Arayas curses under her breath as the ambush falls apart. "We need to finish this!" she yells, any hope of stealth gone. She lets an arrow fly.
Without even thinking, her hand moves back to her quiver pulling another arrow out and letting it loose in one fluid movement.
Aeaya fires a couple arrows at the remaining thug, staggering him with the half orc breaks for cover around the back side of the lodge as the front door bursts open and bandits begin pouring out. They are looking a bit sluggish, some a little green in the face, overall in bad shape.
Initiative:
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandits 0 (8)
Dante
Thug 17
Arayas
END OF ROUND
Dernaras is up!
AC 17
PD 14
MD 12
AC 14
PD 13
MD 9
MOB HP 10
Dernaras braces herself for the onslaught, wishing they'd managed to get the thugs asleep before this fight. I've been in worse spots with worse odds... but those times I had my squads around me, not some random civilians with weapons.
Holding her spear close and jabbing it threateningly, she tries to hold back the horde crowding from the front doors. "Stay back! Bring out your foul mistress and let her face justice!"
Dernaras lands a solid blow onto one of the bandits, causing him to projectile vomit into the snow.
5 of the bandits try and gang up on Dernaras, fortunately their attacks are uncoordinated.
One will crit for 6 damage and one will hit for 3. While the last one out the door, looks rather green before collapsing in a slump in the doorway.
2 Will move up to Dante
With one critting for 6 damage and two hitting for 3 each.
Finally one closes with Arayas
but misses.
Initiative:
Dante
Thug 17
Arayas
END OF ROUND
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandits 7 (7)
Dante is up!
AC 17
PD 14
MD 12
AC 14
PD 13
MD 9
|
Fearing that he has become quickly overwhelmed, Dante takes advantage of the poisoned bandits' slowed reflexes to make a quick strike on one of them...
for
With a shove, he sends the unconscious bandit towards his sober friend, then Dante knocks the other poisoned bandit on the chin with his elbow, forcing the bandit's guard down enough for Dante to safely slide on his knees through the snow in a desperate lunge at the sober one!
Disengage from bandits: , then spend momentum for Swashbuckler, attacking the sober thug...
for , or 1 on a miss.
Dante takes down one bandit, before escaping from the other on him. However he does draw the ire of the thug he just moved up to.
The Thug is however unable to connect.
Initiative:
Arayas
END OF ROUND
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandits 3 (6)
Dante
Thug 18
Arayas is up
AC 17
PD 14
MD 12
AC 14
PD 13
MD 9
Arayas ducks down avoiding the thug's attack, grabbing her spear from the ground as she stands, trying to ram it into her attacker's gut...
Arayas manages to do a little bit of damage to the sick bandit with her spear, but not enough to bring him down.
Initiative:
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandits 4 (6)
Dante
Thug 18
Arayas
END OF ROUND
Dernaras is up.
AC 17
PD 14
MD 12
AC 14
PD 13
MD 9
Dernaras' face is grim as a few of her attackers' strikes manage to get past her defenses. Reminding herself to breathe deeply, she glances over to check on her new companions before lunging forward and skewering a careless bandit on her spear.
Dernaras skewers a bandit while the loose bandit tries to flank Dante!
and finds an opening for 3 damage.
The three on Dernaras circle around looking for an opening.
One cutting into her with his shortsword while another manages a solid thunk on her shoulder. The 3rd however collapses from the poison
Initiative:
Dante
Thug 18
Arayas
END OF ROUND
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandits 7 (4)
Dante is up!
AC 17
PD 14
MD 12
AC 14
PD 13
MD 9
Dante tumbles away and to the front door of the lodge. However that stap on his leather armor finally gives way under all the strain.
Dante is now vulnerable Save 11+ Ends and loses a recovery.
Left with only Dernaras to beat up the Thug goes after her.
and misses, but he looks angry.
Initiative
Arayas
END OF ROUND
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandits 5 (4)
Dante
Thug 18
Arayas is up!
AC 17
PD 14
MD 12
AC 14
PD 13
MD 9
Arayas using her spear, tries to keep the thug back so she can escape melee with him.
Feinting an attack, the thug tries to block as she moves back. As she moves back, she drops her spear at her feet, pulling out her bow again firing an arrow at him, aiming center mass...
Smiling as the shot hit, she confidently lets another arrow fly at her target...
...which quickly turns to a frustrated frown as the arrow flies wide.
Arayas's feint works and she's able to take down the bandit that was menacing her.
Just then there is suddenly the sound of breaking glass as a southern window of the house breaks open and the masked leader of the group tumbles out, bow in hand. You all feel an unnatural sense of dread.
Initiative
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandits 5 (3)
Dante
Thug 18
Arayas
Vile Ranger
END OF ROUND
Dernaras is up!
AC 17
PD 14
MD 12
AC 14
PD 13
MD 9
AC 18
PD 17
MD 14
"After her!" exclaims Dernaras to her companions. "I'll finish these!" I'd rather chase her myself, but it's not an option here.
Turning her wrath on the knife-wielding thug, she jabs at his heart.
Dernaras lands a solid blow on the thug, finally causing him to slump into the snow.
The 2 bandits on Dernaras continue their assault.
Both connecting on Dernaras for 3 damage each.
Seeing that the Vile Ranger has a bead on Arayas the final bandit chases Dante into the entrance way and manages to stick him for 3 damage with an ill-maintained short sword.
Initiative:
Dante
Arayas
Vile Ranger
END OF ROUND
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandits 5 (3)
Dante and Arayas are up.
AC 14
PD 13
MD 9
AC 18
PD 17
MD 14
|
|
His momentum fading, Dante attempts to shove the poisoned bandit in the doorway aside...
...then makes a quick strike at a bandit with his back turned to him...
for
His luck turning around, Dante slips into the house before the bandits can counterattack...
Quick action:
And leans against the fireplace to take a few breaths.
- still vulnerable.
Dante gets around the Bandit on him, takes down one of the ones on Dernaras and retreats into the house.
Initiative:
Arayas
Vile Ranger
END OF ROUND
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandits 8 (2)
Dante
Arayas is up.
Arayas sees the Ranger exiting the house, quickly pulling up her bow she aims at her, turning to Dernaras who's heavily engaged, quickly nodding before looking back at her target and firing. "Alright! I got her!"
Grabbing another arrow she takes a deep breath, breathing out as she lets the arrow fly...
The vile ranger gets hit by both of Arayas's arrows but does not flinch, instead launching back one of her own.
barely missing Arayas before moving around to the back of the house.
Initiative:
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandits 8 (2)
Dante
Arayas
Vile Ranger
END OF ROUND
AC 14
PD 13
MD 9
AC 18
PD 17
MD 14
"Don't worry about these hobos, get the woman!" cries Dernaras to Dante, though her eyes narrow a bit in concern at the man's wounds. Taking a deep breath, she pauses momentarily to collect herself before jumping forward to finish off half of the two remaining underlings.
Dernaras cuts down another bandit as the final one moves up to her to try and avenge his fallen comrades.
Unsuccessfully.
Initiative:
Dante
Arayas
Vile Ranger
END OF ROUND
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandit 8
Dante and Arayas are up!
AC 14
PD 13
MD 9
AC 18
PD 17
MD 14
Arayas pauses for a moment, before nodding in agreement with Dernaras. "Alright!" she calls out as she chases after the Ranger.
Pulling back and arrow she stops taking quick aim, and firing at the Ranger.
She smiles as the arrow flies true, quickly pulling back and firing another arrow.
Arayas chases after the ranger and hits with 2 more arrows, staggering her.
Dante re-straps his armor and takes a moment to catch his breath.
The vile ranger sees Arayas come around the corner and unleashes an arrow in return
missing.
Firing again she also misses!
Initiative:
Dernaras
Poisoned Bandit 8
Dante
Arayas
Vile Ranger 31
END OF ROUND
Dernaras is up
AC 14
PD 13
MD 9
AC 18
PD 17
MD 14
Dernaras narrows her eyes on the last bandit, zeroing in on his weakest point and quickly lunging with her spear. She follows it up by thwacking him with the shaft, then heads for the back of the building where she last saw the archer.
Dernaras finishes off the last bandit and heads around to the back of the house where she spots the vile ranger.
Initiative:
Dante
Arayas
Vile Ranger 31
END OF ROUND
Dernaras
Dante and Arayas are up!
AC 18
PD 17
MD 14
Dodging the arrow from the enemy Ranger, Arayas fires back.
But the arrow misses it's mark. Quickly taking another arrow out, she lines up her shot... eyes narrow as she tracks her target... and fires.
Dante stays inside, trying not to get killed while Arayas fires another flurry of arrows at the ranger.
Who returns the favor for 8 damage as a thick arrow slams into Arayas's side.
Dernaras
Dante
Arayas
Vile Ranger 36
END OF ROUND
Everybody is up!
AC 18
PD 17
MD 14
Arayas yells out in pain, clutching her side for a moment. She looks at the opposing Ranger with hate in her eyes... grabbing and arrow and firing it.
Wincing from the pain, she curses as the shot misses. Firing again...
Dernaras raises an eyebrow at the familiar curse, but takes no time to evaluate it as she rushes over to the ranger with her spear in hand. Feeling already as if she knows the woman simply by having observed the woman's men, she jabs for the place the men always left open when fighting her.
Dernaras charges up, and with the woman off balance from Arayas's two shots Dernaras just manages to take her down!
Combat over!
----
Who is the masked woman? Where is Dante's love? What happened to the peace summit? Who/what's in the burlap sack they brought back? Is the Half-Orc okay? Where the hell are you?...
Feel free to discuss, speculate, make up clues and come to conclusions. (They may or may not be right though...) In fact, like before when you were in the wilderness, one of you should make up something suspicious that the party finds a clue in. The next player should use a skill and describe the clue found, and describe the next suspicious thing.
---
When you level up, you get these benefits:
• +1 to attacks, defenses, and skill checks.
• An additional die of damage with weapon attacks.
• More hit points (by class).
• An additional feat. Choose any feat whose prerequisites your
character satisfies. Feats are classed as adventurer (can be
chosen at any level), champion (can be chosen at level 5+),
and epic (can be chosen at level 8+).
• The ability to wield an additional magic item
• At 4th level, 7th level, and 10th level, you add +1 to three
different ability scores.
• At 5th level and 8th level, gain an additional icon relationship
point, and possibly more talents depending on your class.
• Possibly more powers and spells, and possibly an increase in
their strength. The rules for acquiring or improving powers
and spells vary from class to class. See character classes in
Chapter 4 for details. In general, characters have a moderate
number of attacks and spells.
The elf-like woman nods. "It was. You fought well." Those wounds might've killed a new recruit, but I can't tell him that. We do not comment on the wounds of others; it would be taken as either pity or boasting. Still... he's no weakling.
Arayas turns the corner of the lodge meeting up with the others, holding her bow at rest.
"Well that went smoothly..." she says with a smile. "Are you two alright?" Arayas asks earnestly.
Not sure if I trust them yet... but they haven't backed down, or done anything yet...
"I think it's time we start figuring out, just what is happening here... did anyone else notice the men carrying someone in a sack of some sorts?"
Dernaras tilts her head toward the man in gracious acceptance of the comment, then turns to Arayas as the woman arrives. "Perhaps it is the woman they abducted."
The white-haired woman leads the way into the house, pausing with a frown on her face for a moment before continuing down to the cellar. The sack is lying on the floor unmoving, but as Dernaras cuts the rope around it there's a slight groan from within. No woman greets the group's eyes; instead, they see a middle-aged elven man bound hand and foot. The elf stirs, his eyelids fluttering as he slowly returns to a semblance of consciousness.
Finally he opens his eyes and studies the three faces around him. Dernaras' brow furrows as she realizes she doesn't recognize him, but when she asks him his name, he simply shakes his head sadly and opens his mouth to show that his tongue is gone. Reaching into his pocket, he produces a note and holds it out weakly before slumping back into unconsciousness.
|
|
Dante picks up the coded note and looks it over...
"I see what this is," Dante pieces it together, thanks to his knowledge of human tongues. "It seems that someone directed these mercenaries to disrupt some sort of peace summit. There is no mention of the weather, however. How this gentleman acquired this code is also a mystery."
Though it is stained, Dante finds a rather crude drawing, perhaps some sort of map, on their ranger foe. "Does this make any sense to you, Arayas?" he asks.
Arayas takes the note, looking over it. "It's hard to tell...
Her eyes go wide as she looks over it, "This is definitely the area we're in, I recognize some of the landmarks we passed. She pauses, "There's some elven names I don't recognize here along with the symbol of these men... and what looks like patrol routes that lead to one point..." She looks up suspiciously at Denaras. "Do you recognize any?"
Dernaras studies the map and nods slowly. "This one," she begins, pointing to one of the names with an odd symbol beside it. "I believe they have been warned to avoid the ones with these markings; it makes some sense... those I recognize are of excellent and loyal families. Yet... what are those names doing here? Perhaps they are not the names I know, but others bearing the same? Or some kind of code, borrowing the names of my people?"
Pausing a moment, the woman reaches up to rub her forehead in a very human manner. "We should follow the map, I think, after we rest."
Arayas nods slowly, "All we can do is guess...
She glances back at Dernaras suspiciously, Loyal families... loyal to who?
"We'll need to dispose of these bodies... and talk to our host about using this lodge as a camp for the night. But it's far to late, and we've been through too much today to try and figure out all the answers tonight.
"We should keep watch nonetheless... the scouting party's leader may have been expecting a messenger, in which case we need to know we are discovered."
Dernaras finds a mute half-elf with a coded note.
Dante decodes the note and finds out that the bandits purpose was to disrupt the peace summit but no further news about the weather.
He then discovers a map which Arayas figures out is of the current area, but does not recognize the Elven names on it.
Dernaras recognizes the names as loyal families, but is still puzzled by the mysterious code next to them.
The half-orc makes you some new (not poisoned) dinner and celebrates the defeat of the bandits with you.
She looks at the map and while she can't speak Elvish, she does recognize one of the names when it is spoken and think the bandits may have taken Dante's love there.
Additionally she has a handkerchief belonging to Dante's love which she will give to Dante in hopes of bringing him good luck.
As the party sleeps Dernaras receives dreams from the Elf Queen.
Dernaras sees a warm path through the snow, while it is not clear where the path goes, Dernaras feels it is the right way to go. Dernaras can feel that there is something more though, while the path is safer, the true beneficiary is the Elf Queen, but how?...