2:
3:
4:
5:
6:
7:
8:
K:
Not one of the bandits notices Liam wandering the perimeter of their camp. "Where is Happs? Shouldn't he be back now?" One of the bandits asks Kressel, who answers with "Eh, probably just enjoying tormenting that idiot. He'd better not have touched the wife though." "Jealous Kressel?" Comes one bandits sly response. "That prick is mine, I decide where it goes. If it goes in that prissy girl then fine but only if I decide it." Obviously the bandits are not the most cultured lot.
You feel a bit dizzy and woozy, then reality reasserts itself, with Kressel rousing the two bandits near her as the lookouts begin to draw bows.
Kressel:
Bydar:
Liam:
Kastus:
Moving Kressel to last for convenience.
"Get them!" Kressel yells in fury as she gathers her axes. The men near her draw their short swords and rush toward our three heroes. The two lookouts draw their bows, with one firing at Liam in his bush and the other attacking Kastus as he climbs toward him.
Swinging himself to the side, Kastus attempts to dodge the arrow but fails by a slim margin. It grazes his cheek where his head had just been.
Kastus hisses under his breath as the arrow nicks his cheek, but keeps climbing nonetheless. "Don't worry, you'll get yours in a moment." As he hears the call to arms, he spurs himself onward.
Now without horses, the heroes move forward, stopping at the edge of sight from the camp. The watchtowers are where Devlin stated they were, with 7 other bandits scattered around the fire, including one woman holding an axe, who is presumably Kressel.
There are also three men tied firmly to a nearby tree, hands bound securely and almost hanging by their wrists. Near them two dogs strain at leashes lashed to a stake, firmly far enough from camp to keep them from reaching any bandit.
Seeing the 3 bound men, once an observer can draw their eyes from the sheer size of the immense, muscular one,one would notice that it is the smallest of the 3 whom is given the widest birth by the guards. Set apart from the other two, the small man is stripped to the waist, with not merely his wrists tied, like the other two, but with hessian bags covering his fingers and a gag in his mouth. His torso sports bold black tattoos and it is hard to tell but perhaps there is one along his jawline running down his neck. The most prominent though is the stylized crow or raven tattoo across his chest. He is very lean, one can pick out the individual striations in his muscles but of a slight build, this one doesn't have the look of a warrior. There is however and intensity in those too green eyes that appears to unsettle his would be captors.
Kressel seems to be the only one unaffected. I bet you wish you accepted my invitation now wizard. Pity, we could have used a Mage with a handsome face. But maybe I'll have some fun with you yet...
Only a perceptive onlooker might realize that the dirty bundle of clothes to the side of the camp is actually a skinny young man. Wearing only some torn pants and a ragged oversized shirt, he lies slumped on his side, his hands bound up behind his back, apparently forgotten as he's not likely to represent any danger.
The young man wakes slowly, his head a mess from the knockout blow he suffered. Tasting dirt and blood, he tries opening his eyes. Only darkness and faint shapes greet him, so he closes them and focuses on the sounds.
Ancestors, hear my prayer. Although the wolves circle me, I'm not a sheep to fall prey to their fangs. Help me fight tooth for tooth, give me your advice.
They are many, but they are unprepared. I will honor your patronage, spirits, and will die fighting if need be. Help me give these bandits the fight of their life.
He murmurs, moving his hands in simple prayer. For most, it looks like he's slowly coming to himself, murmuring nonsense while he wakes up.
The third man was enormous. Stripped to the waist and bound with enough rope to hold five normal men, it was clear that he was something not quite human. His skin was the color of well-tanned leather and he seemed to be completely hairless.
The massive man's face was calm and bored. Whatever mistake he'd made to end up in his predicament, it certainly didn't seem to be anything that he was stewing on. He simply watched the battle unfold. His powerfully corded muscles bulged and rippled as he strained against his bonds.
The ragged man opens his icy-blue eyes, trying to get a picture of the people around him. He focus on the two prisoners, wondering why they bothered to gag specifically him. The boy whispers, hoping the bandits won't be able to hear.
, his voice quivering, he looks very much the part of a frightened young man. "Can you hear me?"
As Raxus strains at his bonds Kressel notices, stepping closer with a lazy grin. "Really now big boy? Thinking you can break your ropes and go tromping away?" Her short brown hair falls forward as she leans in uncomfortably close. "I could have use for a big boy if you didn't fight so hard."
Thanks to the distraction and noise of the bandits jeering the prisoners, Kastus is able to get to the base of the Western Watchtower without being seen and manages to begin a small fire before moving a bit away.
The fire begins to spread to the point of being visible. The guard on the watchtower yells and Kressel turns. "Damnit, was he smoking his damn pipe up there again? James," She says, pointing to one of the bandits, "Watch the prisoners. The rest of you come help me put it out before Tellan dies." Her and the remaining bandits rush toward the fire except one of them.
Well, I have no idea if Kastus is still where the fire is and getting ready for a whole lot of threats heading towards him, or heading back this way, but chances are the odds will not get better for freeing those prisoners than they are now. Shelyn, I know war is not your way, but shield me if I am still worth shielding. Bydar takes a deep breath and makes sure the others have gained some distance so he won't be seen as he moves, and then, glaive in hand, charges the lone bandit guarding the tree hoping to surprise him.
Looking at his fellow prisoner, Alexei whispers:
Then, he closes his eyes and starts praying.
The young man opens his eyes and they seem to have their own pale light. A ghostly mist swirls around his torso, solidifying into a breastplate of ancient design and the devices of long-dead swordmen. Around his closed fist the mist coalesces, taking the shape of a long narrow blade, its intrincaly decorations all formed from half-forgotten dreams.
The blade easily cuts into the bonds, and with a quick twist, it cuts open the other prisoners.
Bydar:8
Kastus:
Raxus:
Alexei:
Bandits:
Kressle:
Moving Kressle to 14 Initiative for convenience: Deacon and Kastus are up, then bandits, then everyone.
The bandits turn back at the sounds of battle and escape. "Damnit! You three, stay here and deal with whoever started the fire. Everyone else, let's go help James." Kressle orders.
Seeing the group make a mad dash back to the prisoners, Deacon begins to cast, completing the spell, but holding the final releasing word. He let's the group close to 50ft, then releases a sleep spell at the middle back of the pack hoping to catch as many of the stragglers as possible. Leaving the faster bandits to continue thier run without as many numbers as they thought.
"Hopefully this giant, the lad and I can handle the forerunners, then end the sleepers...
The spell cast, he looks around for any weapons and either moves to the weapon he sees or just behind the tree.
"Fight well, Large One, my magic will aid us"
Kastus rushes the group of bandits still near the fire with his blade out.
Kastus manages to cut the bandit near in two, making the other two look frightened as hell as they draw their short swords.
Kastus easily parries and blocks both the strikes with contemptuous ease.
One of the bandit watchtowers draws his bow and attempts to strike out against the fleeing prisoners, the other seems far too busy with the fire creeping it's way up his tree.
The arrow sails near Alexei, damn near catching in his hair.
As one of the bandits drops from the back, sleeping midstride, one of the bandits circles around Raxus, slashing at the giant. One moves toward Alexei, undaunted by his spiritual accouterments, and their lady leader moves in toward Bydar, stopping just far enough away to avoid being struck by his reaching weapon. . Finally, James stepped in closer to Bydar and attempted to attack him.
