| Logs |
2000-12-17
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
Flushing Out the Slavers
The group conducts a quiet discussion with the scouts while keeping a keen eye out for more approaching slavers. The leadership conflict has not lessened the number of bandits any farther. Seven have been dealt with now, which should leave about 30 or a few less. Feliz and Alex had gone past the valley and doubled back to come out on the high cliffs on the southern side, above the southwestern-most guard post, and add their close observations to those of the scouts.
The advance scouts report that the guard posts on the valley floor are small, open wooden buildings that protect the guards from the weather but allow them to keep an eye on the slave pens. The ones on the cliff sides are more like hunting blinds, the idea being to see folks approaching before they are seen. They seem to have been chosen to be inaccessible from above, and obviously from below one would have to go through the bandit camp first. The scouts agree that it might be possible to climb down to them from above -- if one were a climber or flier... folks approaching the cliff guard posts would be easily visible (that's how the scouts found them, in fact... observing the shift changes), but the guards are hidden while on duty. The guard posts on the valley floor are obviously no more than anti-escape posts. There are two guards apiece for each post on the valley floor, and one in each of the upper posts.
The camp's buildings are constructed of rough fieldstone, with wooden roofs, and look to be varyingly sturdy and well built. The bandit's food is stored in the barracks area, although the slaves do the cooking. The HQ/main storeroom is pretty solid, the barracks less so, and the slave pens are just flimsy looking.
Alex suggests she or Cleo try to consume or dispel the magic around the slave pen, but emphasizes that they can only try -- she makes no promises as to how well this may or may not work -- she'd need to check first with Cleo as to if it's even feasible. "Also... could Horatio maybe make some arrows for Jessie to fire into the roofs of some of the buildings -- at least HQ, perhaps? The walls wouldn't burn, of course, but very few folks are excited about the possibility of a burning roof falling in on them... and fleeing folks could be picked off perhaps by more archers? The outermost guard posts would be a problem, of course, unless... unless maybe something large and heavy could be dropped on them? Would that be feasible, to prevent premature alarms being called out?"
Alex says, "In fact... real soon now they're going to start getting suspicious, right? So... if we withdrew right now and attacked again at night, with some variant on the burning arrows idea... maybe that lack of response during the day would possibly further disorient them and cause more tribulations for whomever is their current leader or leader-wanna-be. Short-term, time's on our side here, after all... confusing and stressing them and their leadership creates more loyalty problems for them. Also, they don't have many nocturnals, right?"
Carroll considers, and says, "Once they know we're here, I think the burning of the buildings might work better during the day. It seems to me that they'd notice a fire more quickly at night."
Feliz consults with his scouts again, and nods. "Not many, no. I don' know eef attacking them ees best, senyorita. Thees might persuade them to fight us first, si?"
Alex says, "What do you suggest, Feliz?"
The cat shrugs. "They theenk four have run off, an' weeth luck they weell theenk the other three have, too. Let them bleed for a beet, si?"
Alex nods and clarifies, "The attacking, as Carroll noted, would be best for once they know of a certainty that we're here. Does that sound like a plan, or should we refine further?"
The little circle nods agreement to that comment. Manuel adds, "The less they know about what is happening, the better."
Carroll murrs, "Until then we'll see if we can't get a few more to come out one at a time after the horses, and see if we can pick them off a handful at a time."
Alex nods, looking pleased, "All right. Let's settle on a quick withdrawal cue for just in case... and then head back out to wait for more to wander out, yes?"
The bandit camp remains quiet during the afternoon, but towards dusk the noise level increases, as if the remaining bandits were arguing about something. No one else comes down the trail, however. After some discussion, and the realization that no spies can be sneaked in close until dusk, Alex suggest, "Carroll, I'd suggest armed observers at dusk, with some known cue for calling for help if necessary. Let's figure out if they're on to us before we do an open attack, yes? For the actual attack, if we drop things on the outer guard posts at the same time as we set fire to the buildings, and have prepared archers to pick off the slavers... that'd work."
Feliz and Manuel nod. "We see what they do first, si."
Carroll nods and says, "That sounds like the best plan. I think our experienced scouts should probably go in while we rest and prepare to sneak in all around them after dusk. Let's not make the same mistake that made us aware of them when the situation was reversed."
Alex nods, "Okay, that's good."
Two scouts head out at dusk, one to the south side of the camp and the other to the north slope. No alarm is raised in the next hour or so, and it seems likely that they made it to their chosen overlooks successfully. The bandit camp has become progressively noisier throughout the afternoon, as if there was some kind of arguing going on. The bandit camp stays lit this night, firelight flickering on the valley walls. The arguing continues for some time, punctuated occasionally by the clash of swords... one of the scouts returns shortly past midnight, after the camp has finally quieted down. He reports to Feliz in a tone that sounds, perhaps, disappointed. Alex watches in alert interest... then glances at Rosita, her ears tilted inquiringly forward. Carroll asks, "What's happening?"
Rosita translates for the foxes. "The bandits argue over who weell be the next leader, but worry about more leaving. He theenks they weell leave thees camp soon, move somewhere else."
Alex brightens, "Excellent! We can pick them off more easily while they're straggling down mountain trails! What do they intend to do with the slaves?"
Carroll murrs, "No, not good. We need to break them up before they move someplace else and we lose them."
Alex says, "Cara... they are breaking up. They're getting paranoid about desertions!"
Rosita passes the question to the scout. "He say they plan to make the slaves carry their equipment."
Carroll murrs, "I don't read it that way; I read it that they're going to simply move the whole camp, rather than break up." He asks the scout, via Rosita, for clarification.
The armadillo has a longer discussion with the scout. "They argue tonight over what to do. Some weesh to return to the ciudades, the ones not known to the guardia, he theenks. Others weesh to remain, theenking they are safe. But the most weesh to move the camp for safety. They are... not happy? Not happy that Roberto ees caught." She adds, "He ees not theenking that they have new leader yet."
Carroll nods and says, "I think the plan we've already identified will work well, even if they do move, and the more deserters the better off we are."
Early the next morning a single furr comes down the trail toward the paddock. She does not appear to be a bandit, being a bit bedraggled and having no weapons. Alex blinks, watching intently and worriedly. However, the group holds to the plan, and the young woman is not interrupted -- especially since her path can be seen from the southernmost guardpost. The young rabbit is battered-looking, but she picks up speed as she gets close to the paddock. By the time she gets there she is shouting a name, and the stable-slaves go to meet her. The rabbit in that group hugs her tenderly as they talk rapidly. Rosita translates for the hidden watchers. "Mates, they are. Their child ees steell een the camp. She says they should bring the horses they have up the trail."
Alex nods, whispering, "Good. They can take the 2 or 3 they have up the trail. Sounds like the slavers have a new leader who's determined to move... and who is afraid to let other slavers out of his sight." She adds, "Maybe their making it safely up the hill will encourage the slavers to send more slavers out, too!"
Carroll whispers, "Either that or they'll torture these five until they admit we're here. Be prepared for an attack, not just a migration, afterwards."
Alex winces slightly... then nods slowly, "It... is a possibility... but hopefully a remote one, considering there are more slaves than slavers now."
Carroll nods, "Be ready for either." Alex nods again, more firmly, and does her first mate-ly duty, making sure folks are prepared.
The five put pack-saddles on the remaining horses and head up the trail... it is easily negotiated by the quadrupeds, the valley paddock seems to be necessary for feeding them rather than because of accessibility. Carroll watches, and becomes more wary of the forest around him. Alex watches quietly, and whispers a query to Feliz and Carroll -- does Carroll want Feliz to walk next to the horses for that short moment when he'll be completely out of sight of the valley... and re-warn the slaves to stick to their story? Carroll replies, "If Feliz thinks it a good idea, fine." However, they realize rapidly that this wouldn't work... and so the slaves head undisturbed up into the bandit camp.
The bandit's camp stays busy throughout the day, observed by the other scout sent out the night before. After dusk he returns to report and Feliz goes out to watch in his place. Rosita translates once again, "They are planning to move out, he say. They have their prisoners preparing bundles to carry all day, food and gear. He theenks tomorrow morning they are ready."
Alex nods thoughtfully. "All right. So, how should we move? Where will they be most scattered out? We need to be careful to not harm the slaves too."
MacKenzie nods. "First thing is to break our camp and get rid of any traces. We can follow them easily enough, but we don't want them to know we're here if we can help it."
Alex nods, "Excellent. Let's move then!"
Carroll nods and says, "True. If we can, keeping them spread out and unable to bring their full force to bear is useful. To separate them from the slaves to keep them from threatening them might also be interesting."
MacKenzie nods. "Exactly, milord. If we can catch them all spread out, we set up a defeat in detail. Sweep up their line with our full force, without letting them concentrate against us."
Carroll nods, and says, "Find a place, pass the word, and let's do it." Alex nods again as she helps folks pack and clear up.
The night passes, but not uneventfully. A few hours before dawn the whole camp is roused by a squalling armadillo. "Intruso! Enemigo!" The cat makes a valiant attempt to escape as Estrella uses her digging claws on him, and finally manages to break away, only to run straight into MacKenzie. The wolverine cuts him down quickly and directs the perimeter guards to conduct a search. Cleo and Alex join in, but don't detect anyone else who isn't supposed to be there.
Carroll says, stating the obvious, "They know we're here. Be ready."
Alex comes up swiftly next to Estrella, nodding once to her, "Good work," then turns to Rosita, "Find out what happened from your sister for us, please. MacKenzie, is the cat still alive?" She nods once to Carroll, looking a bit grim.
MacKenzie looks a little apologetic, but not very. "Sorry. I was a bit rushed there."
Alex shakes her head, "Don't be sorry, Mr. Mackenzie -- you did what was necessary." She glances at Rosita inquiringly.
Carroll grins toothily at MacKenzie and says, "Understood. You did right, Mac."
Rosita repeats her sister's story, occasionally interrupted by Estrella's rapid-fire bursts of Boveyan. "She see heem sneaking up on us, inside the... perimeter, Senyor MacKenzie? She tackle heem so he cannot get away and get help or warn banditos, si?"
Alex nods thoughtfully, glancing out from the camp, then murmurs quietly to Carroll and MacKenzie, "D'you think Estrella's call for help carried to the bandits? I think we have to assume it did so, yes?"
The wolverine frowns. "Maybe, maybe not. Depends on whether he had backup. We moved the camp away specifically to avoid being found."
Alex nods, "All right, how's this then. Keep the guards alert tonight, then send out our best trackers tomorrow morning to see if he had backup. Also, check with Feliz and the rest to see if this guy is a known slaver or not."
Carroll nods. "If they still insist on moving out, then we'll stick to the current plan. Don't let them surround us."
Alex nods again, "All right. MacKenzie, Feliz, any other suggestions?"
Feliz shrugs about the identification. "The guardia might know, senyorita, but only Roberto was given a reward."
Alex nods, "Fine. Let's move on then."
MacKenzie nods. "Aye, aye, ma'am."
The next morning dawns darkly, with a sulfurous tinge in the air -- the wind has shifted, bringing the reek and ash of Cotopaxi to this part of the mountains. The bandit camp is a beehive of activity, the self-appointed leaders trying to organize the move of the camp while keeping their subordinates under control. Feliz has not yet returned from his scouting mission, although Cleo assures everyone that he is fine. Alex looks faintly puzzled, then turns to the others, "I'm confused. Did the intruder have a weapon on him? Could he have possibly been an escaped slave?"
MacKenzie shrugs at the questions. "Yes, he did have a weapon, and no, he probably wasn't an escapee -- he was fighting to get away, and he was deliberately avoiding the guard posts around our camp while checking it out... Someone escaping would probably have just spotted it and gone somewhere else if they were that good."
Alex nods, "Good. Then let's try to figure out who or what he was... while we're working on other stuff too. We've got bandits to pick off, after all."
The bandit camp finally gets moving around noon, by which time the sullen clouds overhead have started sprinkling gritty, abrasive dust over the valley. Rosita and her sisters are particularly miserable, the grit irritating the joints of their armor. Alex helps the poor armadillos as much as she can, using the edge of a dampened silk shirt to gently brush the dust out of the armor joints. She smiles as she murmurs quietly to Carroll, "I think I know what to do with my silver earring now... Estrella's more than pulling her weight, yes?"
The prisoners are tied together for security, ropes connecting their waists -- security or not, the bandits don't risk connecting them ankle to ankle in this terrain. Each of the prisoners is carrying a heavy load, and the few horses they have left are wearing packsaddles. The bandits themselves have smaller packs, mainly of their more valuable possessions. Their route order puts about a third of the bandits at the head of the column, another third at the end, and the remainder -- the leaders and their most trusted underlings, apparently -- scattered up and down the column to keep the prisoners in line. Alex hms, "So... pick off the rear echelons first?"
Carroll looks to Feliz and MacKenzie and says, "That sounds like an admirable plan to me. What do you think?"
Feliz shrugs, a gesture that seems to be his normal response to anything. MacKenzie nods. "There's a spot not too far from here where the valley's mostly impassable. They'll be funneling through there, and if we hit them from behind, they won't be looking toward us when we do. Every little bit helps."
Carroll nods, "Good. Let's get in to position and do it."
Alex says, "Excellent!"
The section of the valley in question is actually quite pretty, even under the lowering sky and the dreary ashfall. The stream running through the main valley is blocked here by an old avalanche, spreading out into a lake that floods most of the valley floor. The only easy way around it is to the west, and it is there that the ambush is set. Carroll readies his crossbow and waits for Feliz and Mac to give the attack order, trusting their judgment of the best time to attack. He has bolts and half a dozen daggers handy. Alex is watching for the more official mounted types... that's who she'll target. The leading group and the prisoner column are allowed to pass by unmolested, but when the rearguard approaches the narrow point...
The bandit rearguard is sullen and looks like they are trying to figure out a way to defect. They are not paying attention to their business, and the archers fade out of the trees without even being spotted until the first arrows come hissing out of the sky. The swift arrows and quarrels slice into the inattentive bandits, cutting down several of them and injuring more. The initial reaction is panic, which is only compounded when they turn and realize that they are trapped along the lakeshore by a superior force. Alex murmurs to Feliz, "Can you call out to the slaves to fall down?"
Carroll adds, "And any of them who want to surrender. It'd be nice not to have to kill them all." He also asks, "Do you think the word we'd be here was spread amongst the slaves?"
Rosita's voice rises above the noise, calling out to the prisoners. "Estamos aquí para rescatarle! Acuéstese!" Some of them comply, and because they are roped together the center of the bandit column is soon a confused mess of prone and standing furrs roped together. A pair of rabbits goes to ground together, managing to trip (accidentally?) one of the leaders who is trying to rally his men. Alex grins wickedly, and continues to try targeting leaders -- that one in particular, if he tries standing! Carroll looks for anyone within his crossbow range who is trying to wield any sort of distance weapon, and aims for them, shooting again.
MacKenzie and Estrella lead the charge, followed by about half the miners -- the rest are busy reloading crossbows for the archers. The armadillo is shouting something, "Entregase o morirás!" -while the archers starting picking off the reinforcements as they pick their way through the prone prisoners. Alex picks off the tripped coyote just before he can vent his anger on the two rabbits who tripped him up. She shakes her head amusedly -- Estrella's getting cocky! -- but at least she's got Mac at her side.
A scattering of return fire finally materializes, but only one of the miners is hit. The charge of the wolverine and his company rolls up the remnants of the rearguard just in time to meet the scattered charge of the bandit leaders. Horatio and Jessie have well before now gotten into position, but Horatio's insistence on caution has delayed them from acting until now. I'm just not that willing to blow up her as well as myself all the way to Mount Kali, he thinks to himself as he finishes binding the small cylindrical package to the front of an arrow shaft. He takes a soft breath, looking over his handiwork, then nods and carefully passes it to Jessie. And it's a little late to worry about if it's stable or not. Fulminates are like that... But he doesn't have to worry much, as Jessie nocks the arrow, draws back the bowstring, and lets it fly in (to him at least) one single, graceful, fluid motion. The instant of beauty, of her motions filling his sight, ends as the arrow careens into the midst of the rallying bandits, and there is a sharp flash and report as the incendiary, fulminate of sulfur and essences of fire and earth, combine sharply at the impact of the arrow.
The explosion obliterates the bandit leader and injures a couple of his fighters. The vanguard group decides that this is not a place they want to be, and the remaining half-dozen furrs bolt for the woods. The fighting pauses for a long moment, then falters. Two of the bandits try to rally the rest, but MacKenzie chops one down, Estrella and a couple of miners take the other one, and the rest of the bandits raise their hands. Alex grins happily, trotting forward with the others to gather prisoners and free the slaves -- looks like everyone did well! "Cara, want the bandits in the woods rooted out, just in case?"
Carroll directs, "Yes, let's make sure there aren't any to sneak up and surprise us later." He then oversees the collection, binding, and disarming of the captured. Horatio looks down at the result of the single fire-arrow in utter shock. Good heavens! he thinks. What in the world...? He doesn't -- quite -- collapse in on himself, though. His gaze drifts slightly from where the bandit leader had been standing, to where the slaves -- no, the freed furrs -- are picking themselves up from the sudden ambush. It was worth it, he thinks quietly to himself. Then he looks to Jessie with a faint smile. "Well... that ended well, at least. Shall we join the others?"
Feliz and the scouts fan out to try to find the fleeing bandits, but only have one prisoner when they return. The cat shrugs. "Eet ees always easier to run for your life than to catch someone who ees doing that."
Alex nods, "True... but at least now we know they aren't about to open fire on us from the trees. Okay, let's untie the Costa Yermans, tie up the slavers, and get moving on out."
The prisoners have already been working on releasing themselves, with knives 'borrowed' from -- and apparently in some cases used on -- their erstwhile captors. Alex doesn't begrudge them that a bit. Carroll nods, "Free the slaves, yes. We'll have to make sure they'll be able to get back to town all right, too. I'd hate to just abandon them out here." He makes sure the bandits are well trussed up and truly disarmed.
Alex makes sure to stop by the rabbit couple, making sure they're cut free and carefully enunciating, "Gracias, senyor ee senyora!"
The rabbits look a bit startled, and try to explain something to Alex. Rosita comes to her rescue after a moment and discusses something with them. "They say they are not nobles, senyorita. I tell them that those are not noble titles here."
Alex grins, "No problem. Just tell them I'm grateful at their efforts for us, y'know?" She looks around curiously, "Where are their kids? He said he had one or two, didn't he?" Two younger rabbits are already racing up the line toward them, just released from the section where the children were being marched. The parents thank Alex again and turn to enjoy their reunion. Rosita smiles and returns to follow Cleo as she makes the rounds of the released prisoners.
The hike back to the mining camp takes a bit longer than the trip out -- the freed refugees are not in any shape to do a forced march, and half of the bandit prisoners are seriously wounded. Eventually though, the successful raiders return to the valley and their placer mining. Alex whews in relief. "Can we take a break here? Let folks heal up a bit, and then take the remaining bandits in to town for the guardia? And... does Senyor Vincenza need more miners by any chance?"
Horatio nods quietly. "That sounds like a good idea, Alex..."
Manuel has discussed employment with the refugees, and some of them are interested in staying on with him for the rest of the season -- the extra hands will certainly make up for the lost time. The remainder and the bandit prisoners he wants to pass on immediately to the nearest government outpost... he will already need to run an extra wagon train of food up to his camp. Alex nods, "We can wagon them up immediately, sure... and have the wagon come back with food?"
Carroll nods and replies, "That's a good idea. I expect we'll stress the mine's food reserves, so we'll have to cover the extra supplies for the mine. We can hire the rest of the former prisoners as guards for the bandits for some low wage until we get back to town. We'll have plenty of people watching them, and they then won't be completely destitute when they arrive. Past that I think they're on their own."
Vincenza looks relieved... he was worried about the food for this sudden doubling of his camp. "Gracias, senyor Carroll."
Carroll smiles and reassures the marmot, "Your response to the extra people would have been very different. I told you that we would take care of that in return for considering our desire to see them alive. I wouldn't leave you or your crew without appropriate provisions."
Horatio spends some time with the mining foreman and Vincenza before their little caravan departs. He's had a few days to think about the setup now, and explains some of his ideas to the miners. "First, you don't need to have furrs assigned to hauling buckets of water to the sluice. It doesn't look like it, but you actually have a fairly high slope in the valley -- you can build an overshot millrace here...." The discussions go on for hours, and the locals are skeptical of some of it, but in the end Manuel orders them to at least try all the new ideas. Poor Rosita is nearly overwhelmed by all the technical translation, but in the end she succeeds -- and even learns something about mining engineering in the process.
Reassuring the mining staff that he will send supplies, Carroll prepares his staff to leave, taking the captured and freed with him, and wishing the miners the best of luck. Vincenza sends a few of his old employees and several of the new ones along when the band of refugees and the Starfallers take the prisoners -- and Roberto el Rojo's head, packed in salt -- back to civilization. "Thank you for all your help, Senyor 'Oratio. And you, Capitan, and..." bowing and briefly kissing Alex's hand, "-especially yours, Senyorita. My people will bring the wagons back."
Alex smiles, "Thank you too, senyor. It's been a lovely vacation!"
Rosita has to translate that last word for the marmot, and he looks a bit disturbed by the young vixen's description of the last two weeks... but he recovers his aplomb quickly enough. "As you say, senyorita. Vaya con Dios!"
Horatio inclines his head, doing his best to ignore the small, grisly package accompanying them. "Thank you, Sir... er, Senyor Vincenza."
Carroll manages not to smile at his sister's response, and tells the mining foreman, "It was our pleasure to be able to assist you in ridding the world of another pocket of unpleasantness. Fare well!"