Session 2 - Wolves of A New Spring

General Summary

With Celtus captive, and the other three bandits killed, the party presses on towards the farmstead - after a brief discussion of what just happened between them.
Upon arriving at the northern end of the farmstead, they are able to identify atleast three other bandits at the farmstead. Looking to draw them out so they could better identify the threat, Declan Murdock snuck around the eastern side of the farmstead's buildings in an attempt to reach the stables on the far side. He was spotted slipping between cover, but with some quick thinking (and suspiciously good luck) he was able to lure the bandits off and slip into the barn.
Looking for a place to hide in case the bandits came back, Declan tried to ascend the rotten and dry stairs of the old silo, and in doing so - drove his foot straight through one of the steps. The noise didn't attract other bandits thankfully, and he was able to alert his companions of his location with the clever use of an arrow and an orange feather stolen from Garfield, Mayor of Tribute the day before.
No sooner had he caught his breathe however, then Sophia Barrows, Farmer's Daughter revealed herself at the top of the stairs, armed with a 7 Crossbow - 600. Declan was able to convince her he wasn't a bandit, and she revealed they had been hiding in there for over a day, and that one of their party Ajax the Farmhand was severely wounded.
Thinking of a plan, Declan attempted to send a message to his companions, but unfortunately Wilhelm, Father In Tribute was seen attempting to retrieve it. Wilhelm struck first however - leveling an entire room of a farmhand's room and scaring the ghost right out of one of the bandits.
Fleeing the unknown assailant, the bandit ran from the house, shouting warning to the rest of his band. Vargan The Forester took him down with an arrow - but it was too late, battle was upon them.

After a brief skirmish over positoning, Wilhelm, Father In Tribute took the forefront of the battle, killing two men almost immediatly (the first times he had taken a life.) Declan however, revealed he too had magical potential, and unleashed the wrath of The Shattered Soul of Bragi upon the helpless bandits below his nest in the silo.

When the dust had settled, eight bandits lay dead on the ground, one of which was felled by Sophia and her crossbow. Barricading themselves inside the main house on the farmstead, the bandits hunkered down and prepared for a final stand against the unknown threat...

As they recovered from the intial battle, Declan discovered bodies of several farmhands amongst the hay of the barn.... Seemingly out of control - Declan marched to the front of the farmstead, where Bartholo Buck Barcanous was shouting ineffectively at the bandits for surrender. Seeing the time for the final conflict had arrived, the party marched heroically up the front door of the farmstead - and with the wrath of a celestial god - Declan detonated the door leading into the homestead, while Buck's barrier protected them from the bandit's vicious counter attack.

Wilhelm engaged in combat with the hulking bandit chief, quickly finding himself disarmed. Meanwhile, Buck was able to destroy the remaining bandit's cover, while Declan shattered the bones of three more bandits with a deafening attack. Wilhelm's battle with the bandit chief was going poorly, until an impressive display of aracne magic from Buck shattered one bandit completely while freezing the entire contents of the room they were fighting in. Stumbling to his knees, the bandit chief took an arrow to his chest, and before he could choke to death on his own blood - Wilhelm, Father In Tribute caved his skull in with a censor from the chapel in tribute. "Bless You.'

When the adrenaline faded, and the fatigue of the day bore onto them, the party was able to finally inspect the farmstead properly. Cedric Jr., Farmer's Son was dead, likely tortured to death by the bandits. He seemingly refused to give up his sister's hiding place - and gave up his life to do so. Ajax the Farmhand, who had stood up against the bandits before the party's arrival also fell to his wounds, leaving behind his wife and two daughters.

The villagers of tribute were victorious. But at what cost?