After tethering Veris among the thicker tree cover so he wouldn't be a ready target for the bandit archers, Taenweth glanced across at Regina and replied quietly. "It is better if we spread out a little, but not too far apart so we have ready backup, if needed." The Elf was impressed with the alchemist's cunning and smiled at her. "I am with you."
She drew her rapier and proceeded to follow Regina's lead; mindfully crossing the shallowest part of the river to stand behind/among the thick cover of trees before her and then waited to draw closer still, using her stealth if need be to move.
The bandit on the western platform looses an an arrow at Pyros, deeming him to be the greatest threat.
His arrow deflects off a small tree branch, then goes flipping through the air harmlessly.
The bandit on the eastern platform can't resist the easy target that Regina makes as she moves through the open.
The arrow whistles past Regina's ear, too close for comfort, but a miss.
The female bandit orders: "Pick off those two, then we'll get the others!" The two men move forward, hefting clubs. the woman moves along behind, then flings a dagger at Taenweth.
The woman's dagger thunks into a tree trunk, nowhere near Taenweth. Her curses at missing are colorful, imaginative, and altogether filthy.
"Bah..."
He growled more at himself than any one in particular There were way more enemies across the stream then on their side and it certainly appeared Taenweth and Regina were going to be outnumbered soon. Ignoring the cover for now he rushed over torwards the two girls...in the process probably making himself a big target.
Autumn twisted around the tree and aimed at the one shouting orders. "Take out the command." She told herself as she let her arrow fly.
Autumn's arrow should have found its mark, but the hunter had to be mindful of her own allies. Autumn pulls high at the last instant.
Nodding in agreement with Autumn's instruction, Pyros makes two quick dashes, making it past Regina and Herger on his way toward the apparent leader.
The Elf smirked at the curses coming from the leader's lips as she missed hitting her with the tossed dagger.
Taenweth moved down (10ft) toward the nearest bandit (with green square and bow?); rapier threateningly in hand.
Hoping her bandit quarry provided some soft cover against the other bandit archer (pink sq) and Kressle, she thrust her rapier up into the bandit, fighting defensively as she attacked.
Stepping up next to Herger and Pyros. Keeping a hold of her bow with one hand and grabbing a vial with the other. Throwing it at Kressle.
Taenweth's rapier finds it's mark, bloodying the club wielding bandit that she faces.
Regina's bomb flies true, shattering against the bandit woman, and drenching her in fire.
One of the club swinging bandits rushes at Pyros.
But Pyros easily avoids his clumsy attack.
The one wounded by Taenweth, flails his club at her, but he is just as clumsy as the bandit attacking pyros. His club whooshes through the air harmlessly.
The bow armed bandit on the southeastern platform decides that Autumn is the greatest threat to him, personally. He looses an arrow at her.
A miss.
The bandit on the western platform also sees Autumn as a threat, because of her bow. He looses at her as well.
His accuracy is no better.
The woman, roaring with rage and pain draws her axes, and moves to confront Taenweth.
Taenweth is able to fend off her attack, though the off hand attack is close.
He moved to Taenweth's aid, striking at the bandit she had stabbed with his morningstar while bellowing a boisterous Ulfen warcry.
Seeing the burning leader as the bigger threat of the two opponents before her, and Herger on the bandit with the club, Taenweth keeps away from the flames and strikes out at Kressle with her rapier.
Then gracefully tumbles under the tree cover to stand just below (a little to the side of) Kressle (but still within the canopy of the tree above and using the log as cover from flying arrows).
Dropping his bow and drawing his dueling sword, Pyros slashes at the bandit who swung at him.
A small smirk came across Autumn's face as both arrows missed their marks. "Such poor marksman ship." She said before she took aim for one of her attackers and let her arrow fly.
Again reaching for one of the small vials and tossing it Kressle.
Herger flattens a bandit with his morningstar, knocking him to the ground so hard he bounces.
Taenweth pierces the bandit woman through, she slumps to the ground.
Somehow, the bandit facing Pyros manages to avoid the Aldori blade, blocking it with his club just in time.
Autumn sends an arrow through the leaves; it finds its mark, leaving the bandit on the platform badly wounded.
Fear gives the bandit facing Pyros strength, as he maneuvers toward a retreat, he swings at Herger. His club catches the cleric on the forearm, almost knocking the morningstar from his hand.
The eastern platform bandit looses at Taenweth, but misses.
The western platform bandit climbs down his ladder and flees away toward the wagon.
Seeing her arrow hit the mark, and a rather good mark at that, Autumn turned her attention to the other one up upon the platforms. She took aim, keeping her breathing leveled before letting her arrow fly.
Taenweth watched as Kressle fell to the ground under her recent attack. With fixed resolve, the Elven rogue moved 5ft closer and lifted her rapier, set the blade point to a vital organ to deliver a coup de grace.
Pyros moves forward to box in the bandit he'd previously attacked, then slashes at the man again.
Crit confirm:
He grunted heavily at the feel of the pain from the man's club slamming into his arm. He hadnt really been paying attention. He clenched tighter on the morning star, noted the pain still in his forearm and shifted as Pyros attacked the bandit slipping in behind him. He brought his morningstar down onto the bandit quite surpised at the mans shifting that brought his attack just short.
Pyros finishes the bandit off with an expert attack with his blade.
Autumn's arrow grazes her target, drawing blood, but not sticking.
Taenweth ends Kressle's life.
Regina hurries after the fleeing bandit.
The remaining platform bandit decides it's high time to skedaddle. He hurries down the ladder, and away.
The other bandit, from the other platform, speeds on his way, as well.
Taenweth wiped her blade on Kressle's cloak before noting the fleeing bandit archer nearest her and she quickly proceeded to give chase, rapier in hand. "Stop them from escaping and warning any others," she called out to her companions.
She rushed forward fast (50ft). hoping to catch up with the bandit (or at least waylay him) before he got too far away from them.
Gulping air, "Should keep.. the horse.. next.. time!" Not bothering to stop running and continuing to chase after the cowardly bandit
Pyros takes off after the bandit Taenweth is chasing, rushing headlong through the brush to catch them.
Autumn smirked as she looked to Frostbite and said "Track him down." With that she stepped out from behind the tree, simply walking a bit closer to where the bandit headed off to. She closed her eyes, letting out a long breath before opening her eyes again and aiming for the bandit. Hey eyes had changed to those of a large cat, most likely a tiger, which she used to line up a shot.
Frostbite, haven finally been given orders, chased down the bandit as her mistress took aim.
Autumn stops the bandit mid stride; he crumples to the ground, the Aasimar's arrow piercing through his neck.
The other bandit hurries on his way, staying ahead of Pyros, and Taenweth.
Coming to a stop as the arrow shoots through the bandit. That is a lot of blood! Swallowing the bile that wants to rise up and turning to see where the last one is. Spotting him running from Taenweth and Pyros. "We will never catch him."
Turning to look for Autumn and yelling while pointing towards the last bandit, Hoping Autumn heard her as she joins the chase.
"Better idea" Autumn said before she called out. She let out a loud whistle, making Frostbite stop dead and look back to her mistress. "Take him down!" She called out to Frostbite as she pointed to the other bandit.
Frostbite turned and bolted after her new prey ready to take it down as she had done with the prey she and Autumn often hunted.
Frostbite's jaws rip into the bandit's leg, drawing blood. The bandit stops his rapid retreat and assumes a defencive posture, facing the wolf. "Call off your dog. I give up."
Taenweth had continued giving chase and when the hunter's wolf sunk its teeth into the bandit's leg, the Elf smiled, more so when the coward admitted defeat and stopped running.
When she finally reached him and Frostbite, rapier in hand, she simply stated, "This is for shooting at me and then making me run after you."
Autumn whistled loudly, enough so that it rang in people's ears. Frostbite let go of the bandit and returned to her as she walked up. "Don't! We need someone for information. I want to make sure we got them all." She called as she saw Tae posed to strike.
Letting herself come to a stop when the man surrenders. Taking a moment to gulp in some needed air, which lodges itself in her throat once Autumn calls out. Lifting her head and staring at Taenweth with wide eyes. Muttering, "Dammit all!" Quickly resuming her run towards the bandit and the soon to be murder.
"Don't! We need someone for information. I want to make sure we got them all." She called as she saw Tae posed to strike.
With her rapier ready to strike and end the creature, Autumn's shout cut through her concentration and begrudgingly Taenweth refrained from attacking. However, the Elf kept her rapier pointed at the brigand and her voice was low and menacing, "She saved your wretched life. Be grateful. I am not so forgiving."
Without looking at the Aasimar hunter, she responded to her ally, "I await your interrogation, Huntress. May it be fruitful." The Elf stared at the bandit, willing him to give her a reason to run him through.
Panting, Pyros catches up to the women, glad Autumn stopped Taenweth. He might have something useful to say. Might. Anyway, I've never cared for killing a helpless man.
Autumn pulled the man up by the front of his shirt. "Okay, how many normally call this place home and are there any others we should be looking for?" She asked as she glared right into his eyes. "And please try not to lie. I'm already in a very poor mood."
The bandit seems to be terrified, both of Frostbite, and of Taenweth. "They's twelve of use here usually. Happs done gone to Oleg's to collect the tax. He took Strav, Arlund, and Keller with him. Slendt, Kayvar, Bob, and Evesh are out hunting. The rest of us was here."
She watched Autumn grab the brigand's shirt and smirked.
So four remain. How good of hunters are they? Taenweth pondered silently.
"Of the four out hunting, which one is the best fighter? Are they all trained hunters?" Taenweth's voice remained low, with a threatening edge, and, she continued pointing her rapier at the bandit.
Thank the Gods she stopped. Good to know she has a temper. Coming to a stop and ignoring the desire to lay on the ground and catch her breath. Instead quietly waiting until the man answers Taenweth. "Where are other groups like yours?"
"How long ago did they go out hunting? Are there any others we should be worried about? Was that woman your leader or is there a bigger fish I need to look for?" Autumn asked as she lifted the man of the ground just a bit. "The more you say the better it will be for you." She stated.
The bandit seems a bit overwhelmed by the deluge of questions. "I don't know who's the best fighter. Evesh maybe. Trained? Same as everyone who wants to survive out here. You gotta hunt, or you starve."
He barely looks at Regina. he's still terrified of Taenweth "Stag Lord has other patrols out usually. I don't know where they might be at any given time."
"They went out yesterday morning." He tells Autumn."Don't know when they'll be back. Depends on what the pickins are. Usually a couple days. Stag Lord is our leader. Kressle was in charge here, but she answers to him."
"and where is he?" Pyros asks, stepping up beside Taenweth, dueling sword still in hand.
"He's got a keep, down on the Tuskwater." Pyros is told.
Herger finds a shovel leaning against a tree trunk.
Autumn looks around the group. "Anything else you all want to ask him?" She asked, her hold on him still tight.
"If we permit you to live, will you leave this place, not utter a word to the remaining brigands of our presence and never return? Be mindful of your answer for I will know if you're lying." Once again, she toyed with the rapier, swinging it in the air before the bandit, a show of threat and promise. She had no issue with putting him down if she sensed he had loose lips, but she knew there were some in the party that would find it repulsive among other things.
"I don't have nowhere to go." The bandit says. "If you don't kill me, I'll be your man. You took down Kressle, easy like, maybe you beat the Stag lord too..." He seems to be earnest in his offer of service.
Taenweth looked to Autumn, who still held the man by the front of his shirt, and then the others, "Would you see him live and serve the Levetons as recompense for their troubles? I do not want him with us, for I cannot trust a man whose loyalties change like the wind."