It seems altogether too much of a gamble, that's counting on:
1. We can successfully restrain one of them
2. They'll give out information once they're interrogated

If we either end up killing them, run of them runs away, or someone we capture doesn't talk it puts the fort in a very bad position.

EDIT: And it looks like Sibelius pretty much covered everything I wanted to say. Haha yes, Sordin might have slight issue with torturing the bandits.

Not just torturing, but from the sounds of Sylvia's plan, slaughtering the prisoners after they've given up everything they know

+EDIT

To summarize the current plans that seem to be floating around so far:

1. Let the bandits take the stuff and follow them back to camp, then fight down the camp, attempting to kill a couple bandits at a time.
-Ortlieb is reasonably confident he could track a mounted group of bandits not hiding their trail.
-Plan banks on being able to kill the entire camp either without them mustering in force against you, or being able to fight the entire camp (not wanting to fight the entire camp being one of the reasons why the tax collectors would be allowed to go)

2. Capture the hooded bowman who seems to hold a certain elevated position, and capture/kill his cohorts. Extract information out of the captives as to location of the camp and whatever other details may come to mind, using increasing levels of persuasion as necessary. Sylvia's version: slaughter the captives after they spill the information. Sordin's version: offer captives a chance to redeem themselves and turn away from banditry; if they refuse, the penalty for unrepentant banditry is execution (note how much more official 'execution' sounds than 'slaughter').
-Bandits, theoretically, may withhold information. PCs' Moral fibre may prevent the more extreme methods of information extraction.

Other details:
-It's not known how long the camp would take to retaliate for the missing tax collectors. Also, the full extent of the bandits' forces unknown; placed at twelve minimum, assuming no deaths or departures in the last 3 months.
-Likelihood is that the tax collectors are not expecting any resistance, and so would be easy to ambush.
-Ortlieb probably could backtrack the taxmen's original approach, should they all die/prove unhelpful.
-Oleg has been sending messages to the city requesting guards for months now. His request has been recently approved, though when they will arrive is up to the bureaucratic BS, which is how the message concerning your arrival came to imply you could help with the problem until the guards arrived.

We discussed this previously you and I Owen, Sylvia wouldn't be abject to letting them go if they redeem themselves, but should they show or be unwilling to then yes the execution is what would happen, and I would think having your face and brain melted would be quicker then hanging. So NO it isn't "Interrogate, kill." they are offered redemtpion, should they turn it down then damned they be that much quicker.

I also need our friendly orc friend to acknowledg me XD

I am thinking that we should cut to the chase rather soon here on what the group will do tomorrow. We could be here for 10 pages with our characters arguing practical, moral, and/or logical points and counter-points.

Not to over rush it though: we can go at this until Sib is ready to make an official post, but once he is ready, we should have a clear result to give him, either as a group or as individuals.

Though their choice of alignment are in great opposition, I will simply say that Lloyd will take whatever side Sordin chooses. This is because the group is deciding while Lloyd is gone. So instead of having to redo the whole argument process, or make Lloyd a total dickle and give some sort of ultimatum (such as my way or I ain't helping), I am going to say that in the non-rping time between characters, Sordin (who has a very close logic to Lloyd's) is able to explain the reason the party is doing whatever they are doing.

Keep up the posts. They are very fun to read, but remember that we do have to actually start the fight with the bandits at some point.

Regardless of how much I love debating strategies, I must grudgingly admit that Shades is right, we will have to fight the bandits at some point.

To help expedite the process, I'll say that if someone ends up mentioning that Ortlieb is likely able to follow the path they came by, Sordin will concede, being satisfied with knowing that they have a backup in case the interrogation fails.

Aww, but if you decide now, I won't be able to declare morning has arrived after an arbitrary time and the bandits have arrived while you argued XD

As for answering questions: The doors to the keep must be opened by hand. When Oleg lets the bandits in, he can open one door only, which would make it easy for a person who might be hiding behind the door to slam it shut. Oleg could do the door closing, but he should normally be with the bandits at the tables. Svet could do it, but Oleg would mislike placing her in danger like that.

After the ambush starts, Oleg and Svetlana will quickly get somewhere safe, because, my goodness, aren't hostage situations just annoying?

Also, I will need from each player where they want to be hiding. The best choices are Stables, the Guestroom, and to cut off escape, at least one at the door. Other places are possible, but could prove less ideal. The guest house would land you right next to the bandits, since they'll be loading furs from the tables right there. The stables will pop you out across the yard from the loader thugs, behind them. The doorfellow will take a move action to shut the door, but will be in a similar situation to the stables folk.

Oh, and since no one here is a small character, no one gets to hide under the pile of goods this time XD (I'm lookin' at you, Reralae)

Omg, post explosion happened the one or two days I didn't check the site. I'm sorry if people are waiting on me, I'll try to catch up on reading and replying tonight, but I have a test tomorrow too, so we'll see how confident I am of that.

I'll just make this place where you can quickly reference who is hiding where (well, once I get replies).

Guesthouse -Aria

Stable -Sylvia
-Junn

Honourable Doorfellows -Ortlieb & Ramathu

Other >.>
Sordin (Southeast tower)
Lloyd (Storage Hut)

Gah! I apologize, that was intended to be "Sordin shoots Sylvia an inquiring gaze", not Aria. I can see why your character was confused.

No worries, gimme a sec to edit.

On side note, I do realize the plan has been basically put into final note on this thread, but just posting for Aria because feels like a good opportunity to provide some insight into her natural disposition.

I'm expecting less of a balls to the walls serious brawl coming up and something along the lines of comical, mostly because of how rag tag and mismatched our group is right now, ontop of the situation of doors, bandits, and locations of springing. Itll be funnnn lol.

And then it turns out Sylvia's actually the most sane, well-adjusted member of the party... the true whack-job? Sordin. XD

No one knows how he maintains his paladin powers, but his method so far has been to save more people than he hunts down.

That would be an odd tale to tell.

Owen knowing your wacky universes thats probably true.

Kay, I'm sorry for having to hold you guys up, but I won't be able to post at all until at least Mon, as I have work and a midterm to study for. School is just so annoying. xp