>>29124585

You get back out of your hide into the noon-time day - a windy, cold and cloudy noon-time. People are still going about their work, though the fact of your return is not lost on any of them. Neither is the new guy.

You go to him, and he looks distraught. 'Sir... sir...'

'Never mind the sir thing. You know what you've done, haven't you? Giving away the location of a hoard of treasure.'

'I do. I know, and I'm willing to follow you. I can fight with a sword, I've been trained for two or three years.' Huh. Really? 'But there is one thing I'd really like to do. I have to go and save my family.'

Now that's intriguing... 'go on.'

'My family, there's just my old, blind mother, and my two brothers and one sister in law. Once the Baron knows I'm missing and the Steward knows the loot is plundered, they will immediately seek revenge on them. They'll roast them alive...' tears stream down his eyes. 'I must go save them! Please, sir, help me! They will definitely follow you. If you help me with this, I will gladly spill blood and guts on the field in your defence!'

Did someone say two brothers? Three more fighting men, then? 'Are they also trained in swordplay?'

'Both my brothers are farmers, so unfortunately no. But they are strong and willing to learn. If they're alive...'

He tells you where his village is, and you check the map with Stella - it's to the northwest, on the other side of the hills, and rather near one of the Baron's manors. 'It could take half a day just to get there,' Stella says. 'And that's if you know the route...'

'But you could- oh fuck. Sorry. I forgot.'

'You forget easily!' She puts her leg straight out on your lap and points at it. Damn.

> Promise the guard, and arrange it.
> Promise the guard and do something else. Meh.
> Other.

>>29124660
>>29124585
I don't know who you think you are, but you're a god damn psycho. You ended the last thread, about 5 hours ago after running the thread for about 24 hours. I want off Mr. Bones Wild Ride.

>>29124805

> Nah, I went to bed, mucked around... that thread was just on for awfully long.

>>29124585
Damn you i was about to go to sleep.

>>29124660
oh shit more bandit quest! SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK

>>29124660
>> Promise the guard, and arrange it.

>>29124660
>Promise the guard, and arrange it.
More capable men? Sure why not.

>>29124660

Damn, this is a dilemma...

I think we should do it. Two more fighters, and the loyalty of a trained swordsman, is precious.

>>29124897
Plus they know how to farm which is a whole lot better than our lot knows.

>>29124908
>>29124897
>>29124890
>>29124888

> In all fairness, your lot know how to farm properly as well. It's just that the forest really isn't that suitable for farming.

'That village is quite a distance away, isn't it?' You say after coming out of the hide. Damn, you really need to fix a door here soon. Mostly for hiding the treasures within, though you wouldn't mind if there was another good reason for it. The guard nods.

'Yes... if we head there now, we should be able to get there in the evening. I think...'

'Good. Then let's arrange something.' The guard tells you all he knows about the village's location; it's perched on a low rise in the foothills, surrounded on most sides by farmland, but apparently one can go within a hundred paces of it and remain within the forest or hidden from view of the village.

'There's just one thing, which is that the village has a watchtower in it. Partly to provide cover for the manor near it, and partly to make sure the serfs in the village do not attempt to escape. We won't be able to close to the village without being seen by the watchtower...'

That's good to know, isn't it?

> Approach in a disguise and distract the watchtower.
> Attack the watchtower first, and rescue the family.
> Use some other stratagem.
> Other.

> Also, let's roll a d100 first for the route. You're a reasonably good tracker, but not great.

Rolled 17

>>29124986
>> Approach in a disguise and distract the watchtower.
>> Attack the watchtower first, and rescue the family.
Get close enough to kill.

Rolled 52

>>29124986
>> Approach in a disguise and distract the watchtower.

Rolled 10

>>29124986

> Use some other stratagem.

Distract watchtower, then release the serfs. In the confusion, grab the guard's family.

If any of the serfs wants to join us for some freedom, they're welcome too.

Rolled 96

>>29125038
this works for me.

>>29124986
I support this plan >>29125038

>>29125038
>implying the serfs want to be freed
I say we burn the tower down, and in the confusion free them.

>>29125071
>>29125044
>>29125038
>>29125023
>>29125010

> 96: You lucky bastard.

Stella gives you a lot of help, even while nursing her ankle, telling you some landmarks you should expect to see while headed there as you glance between the map and her in mild amazement. How the hell does she know this much?

'So. Here, when you see a tree that's been struck by lightning and is still alive - it's an oak, you know what an oak looks like - it's white, the top is all bare, but there's shoots growing out the bottom. At that oak, you turn to the right and head right down the... oi, are you listening?'

Damn, you're looking somewhere between the map and her face again. 'Yeah. Lightning, oak, turn right...'

After about half an hour of this briefing, you go out to see the guard. He's gone round looking, and is wearing a tunic that's a little too large for him; on the good side, though, he does have his sword with him - a handsome long sword. You've got your bow, and you think about it a little while and make some makeshift fire arrows with bundled straw.

'So, are we bringing anyone along with us?'

> Oh yes, good point. Bring more people? Or just you two?
> You feel pretty confident about this route. Stella's info sounds really legit.

>>29125155
Just the two will draw less attention

>>29125180
We made fire arrows, I don't think we care about the attention drawing aspects, ask the soldier how many people are there as guards and we can make this a full blown raid.

>>29125180

Except we're releasing serfs and possibly burning down the watchtower. Let's bring more men.

I'm almost tempted to say we should bring all of them. Haven't led a full-force raid before.

>>29125199
>>29125227
I was thinking about someone spotting our group leaving and finding out where we are

Rolled 92

>>29125248
>>29125227
>>29125199
>>29125180
>>29125155
How about we just bring 2-3 more guys.

>>29125180
>>29125199
>>29125227
>>29125248
>>29125265

Anticipating you might need more hands, you bring Orvo and one of the others along, and it strikes you just how badly you do need people. At this rate, even Kevo could easily overwhelm your forces... and a single injury, which is likely to be quite common, could really wreck you.

You leave instructions for the other three men and the women to keep within the palisade and be vigilant, and then set off, following Stella's instructions. To your amazement, they really do work; your intent had been to scale the hill and come down the other side, but she's mapped out a relatively flat path that allows you to move a lot more quickly.

Nonetheless, even as you move out, you quickly realise with growing unease that the hills are already getting busier. Where there were just clearings, or relatively sparse patches of forest, there are in some places tents of cloth and in others fully-built hides, and though you escape detection much of the time, this is still disturbing. Something terrible must have happened in the west if the war's been starting in spring, but suddenly there's this wave in autumn...

> cont'd.

Hey guys should we tell the fucker about the chest and hope he tries to get it early or just pretend to do a raid?

>>29125337
I say we visit his place some time after we get back and then tell him about the chest and let him go for it

>>29125319

As you move farther west, the area actually gets more and more crowded. But none of you expected to see a raid happening until, while crossing a very brambly patch, you start hearing screams and follow the trees to look.

Holy shit. There's a cluster of about six or seven hides and tents, and a group of 15, maybe 20 men are now attacking it, hacking down the huts and searching for anything edible amid the screams. Most of the men have been cut down; you see a weeping old woman being dragged out and beheaded, and then a younger woman, attempting to run, is caught.

Someone moves up to her, raises his axe and chops off one of her feet; then, as she screams and screams, the rest tear her clothes off, intent on using her until she bleeds to death. Fucking hell. Those aren't Kevo's men. There's just so many such refugees now...

Avoiding another round of screams when you next hear them, you press on quickly and soon arrive at the last landmark Stella pointed out. Here the guard takes over. 'Tower's over there,' he points. 'The serfs live on that side of the village, we on this side.'

It's pretty clear. The downslope houses are just huts; the higher ones are nicer. If you intend to distract the tower by setting the serfs free, you'll need someone to distract, someone to do the freeing. And the guard will go to his family, naturally.

> Time to assign tasks. You have the guard, Orvo, and one more person.
> Who does what, and what do you do?

>>29125386
I got nothing.

>>29125386
We go with Orvo and deal with the tower the other guy frees the serfs

>>29125386
Send Orvo with the kid just in case he tries something. we'll be the distraction with nameless dude

>>29125386
Orvo and his friend do the distarcting we free the serfs and try to revuit as many as we can

>>29125528
Seconded.

>>29125528
>>29125521
>>29125513
>>29125490

You send Orvo with the guard, while taking your man with you. They head off into the evening, guided on by the guard, and then you close in directly towards the village...

... damn. It being evening, the serfs and free farmers alike are all heading towards home now, wielding their implements as they go. The tower is right in the middle of the village, and you'll have a pretty difficult time trying to approach it directly...

There are, however, a few guards moving around on the streets now. Of course, they're right in public view, and you're not sure what you might be able to do with distracting them.

> Try to approach the guards. (And do what?)
> Try to approach the tower. (And do what?)
> Don't enter the village, try to skirt right around to the serfs' quarters.
> Other.

>>29125557
approach the guards and attempt to size them up and if possiable deal with them silently

>>29125580

> The guards are in public view, as I've mentioned. If you want to 'deal with them silently', you might need to come up with a good plan to either get them or the homecoming peasants away.

> Either that, or you can simply wait for the people to finish going home, though you don't know what might have happened on Orvo's side by then.

>>29125557
>Other.
Pretend to be a woman and seduce the guards. Then, assassinate when out of view.

>>29125598
ok thats why I said if possiable. How many guards are hteir anyways

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>>29125605
I can get behind this.

>>29125623

A cursory view tells you there's probably four or five of them, but the main issue is that they're scattered... you could approach one, or another, but you can't approach all five of them.

Come think of it, this is a pretty heavy guard for a poxy village. But it seems justified seeing how many serfs there are. Maybe the entire manor's serfs are kept here.

>>29125648
We still have that bow, lets put it to good use. Sneak around the outskirts from guard to guard and put a arrow into each one of their chests when they are a location that would conceal them from the watch-tower and nearby serfs. Sniper Elite mode go.

dice+1d100

spontaneous song and dance number to distract all the guards and the watch tower.

captcha: your kingsnp

>>29125700
This could work if we get our partner to lure the guards into predetermined spots while we set up a shot. We should give him some of our silver to help lure the guards

>>29125724
>>29125700
Shit, this sounds like it could work. Voting for this.

Rolled 14

>>29125723
fuck wrong field rerolling should have gone to bed.

>>29125723
>>29125739
I got you covered.

Rolled 12

>>29125768

Rolled 15

>>29125768
>>29125739
>>29125775
yep, totally covered

>>29125724
make him trick the guard into following him by reporting some crime, then leading the guard directly to death by arrow. maybe if he pulls this off we'll consider asking/remembering his name.

Rolled 88

>>29125723
>>29125739

rerolling inb4 < 20

Rolled 60

Where did the QM go?

>>29126302
He tends to do that.

Right. So the choices seem to be:

> Song and dance number
> Attempt to snipe the guards one by one

Which will it be? Also, just saying that Orvo and the guard are already going off to do the primary mission. It might not be worthwhile to get carried away killing and killing if they've managed to extricate their family.

And no matter how many people you kill, of course, it wouldn't be much good if you *don't* get Orvo and the guard and his family out. Unless you're fine with only having a 4 man band of bandits.

>>29126606
-don't fuck with the guards if we don't have to.
-wait for the rescueteam to extract the family
-if needed snipe the guard closest to us/ordo & guard

Rolled 41

>>29126606
>> Song and dance number
Distraction HOOO.

>>29126606
I'm all for distracting the guards.

>>29126606
>>29126629
Seconding this guy
'cause morderhoboing samefags are ruining this quest

>>29126606
>> Song and dance number
Just to see how well we could do.

>>29126606
>> Song and dance number
Make sure not to dirty our cloak.

>>29126606

Neither.

Move towards the guard and orvo's house, if we saw it, overwatch, make sure they're okay.

and yesterday's session was going so well too

>>29126659
>>29126668
samefag

>>29126694
>>29126708
samefag

and perhaps even
>>29126659
>>29126668
>>29126694
>>29126708
samefag

>>29126713
>>29126708
>>29126694
>>29126681
>>29126668
>>29126659
>>29126629

> Well well.

You turn to your partner. 'You should probably stay back. I think I'll distract them without trying to fight or kill them.'

'And how're you going to do that, boss?'

Well, there is one way... you move closer to the village, take a deep breath, and begin belting out a song you remember from the days when you were a farmer, often sung in the fields to entertain everyone.

'GOLD ARE THE FIELDS! AND THE SICKLE IS SHARP! THE GODS HAVE FAVOURED US - AND WE'LL NOT REST TODAY!'

The song has an immediate effect on the village. People look up, puzzled, including the guards; men stop in their paths, staring about for the source of the singing. The person who knows where the singing is coming from, on the other hand, is sitting to your right hoping for deafness or death.

... but damn, it seems to be working. You see some of the guards begin waving at the serfs and farmers, moving them on, and work on the second verse. Right. Deep breath. One, two-

'BY NIGHTFALL TODAY! OUR SICKLES ARE BLUNT! THE LADY DRIVES HER CHARIOT!'

There's now a slight commotion in the village, though whether in approval or murderous intent you can't tell...

> Roll d100. For sheer fucking cheek, I'll give you a +10.

Rolled 8 + 10

>>29126775
Nope
>>29126777

Rolled 46 + 10

>>29126777

death to samefags, fuck you Moot

Rolled 35

>>29126777

Rolled 33

>>29126777

You guys are awful at rolling. Here comes the master.

Rolled 51 + 10

>>29126787
>>29126788
>>29126793
>>29126795
Oh GOD! These awful rolls.

Rolled 100 + 10

>>29126787
>>29126788
>>29126793
>>29126795
>>29126798
>>29126799
>>29126803

Even the gods hate us

It looks like we displeased the dice gods by forgoing being murder hobos.

Rolled 1

>>29126804
but not you lucky anon, our shining star

>>29126809
STOP ROLLING
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

>>29126804
No they fucking don't

>>29126809
oh god I am so sorry I left my dice on, forgive me Dice gods and OP

>>29126809
I'm glad op said he takes what ever comes first so the nat 100 isn't cancelled out.

File: 1388232929879.gif-(1.15 MB, 380x280, rockband.gif)

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Rolled 94 + 10

>>29126804
>mfw everyone included me fuck up everything, then I roll nat 100 when complaining.
>then this guy>>29126809 happens

>>29126809
>>29126804

> C-C-CRITICAL CANCEL
> 46 + 10: Nope, this doesn't go too well...

You move from the second verse on to the third, but halfway there it becomes clear that the feeling and noise from the village is negative. 'Who the hell is that up there?'

'It's not bandits, is it?'

Oh shit. At the sound of the possibility of bandits, the guards suddenly perk up, and soon you have four or five guards beginning to move towards the edge of the village - which, incidentally, is also not very far away from where Orvo and the guard are trying to extricate the family. You turn to your partner, who's drawing his hatchet, and gesture frantically for him to put it down...

... 'Who goes there! You fucking raiders!' One of the guards, spotting some movement, blows a whistle, and in the setting sun and the distance more guards, probably guarding the serf camp, are beginning to move out.

You've just distracted the guards by drawing them towards you.

> What do?

>>29126837
Run

>>29126837
"No sir! I am merely a traveling bard, hoping to entertain the masses! Is your lord about?"

File: 1388233336689.gif-(1.67 MB, 427x240, nopebye.gif)

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>>29126837
>lets the murderhobos have their quest

Rolled 43

>>29126865
This, and add a sob story about how hard it is to get an audience nowadays.

>>29126886
>>29126867
>>29126865
>>29126849

You glance at your companion, then tell him to stay here. Fuck, it looks like you've fucked up again... next time there should be someone around to slap you upside the head if you ever say you're in charge of running distraction.

But there's still a way to salvage this, which is to move *towards* the guards. After all, from what you see, they don't have long-ranged weapons, so they can't shoot you on sight. So you emerge from cover, ignoring your colleague's pleas, and wave at the guards.

Dear gods, Orvo, guard, don't fucking come out now. There are perhaps three or four guards right on your street, but they won't be there once I'm down. You think that to yourself as you run down the slope, hopping lightly down onto the end of the street, and find at least four spears - and several sticks from law-loving civilians - being lowered at you.

'Woah, woah! Calm down!' You laugh. 'I'm sorry if my singing is terrible, but...'

> cont'd.

>>29126952

'Who the fuck are you!' They don't really wait for your answer, rushing up and grabbing you, but you only resist minimally while protesting loudly. Fuck, this had better be fucking worth it! They drag you down the street, shoving and cursing as you protest your innocence as a wandering entertainer, until you are brought to a particularly large house in the village with a fence around it.

... did you just manage to get yourself an audience with a military officer or a manor captain or something? You hear the sound of music from inside, and then the people drag you on into a dining room. Several tables are set, and there are about ten or fifteen guests eating some really nice-smelling food. A burly, mustachioed man is the host, with one arm around a serving girl and another holding a cup.

'What's this now? Another serf? Just beat him and get him out.'

'Uh, no sir. He's possibly a madman or a bandit. Was singing at the top of his voice just outside the village.' The guard saying this kicks you to your knees, then kicks you again in the back, sending you sprawling. Fuck, your lip! You wipe it and your hand comes off bloody.

'So, singing, were you?' The burly man says, and then another guard kicks you in the ribs. Why? Why is it always the ribs??

> W...what say? Oof.

>>29126955
No beatings necessary, sir. I will leave voluntary.

I think we were better off with the Sniper Elite plan..

>>29126955
Repeat attempt to pass as a wandering troubadour, this time without guards to spank us.

>>29126955
Yes sire, i lost a bet and was forced to sing.

>>29126986
It would have gone off without a hitch if it wasn't for the nat 1.

>>29126986
>I think we were better off with the Sniper Elite plan..
why do people think that in "Mountain Bandit Quest" going murderhobo mode is a bad thing...

>>29126955
Merely a wandering farmer turned hunter Ser. Looking for a place to rest easily for the night.

>>29126986
Yeah, probably.

>>29126955
Tell him that we are a wandering ministrel that stumbeled upon a bandit encampent(not ours of course, the other one's)

>>29126955

Really, you people? No audacity at all?

"I heard there was a feast here, was hungry, and wanted to see if I could bluff my way into it. I suppose that means I won, sir."

>>29126997
i have no trouble killing shit in this thread, i just want to not act chaotic stupid

>>29126997
Past experiences I'd say. But honestly, I think we're all under the impression that calculated risks = MURDERHOBOING lately.

>>29127018
>piss of everyone in the world while our "army" consists of <10 fighting men
>calculated risks

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>>29127032
>get an awesome weapon that you never use in favor of plans that we can't pull off
>smart

> If it is any comfort, I can assure you that trying to shed the blood of a guard in a village with 20+ guards and 50 or 60 witnesses would make your current predicament look like a picnic. Your bow is good, but Arjuna you ain't.

> Wait a minute, you *are* in a picnic! Just not really yours.

You look up at the man, and then spit a little blood on the floor. 'I-I beg your pardon, sir.'

'Oh, Atigo, look what you've done to him!' But then the man laughs before leaning forward to you. 'Well, I can make sure Atigo does worse, unless you spit out why you were singing. Are you part of some conspiracy with the serfs? Do I have to find some of them and haul them up so all of you can hang together?'

'N-no-' but then someone pulls your head up by the hair and then stamps on your back. OH FUCK! FUCK YOUR SPINE IS BREAKING- then you scream, and get slammed down into the ground again. Now your nose is also wet with blood and people are laughing.

'So no. So are you a bandit, maybe? Trying to signal, very, very stupidly, to someone you've planted in here?' He looks up. 'Guards. Dispatch a few men, go out and search if there's any strangers! Tell the villagers to look out, go strike the hue and cry!'

'No, sir, no, no! I'll tell you the tru-' Atigo pulls you up and kicks you in the stomach. 'Truth! If you will stop kicking me!'

'Oh. Right. So what is it then?'

You hear the sound of a sword being drawn and grit your teeth. 'It was a bet, sir!' you yell, laughing through the blood in your nose and mouth. 'A bet! I am a hunter. I made a bet with my friend who said... I couldn't...'

'Yes?'

'Couldn't get invited into the guard captain's house in this village,' you grin at him, which must be a grotesque sight since the serving girls squeal. Blood trickles down your chin as you keep grinning. 'So I suppose I won! I won myself the flanks of a deer, hehe, hahahaha!'

'Sir?'

> cont'd.

>>29127064
aaaand we die, welp back to lewdlord we go

>>29127064

The mustachioed man blinks at you, mouth slightly agape. Then, in a movement that makes you thank the Gods for everything there is you can think of, he throws his head back and roars with laughter.

'I... HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA ohhh HAHAHAHA this guy is hilarious! Oh look at him! Atigo get him to his feet! Give him a goblet of wine!'

You get pulled up and then dropped on your knees. Ow. But a cup of wine is put before you, and the mustachioed man points you out to the other guests, as if they haven't seen you. 'To the hunter with guts!'

'To the hunter with guts!'

Atigo slaps your head, and the captain stops him. 'Oi! Come on, he's a guest! So what can I get you to prove you were here? Should I remove a hand? Maybe a foot? He'll know it was me then, no?'

> What say?
> Roll d100. You've amused the captain at least, so you have a +20 bonus.
> If you can amuse him more, you might get a bigger bonus. Try away, you fucking peasant.

Rolled 20 + 20

>>29127096
I've been waiting for this.

Rolled 22 + 20

>>29127096
>> Roll d100. You've amused the captain at least, so you have a +20 bonus.

Rolled 25 + 20

>>29127096

Rolled 92 + 20

>>29127120
>>29127118
>>29127114
>>29127101
Oh FUCK! Not again

Rolled 85 + 20

>>29127096
The ass kicking I have now is than enough. Perhaps a bone to give my friend so he can know how much better I am then him

>>29127123

Thank you.

NOBODY ELSE ROLL. STOP. NOW.

> Really? You were about to die and you didn't say anything more to save yourself?

> 92 + 20: At least the dice gods love you, then.

You figure the captain's amused by your words, but then your mind blanks out once you drink the wine and you can't really think of anything else to say that might improve your chances. So instead you just keep quiet, even as the sword is drawn and your hand is dragged onto the floor, and a foot stamps on it. 'WAAARGH!'

'Not the hand, then? Maybe the foot?'

'AUGHH! AAAAUGH!' You groan and screech, feeling fucking ashamed of yourself, as they step on your feet, your arse, your arms. It feels like forever before finally the man says something you don't catch, and then-

An excruciating, burning pain shoots up your left arm and your eyes bulge as you look down at your hand. Your left hand! Your left pinky! It's like over THERE! FUUUUCK! FUUUUUCK! Blood spurts out, but someone quickly comes in with a bandage, and then the world gets all wobbly...

...

... you find yourself again, face down in a pile of manure. Was that a dream? Oh FUCK your left hand! NO IT FUCKING WAS NOT. You're short one fucking pinky finger now, fuck, fuuuuck. It's here on a string around your neck! Fuuuuck! You try to move, but every move is agony to your battered body.

It's a long time before you manage to clamber, wheeze and moan your way near the forest, where finally your companion and Orvo come and carry you. 'What the hell happened, boss?! Your finger!'

> What say?
> Also, it seems that the mission was successful. You see the guard's family before you.

> Might be worthwhile making some plans for the next few days while you recuperate...

>>29127194
so why the fuck did we decide to help the retarded guard when we could have tricked Kevo and gotten his men?

Rolled 57 + 20

>>29127194
-Let us get home, we have an attack waiting for us from the other bandits.
But wait.
What if we tell them about the fake chest treasure, ask if they want to help us raid it in three days? they are greedy, perhaps they will go there on their own and lose most of their men to the guards and poison.
An their women will be ours

>>29127209
I have no face to say this considering I've been an instigator before but...

Let's let bygones be bygones and focus on making the best of the present.

>>29127194
>give them the short version of events, tell the guard and family they owe you a finger.

>plan: attempt to poison Kevo, have at least 3 of your best men watching over while you recuperate.

>>29127194

Give our little finger on a string to the guard.

"This is what I paid for you. I will expect no less."

Then

>>29127230
>>29127222

Chat up Stella while we're all resting up. She thinks she's got a big injury, hah.

>>29127240
This

>>29127240
Yeah, this.
This familys loyalty will be ours now.

>>29127209
>>29127222
>>29127230
>>29127240
>>29127261

'Him...' you nod towards the guard, who rushes forward and helps you. His two brothers are bearing their mother, and eventually all of you manage to get to the white oak tree struck by lightning, when rain begins to fall.

'Boss... what was it?' The guard looks at you, then at your hand. Fuck, it hurts. At least you use a bow where losing one finger on the left hand should be manageable...

You reach for your detached finger on a string, gripping the cold flesh. Odd how it's so dead once it's away from you. Then you gesture to the guard. 'What's your name?'

'Sarius, boss.'

'Sarius, this is what I paid for you!' You muster your voice to shout that, and press it into his hand. Ow, that took a lot of strength. More softly, you say, 'I expect no less. Do you understand?'

'I will spill blood and guts on the field for you, sir!'

And with that you eventually arrive in camp after dawn, with the rain still pouring down and another few baskets of pears in the courtyard. Those damned kids are good at this. In a big, long hubbub, you have your wound treated by Marrte, who applies something that stings like hell on your stump.

'Build those people a shelter,' you say, gesturing to the new family.

> Now you have 8 fighting men!
> Leaders: Stella, Orvo, Sarius
> Also about 15 women and children.

You then manage to crawl into the hut, where Stella is sitting. 'Hey...' you murmur, and she blinks and comes up to you.

'What the *fuck*, Ephidel!' You collapse into her lap as she holds you. Ah, nice. She's wearing the loose tunic today. Stella gasps when you show her your hand. 'You are not going on a mission without me again, you get me?'

> What say to Stella? Oh, she's cradling you and fussing. That's kind of worth it. Well, maybe not really a finger, but...

> Also, who send to tell Kevo about the decoy hoard?
> What should the rest of them do for the next 4-5 days? Let's timeskip a bit.

>>29127351
-Send Orvo, the guard and his two brothers. Enough people so Kevo won't outright attack them.
If he asks about us, say we are scouting out the mission.

-The rest of our people will keep fortifying our base and training with the makeshift bows we got.

>>29127351
"I accomplished what I set out to do. Thanks for your concern, but I'm not a child. Now, stay still, I'm comfortable as fuck right now.."

>>29127413
And this

>>29127351


>>29127413
>>29127462
Also if Stella's leg is feeling better she will stalk Kevo's band to se how they fare against the trap, we must also send in a squad to mop up(kill) any survivors and collect their weapons and equipment

>>29127462
>>29127413

'Eh, well,' you mutter. 'I've still got nine fingers, and what needs doing was done.'

'You probably needn't have given that finger, right? What the hell happened?' She takes your wrist and examines the wound as you give a summarised version. The fact that Stella is leaning forward, while you shift back against her, means you are now bumping against her tits, soft under the tunic.

'I could have been careful, probably,' you say, as she leans back again. No, don't lean back- oh well. 'But still. Just a finger. Don't worry over it.'

'Says the person who was all ooh, aah when I sprained my ankle.' She punches your face slowly and lightly. 'I'll worry however much the fuck I want. Do you need anything?'

'I need you to stay still... because this is quite comfortable.'

She sighs, but doesn't move.

> Just relax.
> Take subtle advantage of her. (Roll d100)

> Your instructions for the next few days are received, don't worry.

>>29127534

Agree with stalking the band. But do NOT kill the survivors. If they're willing to join us, we need all the fighters we can get.

Most importantly Kevo must die. Other than him, the rest are recruitable.

bloody murderhobos

Rolled 5

>>29127547

>>29127547
Just relax

>>29127583
2nd'ed. Besides, we can try later if convalescence in her lap becomes a habit.

>>29127547

Relax now.

Honour now leads to gains later.

Rolled 8

>>29127547
> Take subtle advantage of her. (Roll d100)

Rolled 39

>>29127547
>> Just relax.
chill

>>29127619
>>29127606
>>29127583
>>29127580

You consider maybe shifting a little, just so you could nudge against Stella again, but actually fuck it. Your hand hurts like fuck, and you're actually in a mood for honour now. So you just lie back on her shoulder and doze off.

When you wake up again, your head is still on Stella's shoulder, but you're both in a corner of the hut now. You're practically lying on her as she sits against the corner, her arms looped around your chest. 'Stella?'

Damn, she's asleep, gaping slightly. Drooling slightly, actually. Damn. You grin, watching her sleep and her breathing moves you as well. Right. Back to napping...

...

It's late afternoon when you wake up, sitting alone now against the corner. Pfft. Getting out, you get Orvo and Sarius, as well as his two brothers, to go visit Kevo's hamlet. 'Kevo? Why?'

'I want you to tell them about the store of gold.'

'But you're in no shape to fight, boss.' Orvo points. He doesn't yet know about the treasure. None of them yet know, actually, except for Pago, and clearly Pago hasn't talked... 'so are we launching a joint raid?'

> Be honest with Orvo.
> Fob him off with some excuse to let him trick Kevo. (What excuse?)
> Other.

Rolled 62

>>29127678
> Be honest with Orvo.
he is after all one of the leaders here

>>29127678
Be honest, and tell him it's the reason we haven't disrupted the loot yet. Were trying to keep it under wrap incase where being watched.

>>29127775
>>29127697

'No, we're not.' Actually, good man, Pago. There's a man who knows the value of sealed lips. 'Sarius, tell him what's happened.'

Sarius tells Orvo, who blinks and then looks back at you. 'So we already have the loot, boss?'

'Well... the better half of it.'

'And, uh, where is it?'

'It's in my hide. I'm not distributing it yet, because we need to keep this under wraps. I want Kevo to really think the loot is right there, for him to take. And that we gave him the tip, but unfortunately we can't join in. You could probably be truthful on that one.'

'So Stella sprained her ankle while hunting, and you had your finger chewed off by a wolf?' Orvo chuckles and you slap his shoulder.

'That should work. Also, remember, do not agree to have them led to our camp. Come back alone. You too, Sarius. Keep watch.'

'Sure, boss.' Orvo hefts his axe, and off they go, tramping into the forest.

> Roll d100 for success. You have a +30 bonus due to prior planning, and because Sarius knows exactly where the 'treasure' is. Good choice for delegation, mate.

Rolled 20

>>29127815
ere we go

Rolled 30 + 30

>>29127815

Rolled 2 + 30

>>29127815

Rolled 80

>>29127815
PRAYING I DON'T ROLL A 1 AGAIN

>>29127841
Nice prayer.

Rolled 36

>>29127815
Please be nice dice gods

>>29127815
>>29127841

> 80 + 30: great success!

Orvo and the men come back that evening, just as you're preparing some venison sausages. Two women hold the deer intestines, another person stuffs them, but thankfully you're doing neither, instead just mincing the meat thoroughly with one knife. Stella is using both hands. She's fine now, anyway.

'Boss,' Sarius greets you first. 'Good news.'

'Yeah?'

'Kevo says, in a few days he'll bring the men down to look. He'll just keep track of the hoard for now, he says...'

'Excellent. Stella, do you reckon you're healed up enough to watch them?'

'I could...' Poor Stella thus goes out looking again.

In the meantime, you get the womenfolk to spend some time each day training with the bow. Walking around, you correct their posture, call out timing for their shots, and then eventually get the men to set up some targets for them to shoot.

This goes on for three days, during which they show some progress. Well, any experience is progress. They *are* making progress in arrow-making through, and you have a good store of wooden shafts. Iron heads would be nice.

Stella comes back on the third day to say that one of Kevo's scouts got caught in a trap. 'He was hanging there for a while, then the guards took him. I'm a little wary now about those traps, actually. Do you think I should watch Kevo's camp instead?'

> Keep watching the hoard. They should start attacking soon.
> Go watch Kevo's camp, see what preparations they're making.
> Other.

> Also, Stella wants to know what the plan is when Kevo *does* move. If there's likely going to be a cloud of poison gas and several angry, armed guards, where do you intend to be and what do you intend to do?

>>29127884
>Go watch Kevo's camp, see what preparations they're making.
if they go for the trap, we will follow at a distance, and mop up the leftovers. first with words, and if that fails with swords.

>>29127913
dees

Rolled 94

>>29127913
This also our main target is Kevo, if we kill him, his men might listen

>>29127913
>>29127954

'Now that you mention it, Kevo's camp might be a good idea. We need to see what they're doing and be ready.'

'And when they're ready, what happens?'

'I just want Kevo dead. Once he's out of the way, I suspect the other men might listen to a recruitment offer. But let's not get into a fight with the guards, or with them, if we can help it.'

'Mm. Well, I'm not about to do that.' Stella smiles and straps up. Damn, sending her to the camp of someone who just said he intended for the entire camp to rape her... you better be damned careful, Stella...

Thankfully she comes back at the appointed time over the next two days. It seems that, yes, Kevo is leading the men to attack, but he's split them into two groups - one to decoy the guards, one to open the chest. You wonder which group he'll be in. No wait, that's easy - he's with the treasure crew, of course.

Bad news does come, but it's not from Kevo's quarter. You're letting Marrte tend to your finger stump while watching Sarius teach axe-fighting to Orvo. Wow, Sarius is rather skilled - you watch Orvo swing at him, only for him to catch the axe with the flat of his blade, divert it, kick Orvo and manoeuvre the blade right up to his throat. Finish.

Just then, though, two of the women - coming back from a firewood trip - arrive, pale-faced. 'B...brother...'

'What?'

'There's a hamlet over there, where we sometimes trade meat for salt, but, but it's...' then they start crying. Oh fuck.

> Go investigate, focus on survivors.
> Go investigate, focus on loot.
> It's a hamlet got burned and some people got killed. Life in the hills.
> Other.

>>29128097
>> Other.
no action until they stop crying and tell us what is going on.

>>29128097
> Go investigate, focus on survivors
Possible angry recruits to join us, and we learn from the horse's mouth about which threat is encroaching upon our lands

Rolled 21

>>29128097
seconding this>>29128116
we keep acting without intel

>>29128116
This

Rolled 68

>>29128097
Focus on survivors but be sure to check for anything useful like weapons. Take only one man with us in and out as fast as we can.

>>29128180
>>29128128
>>29128116

You get to your feet, but then hold yourself for a moment - and stop the others who also are headed towards the women. 'No, wait. Wait. Stop crying! Tell me what's happened!'

They sniffle a little, sobbing still. 'The... the hamlet's been burned... there's dead people... some are dying... there's this girl... she's been nailed... nailed...'

Fucking hell, you think as they break down again. 'Can some ladies bring these two some ale? Orvo, grab two men. Also, is there anyone still there? The raiders?'

'No...they're gone.'

Fine, then. Still, you advance carefully, knowing the location of that hamlet. It's a relatively new one, not far from the one where Pago stole the goats... even a hundred paces away, you can smell the smoke, and soon the four of you hurry upon a scene of devastation. Oh shit, they're right about the girl. She's writhing, naked and nailed to a tree, choking and crying as blood runs down her arms. There's bruises all over her body, and as for her crotch, well...

All the huts have been burned to ash, and there are a few charred bodies. You find someone dying, an arrow embedded in his arm and another in his chest, and he gurgles. 'Bandits... bandits...'

'Come on, get her down! There's another one there!' You look up to see yet another of the girls, this one tied to another tree by rope. Fucking hell! The girl with the punctured arms simply collapses, shivering.

'Kill me,' she sobs, looking at you. 'Just kill me...'

> Roll d100 to search for more survivors.
> Do/say anything to the three survivors so far?

Rolled 9

>>29128280
>> Roll d100 to search for more survivors.

Rolled 9

>>29128280
searchan

Rolled 22

>>29128280
>> Roll d100 to search for more survivors.
ask them where people may have hid, and how many attackers there were.
collect arrows if we have time

>>29128292
>>29128310
Fucking trash rolls.

Rolled 72

>>29128292
>>29128310
wat

>>29128280
asses the girl nailed to the tree, if she is too far gone, give her mercy, if not, try and help her and the other girl tied up

Rolled 7

>>29128280

Rolled 47

>>29128280
Come on survivors

Rolled 72

>>29128280
>Roll d100 to search for more survivors.

>>29128292
>>29128310
wut doubles?

>>29128318
>>29128383
woo doubles

DOUBLE DOUBLES
SUPER ULTRA MEGA TRIPLE CRIT SUCCESS!
MAKE IT HAPPEN!

>double doubles
We find people who don't even exist or have any business there.

>>29128413
We discover Jesus on the Cross before he was stabbed

> 72, but against double 9's: Not hopeful.

You rush over to assess the poor girl, who groans when you roll her on her back. To be honest, other than her hands and the bruises - and bleeding from her womanhood, which is also oozing horribly with all manner of other things - she seems to be okay. But clearly she's in pain.

'Right, got this one down too,' Orvo carries the half-conscious girl in and lays her out as well. Actually... you put your cloak on the one you were examining. They're both very cold, which happens when you're naked and tied to a tree outside in autumn.

You go around the place again, and manage to find another survivor, an old man; but he's been trapped under a burning hut for so long that his back is a welt of burned, raw flesh, the smell sickening. He merely croaks when you hold your nose and squat. 'Who did this?'

'B...band...'

'From where?'

'Up...' fuck. You slit his throat, then go to the man with arrows, who is a little more clear. 'Up...uphill. Camp... twenty... or so. I can't... breathe...'

Well, nothing you can do about that. His eyes widen when you slit his throat, but after a little struggling he smiles, as if he's figured it out and is grateful. Could be worse, mate. You go back to the two girls and your men.

'Fucking hell, they're all dead,' you say. 'And the village is cleanly looted, too. Except these two.'

'Kill me, please, just kill me,' the girl grabs your hand. 'I... I'm not clean... I don't want to live...'

You watch her break down in tears, looking at your knife with fear. Orvo's already carrying the other girl. 'Come on, boss. Let's get them both back and warmed up. They're not severely hurt, the old man can help.'

'No... I don't want...'

> What do/say to the girl? The damned fool, it's not even like she's dying.

> You manage to recover a small container of salt. Well, it's useful for sausages...

>>29128433
"Saddle up boys! Lets ride!"
Return home

>>29128433
"Live for revenge, or die for nothing. Your choice."
And uh... Ask Stella to give her female support while she recovers from the ordeal.

>>29128433

"Don't be a bloody fool. You'll live. You'll be safe with us."

Carry her, and bring her back.

>>29128433
"Look lass, I don't think there is anything I can say to make you feel better about this, but killing yourself over it would just be a waste. Live, if only for revenge against those who did this to you, your friends and your family."

>>29128433
say to the girl ''It's not the worst thing in the world i assure you.'' then head back

>>29128467
>>29128466
>>29128461
>>29128450

> Two or three more posts probs, and then I'm done. Thanks for playing.

Gods damn it... annoyed, you growl at her and grip her cold hand, pulling it away.

'Ow! Don't-'

'It hurts, right? So you're alive, right? Dying for your honour and cleanliness is dying for nothing. Don't be a damned fool.'

'But all of them!' She wails and coughs up a little blood. Definitely internal injuries. Marrte better have something for that... 'and then they-'

'Then you can stay alive, and avenge the lot of them. You'll be safe with us. Now bear with this a little.' You hoist her carefully in your arms as she struggles weakly. 'Let's go. Remember the salt! We need that for sausages.'

'Nice change of tone, boss.'

> cont'd.

>>29128543
They ran a train on her?

>>29128543

The girl's pleas for death soon fade into crying, but you shake her to keep her awake until you get back to your camp. Immediately you're surrounded by people, who in a frenzy take the girls away to be dressed and put next to the fire. You get your cloak back. 'Marrte? Marrte! Where's that old nutter-'

'I'm on it, I'm on it!' He sprints past you. 'Make way! Internal injuries, bruising, tears of the vulva and external wounds! I'm on it!'

... how'd he make the diagnosis that quickly? Also, it's nice to have so many womenfolk taking care of her though. Soon they're by the fire being fed broth while Marrte dresses the girl's punctured hands.

'I'll have to look at her vulva,' he says, insistently, and you have to drag him away just as Stella comes back. You tell her what's happened, and she shakes her head.

'Another fight for another day,' she says. 'But for now, big news.'

'They're setting off?'

'Preparing to. 4 in the digging group, 10 in the decoy group. The men are all heading out, actually. So what's the strategy?' She looks at the two girls. 'Oh, that one's woken up.'

'That's good,' you then hear the weeping and wailing. 'Well, still good.'

> So there are three obvious points of attack - decoy group, digging group and the camp itself which will be empty.
> So which do you attack, and how do you split your forces?

>>29128551
Don't attack until they open the chests and the trap goes off, before that we'll be completely outnumbered.
Hopefully the digging party will wait for the decoy group to meet back up with them to open the chests.
Follow the decoy group though, they'll be the best armed and the biggest threat and if the digging group opens the chests early we'll need to act fast to keep the advantage.

>>29128551
>Visit the girls again, Marrte is obviously going to kill them to cover up his culpability.

Rolled 90

>>29128593
this, have our best arrows ready. they go into Kevo's eyes

>>29128613
>that or he's been treating rape wounds for a while now..

>>29128551

Let's all attack the camp.

Think about it. The digging group will dig the gas up and die. The decoy group will get in a fight with the guards.

If there are any survivors, they will run right back to the camp where their homes and women are. And we'll be there waiting for them.

If none of them survive, then the guards come, and we'll be ready for them too.

>>29128626
Nah, some women and children will join in the fight. also people tend to fight stronger if their families are directly in danger.

>>29128625
>he psychically knows the exact wounds these girls have
nah, he's obviously involved. Leave him alone with them and they will suddenly "succumb to their injuries" and/or "commit suicide".

>>29128626
I think we've seen enough slaughter of women and children for one week, no need to commit it ourselves this time.

>>29128661

No one's saying we're killing them. We'll go and hold them hostage, and the survivors who come back will be motivated to join us.

>>29128593
>>29128620

Thirding

'We'll follow the decoy group,' you say. 'The womenfolk will stay here. Stella, lead the way; Orvo and Sarius, just get the men ready.'

'Sure thing, boss.' That makes it sound impressive, except there's just ten of you, really. Still... you set out into the darkening afternoon, in the now-familiar forest gloom, and before long Stella puts a hand up and all of you hide. You've made contact... but it's not the decoy group. Rather, it's the digging group - three men carrying shovels, and Kevo himself.

They pass, and it takes a short while before the ten people in the decoy group walk past in a column. Stella looks at you, but you don't give the order to follow until they're some distance away. Following them at perhaps twenty to thirty paces' distance is difficult in forest and hill terrain, and you barely manage to keep up.

The two groups are converging towards the treasure hoard... and then Stella suddenly turns around and stops you. 'Shh! Stop! Stop!'

'Wha-' but then you see where Stella is pointing, and point it out as well. The decoy group, having figured out the traps also, is arraying itself behind some cover near the decoy hoard; but that's not the point. The point is, there are about ten guards with swords and spears and shields lying in wait. Everyone's ready to ambush everyone else...

The decoy group is definitely within range. You need only take one or two out at distance, and you'll have a firm advantage. Or...

Stella lies down next to you and smiles at you. 'Comfy?'

'Sure.' You sneak a deliberate look at her butt, knowing she's aware. 'Exciting.'

> Wait. Let them fight.
> Attack the decoy group.
> Other.

>>29128778
>> Wait. Let them fight.
shoot arrows from cover after the fighting start, neiteher of their sides will think it is a third party, they will both suspect the other

>>29128778

> Right, I'm kind of done. Exhausted.
> Could someone please help me archive the thread again? Thanks very much for playing.

>>29128814
thanks for thread.
dunno how to archive, sry

>>29128778
Let them fight and try not to let the guards notice us, if the guards win there think they killed the bandits in the hills and hopefully leave us alone.

>>29128814
Great thread, take a well desered break.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Mountain%20Bandit%20Quest

>>29128778
>> Wait. Let them fight.
and then when they are getting butchered, hit them with arrows