Bandits again, but this time, real ones

As the two made their way further down church street, they left the grounds of the chapel itself and began to tread into what you'd consider the low income area. This was a place frequented by devoted members of the church who, nonetheless, didn't seem to reap the same benefit of monetary blessings that Guyld herself enjoyed. If there was any place that was suitable for handing out charitable donations, it was this.

Although, it might be best done under the company of someone well equipped to stop armed robbers... In the shadows of a nearby, a cloaked figure, dressed in brown with a fit, masculine frame and darkness shrouding his eyes, watched the two of them. Lenore he didn't know, but Guyld was instantly recognizable to anyone who hated the church as much as this man did... "See that sack she's carrying? You just know that thing's loaded up with riches they've taken from their poor faithful," he informed his underling, pointing with the curved dagger he ordinarily wore tucked into his belt. "I don't know what Mrs. St. Vendigeld is doing out here without any of those monks she favors, but I think it's time for a little redistribution of wealth."

The nine in this man's employ called him boss, but his real name was Gedd. Each of his Band of Ten Thieves followed his orders unquestioningly. If he said "redistribute wealth," they'd ask, "how much?"

The man smirked behind his mask. "Well... How much do you think we can get?"

Just as the two women were about to round a corner, a cloaked figure stopped them. "Spare any change?" he questioned, holding up a poorly crafted clay cup; despite his supposed beggarly state, it was clear that his hands were thickly muscled. It was evident that the beggar was, at the very least, well fed. "Spare change for a poor peasant, ma'am?"

This was all step one of Gedd's plan. The women would surely be eager to avoid this man; if he was persistent enough, the two ladies could probably be driven into the back alley, where an ambush was waiting. After all, there was nothing Guyld St. Vendigeld III hated more than charity. The lengths she would no doubt go to in order to get around this peasant-

"What the blazes?" Gedd cursed, watching as the supposedly miserly woman pulled out a small handful of gold coils from her pack and dropped them all into the man's cup.

Even the beggar himself seemed surprised, tilting the cup to look inside. It was a pretty good take. The whole group could leave now and hit the tavern with all this money, if they wanted to. It almost seemed stupid to keep pressing his luck... But then, there was no real reason to retreat for that either. Obnoxiously, he tried waving his cup again. "Ma'am, please, more. More, more!" he demanded, dancing in front of her for attention and to block her path.

Lenore felt herself bristling with indignation. "Now see here! My patient has been extremely charitable with you already!" she complained, noting that the amount of gold coins that Guyld had just surrendered were sufficient to purchase several hours of her own therapy services.

"More, more, more!" the bandit/beggar pleaded, reaching out his cup to begin beating Guyld across her large bosom with the cup, like he was trying to rattle the bars of a jail cell. Coincidentally, the effect was about the same as with the pretend bandits from earlier.

Sighing, Guyld plopped even more gold coins into the man's cup. "There. Satisfied?"

The guy was making a king's ransom doing the easiest job of his life. He was beginning to think this was Geod telling him it was time to retire from the business and live out the rest of his life in relative comfort. Nodding, he did just that. It was hard to argue in the face of such charity.

"Bastard! I've got to do it myself..." Gedd complained in a low mutter, readying his knife. Quickly, but silently, he ran from the back alley, targeting not Guyld, but instead, her pretty traveling companion.

Lenore barely had time to shout "bandits!" before the man's arm was around her collar, clamping one hand in front of her mouth, and the other hand, wielding a knife, was pressed against her slender waist, holding the weapon against her belly. In front of her, Guyld stopped, motionless... then clenched her fists at her side.

"'Bandits' huh? Do these 'bandits' want to meet Geod in heaven?! Because I am just about ready to **** and bury them!" she shouted over her shoulder. Gedd raised an eyebrow, having no idea what she was on about. "I shit you not, I will pound each and every one of them into dust so hard, they'll wish they were being subjected to the old inquisition methods! We have no further panties to give you!"

"What the bloody blue hell are you on about?" Gedd finally questioned aloud, pulling his lower-half mask down so he could speak clearly. His tan, bearded face was wearing a stupefied frown, as he found himself unable to comprehend what he was hearing. "I didn't want panties anyway. All I want is to get my hands on that booty you're carryin', Mrs. St. Vendigeld. Hand it over, nice and slow..."

Now that she'd heard his voice, Guyld turned around, starting loudly as she saw her therapist, silenced under the bandit's hand and facing serious danger. If she had more time, she could probably prepare a prayer, a unique form of magic relying on faith that was used by the church... but she wasn't particularly masterful at it and it didn't seem likely that the thief was going to let her stand there and chant.