Bandits again siiiiiigh - RPLOG
From Rusted Promises
Participants
Date
17/6/477
Log
The Farmlands were pleasently quite as the sun began to fade in the distance, with only the sounds of the heavy rain filling the air as the roads and fields are muddied. Given the amount of rain so far in the season though, they should be expecting quite the yield of crops! Well... They would, if it wasn't for one field that was nothing but ash, as it seems the bandits had taken it upon themselves to burn it down. Near the field, a small clan mole is resting under an overhang, his fingers fiddling with each other as he awaits an answer from his request.
Selena sighs a little as she makes her way through the farmlands, the somewhat-dishevelled looking woman apparently not enjoying the walk as much as she was expecting to; the somewhat awkward looking mole is regarded cautiously for a moment before she opts to give the being a call over. "Hey, what's been going on here? Do you know who's burnt all of the plants around here? At least it's not Wirefurs again, that'd just see all the fields be burnt not the one..."
Cassidy slinks quietly along the countryside, letting the rain roll off of her hood and scaled robes, arms linked at the sleeves as she makes her way towards the mole. She gives Selena a look from behind her mask, nodding softly before turning back to the other, awaiting an answer to Selena's question.
Rogna strolls into the farmlands with a frown upon his face, both swords out and ready, his heavy armor clanking where appropriate. "Wasteful. Tactics befitting a coward who cannot win on their own strength, they must soften things up." he says as he moves towards the mole, asking for their gaze before he says "And who has done this? Less food harms only the poor, this is a vile act." The hippo does give Selena a nod of greeting.
The Mole blinks as Selena approaches, along with another strange hooded one. "O-Oh! Oh just some men who said I should pay them for making sure my field was not hurt by vermin... I told them my son would come by and clear out the vermin, so they burned it down and are asking me to pay for protection again---" The Mole adjusting his glassess for a moment as he blinks and looks to Rogna, before hopping up and almost tumbling over as he bows! "B-Bandits your grace! They're asking people to pay them to not attack them... I'd be much obliged if you all were willing to help poor Millhouse..."
Selena takes a quiet breath as Cassidy gives her that look, though it's difficult to tell if it's actually in reaction to the look - what with the vixen's mask - or something else. Either way, no comment is given. "... Well, I suppose I could do with some excitement." She sighs, giving Rogna a nod in greeting. "It's been a while. You've been holding up well, I trust?"
Cassidy bows her head to the moleman. "They will be handled, yes. Just point us in their direction and they will cease being a problem for the farmland. Destroying food is incredibly wasteful." She lets her gloved hands drop down to her side, fingers flexing in preparation.
Rogna gives a chuckle. "I see, common leaners who offer protection from something that wouldn't exist without them. I wonder what they hope to protect. Tell me, have you seen your son?" he asks before nodding to Selena once more. "Of course, I've been rather busy but I'm doing quite well, I trust you are too?" The swords in hand are at ready as he prepares himself for a fight should it occur.
"Yes M'grace. Billy's been runnin' round back home with his mother an' all. I went an' I told him fighting vermin, an' fighting bandits are two different things, an' he agreed. Boy's got a head on his shoulders at the least!" The Mole nodding before he points to a slightly beaten trail leading into the woods. "They set up camp right smack dab in the center of the woods... Now, Millhouse here has only went and seen 'bout ten of them, but they may be havin' a few friends with them... If you want, I can go round getting a possy together to be helpin you lot."
Selena nods to Cassidy's comment. "I'll be surprised if they aren't working for someone, much less if that someone isn't paying them a lot of crown." She replies, considering for a few moments. "Well, I'm not fussed if you do or don't ask other beings to come along, as long as they're capable. It's their choice, after all." The wolfess gives a slight shrug at Rogna's latter comment, looking aside. "I've been better. But all things considered I could be worse."
Cassidy tilts backwards and looks up into the sky, letting the rain plink softly on her painted porcelain mask before looking in the pointed direction. "That is up to you. I am sure we would be fine with just us, and I'd rather not risk any innocent lives... But if they want to come, I will not stop them. But we should move soon."
Rogna says "While the thought is appreciated, only those capable of fighting should come. Hopefully they remember their militia training, but I suspect the guard will come soon enough for a report, if nothing comes of our efforts one of them can at least pull a few more out here and clean up. However I trust Selena, and..." he says as he looks to Cassidy, before adding "I trust we will suffice if we use our heads. Shall we go?"
The Mole nods before moving back to his spot to sit, hands covering his needs as he dips his head. "Alrighty then... Ol'Millhouse will be waitin' right here for when you all get back an' such... An' if it goes takin' too long, I'll go callin' in the cavalry!" The Mole nodding to himself, as the group was now just left with the trail ahead of them.
Selena nods back to the mole, pausing for a bit longer than she usually would before making her way along the path, setting a tentative lead until the others choose to follow and remaining atypically quiet.
Cassidy smiles politely underneath the mask and turns to follow along after Selena. "Well, wish us luck, then! Hopefully we won't go and die!" She says with a soft laugh before falling quiet again. Drawing up aside Selena, she reaches out to give her a pat on the arm. Though for what purpose is hard to say.
Rogna looks to the peculiar behavior of the two accompanying him and says "Perhaps I better lead. Are you sure you're alright?" as he approaches and moves to overtake them. He has heavy armor on as it is, he couldn't expect any less. Still, he keeps an eye out, especially as they near the forests edge, as this was a bad place to be. "Perhaps we should enter from off the path."
The Forest remains as quite as it possibly can as the rain pours around them... And indeed, the path does seem relativly used recently, but not far into the forest the sign of a campfire could be visible to the group. Either they hadn't dug in as deep as the mole said, or it was a check point!
Selena shies away from Cassidy's hand a little, scanning over the vixen for a moment uncertainly - though the mask certainly doesn't help her with that. It's not until Rogna's comment that she speaks up; "I'd appreciate that. Better to have the well armored beings lead; staying off the path is only a good idea to a certain point. Chances are if we can see the mill-house, they've already seen us, but it's easier to lay traps off a road."
Cassidy tilts her head and nods. "I am well, personally! I was just... Reassuring Selena. That I'm still looking out for her, if a fight breaks out." She leaves it at that, giving the wolf a little wink from behind the eyeslits. "And yes, might help to have you in front. I will be perfectly honest and say that I don't take hits well. If I get hit and am not already fueled on adrenaline... I probably won't be upright for long."
