The Captain's Ransom

The dust of the skirmish settles over the muddy crossroads as the Bandit Captain lies defeated, his ornate scimitar still clutched in a white-knuckled grip. His subordinates have been scattered or slain, leaving behind a chaotic mess of pilfered crates and personal effects. Among the bloodstained grass, a locked lockbox and several heavy pouches reveal the extent of their recent raids on passing merchant caravans. The air is heavy with the smell of wet earth and copper as you sift through the spoils of the battlefield.