|
Post by Benjen Blackfort on Jul 1, 2016 0:45:30 GMT
"Shit, and I thought me and my Da had issues to work out," Benjen muttered. He shook his head and took a pull from his wineskin. "Don't be a bunch of twats," He told Hoster and Willem. "We're here for the same reason, so we'll work together. Not tromp around getting in each others' ways."
Ben hopped off his horse and tied it to a nearby tree, making sure his bow, arrows, and axe were with him. He looked around, trying to get a bearing on exactly where they were and what the terrain was like, as well as any signs of other human activity.
[Observation: 50] [Scouting: 30] [Survival: 35]
|
|
|
Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Jul 1, 2016 6:09:33 GMT
Willem frowned. "I'm not certain how I'm being the twat here." He said in way of reply. "I've offered our assistance and this disgraceful excuse for a man," He gestured at Hoster, "has as always created problems."
|
|
Boros
Knight
Jon
Posts - 456
Likes - 205
Joined - May 2016
|
Post by Boros on Jul 1, 2016 11:02:23 GMT
Exactly, and one of the main problems Hoster had made was this little snickering kid. This would have been Hoster's answer to Willem had he known his parentage.
"If ye wan' ta stay and help, stay. Do wha'e'ver da feck ye like." Hoster said, sitting on a nearby rock or tree stump, his drunken vision couldn't quite differentiate it. He unsheathed his sword and used a whetstone to sharpen it. "Just don' git on mah way. Ah still don' trust ye."
|
|
The Gambler
Administrator
Alea Iacta Est
Posts - 1,984
Likes - 612
Joined - December 2015
|
Post by The Gambler on Jul 1, 2016 16:43:48 GMT
Dacey raised an eyebrow at whatever was happening between Hoster and his 'friend' and made a mental note to later find out who he was. "Come," she told Willis, deeming him far more reliable for the task at hand than Hoster or any of the newcomers. "Try to keep it down here, will you?" she said to the rest of their merry band and started towards the clay pits, staying low where possible. (Level 65 Scout) (Dacey: +2 to Scout)
The area around the clay pits is lightly wooded, the spot likely having been chosen for convenience to give ample fuel for the brickworks, reducing transport costs and time. There was a sharp incline leading up to the northern side of the pit, the lip having been built up over the years as sediment was deposited, which Dacey skirted around to knowing it would provide her an ideal vantage point for reconnaissance.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/4262494361_3315de7ed0.jpg)
The crater had been carved out over decades if not centuries by workers, ladders leading up and down layers cut into the ground. A pool of murky water at the bottom, used to soften the clay as it was dredged up by a pulley system of buckets, hid how deep the chasm truly dug into the earth. Dacey could see two buildings, also in disrepair, the one nearest her likely an overseer's office or bunkhouse and the other on the southern side of the complex near the road likely the brickworks. Though the buildings looked long abandoned, there was smoke coming out of both chimneys. Dacey counted a dozen horses tied up near the northern structure, one which she recognized as her own. She also noted two men with crossbows guarding said horses, though they did not seem particularly vigilant.
|
|
Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
Posts - 938
Likes - 241
Joined - May 2016
|
Post by Vex on Jul 1, 2016 17:26:26 GMT
From that same vantage point, Dacey attempted to determine if there was a strategically advantageous spot for them to make their descent on the bandits, and perhaps a nook for her and Benjen to take out the watchmen.
[67 Scout/42 Observation]
|
|
|
Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Jul 1, 2016 18:16:46 GMT
Exactly, and one of the main problems Hoster had made was this little snickering kid. This would have been Hoster's answer to Willem had he known his parentage. "If ye wan' ta stay and help, stay. Do wha'e'ver da feck ye like." Hoster said, sitting on a nearby rock or tree stump, his drunken vision couldn't quite differentiate it. He unsheathed his sword and used a whetstone to sharpen it. "Just don' git on mah way. Ah still don' trust ye." Willem laughed when the father who had abandoned him implied he was unreliable. It was a harsh laugh without a hint of humour. "Don't get in my way and I won't be in yours." He replied, motioning for his men to follow him as he made his way in the direction benjen had just walked off in. "We will follow Hoster's orders unless I indicate otherwise." He told his men once they were out of Hoster's earshot. "I only trust a self serving drunk so far with our lives."
|
|
The Gambler
Administrator
Alea Iacta Est
Posts - 1,984
Likes - 612
Joined - December 2015
|
Post by The Gambler on Jul 1, 2016 18:32:27 GMT
Dacey determines that the only way in or out is the relatively level land to the south, near where the horses and sentries were, perpendicular to the main road. The bandits had chosen their headquarters well, with only one real entry that could not be flanked and a structure they could use for cover, with wooden docks over the water connecting the buildings in case they needed to fall back. It was a double edged sword however, as it would also mean the bandits could be bottled in with a large enough force.
She noted a long supported wooden platform on the southeastern lip that reached out over the chasm, which likely had once supported a crane, judging that an archer or two could perhaps get an elevated position with an unobstructed firing position from it.
|
|
Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
Posts - 938
Likes - 241
Joined - May 2016
|
Post by Vex on Jul 1, 2016 19:51:15 GMT
Dacey returned to Willis and motioned for him to follow her back to their party. Once they were well away from the edge, she told him about everything she'd seen.
"There's no telling how many there are, but I'd reckon their numbers can't much exceed that of their horses. We could post Benjen at the platform and wait until it gets dark," she said, and looked at her... cousin, waiting for his input.
|
|
|
Post by Ser Willis Blackfort on Jul 1, 2016 23:24:22 GMT
"Fuck fightin' in the dark. We call the others up, you and anyone else who can shoot start shooting, me and the rest finish 'em off'," Willis replied,"Fightin' in the dark is a recipe for gettin' accidentally killed. We got the high ground, we can manage the rest."
|
|
Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
Posts - 938
Likes - 241
Joined - May 2016
|
Post by Vex on Jul 2, 2016 0:07:09 GMT
Dacey looked to him briefly as they walked, thinking about it. "If the arrows fail and the guards alert the others, we might have a right shitstorm on our hands," she said. Clearly, she didn't mind fighting in the dark. "But fine, we'll discuss it with the others."
Once they reached Hoster & Co., Dacey recounted what she'd seen and presented both their options.
"What do you think?" she asked, mostly talking to Benjen and Hoster.
|
|
|
Post by Benjen Blackfort on Jul 2, 2016 1:35:58 GMT
As Benjen had... apparently not been able to use his own senses for observation, for some reason, he listened to what Dacey reported. "We can sneak up in the dark or we can have cover from archers," Ben said, "But not both. Too risky and too hard to see unless they're holding torches, and we can't rely on that. But seems like we got no reason to just charge in. From what you say they're bottled up in there with only one way out. So we send a fast rider back for reinforcements and seal the exit with more men. Those with bows can sit on the ridge and pick off any who try to scramble up the slopes on foot."
Ben shrugged. "That's how I see it anyhow. No point in fighting fair when we've got the advantage of numbers waiting for us just an hour or two away."
|
|
|
Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Jul 2, 2016 2:58:37 GMT
Willem had followed Benjen and Dacey back toward the group, motioning the brothers to do the same.
When Benjen spoke he nodded approvingly and then added his support to the man's position. "I agree with Benjen. Ser Edmure told us that we should report to him and Lord Belric if we were to find any bandits, so they can send men to assist us. You have found the bandits, but why risk your health in fighting against superior numbers?" he said the last looking at Dacey. "We ought to eradicate this problem at the first opportunity, and we stand a better chance of doing so when we can have the numbers on our side with little effort."
|
|
Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
Posts - 938
Likes - 241
Joined - May 2016
|
Post by Vex on Jul 2, 2016 10:01:48 GMT
Dacey nodded at Benjen. "Very well. Pays to be patient," she said, though wasn't too convinced the guardsmen wouldn't light at least some kind of a fire at night. Still, it would have been a gamble.
She looked at the other man. The words that came out of his mouth might as well have been Edmure's. She could see why her brother had given him the task.
Dacey had never been one to underestimate her opponents, yet she was sure enough in her skills not to be afraid of a small band of bandits. "So," she said, as if it was settled, and looked from Willem to Benjen. "Which one of you's the faster rider?"
|
|
Boros
Knight
Jon
Posts - 456
Likes - 205
Joined - May 2016
|
Post by Boros on Jul 2, 2016 12:03:56 GMT
"Yeah... Uh hu... True... That's right." Hoster said randomly during their exchange, at nothing in particular. He was not a man for strategy, you see, he's always been more of the "break their teeth with your fist" tactic, which did not apply in the situation.
|
|
|
Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Jul 2, 2016 21:15:56 GMT
Willem shrugged. "I'm a decent rider, but whether benjen is better than me, or I better than him, I do not know."
|
|