"Prophet" |
Stigr stands up, his jaw clenched and his eyes hard and cold as the frozen fjords of his homelands. Erastil grant me patience, because if you give me strength, I'll just use it to break his jaw. "I'm ready."
GM Æbsolutæxistance |
So tempted to have Erastil grant Stigr strength right now, just to see what happens, but unfortunately the gods don't play those kinds of games.
The trail begins to climb a ridgeline to the south beneath snow-laden trees. The prints of boots and horses mar the freshly fallen snow on the trail.
While you can't quite see the High Sentinel Lodge, you know that it is not much further now.
Grayson Thornwarden |
It would certainly be fun to watch...
Grayson approaches Stigr, and places a hand on his shoulder, he says quietly "Easy friend, Old Deadeye would have us all together as one community, we are stronger for having him with us..."
After saying his brief piece, Grayson resumes his position in the rear of the group and resumes his vigil.
perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
"Prophet" |
Stigr grunts, then inhales and heaves a heavy sigh. "Indeed, he encourages community and peace between even disparate souls. I asked him for patience and guidance in these dark times, with enemies and with allies." The Prophet gives a second, smaller sigh and continues to walk with the group, also keeping his eyes and ears open.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Indras Heskel |
I take it Grayson and Stigr tell us of the ambush? If not, treat this as my action during round 1.
Indras levels his bow at the closest bandit and fires an arrow. He sighs at the bandits trying to ambush, "Goodbye..." he whispers.
Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 241d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Initiative?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
"Prophet" |
Upon seeing a bandit, Stigr quickly draws and fires an arrow, stepping if need be to get a clear shot. Five-foot step if it helps reduce cover or the like, followed by an attack.
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16+1 if within 30 ft.
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7+1 if within 30 ft.
GM Æbsolutæxistance |
Taking the bandits by surprise, Stigr instantly renders one unconscious, Graysong and Indras sending the second one well into unconsciousness as well.
Initiative
Remaining bandit: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1
Drazheek: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Stigr: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 -1 if you are still fatigued, did you recover from the noncombat damage?
Charlotte: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Indras: 14
Grayson: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Gaandik: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
Gaandik (Tactics): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14
Last bandit goes last, but no one knows where he is, DC 21 Perception to find him, otherwise, he's going to attempt to flee!
"Prophet" |
I'm not fatigued, I'm fully healed from the earlier damage.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Stigr quickly moves to the bandit he downed, hoping the man is alive and can answer questions.
Indras Heskel |
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Indras doesn't see the last man and moves up on ahead, getting a more open view of their surroundings and nocks a new arrow on his bow, ready to fire at anyone he sees in sight.
Charlotte Greystone |
Looks like none of us ever actually saw the third one, so I guess we're just going to proceed as if he didn't even exist.
Charlotte looked at the men around her. "Bandits. I do believe we might be getting close." She starts walking forward, continuing on the path. Due to the increased frequency of attacks and that they might be getting closer to their destination, she's going to keep her crossbow loaded and in her hand.
"Prophet" |
Stigr rips some of the man's clothing and presses it to the wound after snapping off the arrow's shaft--a remedy that is sure to cause pain, though not much further damage. He looks up to the others as the man starts to come to. "Do any of you wish to interrogate this wretch, or shall I?" He doesn't sound as though he greatly relishes the prospect, but he doesn't seem to care much, either.
Gaandik Fatebound |
Sorry, thought these guys were guarding the lodge.
"Ok, guess we find out what he knows."
Gaandik speaks to the man as he regains consciousness.
"We need to know what we are facing. Especially now that you are coming with us. What is in that lodge ahead?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Indras Heskel |
"Tell him that we can cut something off if he doesn't talk. Remind him that he's either lucky or unlucky to still be here, his choice."
Indras calls over from his vantage point.
GM Æbsolutæxistance |
You guys forgot to bind him before awakening him, tsk tsk.
"Why should I be telling any of y'all anything, if what you did to my compatriot is any indication, I'm as good as dead here, and if I somehow manage to return to the others, I'll likely be as good as dead there too for failing, Izoze'll freeze me for sure if I told any of yous anything." The bandit responds, jumping up from the ground and unleashing his shortsword on the cleric.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
But luckily the man seems too wounded to remember how to use his own blade!
Indras Heskel |
Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 4 = 161d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 I assume shooting into melee
With one fluid motion Indras turns and shoots the man after he leapt at his ally. "Guess he was unlucky." He spits on the ground.
"Next time bind him before you wake him up." He nocks another arrow and resumes his vigilance on his surroundings.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Gaandik Fatebound |
"This time, the hunter and I are in agreement."
Gaandik then performs the killing blow after reciting a short prayer:
"And shepherds we shall be,
For Thee, my Lord, for Thee.
Power hath descended forth from Thy hand,
That our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command.
So we shall flow a river forth to Thee
And teeming with souls shall it ever be.
In nomine Iomedae"
Bonus points for naming the movie reference
Indras Heskel |
"Guess that guy won't talk as much, at least we got a name to go on now. Izoze... Must be the one pulling the strings, and capable of freezing according to the dead guy."
If Indras had a sigar, he would've smoked one now.
"Prophet" |
Uhm, Stigr would not have wanted the bandit to be killed. Any way to interpose himself between that sword and the guy? I don't want to cause conflict or anything, but we might well have the chance to get something out of him. Any way to not have him dead before he can give information?
GM Æbsolutæxistance |
Sure, though there is still the other bandit that didn't fair so well the first time combat started, though I should see if he bled to death yet.
1d20 + 1 - 7 ⇒ (14) + 1 - 7 = 8
1d20 + 1 - 8 ⇒ (9) + 1 - 8 = 2
1d20 + 1 - 9 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 9 = -6
1d20 + 1 - 10 ⇒ (14) + 1 - 10 = 5
1d20 + 1 - 11 ⇒ (9) + 1 - 11 = -1
1d20 + 1 - 12 ⇒ (20) + 1 - 12 = 9
So while you guys were worrying about the one you were trying to get information out of, the other one bled to death. But since Gaandik attacked twice before others got a chance to respond, we're rewind to before he coup de gras the bandit.
1d20 + 1 - 8 ⇒ (18) + 1 - 8 = 11
This bandit is stable at -8 right after Indras hit him with his bow.
"Prophet" |
Stigr moves forward after Indras drops the man and again grabs the arrow, snapping it and ripping another bit of clothing to staunch any bleeding. He then kneels on the man's chest, one knee poised over an arrow wound and ready to press down. He also has his dagger in hand, and presses its point to the bandit's throat. "Let's try this again," he mutters in a low growl. Do we need to make Heal checks or such to rouse him, or will he come to in a moment like before?
Grayson Thornwarden |
"I do not like this my friends, this seems much too akin to torture. Nearly killing a man, then letting him come back just so we can ask a question he hardly will recall the answer to after waking up. And then, we nearly kill him again so we can repeat the process? He's a bandit and a low-life sure...but this? I'll not be a part of another beating, what if he doesn't answer this time? Will you then do it again!?" Grayson lets that last question linger in the thin freezing air. His tone as sharp as the biting wind.
The Ranger walks away, and finds Charlotte. "Let's avoid this nasty work together."
"Prophet" |
"I don't wish to cause such pain to the man, though he has proven himself a danger to community and an opponent of justice. He deserves a clean death or a speedy trial, perhaps, but he may yet serve the community in some small way."
That said, Stigr has his own qualms about the situation. Deadeye grant me wisdom to cope with these difficult times...
Heal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Charlotte Greystone |
Charlotte shudders, though not because of the cold. Still looking out into the distance, she replies to Grayson. "I don't understand it." She says. "They treat them like they're nothing. Looting the dead and toying with the living." She looks at Grayson, fighting back tears in her eyes, and raises the serpent's head to him. "This?" she says. "I have rooms full of things like this, so that I will never forget. I bet they've already forgotten."
"I'm not saying I don't often enjoy it," she continues. "I do. The thrill of the hunt, the adrenaline, the focus. But I also take pride in not having forgotten why we do this, and not having lost my heart."
She shoulders the head into his hands, partially so he can look at it and remember that this was a living thing and they killed it, and partially so that she has her hands free. She reaches under her coat and detaches a coiled whip from her belt. Closer observation reveals that it was made from the particularly long tail of some kind of large rodent. "My first," she explains. "Almost ten years ago."
Returning the tail to its place, she takes the head back, and continues staring off into the distance, thinking about the great chasm that exists between the way the world is and the way that it ought to be.
Drazheek Frostscale |
Drazheek watches as the downed man is healed.
"Drahzeek doesn't like pain where it is not needed. Don't cause more suffering that is not needed. Scaring is better. Yeah. Scary."
Drazheek walks over to Grayson and Charlotte.
"Hi!"
Grayson Thornwarden |
Grayson's face twists for a moment, as Charlotte offloads the serpent head into his arms.
"As a hunter and trapper Charlotte, I know the thrill of the hunt, and the excitement that you speak of. That is all expected in my line of work. However, when I take a stag, or a bobcat for its fur, I end its suffering immediately. I am not one to prolong or linger over pain. I remember as you do. And those are just animals, how much more so should we treat humans? I know that these men are evil, or at least have done evil deeds, but perhaps we should be detaining them, I don't know, maybe that is too much trouble. I know we can't just let them go..." Grayson trails off for a moment to collect his thoughts.
"I understand violence is sometimes a necessity to protect the weak or the people and things we cherish. This just makes me uneasy, I am better though for knowing that no one takes joy in these deeds."
Indras Heskel |
Indras keeps mostly to himself, though he sees the others wandering off and Stigr trying to get the man up again.
Why would he try to get him up again? The guy already said he wouldn't talk so why bother?
Indras looks on asArgen crawls up his shoulder and looks about, then cuddles back up against Indras's neck.
"Hey, 'Prophet'! Let the guy be, he already said he wouldn't talk. Some tyrant called Izoze would freeze his balls of if he would. Don't know about you, but I'd rather die than lose them."
GM Æbsolutæxistance |
Prophet's Heal check is a bit low to work for getting the bandit back into consciousness. I'm going to save you some time and say this, by the rules if you hit a DC 25 Heal, in one hour you can heal the man 1+ your wisdom in hit points. As such it'd likely be better to use magic to bring him back to positive when he is this low.
Gaandik Fatebound |
The law is clear here. What is the problem?
Gaandik seems to be surprised at the conversation and stays his hand for the moment.
"Animals don't know any better. These bandits were given reason and intellect, and still this is how they use it. Do you really want to heal him?"
Without thinking he stands by Indras, who seems to be most of his mind.
He looks at Stigr: "Obviously you are disputing Iomedae's judgment here. If you want to take the responsibility for endangering the group and the mission, you can. Especially if you think Erastil is speaking to you on this one. Time and healing resources are precious in this biting cold, and I am doing the best I can to conserve them for the group. I am not wasting them on this unrepentant bandit."
When he notices he has stood next to Indras he smiles. "Looks like we have more in common than I thought. Though I would lose my balls and make sure whoever took them received a fitting punishment."
Indras Heskel |
"It seems so." Indras smiles faintly, something he doesn't do that often.
"I might have a more practical vision in this though, but you have a very good point; no use lingering here out in the cold to save a bandit. We do not have that luxury."
"Prophet" |
Stigr shakes his head. "He's now beyond my skill; Erastil has not granted me the power to heal. We'd best be off." He whispers some last rites again, this time in Common, and then slits the man's throat to end his life quickly rather than leaving him to the biting cold.
"Let's go." He wipes the dagger's blade in the snow and on the bandit's clothing, then returns it to its sheathe.