Night mission I

Under the cover of night, Sven and Elise poked around the encampment, dodging patrol paths and studying the sentries movements and patterns. Sometimes the sentries would overlook the patrol paths on the ground, but in the cases where they didn't, Elise would pick them off with her bow, leaving Sven to dispose of the bodies before the sentries took notice. This was all well and good for the patrol paths not directly under the ramparts, but for those bandit patrols hugging the wooden log walls, shooting an arrow would simply alert the camp to their state of ****.

Sven lumped yet another body on the pile behind a row of bushes that obscured the camps vision, taking a body count he observed 12 dead bandits, their numbers had been significantly weakened by their patient ambushes - but the problem now was what to do with those patrols directly under the sentries, and what to do with the sentries themselves. Without a class, Sven and Elise would lack the mobility to scale the walls or abilities to destroy it, so directly assaulting a bandit camp would be unwise.

Luckily, when Sven hauled his final body, a thought came to him suddenly, a solution to their problem.

"Elise, we can't take out any more patrols without the sentries noticing." Elise turned to face Sven.

"The camp will be inaccessible unless we sacrifice a lot of time and put needless risk onto ourselves." Elise looked like she wanted to protest to what she perceived to be Sven chickening out suddenly, however he stopped her before she could continue. "I have a plan where we can enter without opposition, and from there we can launch our attack." Elise frowned, sussing out the gist of Sven's underhanded plan.

"You're going to lie again, aren't you?" Sven sighed, not this again.

"People lie all the time, a lie like this only harms the kinds of people that would lie to you in a second if it would give them an advantage over you." Elise looked away, clearly not too happy with the answer. "It's for the greater good Elise, a small lie here could save the lives of the men and women in that hamlet. What is a lie directed towards murderers and rapists compared to the livelihood and security of an entire people?" It was Elise's turn to sigh.

"What you're saying makes sense, it's just..." She paused to collect her thoughts. "I've always liked the idea of a noble knight, who spoke the truth no matter the consequence! A person like that I can't help but admire." Sven considered her words, it is true that such a person might be commendable if nothing else, but effective? Where was the advantage of letting go of a levied position? Being honest here would simply mean added risk.

"You're free to admire such a man, but right here and right now, would you admire the man who told the truth and let a group of people die for his convictions, or would you admire a man who lies to free the people from their abusers?" Elise knew Sven was right again, but it didn't sit well with her.

"I understand, if you think this approach is best then I will still follow you, Sven." She picked herself from her prone position and followed Sven as he moved out of the shrubbery and into the clearing, closing in on the wooden gate, Sven explained the plan as they walked. A sentry atop the wall soon spotted the couple and hailed their approach.

"Hey, it's way too early for your two's break. Don't be so fuckin' lazy-" The gate master was abruptly interrupted.

"We were out patrolling when our unit came across the hero and his woman." Elise blushed profously under her scaled half helm. "They slew 3 of us before being drove out of the woods, dropping this as they ran like cowards." Sven raised the old, muddy box so that the light of the gate masters torch could illuminate its form. "The boss will want to see this." Sven rattled the box slightly, making a metallic sound like that of money being jingled in a rich mans pocket. The gate master studied Sven for a moment, as if seeing something he didn't like.

"What division did you say you were in again?" Shit, Sven paused for a moment. Division? Would a bandit group even have divisions? Were they really that organized? Time had slowed down for the two, the men on the walls had bows with arrows readied, just waiting on the gate masters call to let loose.

"Division? What are we, some royal army with a weapons master to tutor us all into fine young lordlings?" Sven faked his mirth, praying he had made the right choice. Relief filled him to his core when the gate master soared his head back in laughter, followed by his men who eased up at the answer.

"Aye that was a good one, in you come ya wretched bastard, take no liberties in making your way to Olaf or I'll see to it that no ale comes your way for a whole moon cycle." And with that, the wooden plank that barred the door was raised, the logs creaked as they opened up to reveal the encampments inner core. Sven gave a serious look to Elise.

"NOW!"