Caelus blushes slightly at being called a lordling, slightly ashamed at his station. He puts his arms down and rubs at them to restore the feeling from having them in the air for so long. He stands outside the shed as he will hide inside it once the ambush is set. He looks up and realises that dawn has approached and makes ready
After having prayed, Roga heads for breakfast. While enjoying a simple meal of bread, cheese and ham, he hears someone scream. He jumps up from his chair and runs towards the sound. He arrives as Stellan speaks, shocked by what he see and hears, he thunders:
"Amoonrann put your weapon down now!"
He then turns to Stellan now on his guard and says in voice void of friendliness: "A winter witch's breath? You better explain your self now."
-
Amoonrann wasn't sure how to act. Who could she trust? If one could be an assassin in disguise, how many of the others? That seemed unlikely...but if Caelus is telling the truth...
And then Svetlana hugged her, out of nowhere and Amoonrann collapsed to her knees and dropped her head to the ground, her scythe falling beside her. She was not unconscious, but her breathing was heavy, stressed. She was in a state of shock, everything seemed unreal, like a dream, like she wasn't really here. The world fell away from her and she was alone in a dark void.
Perception
Stellan sighs. Expected reaction, wrong time.
"We do not have the time for this Steadshield!" Stellan gestures at the tableaux, "There is a situation that will need talking out when and if we get the chance, but not now. I swear I mean you and anyone here no harm. I am a healer. And battle will be soon. I'm going to get my kit and spear to be ready." Stellan pulls out his holy symbol a back country mix of herb and twigs with the Sigil of Erastil entwined in it. "So I swear by the signs and sigils that portend the power you dedicate yourself to." Stellan waits for the others reaction, not realizing time had run out.
Only a moment later, a few figures can be seen coming up the road into the fort.
5 humans, each atop his own horse along with 3 extra horses, ride slowly into the fort and dismount. The apparent leader is a man with a dark cloak with the hood drawn up over his head. He gives a small nod and says "Morning." He and the others stand around looking at each other, before he walks over to where he can see Svetlana in the door of the shed and says "We're travellers, hoping to get a bite to eat. Is there any food on?" Wide eyed, Svetlana only nods before rushing off to the main building.
"You're right, Stellan but we will get back to this." Roga walks away heading back to get ready for the bandits, that haven't arrived yet. :P
"Greetings travellers, did you have a pleasant journey?" Roga greets the newly arrived as he walks by.
If Perception isn't possible Roga will done armour and grap his greatsword and wait for the bandits.
The travellers put their horses in the stables, which puts the small building almost over capacity. The hooded man just sneers in reply to Elros, but looks over to Roga and says "Not much for talkin' this mornin.. Still early and looking for some food and maybe a quick nap before we are back on the road again."
A few minutes later, Oleg comes out with breakfast and delivers it to the guest house. Some fresh fruit, sausage, and eggs smell delicious as he sets it down on the table and walks out. He begins to head back to the main house moving a little faster than normal, checking over his shoulder more than a few times.
Triaxus reddens slightly further at Svetlana's admonishment and rushes out of the shed, taking a moment to let everything sink in a bit. 'A tiefling, a nobleman, and a winter witch, all on the same expedition?!'
He takes a couple breaths, only slightly registering Roga and Stellan's confrontation as a second thought runs through his head.
'And you thought you'd be the odd child...'
A sharp bark of laughter escapes him, which he immediately apologies for as a new group of travelers approach and he struggles to hold the rest back. 'Well, at best Triaxus, you certainly won't be lacking for interesting company anytime soon!'
Stellan just shakes his head and gets his gear. Another one that hears 'witch' and make assumptions, and after lecturing ME on trusting fellow men! It's not like I summon demons -...
Knowledge(Arcana): Reference Tieflings, Elros, Egorian Academy of Arts, Demon and Devil summoning etc. What has mother told him of such matters?
Sense motive: What's up with the travelers?
Stellan waves as the travelers move into the main house and says." G' mornin'."
If Amoonrann is still on the ground in the stable,and not resisting, he'll peal off his jacket and put it around her, as not to be obvious as to what she is, and will carry her to the far corner of the stable. "With her 'illness' I'll put her where she would feel better than inside, OK. Svetlana?"
Bluff Really means, Get Her Outta Sight!
He then grabs his kit and shortspear. He is now dressed in several layers of grey wool tunic.
"Caelus, Why don't-". Stellan breaks off when he sees that Caelus has gone off on his prep.
Amoonrann allowed herself to be moved, or at the very least, she didn't stop Stellan from moving her from the shed into the stables. Despite her breakdown, she did manage to hear the travelers and she looked them over as she was lead into the stables.
Caelus looks intently at the new arrivals, slightly confused at their demeanor. Why were they acting nervous when they saw us? Unless... Suddenly Caelus bursts out laughing to himself, realization dawning on him.
Caleus leave his spot at the shed and walks over to the main building, examining the new arrivals. He gestures to Roga, and whispers to him "Friend Paladin, you wanted to speak to the bandits, here is your chance!" He points to the new arrivals with an interested smile. "Go ahead!"
Triaxus snaps to attention at Caelus' words, and is suddenly all too aware of the sun beaming down from the east, and the timely arrival of these 'travelers'. He shakes his head and lowers a hand to his starknife, muttering in soft, flowing tone.
The travellers are milling about quietly, and go to eat the breakfast that Oleg has put out for them. They seem to give the party no notice, and keep to their small group.
Startled by Caelus words, Roga just realizes what happend, the bandits walked right in under their noses. Cursing under his breath. He hurries to done armour and grab that sword.
Stellan, unaware of what is happening outside, continues treating Amoonrann. He gets the jug of wine out from his saddlebags and offers it to her. "Amoonrann, please drink some of this, there is little time."
Heal How is she? Will she recover from shock quickly?
If she seems ok and there is time left, Stellan will peer out of the stables checking on what's happening.
Perception
As the travellers finish their meal, they start to gather their things and head out the door of the guest house back towards the stables...
OK then :
2)Knowledge(Arcana):
3)Knowledge(Arcana):
4)Knowledge(Arcana):
5)Knowledge(Arcana):
6)Knowledge(Arcana):
7)Knowledge(Arcana):
As they exit the guest house Roga stands waiting for them with his greatsword placed in front of him resting the point on the ground forming a cross behind him stands Elros.
In a stern voice he says: "Your days as bandits ends here. Surrender now and repent in honesty and you will be spared or go meet your gods, this will be your only chance."
And so the Druids teach of a meditative technique known as going inside. It is a method of self-control that is used only when one is on the brink of becoming little more than emotion made flesh as the consequences of losing control could be devastating not only to the particular Druid, but to the natural order of the world.
Amoonrann had gone inside. She was being flung about by terrible winds, and water as cold as ice was burning her skin. Deafening thunder filled the skies, and wickedly hot lighting was striking all around. But unlike before, the subtle calm and order of the storm was lost to Amoonrann, she was merely a piece of debris, caught up in fury of her seething emotions.
"No!" Amoonrann cried out to the storm. "I am Amoonrann Stormheart! Druid of the Green Faith! Servant of the great balance! she continued, managing as she spoke to steady herself from being tossed aside by the impossible winds. She stood on no ground, in fact, no ground could be seen anywhere. There were merely the black swirling clouds of the storm, a storm which let out a mighty bellow of rage at the arrogance of this Tiefling to think that she could control a power so great.
"Enough!" she cried, and she willed herself forward towards the eye of the storm. She flew. Despite the winds, the rains, or anything else, she flew. None of it could impede her, and as she drew closer and closer to the eye of the storm, she found things became calmer and calmer. Until eventually...
Amoonrann's body suddenly writhed and she began coughing, as if she had just been saved from drowning. She shivered, gasping for air as she coughed up non-existent water. She fell foward, spitting into the earth, trying to be rid of water that just wasn't there. Her senses gradually returned to her and she leaned back, panting heavily as she did.
"Wh...what's happening?" Amoonrann asked, recognizing Stellan as one of the people in the expeditionary force she'd joined to reclaim the Stolen Lands. She gestured towards the jug of wine that Stellan had offered her in her non-cognitive state, a pleading look on her face.
The "travellers" freeze as Roga confronts them, looking very worried. The cloaked man, however, takes another step forward... Pulls out his Longbow and fires through Roga to the Elf behind. "Stupid Elf, prolly YOU who noticed us huh!"
Longbow:
Elros FF is 14 (With Mage Armor), and the arrow pierces clean through his shoulder for 11 damage.
The cloaked man yells out "Two of you, back to the camp! Quickly! We will finish these whelps off!" Two of the bandits double-move to the stables to their horses.
The other two bandits charge Roga, drawing their longswords.
Roga takes 9 damage as the bandits both land lucky strikes against him.
The cloaked man, Happs, takes another shot at Elros who is clearly about to pass out.
After another lucky shot (FF 14 still), Happs drops Elros and grins at Roga. "No, I think you should take your lot and get out of here.
Amoorann comes out of her daze just in time for all hell to break loose. "Amoonrann, I - Oh @@@@ no time the bandits just killed Elros. Fight them or die!" The jug in his hand hits the ground.
Stellan speaks in a mix of Dragonic and magic. From his breath a frosty mist pours out and moves over his body leaving a trail of frost that fades into invisibility. Any time left he picks up his shortspear. He'll wait for the guys coming and confront them. He has no illusions about surviving this without massive good luck, between Elros's likely death, and Amoonrann's badly timed psychotic break, he thinks he can't stop the disaster. But he's going to try, to save Oleg and Svetlana from a tortured death at the hands of these murderous beasts.
Amoonrann blinks to a fully conscious state, processes Stellan's words, and then watches him disappear. She hears the order for the guards to run back to the camp and notices that there are several more horses in the stable then there used to be. She gets to her feet.
Amoonrann quickly concludes that them running back to their camp is not going to be a good idea and as their horses are here in the stable, well that means they'll have to come here to get back to camp quickly. Thus getting here cannot be allowed to happen.
Amoonrann's eyes go white, and she makes obscure gestures with her hands, almost whispering Druidic words that seem to echo throughout the fortress as the earth itself springs weeds out of the ground to keep anyone from entering the stable.
As Roga began speaking to the now exposed bandits, Triaxus began moving toward the door, hoping to salvage some of the initial plan they had concieved the night before. When Elros goes down, all former premises are shot to the winds. Triaxus pulls a dagger loose along with his starknife and rushes toward the paladin as his is swarmed by the brigands. Around the corner, he hears Stellan's incantation, and a prayer of a chance appears to him. Dashing behind one bandit as his blade gets through Roga's guard, he swings his own weapon for the soft spot where neck and shoulder meet.
Falling back into a guard position, he shouts out in words of magic and power,
Once squared up against his opponent, Triaxus spares a brief glance towards Elros.
With blood flowing from multiple cuts and howling in agony Roga brings his greatsword down on one of the bandits in front of him.
,
Amoonrann bends down and grabs her scythe, holding it in a defensive stance. And once again, her eyes flash white as she utters another Druidic incantation, one of her hands reaches out and points at the bandits, ominously.
|
Screaming in pain, Elros mumbles in Elven and cast a shoots out a color spray.
If hit:
2 HD or less: The creature is unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, then blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round. (Only living creatures are knocked unconscious.)
3 or 4 HD: The creature is blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, then stunned for 1 round.
5 or more HD: The creature is stunned for 1 round.
if missed: will negate
Huge post.
Lots of issues here. I'll try to work with it.
@dunebugg I thought I was clear enough but I'll redo here the post in a much more structured and detailed way.
Round 0 - Surprise round. Unsurprised parties may take one Standard Action OR one move action not both.
Roga initiates round by challenge.
Bandits act first.
Happs had bow at ready.
Happs attacks Elros who being surprised and Flat-Footed(FF) loses his +3 Dex bonus and has Armor Class 14 due to the +4 Mage Armor Bonus.
Happs speaks telling two bandits to go to stable and leave for camp. Free Action.
Those two bandit make one move action and go to stables.
Two bandits draw weapons and advance to melee range on Roga.
Roga could take an action but it appears that it was denied by dunebugg for reasons unknown. All other characters are unaware of what's happening and take no actions.
Round one - everybody acts in initatve order - when it's your turn to act any surprised character losses the FF condition.
Bandits act first.
Happs slaughters the unprepared Elros.
Two bandits attack and cripple Roga.
Two bandits mount horses One move action. They move out of the stable. One move action.
Roga attempts to fight back.
Amoonrann attempts to Entangle the leaving riders. Move to position to see and cast spell.
Triaxus move to flanking position behind one of the bandits engaged in melee with Roga and attacks. Move action and standard action.
Talks in Dragonic to Stellan and everyone. Two free actions.
Stellan can act (finally).
Free action talking to Amoonrann - breaks off conversation as above.
Free action - Drops Jug of wine he was offering her.
Status: Beginning of Round one.
Stellan turns begins.
Base AC: 12 from Dex.
Stance: Standing
Current AC: 12 Flat foot condition ends.
Max Hit Points:7
Current Hit Points: 7
All spells and hex available. Dressed in layers of wool tunic. Dagger at belt No weapon at ready.
Standard Action Cast Spell.
Repeat from earlier post now that I have better context. (and I'm awake as well :)
Stellan speaks in a mix of Dragonic and magic. From his breath a frosty mist pours out and moves over his body leaving a trail of frost that fades into invisibility. He has no illusions about surviving this without massive good luck, between Elros's likely death, and Amoonrann's badly timed psychotic break, he thinks he can't stop the disaster. But he's going to try, to save Oleg and Svetlana from a tortured death at the hands of these murderous beasts.
Cast Mage Armor.
The bandit enter the stable and ignore Moony and Stel mounting up and riding out much to Stellan's relief.
Stellan gets the spear with 5' step (should be nearby) and readies it. Ready weapon is move action and cannot be combined with actual movement due to Stellan's zero BAB.
Stellan hears Triaxus advice but can't do anything about it now.
I'm making assumptions here about how the mindset of Dragonic works. Status is important and small words have a lot of context. In common, with intonation and word choice what Stellan said was
'Powerful but overly presumptuous equal; I am busy with tasks important to my self-preservation, but I will deal with other important acquaintances as soon as possible, the (More dangerous but unstable) Druid of the Green is aware and actively doing dangerous to the enemies things.' I'm not going to double write everything in the future, just interpret thing this way, please.
Assuming all Stellan's actions are successful.
Status: End of Round one.
Stellan turns begins.
Base AC: 12 from Dex.
Stance: Standing
Current AC: 16 Mage Armor active. Two hours duration.
Max Hit Points:7
Current Hit Points: 7
Edit: Mage Armor cast. End Edit. Dagger at belt, Shortspear in hand. One hand free.
Status: Begining of Round two.
Stellan turns begins.
Base AC: 12 from Dex.
Stance: Standing
Current AC: 16 Mage Armor active.
Max Hit Points:7
Current Hit Points: 7
Mage Armor cast. Dagger at belt, Shortspear in hand. One hand free.
Stellan moves to just outside the stables. He will try to sleep the fleeing bandits, if he can include any other bandits in the radius of effect without having any other conscious person in that radius he will. Remember, he paced out the exact size of the compound yesterday for the exact purpose of being about to cast the sleep spell with extreme accuracy.
Stellan moves outside of stable not blocking Amonrann's Line-of-sight/effect. Move action.
Stellan cast sleep spell, unless there is good reason not too based on events the character would know but the player does not.
Status:End of Round two.
Stellan turns begins.
Base AC: 12 from Dex.
Stance: Standing
Current AC: 16 Mage Armor active.
Max Hit Points:7
Current Hit Points: 7
Mage Armor cast. Dagger at belt, Shortspear in hand. One hand free.
@dunebugg - You're DM, your word goes. I would like to see more clear statements of what is happening from you if possible. I do object in two ways as to what happened. One Roga initiated the surprise, I think only he should have had an action in the surprise round. Two, even so it looks to me that you gave both a standard and move action to the bandits in the surprise round which is not RAW. Still, it's your game, your rules. I tried to write the summary according to RAW and what everyone said. Sorry if this offends, it's meant to be helpful not overly critical.
If anyone is offended by what I've said here, I apologize such is not my intent.
The two bandits in the stables are quite shocked as a tangle of roots burst out of the ground to slow their progress.
Reflex saves for Banditx2, Horsesx2.
One of the bandits is lucky enough to not be entangled, and climbs on his horse (move action), which seems to not be affected by the combat that has erupted around it (Perception DC10, it appears to be war-trained). He takes his move action to leave the stable, moving through the difficult terrain a total of 25 feet (a move action next turn will put him at the Fort gates). Moony shoots him worth a stormbolt, which seems to startle him but do little else.
The second bandit in the stables panics and swings his sword at the plants at his feet.
Triaxus moved up and nearly kills the bandit between himself and Roga. The bandit tries to flee, provoking from both Roga and Triaxus.
The second bandit next to Roga is cut down in a single cut by his mighty greatsword, a bright red gash appearing from shoulder to hip.
Happs suddenly looks very grim, and walks back 10 feet toward the gate and fires at the Aasimar (20 ft distance).
The arrows fly by Triaxus, not finding their mark.
Stellan attempts to sleep the fleeing bandit. The bandit falls asleep atop his horse, which is still headed for the gate.
As the bandit tries to flee Roga utters: "O no you don't." and slashes upwards a the man.
As Happs is 20 ft away, Roga decides to charge him. "The hunter hunts!" He yells as he charges:
Amoonrann cursed aloud and she takes off after the running bandit. "Runner! Someone get the runner!" She shouts to any of the group that may be listening. She's likely got only one shot at this so, once again, her eyes flash white and she calls forth another Stormbolt aimed at the fleeing bandit.
Triaxus hears Amoonraan shout out and quickly shoves down his relief to sight the bandit she called. Spotting him on horseback coming from around the stable, he drew back his starknife and leading the target, let her fly.
Placing my turn in a spoiler so as not to influence others actions, incorrectly, and to make a more coherent post.
Status:Beginning of Round three.
Base AC: 12 from Dex.
Stance: Standing
Current AC: 16 Mage Armor active.
Max Hit Points:7
Current Hit Points: 7
Mage Armor cast. Sleep cast. No 1st level spells left. Dagger at belt, Shortspear in hand. One hand free.
Blast! Got on the horse before got it off, wasted. And only one to boot!
Free action: Stellan speaks here. Text outside of spoiler.
Move action: walks carefully out of stable, making very sure that he gives no chance for the trapped bandits to attack him.
Move action: Goes to Elros if safe to do so. Otherwise and only otherwise, will attack who makes it not safe, if I won't get entangled or AoO'd. This refers to melee weapons not Happs's bow or other ranged attack. Let me know if I have to need to make a roll.
Free action:speak.
I can't do anything about the fleeing bandit. I'm trying to get to Elros before it's too late.
The bandit, who is luckily hit with a starknife to wake him from Stellans slumber, panics from both being awoken and being hit by the starknife. The bandit just barely is able to hold onto his horse, and dashes through the gates
To the dismay of the bandit still entangled in the stables, Happs growls in frustration, stepping away from Roga ... And pulls out a flask of Alchemists Fire, which he throws into the building. The fire lands near the entangled bandit, and both immediately catch fire. The bandit within begins to scream as Happs grins wickedly. "Make your choice... come after us, or save your poor Fort. Ahahaha!"
Status:Beginning of Round four.
Base AC: 12 from Dex.
Stance: Standing
Current AC: 16 Mage Armor active.
Max Hit Points:7
Current Hit Points: 7
Mage Armor cast. Sleep cast. No 1st level spells left. Dagger at belt, Shortspear in hand. One hand free.
Assuming I've reached Elros.
Heal check Elros's condition.
Standard action:Heal Hex.
Stellan's face gurns and he mutters and small incantation. Frosty breath billows from his mouth and nose, washing over Elros. Where it meets wounded flesh it seems to freeze it for a second then the wounds shut, leaving a thin white mark. (Up to dunebugg if the mark fades over time or not.)
Cure Light Wounds
Heal check: Is it enough?
Heal check Is it enough?
It's not enough, hang on Elros.
Ignores the fire, waits till he can cast stablize in round five.
Status:End of Round four.
Base AC: 12 from Dex.
Stance: Standing
Current AC: 16 Mage Armor active.
Max Hit Points:7
Current Hit Points: 7
Mage Armor cast. Sleep cast. No 1st level spells left. Dagger at belt, Shortspear in hand. One hand free. Healing Hex on Elros, he cannot benefit again for 24 hours.
"I'll rebuild the Fort once you have gone to meet your maker." Roga says with an icy chill in his voice. He steps up to Happs and while clearly in thrusts his sword against him.