of filling his stomach is tempting, he will not touch anything until Tom does.
Well, how should I put it, I'm a simple man, and all I need for happiness is a good forest to look after. he interrupts himself but then continues So it happens that this forest does not have an official forester, and I happen to to have met my love at first sight and possibly one and only right here... Unfortunately the local government will do nothing about it because they're bothered by the highway crime-rate. So, I agreed to come over and.... Well.... I was just supposed to lead them, but you already know how that went.... So... Could you please tell me what is going on? he looks at the leader with honest and kinda begging eyes. Davros indeed from the bottom of his heart would want to understand what is going on and if this forest is the right one or should he just pack up and not bother himself with whatever chaos the local ecosystem has turned itself into.

Seeing food makes the hunters eyes light up, lean or not but due to his upbringing the man is seen eating something almost on all occasions, be it a meal in a tavern or munching on some edible plant while on the way... After an invitation he sits down and white the aspect of filling his stomach is tempting, he will not touch anything until Tom does.
Well, how should I put it, I'm a simple man, and all I need for happiness is a good forest to look after. he interrupts himself but then continues So it happens that this forest does not have an official forester, and I happen to to have met my love at first sight and possibly one and only right here... Unfortunately the local government will do nothing about it because they're bothered by the highway crime-rate. So, I agreed to come over and.... Well.... I was just supposed to lead them, but you already know how that went.... So... Could you please tell me what is going on? he looks at the leader with honest and kinda begging eyes. Davros indeed from the bottom of his heart would want to understand what is going on and if this forest is the right one or should he just pack up and not bother himself with whatever chaos the local ecosystem has turned itself into.

Garrosh is not sure if that's the right thing to say, but then again he knows he's never been the most charismatic, and decides to just let Davrosdeal with the diplomacy

Tom Collin replies as he eats. Appears he had no concern of any manners that Davros or Garrosh display. He is forceful in devouring his meal doesn't really hit hard on manners. More interested in just eating.

"You must be a touch naive. We here are bandits and we do what bandit do. Yeah. I'm sure the town has their hands tied up in the matter, but we shall be moving along soon enough. Pickens have been rather on the slim side and having to deal with the Orcs now and then hasn't been great, but we keep the treaty per say."

He goes on & chuckles, "I can see they talked your group into coming out here to solve the problem of bandits. They have no concept of just how large we are. We have done well to make them believe it is just a few of us. Lucky for them, I have no plans to stay here or deal with the town." Your fairly sure that he could in fact attack the town with his large number of men.

Geoffrey. You have met the Burgermeister about the trouble. Found just earlier some more people were sent out to deal with the situation. You quickly head out and down the road. You were directed.

It isn't long before you manage to get yourself ambushed by bandits. There are 4 four of them with shorts and two with bows.

Leader of them says to you, "Put your weapons away and surrender. And with that you may live another day."

Here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into, Geoffrey. Geoffrey, or Geoff for short, looks at the six brigands threatening him. That burgermeister is a bit of a fool. Provides me with almost no information–I did ask for a recap–and sends me pell-mell into an ambush. Maybe he is in on it? Geoffrey is horrified at the implication. Regardless, I am certain our Lady of Silver would not want me to end my service to her so soon after I started. Well, needs must and all..

Geoffrey sighs, slowly moves his hands away from his waist, mentally composes a prayer to Selûne, and addresses the bandit who spoke to him. Blessings of the Moonmaiden upon you all. Six mighty warriors against a man of the cloth? Not very sporting Geoffrey chuckles. Moreover, how can I put my weapons away when I don’t even have them out? Lastly, surrender to whom? The six of you? Have you a name? Or are you messengers of some greater assemblage? Geoff smiles, tilts his head, and awaits their response.

Geoffrey. Leader says as they now guide you away, "Come with us now. Guest." As they take you deeper into the forest by no route. Appears they know where they are going. It isn't long before the numbers of them increases past two dozen. This is base for the size of an army.

You are led toward a larger tent looks like it could be used for meeting and such. Nothing has been removed from you. You have everything on you. You are told, "You will meet Lord Tom Collins in there. You are not to give him any reason to kill you. Be on your best behavior. I would not draw a weapon."

Just before you enter, Johnson calls out, "Guest from the road entering." You are then ushered in. There is no guards posted inside. You see a large dinner table of food with three people present. It is obvious which is Tom Collins. Siting on the other side of the table there are two guests.

You hear Tom Collin say just before Johnson calls, "You must be a touch naive. We here are bandits and we do what bandit do. Yeah. I'm sure the town has their hands tied up in the matter, but we shall be moving along soon enough. Pickens have been rather on the slim side and having to deal with the Orcs now and then hasn't been great, but we keep the treaty per say."

He goes on & chuckles, "I can see they talked your group into coming out here to solve the problem of bandits. They have no concept of just how large we are. We have done well to make them believe it is just a few of us. Lucky for them, I have no plans to stay here or deal with the town."

Your entrance has broken up the discussion.

What has been seen of the camp in passing is that it must house something like four dozen or so bandits and a half dozen or so of tents. Appears to be a mobile base. No real indication of organization but is obvious that Lord Tom Collins is running the show. All the bandits appear to be well armed with armor. There is no worry or concern in the camp. You have noted they have scouts about it as well.

Everything has a military taste to it. These bandits are more like well-trained mercenaries. This is totally not what the Burgermeister mentioned. Naive Burgermeister obviously doesn't realize that he has a complete army next door.

Davros takes a moment to soak the information in. Huh, well you look more like an army for hire than a bunch of raiders, I bet there's a story to that, though I won't push you if you don't want to tell. he adjusts his gloves on his hands, while still sitting, then looks back at Tom. Though I would appreciate if you shared the information about the treaty you have going on with orcs and maybe a couple of key factors while at it... If the mighty leader feels generous... Davros tries his best not to sound rude, but still hopes that his straightforward honesty will help with gaining some info...Maybe this place indeed is too much trouble and as much as I would love to spend the rest of my life here, might be a bit too much of a hassle to handle... he laugh's nervously as if admitting that the lass next door might be too good for the poor half-elf.

Geoffrey follows along placidly, surprised but grateful that he was neither disarmed not relieved of his possessions. Tromping along the forest path, he follows his polite, but insistent captors to a rather large clearing. As the group progresses to the interior of the camp, Geoffrey realized that the burgermeister is either a naïve fool or a remarkable liar, for this is no small group of bandits but a military encampment of platoon, if not company, size. Reaching what is obviously a command tent, Geoffrey takes his captors' warning to heart. My thanks for the quiet walk and the directions, good sir, Geoffrey responds, pleasant day to you all.

Be with me in my time of trial, our Lady of Silver. Help me to find the path you desire for me and all. Geoff all but whispers as he enters the tent. As he pushes through the entrance flap, Geoffrey catches the tail end of a conversation:
Well, score one in favor of the burgermeister's soul, if not his brains, Geoff thinks. Clearly the burgermeister was misled, intentionally, by the military strategist seated at the head of the table. Considering Collins's statement, Geoff contemplates just how forthright he is being. Is the camp truly considering packing up and moving on shortly? If so, that would be best for all involved (Insight Roll 1). Regardless, this is a man to respect—if not outright fear—so I'd better be on my best behavior.

Waiting until the captain has finished, Geoffrey makes his way further in to the tent—catching a glimpse of the other two guests—stops, bows respectfully, and proceeds in the most formal manner he knows. Greetings, m'lord. I hight Geoffrey Moonstruck, loyal servant of the Moonmaiden. Whilst making my way through the wood, I was most cordially invited to pay my respects to you by a full squadron of your soldiers. They were most polite, but most insistent, so here I be. How may I be of service?

Lord Tom Collin quickly & abruptly says to interrupting Georffrey, "Take a seat and do enjoy the meal." as he motions to one of the seats near the other two guests. Appears Collins is already unhappy with Georffrey. He has promptly ignored Georffrey's question as well as his intro.

"As I was trying to figure, I like to hear more of your story as to why you were in the forest area as none of you are trader or travelers." His gaze fall upon all three of you. Appears he is surmising what may become of you. He also appears to drop off any chatter about him or his means in the process and wishes only to hear why you now are before him.

Geoffrey picks up on Collins's annoyance. Someone for whom the pleasantries of sentient interaction are too much of a burden to countenance? This does not bode well for either his patience or his loving-kindness. I'd better do exactly what he wants or he'll likely string me up like a turkey.

Bowing, Geoffrey quickly takes a seat. Gazing at the repast, Geoffrey bows his head in thanks to the Moonmaiden, and pours himself a glass of the nearest carafe of wine. Threading the maze of the captain's ire will require some fortification, but only one glass, as I will need all of my wits. Considering his ill-met entrance, Geoffrey plans to wait for one of the others to respond first, unless Collins addresses him directly.

Geoff is trying to determine if Collins is being truthful to the other two guests and really is planning on leaving or if he is lying to them and the bandits will continue to plague Duker for the indefinite future. For an insight roll of 8. What little you heard coming in sounded face value.

Do note that you really only heard the words spoken and didn't see him actually speaking. That is to say, there is very little to go on.

Collins seems to be on the level, at least from what Geoffrey heard in his voice. Perhaps Duker will get some respite soon, Moonmaiden willing.

Collins continues:
The silence extends rather uncomfortably. The imposing half orc continues to focus on his plate while the forester seems to be satisfied with what he already said. Feeling the uncomfortable attention of Captain Collins on him, Geoffrey realizes the next response must be his. Whatever you do, Geoffrey, don't antagonize the captain; probably a Sharran in his respect for life. Survive this episode to continue to serve Selûne for many decades to come. Geoffrey believes his best option is to simultaneously remove any appearance as a threat and perhaps even suggest some measure of aid. Maybe not everyone here is a cold-hearted murderer. This camp is very professional; perhaps there are career soldiers worthy of the Night White Lady's blessings.

Carefully returning the wine glass to the table, Geoffrey proceeds: Well, m'lord. While neither trader nor traveler, per se, a journeyer I am. My lady bids me to travel the less-taken paths and succor those who need aid under the light of the moon. It is no secret throughout the land that travel through these woods has become more perilous of late, and so I wished to give aid and support to those who need. Lighting the way through the terrors of the darkness of night or easing the pain of monster-inflicted wounds is service my Lady expects of me. I do not believe my mission has changed; for it seems your men are subject to the same monster attacks as other travelers. The Moonmaiden wishes the health of all who fight the terrors of the night.

Annoyed Lord Tom Collins bluntly interjects to attempting Geoffrey, "You're a Burgermeister's hire caught on the road coming here." Collins must have a means of fast information to already know about you or is a fine guesser.