After two months without a mission, Ikku visit the bailiff, an older man who seems to have seen it all when it comes to criminal activities. When Ikku ask if he has any work for him, he goes over some open contracts with Ikku.

The bailiff tells Ikku that they recently caught the leader of a large bandit group that was ravaging some nearby villages. He needs to be escorted back to Pendle to face justice. 

He tells you he can supply you with five guards, some horses, and a wagon with bars to escort the prisoner. He warns that some of the bandits might try to free him, as they've attempted to do so in the past. The mission is dangerous but pays well: 1000 Gold Pieces! He was just about to send out his escort, so Ikku need to decide now whether he wants the job or not.

The bailiff nods and gets the gear ready.

Ikku meet with the other five guards. Two of them are veterans, one of which is rather old for his profession. The other three seem to be relatively new guards.

The older of the two veterans approaches Ikku. "Aye…are you the mercenaries that were sent to help us escort the prisoner?" His northern accent is thick.

Ikku nod.

"Wonderful." He looks over at some of the newly hired guards. "Don't let these boys fool you, they barely know how to swing a sword…"

"Aw, shut up, old man!" retorts one of the younger guards. "I could give you a good whooping if I wanted to."

The older guard sighs.

Anne seems eager to get on the road. She doesn't like standing still for too long. Ikku said, "We'll leave soon, don't worry."

She nods, looking around carefully.

The younger guards look you over with a bit of both curiosity and fear. One of them seems brave enough to speak. "You really a mercenary?"

Ikku nod.

"Ever had to kill anyone?" asks another young guard.

Ikku said, "Of course, kind of comes with the business…"

The younger guards nod.

Ikku tell Anne to make sure the younger guards know how to use their swords at least halfway decently. After assessing their skill for a while, Ikku notice that they seem to have raw talent but little formal training. They tend to leave themselves exposed in battle due to their bravado.

Arlo also gives them some tips, and Ikku head back to the wagon.

The prisoner is a middle-aged man with dark-black hair. He appears to be very still; for a moment, you’re not sure if he's sleeping or dead. Suddenly, he opens his eyes and stares at you. His eyes appear to be yellow, and given his appearance, it looks like he hasn't been properly fed for some time.

He looks around, counting the number of guards, then closes his eyes again.

The bandit leader says little as you check them, but he stares at you like a hawk spotting prey. They seem to be well secured.

Before you leave, the bandit leader says something that surprises you a bit. "Care for some advice?"

Ikku decide not to say anything, and the bandit leader seems displeased but decides to continue talking anyway. "Best you free me now…otherwise, you may not live to see the day."

Anne doesn't take his threat well. "Oh…why is that?"

The bandit leader laughs. "I'll get out of here, one way or another…"

"Not if I beat you to a pulp so you can't walk," Anne replies. She considers cutting his hamstrings, but Arlo tells her not to.

Arlo and Anne leave, and Ikku is about to as well when the bandit speaks again. "Think it over…you seem like the reasonable type. It’s not worth dying for. I bet they're underpaying you for this job…I can offer you double whatever they did. Just get me out of here."

Ikku turn around, wondering how to respond.

"Just think it over…"

Ikku decide to leave.

Arlo eyes the prisoner suspiciously, then glances over at the younger guards. Ikku ask him what's on his mind. When Ikku does, he's startled a bit; perhaps he snuck up on him. He recovers quickly.

"Oh, nothing…just thinking about my days as a royal guardsman. Valra never would have let those boys wear the uniform. I hope they stand and fight if it's required. Hate to see them die from arrows or sword wounds in their back."

The group decide to head out. Anne decides to stay close to the prisoner, playing with her knife and smiling at him several times. Arlo decides to stay close as well, not so much to guard the prisoner, but to make sure that Anne doesn't do anything foolish.

Ikku take up the front.

The other guards seem to follow alongside the wagon, with the two veteran guards being on horseback.

About an hour into the journey, you suddenly stop. One of the veteran guards has called out for the convey to hold.

Ikku walk up to him and asked "Everything all right?"

"I’m not sure," he replies.

The guard looks up ahead. "It would appear that there's a fallen tree up ahead. It isn't a very large one…we could probably move it. I'm just wondering if it fell naturally, or if someone did it deliberately."

Ikku decide to walk up to the tree and examine it. He notice that the tree seems a bit rotten. Perhaps a strong breeze knocked it over. The placement of it is a rather odd coincidence, but still possible. The tree and broken branches would take some time to move out of the way, but no more than ten minutes if everyone helped.

The oldest guard looks at Ikku for direction.

Ikku said, "Move this out of the way and continue down our designated path."

The older guard nods and starts ordering the men to move the tree. It seems to be heavy, and at some points it breaks apart, rotten in certain areas. They decide to cut it in half to make the job easier. Ikku notice a small boy watching you work; when he look at him, he runs away into the forest.

Eventually, the guards clear the road and you continue on Ikku's way.

Arlo wonders about the fallen tree. "You think someone did that to delay us?"

Anne shrugs. "Didn't do much in terms of delaying us, perhaps it was just a coincidence."

The group are about half a day into the journey when arrows suddenly shoot out from the forest. The archers appear to be in good positions up high in trees and are difficult to see. Ikku wonder if they waited up there all day, or if they recently climbed them after spotting the group. None of the guards have ranged weapons, and only Anne is equipped with a crossbow.

Ikku then order the guards to attack the archers.

It's a fool’s errand. The archers are placed high in the trees, and the guards can do little to reach them. One of the younger guards attempts to climb a tree, only to be shot by another archer several yards away.

Eventually, the older guard takes command and tells everyone to run. The group, along with the wagon, travel down the trail, taking heavy fire. In the end, three guards are dead or missing.

The older veteran guard talks to the other veteran for a moment and appears to be somewhat flustered. After catching his breath fully, he decides to talk to Ikku. "Those bandits will probably pursue us. I don't feel like getting shot in the back. Perhaps we should find a place to hold up, regroup, and get reinforcements."

Ikku look down the road and notice a few figures moving toward them. He look off into the distance and notice his keep; you’re not that far from it. Ikku decide to tell the group to head there.

When Ikku arrive, he yell at the guards to open the gate, then rush inside. Ikku throw the prisoner into the dungeon. Healers start attending to some wounds; apparently, the older guard received a few cuts to his shoulder and side. It must have been from arrows that got too close for comfort, or perhaps he fell and hurt himself during the run.

Ikku walk outside to see Arlo already up on one of the watchtowers. When you approach, he frowns. "We've been followed. I see a group of them in the trees over there."

"How many do you think there are?" you ask.

Arlo rubs his chin. "Hard to say…they seem to be staying in the forest. Could be a dozen, or possibly much more than that. I can't tell from this distance."

Suddenly, a man in a black cloak slowly rides up and approaches the gate. Anne and Arlo eye him suspiciously; he doesn't seem to have any weapons drawn, but his cloak covers a lot from view.

He stops about twenty feet from the gate and takes off the hood.

Ikku is surprised to see that it's a young woman.

She speaks. "I hear you have our leader captive. I want to negotiate his release." She takes a moment to gauge your response.

The young woman continues…

"If you free him, we'll reward you with eight hundred Gold Pieces." She looks behind her. "That…and we won't storm your castle."

Ikku shouted, "We don't negotiate with bandits!"

The woman shakes her head. "Very well…but you're making a mistake." She rides away.

Redford walks up to Ikku and tells him that it would be best to prepare the castle in case of an assault. Arlo suggests placing everyone up on the walls. "Maybe if they see how many people we have, they'll leave."

Anne suggests fortifying the gate. "The gate will probably be the focus point of their attack…I doubt they'll try to scale the walls."

Redford suggests that everyone go inside except for half of the guards. That way, if things go bad, they can always fall back into the castle.

Ikku start ordering everyone to take positions up on the walls…arming everyone with a weapon, or anything he can find that looks like a weapon.

Redford suggests it might be wise to send a few messengers to ask for help. It would require horses and guards. The messengers travel in different directions. Both are pursued by the bandits. Eventually, Ikku lose sight of the riders; you're not sure if they made it or not.

Ikku see a lot of movement in the forest, and even what sounds like a few trees being chopped down, but none of the bandits form up to attack. Soon it becomes dark, and a slight mist covers the area.

Anne grunts. "Great…"

Arlo looks at her, confused. "What is it?"

"They must be waiting to attack us at night…this mist doesn't help visibility."

Arlo seems concerned. "Do you think they might try to sneak into the castle?"

Anne shrugs. "I wouldn't put it past them."

Anne and Arlo look to Ikku for direction.

Right now, they have guards at all positions on the wall. 

With everyone in their positions, Ikku must wait.

A group of bandits is spotted attempting to climb the northern-facing outer wall. Some guards rush over and shoot arrows at them. They flee as a result.

A horn sounds, and you hear the roar of many bandits running toward the castle. Several of them appear to be carrying siege ladders, and one group is holding what looks like a makeshift battering ram.

Ikku order everyone to attack and also join in the battle...

The group defeated the bandits. Ikku and the guards are able to secure the prisoner and complete the journey to Pendle. They are rewarded with a thousand Gold Pieces upon your arrival.

The group return to the castle…

Soon, they receive word from Redford that there's a mercenary waiting for Ikku outside the castle. Ikku nod and tell him to notify the servants to let the mercenary in. Once Ikku find Anne and Arlo, they enter the great hall...

Ikku see an older man standing in the meeting hall and talking to Redford. They seem to be laughing and enjoying each other's company. WhenIkku sat down, the mercenary introduces himself. "My name is Zechariah Dalton, but you can call me Zech. Most people do."

"Nice to meet you, Zech…do you and Redford know each other?" Ikku ask.

Redford nods. "I've met Zech on the battlefield a few times."

Zech interjects. "And not always on the same side, either."

As you sit down, Redford whispers to you, "He's a hardened mercenary, but maybe a bit past his prime."

Ikku take a good look at Zech. He has a bandage covering one of his eyes and several scars, presumably from battle. He's also a walking armory. On his back, he has a shield and a longsword. On his right side, he has a mace, and on the left, a short sword. He also has a few daggers on him.

Anne chuckles. "You seem ready for war, Zech."

Arlo nods. "Your equipment looks a bit old, though."

Zech shrugs. "They get the job done."

Redford speaks up. "To what do we owe this visit, Zech?"

"Well…I was considering joining your band of mercenaries."

"Is that so?" asks Redford, "Why us?"

"You're relatively new but have grown in fame rather quickly…I figured it was the most reasonable place to start."

"I thought you were retired," Redford comments.

Zech nods. "Aye…I was retired, but after a few years, I got bored. I want to go on at least one more campaign while I still can."

Redford looks over at you. "Do you have any questions for Zech?"

Ikku asked, "What's your specialty?"

Zech rubs his chin. "I use a number of weapons. I consider myself rather good with a crossbow, but I'd say the mace is my favorite. Doesn't matter if I'm fighting an armored or unarmored opponent…a hit from this mace will hurt them."

Zech continues. "If you're asking what my specialty is as a mercenary…I was a great fighter in my prime. Still pretty good in my opinion, but I have experience training new recruits now, and making sure equipment is properly maintained. I can also provide security. I suppose my role is best served as a Sergeant at Arms."

After Ikku announce that he doesn't have any questions, Anne steps up and begins questioning Zech.

"What kinds of jobs do you usually enjoy doing?" she asks.

Zech thinks for a few moments. "Anything that needs to be done…"

"Anything in particular? Escorting lords…or caravans, that sort of thing?"

Zech laughs. "I didn't come out of retirement with the mindset of escorting a caravan of grain or babysitting a lord, if that's what you're asking…but I'm also not above the task."

He looks over at you. "Whatever the Captain asks of me…I shall do. I just hope that involves something that gets my adrenaline pumping."

Anne nods approvingly, and so does Arlo.

Redford looks over at Ikku. "So…what do you think, Captain?"

Ikku said, "Let him join us."

Redford nods and walks over to give Zech a tour of the castle. Zech walks up to Ikku and nods his head. "Thank you for giving me a chance, Captain. You won't regret it."

Ikku dismiss everyone and head over to look at some mercenary contracts.