The mouthy bandit looks back at Furiel and narrows his eyes. Unsure if the gnome was patronizing him or not he lets it go, and continues to the back of the second wagon to unload the two remaining liquor crates.
Akiros looks up to the wooden platforms where the greycloak sentries were posted, but are now vacant. "Topper... soak your brush and go topside... we've no eyes up there."
The greycloak who carried in the first crate of liquor returns from the keep just as another bandit with a grey cloak comes out. The new bandit's hood is down... he is a long-faced man with a dark goatee and an mild smirk. "What what what do we have here? Anything for me? Hmmm?" He squeezes between the wagon and wall of the keep to lean and peer into the crate Errol is pulling from the wagon.
With just a few real crates in the wagons, you know this ruse will not last much longer.
Realizing the ruse won't last much longer, Furiel speaks loudly to warn the others.
"We need to show you the best loot of all, it is big and green and can both heal and harm adversaries. Norton, do the honors."
Furiel steps to ensure his soon to be cast color spray will envelop the most hostiles. Unfortunately they are too far apart, so he waves for the bandits to gather closer.
That's my cue, while I don't mind it, it's too bad we couldn't have got a little more time.
The Green Man crouches low; ready to spring into action should Norton or Furiel be unable to bluff the bandits off.
Poor fellow, an axe to the face doesn't usually improve your day...
Norton too would have liked to have more time to make his preparation, but the world isn't perfect and we all have to cope with it.
He moves toward Akiros and speaks to him privatelly, his gaze now is more serious and steady, showing a firmess of intent.
"Not a moment ago you were so kind to advice me on following a wrong path, you seem like a good man and I'd like to return you the favour." He moves in order to show his weapon to renforce his next statement. "We came here to deal with a nasty nuisance, I rekon you might like to stand down while we take care of it, if you think others share your feelings you might want to lead them away for a while, we have no urge to create more inconvinience than necessary."
"Let's see if we can spare some blood on our way to the Stag Lord."
Akiros looks at Norton.. stunned. He speaks in a forced whisper "But you... no. There are too many here! You cannot possibly" He looks around as if to say "you and what army"... His eyes rest on the wagon.
"You have a plan... something in the wagons... He then leans in and looks Norton in the eye. "All deserve their spirits broken. If they yield... Topper Red, Falgrim, and of the mercenaries outside Dwayan and Mipp are who I would intend to spare. No others deserve to live." He draws his greatsword - a battered and poorly crafted thing, and drives it into the earth. He nods at Norton, and walks out the gate.
The greycloak with his hood down moves his gaze from Errol's crate to this scene. You see confused panic on his face as if he partially understands what is transpiring... his mouth trying to form words.
Furiel wants no alarm. A single step, some arcane words, and a fountain of colors washes over the hooded one. (DC 15 Will)
The bandit returning from delivering his first crate - referred to as Fallon, crumples to the ground after being blasted by Furiel's cone of colors.
Rogar immediately puts a shoulder to work pushing up the cover to his concealment.
The unhooded newcomer stammers out while drawing a sword... "To.. to.. "
Errol drops his crate teetering on the back corner of the wagon against the keep wall... between the hooded bandit and himself. He then draws his dueling sword, and uses his other hand to help Green and Rogar open the cover quickly.
Surprise Round
HP 21/25
AC 16 T12 FF12 CMD15
F/R/W 4/3/7
Storm Burst 6/7
Staff of Journeys 10/10
Pearl of Power I 1/1
Spells
0th - Create Water, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Mending
1st - Burning Disarm, Frostbite, Cure Light Wounds, Obscuring Mist
2nd - Bull's Strength, Flaming Sphere, Fog Cloud
Ta'de-win summons the storm, sending it out to strike the nearest greycloak. As the wind and rain buffets the man, she turns to the three gathered around the fire. "Surrender and you will see tomorrow."
Time for battle...
The Green Man growls out the words to his protective charm, sure that it will come in useful soon, especially if he has to call on his rage.
Norton points a finger at Topper and whispers "Keep out of the way, don't drag your sword and you'll not be harmed"
In the hope the saucy painter will avoid to enter the conflict.
Smacked by Ta'de-win's blast of wet wind, the mouthy bandit drops the liquor crate and nearly loses his balance. He spits and yells out while drawing his sword... "Akiros is deserting us!... filthy coward..." he tears his wet cloak free and tosses at Ta'de-win - miserably failing to discomfit her, then turns to Glausho's mercenaries "Flay this witch!" He backpedals gesturing at her with his sword.
Rogar sees Green is occupied with divine preparations, and pushes the cover off with both hands himself... without complaint.
Topper Red replies to Norton in a calm but audible voice "Can I think on that a bit?"
The unhooded bandit - now next to not yet armed Rogar, picks him as his first target. He delivers a quick hack (which strikes the wagon) before backing up toward the keep doorway.
From inside the keep you hear the booming voice "" You hear a bottle smash, then the pop of another cork... ""
Furiel scampers just outside the gate .
He unloads another burst of colors catching Ta's attacker and one of the three bandits.
The mouthy and wet bandit turns to see the approaching Furiel, and gets struck directly by the blinding flash. He falls. The mercenary near him is able to turn away, and avoid the worst of it.
Kesten and Kressle push open the hidden compartment on the second wagon. They both hop down, and arm themselves.
You hear the booming voice again ""
Errol spins around and moves in behind Norton to cover his back... he watches Topper Red warily and a bit confused with his odd question.
Round 1
HP 21/25
AC 16 T12 FF12 CMD15
F/R/W 4/3/7
Storm Burst 6/7
Staff of Journeys 10/10
Pearl of Power I 1/1
Spells
0th - Create Water, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Mending
1st - Burning Disarm, Frostbite, Cure Light Wounds, Obscuring Mist
2nd - Bull's Strength, Flaming Sphere, Fog Cloud
Ta'de-win readies her shield and prepares a Storm Burst, waiting to see what the mercenaries do. "Once again, surrender and you will not be harmed."
Having warned Topper and hoping that Dwayan and Mipp that are outside follow the example of Akiros Norton is now concerned about finding this Falgrim, so he addresses the unhooded greycloack:"What's your name boy? Your life might be spared cause of it."
Then moves towards the horses of the cart, and unyoke them from it.
Furiel calls excitedly over his shoulder:
"Green, I got two down! We have things in hand out here. Help out inside."
The Green Man shifts his considerable bulk closer to the bandit standing near the cart, then sends the axe swooping down at his skull like a falcon in flight.
"Nature take you!"
The unhooded bandit snarls a response to Norton.. "I'm Jeb! Me and my brother Ayles are gunna string you up and ki-" he is cut short as Green's axe flays the side of his head. He falls against the wall already in shock from a wound likely fatal.
Two of the mercenaries are slow to act, they look to Akiros - who is now removing his armor, and tossing it piece by piece to the ground.
The third mercenary moves aggressively toward Ta'de-win. He pushes one of his allies out of his way with sword in hand. Another blast from Ta'de-win smacks him in the shoulder, but he continues to advance. He moves past Kesten - who swings at him with his longsword, then hacks at Ta'de-win yelling madly.
"Not Jeb...just dead..."
The Green Man looks down, contemplating stabilizing the man as no obvious foe has presented itself as of yet.
Saving someone to hang seems wrong...better to die cleanly in battle, cursing your foe with your dying breath.
Rogar hops down from the wagon, and moves around north of it... trying to find a target.
The greycloaks start coming out the doorway of the keep. One immediately goes to the side of the flayed bandit. "Jeb! Rarrgh!" He glares at Green while backing away. "You will pay! Oh you will pay!" He grasps a whistle hanging from his neck and blows into it... a barely perceptible high-pitched sound comes from it.
Two more greycloaks come out... both quite large. One barrel-chested and flat-nosed with a brown frizzy puff of hair escaping from his hood. He is wearing a gladiator-style harness under his cloak a shoanti klar on his left arm, and a hammer in his right hand. He moves to the gate... looks for a moment like he might chase after Norton, then stop to size up Rogar and Furiel.
The other large bandit to enter the battle lumbers in chugging a bottle. He is wearing a simple leather cowl and appears to drooling a little. He is large and misshapen enough to possibly be ogre-kin. "Ox here. Point."
The whistleblower points emphatically at Green, and Ox moves forward to the wagon "Down." He balls his fist and swings at Green, and connects just above the right knee.
You were able to do all except mount up last round
Round 2
HP 16/25
AC 16 T12 FF12 CMD15
F/R/W 4/3/7
Storm Burst 6/7
Staff of Journeys 10/10
Pearl of Power I 1/1
Spells
0th - Create Water, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Mending
1st - Burning Disarm, Frostbite, Cure Light Wounds, Obscuring Mist
2nd - Bull's Strength, Flaming Sphere, Fog Cloud
Ta'de-win draws forth her sickle and slashes at the bandit attacking her.
Norton mounts onto Murak and guides him to attack the nearby bandit
Norton then shouts at the ogre-like foe, "Ehi, that ugly thing should be caged and brought around for a freak show."
The Green Man gives vent to a deep rumbling scream of pain as the attack strikes his crippled leg.
The strike is enough to make the red mist descend over his eyes again, But he manages to keep his rage bottle up for now.
Not yet...too early...might need to heal soon...
"Your brother is lonely in hell, go join him!"
Jumping down from the cart, the Green Man atempts to dodge under ox's fists and reach the pressumed Ayles.
Round 2
Furiel steps along the palisade (G13) and catches two bandits (D13 + E12) in another fountain of colors (DC 15 will save).
"Green, don't let him get you! We need you for the big guy!"
Ta'de-win's sickle cuts into the chest of the scowling mercenary. Murak turns and bites into his shoulder... snapping his clavicle into fragments of artery-piercing bone. He drops lifeless when Murak releases him.
The two remaining mercenaries outside the gate are distracted enough by this grisly death for Furiel to position himself for his blast. They both fall.
The ogre-blooded brawler Ox had expected a counterattack. It takes him a moment to comprehend what just happened when Green drops down from the wagon, and slips past him. The cruel-looking man with the whistle also takes a moment to react as well. He has the look of a man who realizes the chain on a baited bear is attached to nothing as Green's axe hits him in the belly and folds him like a note. He grasps the edge of the wooden inner wall of the keep to stay on his feet... the wound looks painful but not fatal.
Alice drops down from the wagon with two lengths of rope. She ducks between the horses and wagons, and begins to hogtie the knocked out bandits.
With all the bandits unconscious or dead visible outside the gate, Kesten darts over to the tents... "Kressle... over here."
The ogre-blooded Ox turns his attention to Norton... "No Cage. No Cage!"
The shadow of antlers appear over the battle at the gate. On the roof of the keep, you see another large humanoid. His head appears to be a deer skull with black antlers. He wears a leather scale vest and bracers on a wide well-muscled frame. He pulls an arrow from his quiver and draws back the string of a thick dark longbow. The booming unnatural voice comes from this figure. "A-Ki-ROS!!" He lets the arrow fly as Akiros turns to face him. The arrow buries deep into his chest. "You.. are.. Go meet the gods you still cling to.. and weep at their feet." He reaches for another arrow.
Errol darts south against the wall. "Take cover!" Topper Red moves south as well... out of sight of everyone except Errol.
When Green moves, he sees a few more greycloaks moving into the fight from within the keep. There is a sizable hole in the ceiling of the keep. The rubble from what has collapsed is pushed to the back in a pile.
Rogar moves behind the cover of the wagon, and readies his bow.
Ox moves toward Norton... the ogre-blooded brawler's drooping fleshy bulbous eyes are fixed on him.
The barrel-chested greycloak charges Furiel. He backhands gnome with his klar, then brings the hammer down after Furiel's bell is rung. Fortunately the hammer misses...
Ox makes it to Norton, and tries to punch him in the face... while ignoring Murak biting his other arm. Norton feels a fat knuckle crack into his orbital bone. "Cage me? You cage me?!"
Ayles springs at Green with a down-turned dagger, and slashes wildly in his throat with grim determination. The other hand appears to be trying to hold shut the wound in his gut.
Errol peeks around the corner, and spots a crossbowman up on the northeast platform. A missed shot grazes one of the horses... the wagon gets yanked further a dozen feet. Rogar loses his cover, and the horse looks ready to panic.
With the enemy's movement, Errol sees the potential for the fight to turn in the Stag Lord's favor. "Rogar... " he points to Rogar and then the gate.. He then points to himself and then the Stag Lord. "Go.. I distract"
Errol then dashes to the nearby ladder. Rogar switches back to his blade, and moves closer... back under cover of the wagon.
"Didn't expect a man as big as me to be that nimble did you? Well, as long as you live, you'll always be surprised.
Won't be a problem for you much longer."
"Next..."
Round 3
HP 21/25
AC 16 T12 FF12 CMD15
F/R/W 4/3/7
Storm Burst 6/7
Staff of Journeys 10/10
Pearl of Power I 1/1
Spells
0th - Create Water, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Mending
1st - Burning Disarm, Frostbite, Cure Light Wounds, Obscuring Mist
2nd - Bull's Strength (Cast), Flaming Sphere, Fog Cloud
Ta'de-win reaches down and touches Norton's back for just a moment, granting him nature' blessing. "Be granted the strength of a bear."
Furiel screams in pain as the weapon cuts deep.
"Help me Green!"
Furiel tries to backpedal (to G12). He makes the encantations for another spray of color to envelop the two adversaries near him and Norton.
Furiel backpedals into the large tent to clear himself of the gladiator greycloak's reach. Part of the tent collapses around him, but he is able to continue his casting despite being entangled.
Both the Ox and the gladiator topple like rag dolls.
Ayles gets one wheeze out in response before passing. The greycloaks behind him slow their advance as they see the battle coming to them.
Alice finishes tying up one unconscious bandit, slides him out of the way, then starts on the next.
Ox shows immediate signs of recovery from Furiel's blast. He sits up bleary eyed like someone about to sleepwalk.
Kesten and Kressle finish checking the tents for hidden foes, and begin to move toward the gate.
Errol sees the Stag Lord aim at Akiros again, and takes it as a chance to climb the ladder. The Stag Lord turns and fires at Errol... the arrow cracks into and through his armor. Errol drops from the ladder and rolls back under the platform. The Stag Lord lets out a loud brief laugh while he draws another arrow.
Norton spurs Murak against Ox
Then he attacks Ox himself
Murak's hooves thump into the still stunned Ox, and Norton's overhand chop brings about a crunch as it strikes the ogre-blooded brawler in the shoulder.
Rogar sees the big bandits at the gate go down. Consider them handled, he moves east - under the northeast platform, and rounds the wagon to reach the keep doorway without putting himself in the Stag Lord and crossbowman's line of fire.
The crossbowman readies himself to fire at any in range, but too late to catch Rogar en route.
Ox's eyes start to come into focus, but he still does not rise or react to his wounds.
Two of the three greycloaks within the keep move in to engage Green. One with axe and shield attacks first, but checks his swing when the greycloak charges in - yelling a battle cry, with a boar spear. With the charging bandit's intention being pretty clear, Green has plenty of time to knock the spear aside.
Behind these two, a greying broad shouldered man with a bastard sword slowly approaches... watching Green deal with these first attacks. The man looks like an exaggerated stereotype of a grizzled veteran. His armor is an artful collection of piecemeal chain, leather, and plated vitals. His bastard sword has dark etchings which stand out against the gleaming metal. His well-maintained gear contrasts his ragged long dark greying hair and unruly bushy beard. The greycloak with the axe says "We got this beast, old man."
The veteran's expression does not move - his eyes remained focused on Green, as he grips his sword and slowly cracks his neck and rolls his shoulders.
"Beast is it? You sure it is wise to antagonise the man who just bit your comrade’s throat out?"
The Green Man swings at the loudmouth, meeting axe with axe. Rather than bringing the strike up a bit like you normally do, he follows through fully, snapping his head forward to sink his fangs into the fool who challenged him.
As he pulls back he calls to the Veteran, "Your name serrah?, then he scowls at the others.
"These fools are not worth naming."
Without looking back he calls out loudly.
"Are you ok Furiel? I'm going to be with you soon, these fools won't take long to finish."
"Alice, Ta, we can't stay divided, let's take this big one down and go for the real target."
Kressle assists Alice in binding the last mercenaries, while Kesten moves in to assist Furiel.
The axe-wielding bandit falls faster than Green's fanged follow-through. You can see doubt spring into the mind of the one holding the boar spear. The veteran only response is brief cold locking of eyes. He notices the unsure bandit glancing back with reluctance, and says "Go ahead, boy... Just don't die in my way."
The Stag Lord moves from view, and returns polishing off a half-full bottle. After emptying it, he throws it down by the gate, and flexes... bow in hand. "HA! HA! Your efforts are futile. For each pawn you kill... two will take up arms tomorrow against you piglets of the swordlords! am the Lord of this realm! "
Furiel rushes towards Green's aid.
"Green I'm coming to save YOU! I am Ok, my magic saved me."
Furiel reaches the extreme range of his spell, and gestures again. A fountain of colors rushes toward the Stag Lord and Green. Furiel has cut things close as the colors envelop the fierce leader stopping just short of his large friend.
Most gnomes concentrate on this type of magic, maybe I should have too rather than getting enamored with fire magic.
Furiel's blast reaches the Stag Lord... he stands motionless as if dazed by the scintillating light.
Now that someone has walked into his line of sight, the crossbowman on the northeast platform takes his shot. The bolt thunks into the wagon several feet from Furiel.
Round 4
HP 21/25
AC 16 T12 FF12 CMD15
F/R/W 4/3/7
Storm Burst 6/7
Staff of Journeys 10/10
Pearl of Power I 1/1
Spells
0th - Create Water, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Mending
1st - Burning Disarm, Frostbite, Cure Light Wounds, Obscuring Mist
2nd - Bull's Strength (cast), Flaming Sphere (cast), Fog Cloud
"I shall bring us help." Ta'de-win begins to chant, summoning the spirits of nature to come to their aid.
Furiel yells behind him.
"Help Green! Norton, hit the behemoth from the other side with Murak."