As the bandits begin raiding the fort, Winifred patiently waits for the signal as she stays near the winch, dagger out just in case. She tries her best to get an accurate guess at how many bandits there are, without giving herself away.
Well, there's one loud one at least, and many footsteps, can we handle all of these bandits alone?
Winifred peaks out from behind her vantage point to count the bandits. There's that many of them!?! This isn't good.
Seeing her comrades from her vantage point, Winifred points a finger at Sir Karse and begins whispering after she ducks back down. (Sir Karse, Try not to make any abrupt sounds, but is the plan still on? I think it's safe to say that we weren't expecting this many. Can we handle this many?)
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"Hold, villains. If you have issue with these folk, then you take issue with me. They are under my protection. I am Sir Karse of House Orlovsky. Chivalry demands that I give you one chance to surrender yourselves to me and face justice for your crimes. I do not expect that you will avail yourself of it, but I will honor your request if it is made." For the briefest of moments, a look of confusion crosses Karse's gnarled face, but it quickly fades, replaced by one of stern determination. Without looking at Winifred, he gives a very curt nod.
"If you do not surrender yourselves to me immediately, then I will be forced to dispatch you." He appears neither frightened nor intimidated.
Hearing Sir Karse's declamation, Rufus draws his sword.
Well, he giving them the opportunity to surrender. Let's see how many of them take it.
The lead bandit who has been doing the speaking so far looks to his companions, left then right, and gives a chuckle. "Oleg, did you go out and find yourself a noble to help you out with stacking the furs? Or perhaps he's here to shovel the stables?" Directing his attention to Sir Karse he continues, "Son, we have no use for titles in these parts, so throwing yours around like some high and mighty from the big city is not going to cause me and my boys to tuck tail and run. Have a look around, do you really want to throw away your life at such a young age? Surely you realize you don't stand a chance."
He lets the word hang in the air for a moment for emphasis. He then motions to the two men in front of Karse, who proceed to move towards the paladin and the owners of the trading post. "Now, stand aside, let us take our due and proper, and no one will get hurt here today." The archers from the rear cover the movements of the two thugs as they step towards Karse.
As you are the only one with the proper vantage point, you are the only person to lay eyes on yet another group of people headed up the road behind the bandits. They could be more bandits, as they appear to have a few horses. A smallish man is in the lead of the group, but you can't make out any details from here.
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Only briefly does a look of concern flash across Karse's face. He offers no response, his eyes on the two men moving forward. With his booted foot, he draws a line in the sand. "Let no man cross this line unless he would find himself in the afterlife," he growls, letting his fangs show.
Erastil, if this be my final stand, then let me take a fair number of them with me, at least.
If either of the men steps cross the line, Karse attacks with his flail.
The words from Sir Karse give the bandits pause for a moment, as they just aren't used to seeing resistance to their efforts. The fact that this man stands alone against such overwhelming numbers only further confuses them. The two men in front look back to the leader for a moment, their eyes betraying their confusion and doubt. The hooded man sneers at them and pulls his bow up, aiming it directly at Sir Karse. The men, motivated by the defiance of their leader turn back to the paladin and cross the line...
At which point Sir Karse clobbers one of them with his flail, sending the man's teeth flying.
The entire group of bandits stands there for a moment, a look of shock on their faces, time standing still as the men absorb what just happened and let the event register in their minds. Then all hell breaks loose.
1. Rufus and Theod
2. Oleg and Svetlana
3. Archer Bandits, Axe Bandits, Hooded Man
4. Hadin and Winifred
5. Knife Bandits
6. Sir Karse
Rufus and Theod, completely shocked at the paladin's strike on the advancing thug, stand there aghast, unable to act. Meanwhile Oleg and Svetlana make a break for their house, running inside and slamming the door shut.
Suddenly, one of the men to the rear of the group shouts out something, and then falls to the ground, an arrow sticking out from his left eye. This causes chaos to erupt from within the ranks of the bandits as many of them turn to face whatever this new threat is. From up the road, a number of humanoids can be seen charging towards the rear ranks of the bandits, weapons drawn and ready.
The bandits scatter, some of them heading for the rear of the group to meet the oncoming assault, while the rest of them fan out to overwhelm Sir Karse. Another bandit breaks off and heads for the house, hoping to catch Oleg and Svetlana unprotected.
Three bandits take attacks on Sir Karse...
The attacks fail to land as Sir Karse works his shield in a protective pattern, deflecting the blows like a seasoned professional.
The hooded man draws his bow and fires an arrow at Sir Karse...
...the arrow connects and pierces Sir Karse's weapon arm, delivering a nasty wound.
The group from the road close the distance and begin to square off against the bandits near the gate.
Theod jumps into action after hearing the battle break out. He runs into the fray with his weapon drawn.
Rufus, seeing Theod head to the north, cuts around behind the building and attempts to flank their enemies, boxing them in. He comes up next to an archer and prepares to introduce the brigand to his bastard sword.
Hearing the sound of battle, Winifred begins cranking the winch. (I'm lowering the gate, Sir Karse) Winifred informs Sir Karse with message, ignoring any confusion which may have taken over the bandit group.
Sir Karse swings again at the bandit that crossed his line, and hits the man with a solid blow, dropping him to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Winifred begins to lower the gate, the bandits underneath suddenly taking notice and scrambling to get clear of the massive wooden structure.
From outside of the fort, the sounds of battle are heard and a number of people appear to have joined the fight, although the details are hard to make out through the tangle of combatants. Galloping noises are heard as one of the members of the group comes speeding towards the gate.
Theod takes a swing at the bandit in front of him trying to assist Sir Karse.
Noticing the one bandit making a break for Oleg's house Theod steps up to pursue him.
Hadin enters the fray, guarding Winifred from any attack
DM:
Attack roll (flail)
Damage if hit
Perception to see bandit moving toward the house
guess that would be enough
In the midst of combat, Hadin searches desperatly to see if Oleg and Svetlana are assaulted. Seeing a bandit following them to the house, then one of his newfound ally tracking said bandit, the big young man can't help but cries with a desperate voice, struggling to be heard over the fracas of battle
Save them, please, save my family...
Theod takes a swing at a bandit but the attack flies wide and misses the man.
The bandit then follows Theod with a quick step, taking a swing at the ranger...
...but the poorly aimed attack misses.
Seeing his companion down, the remaining brigand next to Sir Karse chops at him with his handaxe...
...but the man fails to connect, hit attacks ringing off of shield and armor.
The hooded bandit reloads his bow and takes another shot at Sir Karse, determined to put the paladin down...
...the arrow sails wide, narrowly missing the bandit currently engaged in melee with Sir Karse.
During the confusion, Rufus swings with his sword, attempting to take down the archer in front of him...
...and hits, the attack scoring a strong blow on the man, but not dropping him.
One of the bandits rushes to the door of the house, only to be greeted by a large axe sweeping out from the door...
...and is struck in the midsection and sent flying, quite dead, into the nearby table. Oleg raises his axe from within the doorway, saluting the group for their efforts.
The remaining bandits near the gates turn their attacks to the new arrivals, and the sounds of battle continue.
From outside the gates you hear a rousing chant and the following words, ”Those who face these bandits hear my words and strike true!”, followed by singing...
"They say the land is breathing
With each wave that finds the shore
Her soul rises in the evening
For to open twilight's door
Her eyes are the stars in heaven
Watching o'er us all the while
And her heart it is in Rostland
Deep within the land fertile.”
At the same time a light breeze seems to flow through the area, bearing twinkling stardust, and falls over the area.
Winifred continues cranking the winch. "Hadin, please go help the others and protect your family, I will be fine here." She assures the young man, not wanting to see him watch his family die.
With a nod at Winifred, Hadin strikes with renewed energy, flailing at the bandits as if they were mere wheat in a farm
May Erastil guide my arm and help me saving my family!
Attack (bless+Inspire courage bonus)
Flail Damage
Sir Karse bashes the bandit with his flail, sending the man tumbling to the ground. Hadin climbs down from the walkway and steps up to an archer that had just fired an arrow at one of the combatants outside the gate. He hammers on the man with his flail, connecting solidly and knocking a handful of teeth from the man's mouth. The bandit slumps to the ground and embraces the darkness of the afterlife.
From outside the gates Winifred hears a man's voice belt out, "If zhat is a bandit shutting zhe door, know zhat ve vill stomp your face to dust! ...If you are no bandit, zhen now please be opening zhe door!"
Rufus bellows in answer to the heavily accented voice beyond the closing gate. He calls as he slashes once more at the Bandit before him.
Rufus slashes his large blade at the archer , nearly cutting the man in half with a single stroke, and sending the body flying against the wall of the building they are next to.
Theod continues his battle with the one man who is engaging him.
Theod quickly dispatches the man in front of him with an amazing display of skill with his polearm, striking the man low and then high and sending his body crashing to the dirt.
From outside the gates the party hears "We're with Oleg, so we'd appreciate a parlay, or at least a warning before meeting blades."
The man remaining, faced with the powerful half-orc, makes a hasty retreat, knowing he has failed in his mission and wanting only to get as far away from this group as possible.