"The range is good, but I won't be as effective until they're among us. Any that make it past your fire I will put down."
Though Muqaq's added voice doesn't really swing the conversation, the voices of the two men together does seem to remind the camel driver that you are all fighting on the same team, and therefore he is willing to cut a bit of a deal. He'll take the 225 gp you have.
Once the sun sets, stealth becomes much less of an issue. So long as they avoid walking along ridge-tops, and being silhouetted against the sky, the gnolls are unlikely to see anyone approaching. The journey is made in silence, slower than the previous journeys, both due to the desire to remain unseen and unheard, and to account for the toll darkness takes when travelling; foot steps misplaced, and loose sand unaccounted for leading to a few slips and spills.
Within a few hours, the team has approached the village, and sees their goal up ahead. Upon a level point, perhaps half way up the town's central hill, the cross stands out in stark relief against the light of a bonfire that has been lit behind it. Like the nights before, the darkness lays heavy over the desert. The moon has risen, but is getting on from the waning half of a few nights before, and is now closer to a crescent, shedding wan light at best. The features of the town are visible, if barely, but the buildings and general terrain can be made out well enough.
Sneaking up to the edge of the ruins, the party, less the heroic archer, crouches in the rouble, looking up at the enemy on the hill. A few figures can be seen in the edges of the firelight, and the man on the cross hangs motionless against the wooden beams.
Xanyon waits, pistol at the ready, for the command to attack.
N'Dateh had brought her horse with her, though she opted to guide it beside her and not ride, for fear that it would trip and break a leg.
Laying low, she waits for the signal as she watches the sky light softly with the promise of the day.
Muqaq waits for dawn, and Ahkom's diversionary attack. He's ready to bless the party once the combat starts.
Don't imagine it's too pressing to keep things moving, as long as you are here. The action will continue as soon as you're ready.
To those huddled under cover near the ruins and the foot of the hill town, the night passes slowly. Maintaining alertness despite being unable to move or deal with one's stiffness or boredom is difficult. At long last, the horizon starts to glow, signalling dawn, and the time when Akhom will move in to attack, and distract the gnolls on the hill, taking their attention, drawing them out, or otherwise engaging them while the rest of the team advances on the poor soul on the cross.
However, as the next few minutes creep by, there is no sign of the paladin archer. The sun breeches the horizon, spraying the landscape with light, and chasing away the shadows. And yet, Akhom still does not present.
What has happened to the archer? Is he still coming? Has he been delayed? Fallen asleep? Taken by a gnoll patrol during the night, or by one of the natural hazards of this desert like that giant scorpion encountered days past?
Huddled in the shelter of the ruined out-building, 15 and 20 minutes after sunrise, the team is left with their choices to make; continue to wait for the paladin, or advance, and hope for the best.
Seif-al-Din turns to Muqaq.
"What do you want to do? It does not seem that Akhom is going to provide the distraction..."
"This is problematic... A distraction would help, but otherwise, we can attack from our current position, use the element of surprise regardless. I am ready to fight!" says N'Dateh.
Xanyon nods with the others.
"Might as well get stuck in. We have to make sure he's ok."
"If he is not here, then he is not here. We will still have to do this, with or without him. Let's get ready and then attack. Let them come to us."
Looking around the corner of the ruins, and gazing up towards the top of the hill, a few keen eyes among you spot where the enemies are waiting, and where a few more are hiding.
Gruthic is the first to spot the two on the rooftops. Located within the peaks of each dome upon the nearby structures is a gnoll; either as a lookout, or sniper. The one upon the central building has an odd device upon his lap, a long metal tube that catches the early morning sunlight. Once it is pointed out to him, Xanyon is able to identify the weapon as a musket.
N'Dateh's keen eyes, experienced at cutting though the glare of the harsh desert light, is able to make out the shadows of a few more gnolls, waiting within the anti-chamber of the central building. They appear to be waiting quietly for something to occur, though one appears to be playing with, or perhaps tossing scraps to a hyena.
"Akhom is reliable. He has fought beside me many times. He would not neglect his duty without some serious reason. If we strike now, he is capable of keeping out of trouble - I have faith in him."
Gruthic takes up a position near the ruin's wall, shield and axe at the ready.
Xanyon will take aim on the gnolls likely to rush the group once the fight starts.
N'Dateh whispers to the others: "I can conjure an annoying ball of fire that should keep at least one of the snipers busy. I will start with the one with the tube. I will stay on my horse and use fire and nature to attack your foes, but ready to close in fast if needed. Is this satisfactory?"
"Yes," Muqaq says, casting a spell of blessing on the others. He then summons his mystical armor. "N'Dateh, please draw them back around the corner to us here. You should be able to outrun them on your horse."
After nodding to Muqaq, N'Dateh gets up on her horse and moves around the corner to get a clear line on the gnoll with the musket, which she immediately targets with her incantation, spreading a hand with fingers upward, fingers acting like the heat of the desert, which she coalesces into a ball and conjures at the feet of the sniper.
As soon as she can, she'll move back behind a wall!
Seif-al-Din nods, draws his blade, and awaits the Gnolls' next move...
N'Dateh rides in fast on his horse, so she can ride out fast as well!
Moving up between the buildings to get as close as possible before revealing herself to the view of the gnolls.
Perception of lookouts:
Perception of those inside:
Almost the instant she is mounted and her horse has taken a single step forward, a hyena starts yipping, tugging at his leash in the direction of the approaching druid. The gnolls all snap to alertness, seeking the source of what had upset the animal. Looking up towards her opposition, N'Dateh sees three pairs of eyes move towards her form and lock upon her; the musketeer, one of the gnoll guards by the cross, and the other guard's hyena.
Moving faster than they can react, the desert woman rides up to the base of the steepening slope, where she just begins to come in range of the musketeer at the top of the central dome. Pulling her steed to a stop, she hold out a hand, and muttering a brief phrase, creates a glowing, burning, sphere of fire, some four feet across, and occupying the same space as the musketeer.
As though sensing that the air around him is heating, and turning to flame, the gnoll jumps aside as the sphere bursts into being. He steps out onto the sloped surface of the dome, arms gyrating wildly for a second as he struggles not to fall or end up sliding down.
He keeps his balance, and bring his weapon up to level, he takes aim at his attacker.
The shot rings out, but N'Dateh has no indication if the shot came anywhere near her waiting form.
A second gnoll that sees the woman seems to consider for a moment throwing his spear, but even from his position, she lies some 70 ft away, and a mighty distance for a spear. Thinking better of it, he instead drops the weapon and brings up his longbow.
Sighing, and whispering a muffled prayer to the Everlight beneath his breath, Seif-al-Din moves forward, his blade unsheathed and ready to bathe in Gnollish blood.
Round 1
HP = 39/39
AC/T/FF = 19/15/14
Weapon Equipped = Pistol
Grit = 2/2
Orc Ferocity = 1/1
Bullets = 23/23
Black Powder = 23/23
Alchemical cartridge (paper) = 18/18
Speed = 30'
Status Effects = None
Xanyon squints at the musket wielder but waits for another foe to come within range.
Muqaq runs inside the ruined building, trying to get in a good position.
N'Dateh rushes back for cover and her companions, but not before willing the sphere towards the sniper again.
Gruthic hustles behind Muqaq, though the taller man outpaces him easily.
Round 1:
N'Dateh moves the sphere forward, pursuing the gnoll now clinging to the edge of the sloped sphere.
This time the flaming orb catches up with the harsh muzzled creature, his fur smoking and blackening where he is touched by the flames.
The mounted desert druid swiftly turns her mount with a bare thought and has him careening back towards the aid of her allies. As the rider and mount move away from the dome and the burning gnoll, the flaming sphere winks out as it becomes too distant to maintain the mystical connection.
Her allies move into position around the ruins, advancing and waiting to see how the enemy reacts to the attack.
The gnolls primarily switch from their spears to their bows, knocking arrows and standing ready, but otherwise not advancing to any great distance. The enemies waiting within the central domed building rush out to take up position with the others near the cross, their hyena's yipping and laughing. The musketeer atop the dome slides down the sloping structure until he reaches the roof proper. Once there he starts engaging in a series of practiced motions sure to represent the reloading of his unusual weapon. Without any clear and easy shots, no one looses, yet.
Round 2
"They're not stupid. Now what?"
"Now we fight," Muqaq replies. "Can you entangle them?" He move out from the cover of the wall, and runs in a low crouch towards the cover of the next building.
Xanyon also runs up, keeping to cover for now.
"Better deal with them quickly."
Gaging the distance to far to cross to accompany Muqaq without being exposed, Gruthic moves to the corner of the ruins.
"I can." says N'Dateh as she spurs her horse. She moves along the same path as she did before, prepared to ask the Desert to grab the Gnolls at their feet.
Seif-al-Din continues to hustle forward.
Round 2:
Muqaq breaks cover, running to the north, for the cover of the old dire boar's den.
Xanyon breaks cover as well, moving in directly toward the enemy, but staying low and making his way towards cover. A moment later, Gruthic moves forward through the ruined structure, ready to advance at his next chance.
N'Dateh charges forward on her mount, her hands and mouth moving in order to cast her spell the moment she comes to a stop. Last to move, Seif ducks low and advances just behind the charging horse. As the Desert Druid finishes her spell, desert scrub and yellowed grasses spring into action, growing and stretching throughout the area, racing towards the position of the gnolls and their beasts.
The Gnoll on the west dome draws aim on the same target, sending out a long arching shot, given the distance, but it lands a dozen yards from the rider.
Last, the gnoll with the musket draws his weapon up to fire. A puff of smoke erupts soundlessly from the weapon.
A zipping sound and the crack of the gun slam into N'Detah the same moment Rafihk jolts to the side from some sort of impact.
Round 3:
N'Dateh worries for a bit, until she realizes her companion will not buckle under her. She pushes her steed forward, conjuring holy flame as she does so. "You conjure the flames and use them to propel mighty stones, but I have the holy desert on my side!"
Muqaq runs to the corner behind Seif. "Come here N'Dateh, I can heal you or your mount."