Elendor
Banditly Confabulations
Wherein the Bandits Plaguing Bree Discuss the Riches of the Shire and the Trustworthiness of Brev and His Brother
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Bree
Description: Barren Country: Near the Midgewater Marshes
The landscape here is featureless and dull. A few sparse grasses cover the flat plains that stretch on to the north and the west. To the south, the trees of the Chetwood forest are visible, yet are some distance off. Eastward, the plains crash headlong into the mess of the Midgewater Marshes, with the land getting less and less solid the closer one gets to the swamps and bogs of Midgewater. A faint path leads away to the west, though who or what could have made it in this desolate country is not a thought to dwell on...
The camp has been here for nearly three weeks now having moved from its last location at that time - there are a motley selection of dwellings: some ragged tents, some piles of sticks... some men simply wrap in a blanket and lie on the ground.
In front of the largest, and best-repaired of the tents, there is a fire and a couple of men sprawl around it.
"Well, I sez we go off west. Heard there's gold out there! I've had enough of sitting around out here, sneaking out one at a time and not getting nothing for it but taters!" Another man hushes the first, looking nervously at the large tent behind them.
[Seregarth(#19338)] One of the other men around the fire snorts in reply, but does not speak. Rather, he gestures in the general direction of Bree, a sort of all-encompasing sweep, inflating his chest in impersonation of either someone important or thinks much of themselves, and raises the large mallet beside him to mime crushing skulls. That seems to be the opinion of No-Tongue Ted, at any rate who else would have a mallet with the emblem of the Pony and 'Return to Nob' beneath it?
[Bagurat(#24847)] And alas for at that moment the flap to the large tents parts, and a tall shaggy haired man tramples out. No mere bandit is this, for his garb stands out fancier than the rest. Beside the fire he stops, peering down his hooked nose with narrowed eyes at the folk that sit about it. "And what's wrong with taters, eh?" growls Jarlac, turning his head to spit. "Maybe if yous were all better thieves you'd have more to show off for your efforts. So quite yer complainin' and work harder, see?" Folding his arms across his chest, the bandit Chieftain glares about with the air of one who expects his words to be taken without question.
"Nothin'," Kurl says hurriedly, hunkering down a little closer to the fire. But Savid has another opinion, and it is near to that of No-Tongue Ted. "If you'd let us go in an' take 'em!" he complains. "Why d'we have to let 'em be, an' just rob along the edges like?"
[Seregarth(#19338)] No-Tongue Ted rolls his eyes slightly as the bandit chieftain speaks before going through his mime once more, nodding in agreement with Savid after he speaks what Ted cannot. He mimes petty thievery and then falling asleep apparently, he without a tongue thinks such things are boring. Or maybe he plans to nab after his next robbery. Who knows?
[Bagurat(#24847)] The leader snorts at this, gaze flicking from Ted, to glance upon Kurl and Savid. "Think there'd be an uproar if you all suddenly showed up in the middle of the town and started robbing every which way. Their guardsmen ain't the brightest, but doubt they'd over look somethin' like that. Still," and Jarlac's mouth pulls up into a nasty smirk, "if a few of yous thinks you could get away with it, go ahead. Then you can haul your sorry tails home when you get chased out."
"We can take them guards," grumbles Savid. "Come on, boss. If we all went in there, we could clean out the guards, and take over ourselfs! Ain't that what this feller from off south is wanting? Why should we be letting him have all the fun?"
Kurl looks hastily from one to the other, then up to the chief, and tentatively, he offers, "Could go off to that wester place. One with all them hobbits? He, that feller Brev, said they got lots of money."
[Seregarth(#19338)] Ted waves a hand dismissively, with a derisive snort, at the mention of Bree's guardsmen. Then he mimes sleep again, followed this time by crushing-skulls-mime. Kill 'em all while they're asleep, then loot and ransack. As Kurl mentions some place west with money, No-Tongue turns his gaze on the other bandit, head tilting to the side inquisitively.
[Bagurat(#24847)] "You'll do what I say that's what I'm a payin' yer for," is the initial response to Savid, and the eyes note Ted's miming but then the chieftain's head turns to Kurl as he speaks, and there is a pause as though considering.
"They're rich you say, out West? And this here Brev fellow told you that? I don't trust just anyone you know..." But apparently, Jarlac has not immediate complaints about the Dunlending in question, for he nods after a moment. "Well, sounds like we'd be getting better than tatters that way. What do the rest of you reckon? Bree, or this 'hobbit-place'?"
"If they got the money, he says they does," Kurl says tentatively. "I say west."
Savid nods eagerly - he doesn't care where they go, as long as it involved robbing and money!
But another voice speaks up now - "And how'd we know he ain't lying to us? T'get us to go off west and... and..." But apparently he can't quite figure out how one man could eliminate an entire group of bandits. "And what about that brother of his'n?" he blusters, to cover his hesitation.
[Seregarth(#19338)] No-Tongue Ted hesitates, saying neither yay nor nay (in a manner of speaking) yet. Obviously, hobbits couldn't put up much of a fight, much less harm someone (despite certain accusations). But, then, Bree is closer and Ted and his brothers do have some unfinished business...
[Bagurat(#24847)] "Eeh, and what about 'em?" returns the leader to the new speaker, turning his glare that direction. "They've been doin' as good as the rest of yous, last time I heard. Stealin' and whatnot, and behavin' in proper bandit fashion. I'll trust who I want ter trust, got that?"
And not bothering to wait for an answer, he grunts onward. "We'll poke about the edge of Bree for a bit longer, and head west to..relieve these money-burdened hobbit-folk, I say." A fresh grin twists his face.
A small ragged cheer raises from those around the campfire, turning heads towards the chief. But Savid when he is finished cheering with the others, asks, "How long's a bit longer?" There is a look of avid greed on his face. "I hears they got lots t'eat too..." He licks his lips.
[Seregarth(#19338)] Another snort from Ted, and he gestures to the Pony emblem upon his mallet, the name, skull-crush-mime and then fingers walking westward. Mime done, the no-tongued one looks questioningly to the bandit chief.
[Bagurat(#24847)] "Long enough ter camp and travel west, I suppose," replies Jarlac. "Should give any of yous enough time to," the eyes flit back to No-Tongue Ted's wordless performance, "take care o' any unfinished business."
He shrugs, this time spitting straight into the fire. "Could always come back after we've had our fun out west and keep on bugging them Breelanders."
Kurl follows Jarlac's gaze towards Ted and guffaws. "Aye, f'he don't end up like 'is brother," he says.
[Seregarth(#19338)] Ted simply gives a curt nod of the head to the bandit chief before delivering a withering glare upon Kurl. Once more, he points to the name on the mallet, then swipes his finger across his throat.
[Bagurat(#24847)] "Well, then, there'll be one less of yous to pay if that happens," smirks the chief. "Won't complain there." Still chuckling unpleasantly to himself, he takes a step around the firepit. "Right, now that's been decided -- tomorrow we relocate. Get the lads moving finally, and hopefully this western-land will prove as bountiful as Brev has made it out ter be." And with that, Jarlac moves off, perhaps to spread the word among the rest of the bandits gathered about the barren area.
Kurl's eyes widen, and he pales, and backs away from Ted. Just in case.
[Seregarth(#19338)] That settled, Ted stands up and ambles off from the fire, mallot swinging jauntily by his side.
The landscape here is featureless and dull. A few sparse grasses cover the flat plains that stretch on to the north and the west. To the south, the trees of the Chetwood forest are visible, yet are some distance off. Eastward, the plains crash headlong into the mess of the Midgewater Marshes, with the land getting less and less solid the closer one gets to the swamps and bogs of Midgewater. A faint path leads away to the west, though who or what could have made it in this desolate country is not a thought to dwell on...
The camp has been here for nearly three weeks now having moved from its last location at that time - there are a motley selection of dwellings: some ragged tents, some piles of sticks... some men simply wrap in a blanket and lie on the ground.
In front of the largest, and best-repaired of the tents, there is a fire and a couple of men sprawl around it.
"Well, I sez we go off west. Heard there's gold out there! I've had enough of sitting around out here, sneaking out one at a time and not getting nothing for it but taters!" Another man hushes the first, looking nervously at the large tent behind them.
[Seregarth(#19338)] One of the other men around the fire snorts in reply, but does not speak. Rather, he gestures in the general direction of Bree, a sort of all-encompasing sweep, inflating his chest in impersonation of either someone important or thinks much of themselves, and raises the large mallet beside him to mime crushing skulls. That seems to be the opinion of No-Tongue Ted, at any rate who else would have a mallet with the emblem of the Pony and 'Return to Nob' beneath it?
[Bagurat(#24847)] And alas for at that moment the flap to the large tents parts, and a tall shaggy haired man tramples out. No mere bandit is this, for his garb stands out fancier than the rest. Beside the fire he stops, peering down his hooked nose with narrowed eyes at the folk that sit about it. "And what's wrong with taters, eh?" growls Jarlac, turning his head to spit. "Maybe if yous were all better thieves you'd have more to show off for your efforts. So quite yer complainin' and work harder, see?" Folding his arms across his chest, the bandit Chieftain glares about with the air of one who expects his words to be taken without question.
"Nothin'," Kurl says hurriedly, hunkering down a little closer to the fire. But Savid has another opinion, and it is near to that of No-Tongue Ted. "If you'd let us go in an' take 'em!" he complains. "Why d'we have to let 'em be, an' just rob along the edges like?"
[Seregarth(#19338)] No-Tongue Ted rolls his eyes slightly as the bandit chieftain speaks before going through his mime once more, nodding in agreement with Savid after he speaks what Ted cannot. He mimes petty thievery and then falling asleep apparently, he without a tongue thinks such things are boring. Or maybe he plans to nab after his next robbery. Who knows?
[Bagurat(#24847)] The leader snorts at this, gaze flicking from Ted, to glance upon Kurl and Savid. "Think there'd be an uproar if you all suddenly showed up in the middle of the town and started robbing every which way. Their guardsmen ain't the brightest, but doubt they'd over look somethin' like that. Still," and Jarlac's mouth pulls up into a nasty smirk, "if a few of yous thinks you could get away with it, go ahead. Then you can haul your sorry tails home when you get chased out."
"We can take them guards," grumbles Savid. "Come on, boss. If we all went in there, we could clean out the guards, and take over ourselfs! Ain't that what this feller from off south is wanting? Why should we be letting him have all the fun?"
Kurl looks hastily from one to the other, then up to the chief, and tentatively, he offers, "Could go off to that wester place. One with all them hobbits? He, that feller Brev, said they got lots of money."
[Seregarth(#19338)] Ted waves a hand dismissively, with a derisive snort, at the mention of Bree's guardsmen. Then he mimes sleep again, followed this time by crushing-skulls-mime. Kill 'em all while they're asleep, then loot and ransack. As Kurl mentions some place west with money, No-Tongue turns his gaze on the other bandit, head tilting to the side inquisitively.
[Bagurat(#24847)] "You'll do what I say that's what I'm a payin' yer for," is the initial response to Savid, and the eyes note Ted's miming but then the chieftain's head turns to Kurl as he speaks, and there is a pause as though considering.
"They're rich you say, out West? And this here Brev fellow told you that? I don't trust just anyone you know..." But apparently, Jarlac has not immediate complaints about the Dunlending in question, for he nods after a moment. "Well, sounds like we'd be getting better than tatters that way. What do the rest of you reckon? Bree, or this 'hobbit-place'?"
"If they got the money, he says they does," Kurl says tentatively. "I say west."
Savid nods eagerly - he doesn't care where they go, as long as it involved robbing and money!
But another voice speaks up now - "And how'd we know he ain't lying to us? T'get us to go off west and... and..." But apparently he can't quite figure out how one man could eliminate an entire group of bandits. "And what about that brother of his'n?" he blusters, to cover his hesitation.
[Seregarth(#19338)] No-Tongue Ted hesitates, saying neither yay nor nay (in a manner of speaking) yet. Obviously, hobbits couldn't put up much of a fight, much less harm someone (despite certain accusations). But, then, Bree is closer and Ted and his brothers do have some unfinished business...
[Bagurat(#24847)] "Eeh, and what about 'em?" returns the leader to the new speaker, turning his glare that direction. "They've been doin' as good as the rest of yous, last time I heard. Stealin' and whatnot, and behavin' in proper bandit fashion. I'll trust who I want ter trust, got that?"
And not bothering to wait for an answer, he grunts onward. "We'll poke about the edge of Bree for a bit longer, and head west to..relieve these money-burdened hobbit-folk, I say." A fresh grin twists his face.
A small ragged cheer raises from those around the campfire, turning heads towards the chief. But Savid when he is finished cheering with the others, asks, "How long's a bit longer?" There is a look of avid greed on his face. "I hears they got lots t'eat too..." He licks his lips.
[Seregarth(#19338)] Another snort from Ted, and he gestures to the Pony emblem upon his mallet, the name, skull-crush-mime and then fingers walking westward. Mime done, the no-tongued one looks questioningly to the bandit chief.
[Bagurat(#24847)] "Long enough ter camp and travel west, I suppose," replies Jarlac. "Should give any of yous enough time to," the eyes flit back to No-Tongue Ted's wordless performance, "take care o' any unfinished business."
He shrugs, this time spitting straight into the fire. "Could always come back after we've had our fun out west and keep on bugging them Breelanders."
Kurl follows Jarlac's gaze towards Ted and guffaws. "Aye, f'he don't end up like 'is brother," he says.
[Seregarth(#19338)] Ted simply gives a curt nod of the head to the bandit chief before delivering a withering glare upon Kurl. Once more, he points to the name on the mallet, then swipes his finger across his throat.
[Bagurat(#24847)] "Well, then, there'll be one less of yous to pay if that happens," smirks the chief. "Won't complain there." Still chuckling unpleasantly to himself, he takes a step around the firepit. "Right, now that's been decided -- tomorrow we relocate. Get the lads moving finally, and hopefully this western-land will prove as bountiful as Brev has made it out ter be." And with that, Jarlac moves off, perhaps to spread the word among the rest of the bandits gathered about the barren area.
Kurl's eyes widen, and he pales, and backs away from Ted. Just in case.
[Seregarth(#19338)] That settled, Ted stands up and ambles off from the fire, mallot swinging jauntily by his side.
Located in: Breefolk
