03/12/2024 - Stand Off (12)

Locking the Enemy Out

Sam and Malcolm fire their bows, while Logan throws his spear. They hit two of the bandits, wounding them, then they close and bar the doors. Then they head to the last room that has not been explored and find a room with a nice bed and some luxury items, suggesting this is the leader’s room. There are some documents on a table, small, rolled up tight, suggesting messages by pigeon. Inside a chest, they find some tabards that they do recognise, possibly from Cariele. Logan takes the documents and one of the tabards.

Then they head for the tower. Logan sneaks up the stairs, but when he gets to the closed trap door, he realises they could be waiting on the other side to cut his head off and decides not to open it. They barricade the door to the tower and return to the main doors, but on the ground floor, they cannot see what is going on outside.

Prince Edmund’s Life Threatened

Sam. Malcolm and Logan decide to head up the stairs to one of the smaller towers on the edge of the Keep building, while Banquo watches the main doors. From above, they see that Prince Edmund has been put out into the open, with a rope around his neck, leading back into the Bailey of the outer wall doors. He is on his knees, with his hands tied behind his back and his eyes blindfolded.

When Logan calls out, a grizzled looking man in plate armour comes out, carrying sword and shield. Sam recognises him as the leader of the Bandits. The man holds his shield up against arrow fire and puts his sword to the Prince’s throat. He tells them he will kill the Prince if they do not surrender. When Logan makes out he does not know who the prisoner is, the Leader does not believe him.

Tricky Situation

Logan and Malcolm agree it’s unlikely he will kill the Prince, but are not sure what to do now. Logan then calls on him to surrender or he will end up dead like his friends. The Leader says they will find him much more difficult to kill. He threatens to cut off the Prince’s fingers one at a time.

The Companions including Banquo draw back inside to discuss what to do next. They realise this guy is not going to give in easily. Logan asks if Malcolm can step through the Shadow Realm and he says not right now, he has reached a point where it’s too tiring. He needs to rest.

Negotiations Begin

Banquo then goes up and challenges the Leader to a duel. The man seems to agree and suggests Banquo comes down, then asks who they are working for. Logan says they are their own bosses. He asks him who he is walking for, but he tells them nothing.

Logan decides to look through the paperwork he got from the room, but there’s nothing clear. The messages seem to be in coded language.

Logan then suggests to the Leader he leave the Prince, takes his horses and leaves, but he replies he won’t get paid if he does that. They ask how much he is being paid and he says 2,000 gold. They discuss how much he wants to let the Prince go.

The Leader tells them he is waiting for them to make a serious offer. Do they have 2,000gp on them? Or do they think he will take an IOU. Logan mentions the Chancellor could issue a promissory note and the Leader is pleased to find out that they are working for him. Logan denies this.

Negotiations Stalled

The conversation slowly dies, with neither side having much more to say. They both withdraw to discuss amongst themselves.

Sam has been watching the Mercenary Leader, trying to understand his motivations. He is not sure if he is only negotiating to find out more about them, or whether he is genuinely interested in a deal. Sam also suspects the Leader is definitely hiding something that he may hope to surprise them with.

The Companions discuss what to do and consider one of them becoming a hostage to prove they will pay him. Banquo and then Sam suggest possibly offering him land. The issue remains what guarantee they can offer that he will get what he wants if he hands over the Prince.

Rowan Captured

Sam decides to try offering him land. The Mercenary Leader does not seem that impressed at the promise of land in Mhoried. He then asks which one of them is Banquo.

Banquo identifies himself and confirms that he is a Knight / Guardian. The Leader then shows them Rowan, who has a knife held to his throat by a woman they have not seen before. Negotiations again falter at this point and the Companions go back to discussing what to do next.

What to Do Next?

The Companions remind themselves that Prince Edmund is now effectively the leader of Ceriele and how they could leverage that to get the Mercenaries to betray whoever employed them. The conversation goes round and round for a while, with ideas being thrown up and then pulled down.

Rowan is sent to collect the food and take it back to the gate house. The Mercenaries get Rowan to eat some first.

Food Offering

Logan suggests offering food as a gesture of good will. Sam agrees. He goes to the main doors and unbolts them, but Logan stops him as they can’t trust the Mercenaries. Logan then lowers some food in a bucket via rope.

Rowan is sent to collect the food and take it back to the gate house. The Mercenaries get Rowan to eat some first.

A Possible Solution

The Leader asks if they have come up with an offer yet. Edmund will not be handed over until they have the money in their hands.

Banquo suggests that they all go together to the Capital and have Edmund and the Chancellor pay whatever they want. The Leader says he will not go into the Capital, but he will keep the Prince outside the Capital until the money is brought out.

The Leader points out the main roads are being watched. Sam suggests using the tabards that the Mercenaries have. The Leader says that could work, Count Edrin’s men may be allowed to pass. The Companions have no idea who Count Edrin is. Sam suggests that is who the tabards represent. The Leader says he will discuss it with his men and retreats back into the gate house.

Logan then begins to worry that they could get themselves in a situation where they are surrounded by enemies on the road.

End of Episode Twelve