Round 13
Kevros precise shoots at another archer ...
Round 13
With another quick glance at Quince, Angeus reloads her crossbow and takes aim again....at the thugs battering down the gate
End of Round 12
Two bandits still outside draw their weapons as they hold their shields in their other hands. A total of 5 bandits at the gate right now, 2 archers, and the Stag Lord. One of the six bandits at the front is out cold. Kevros hits one of the archers and drops him as Angeus hits one of the charging and falling bandits.
Round 13
Kevros shoots and misses his target as the bolt flies over the archer's head as he grabs for the bandit on the ground next to him.
The archers around the Stag Lord tend to their friends wounds and pulls them to cover for those not in cover. The Stag Lord helps as well. No arrows come from them for this round.
The monks begin to attack the bandits before them. One has trouble with the debris as it blocks his attack but the other lays into another bandit, who lays very still after the blows land.
As one of the bandits gets up he gets plugged with a bolt from Angeus and he drops with red beginning to dye his clothes.
Katrina moves down from her charges and draws her bone sword. She moves toward the battle field.
The bandit in the debris gets up but trips over the debris and lands amongst it again. One of the shield barers drops because of the debris as well but the other one makes it to one of the monks, swipes with his blade and misses.
Round 14
27 Kevros
23 Monks* (11/11, 14/18)
20 Stag Lord*, AC 23 with cover , -9 hp
19 Archers* (2/6), AC 20 with cover
17 Angeus
15 Akiros* -1/47 (four arrows)(up with Saren and Kevros)
13 Saren* (stable at -1/37)
9 Katrina*, -3 hp
7 Tristan
5 Quince* (-1 and prone)
4 bandit thugs* (2/2 with shields, 1/6 thugs)
None of the archers or even the Stag Lord is visible to hit initially, then the Stag Lord pops up and shoots at each of you, hitting each of you hard.
The monks fail to connect with the standing bandit before them and the bandit cuts one of the monk's arm. Not a bad wound but not a good omen. The bandit stuck in the debris finally makes it out but still it trips him up as he lands prone from another snag as the monk next to him hits him with his foot. The other shield barer gets up with ease and makes it next to one of the monks ready to strike next round.
Katrina gets to the fight and misses her strike over extending herself and almost falling, the bandit sees an opening and hits her leaving a small cut on her leg.
ROUND 14
Thinking everything is progressing well, Kevros keeps pelting the Stag Lord's forces. Since the archers and the Stag Lord are taking full cover, Kevros focuses on the melee who are caught up in the barricade.
Kevros shoots and then the Stag Lord pops out shooting two arrows hitting both of their targets with a resounding thud. And other thuds follow as Keveros hits the ground unconscious along with his crossbow.
Round 14
Trying to duck back down , Angeus is caught by one of the Stag Lords powerful volleys. Falling back, the light dims, she only has a moment to reach out and lay her hand on the back of Quince's, before all is darkness....
Tristan finally makes it to the fight coming out and charging in to flank one of the bandits with the monks.
Current AC: 22 from charge
Round 14
The bolt from Kevros badly injuries the guard with the shield as his friend gets nearly cut in half by Tristan. He drops his weapon as a free action and falls to his knees holding up his shield in protection. "I give up, please get me out of sight of the Stag Lord!" says the wounded man. The other man on the ground leaves his weapon on the ground and merely rolls to the side. Katrina charges back up to the tower to see to those who just yelled out.
Now it is just the Stag Lord giving the group problems but likely some of his archers will join the fray again shortly.
Round 15
27 Kevros (0/19)
23 Monks (11/11, 14/18)
20 Stag Lord, AC 23 with cover , -9 hp
19 Archers (2/6), AC 20 with cover
17 Angeus (0/22)
15 Akiros* -1/47 (four arrows)(up with Saren and Kevros)
13 Saren* (stable at -1/37)
9 Katrina*, -3 hp
7 Tristan
5 Quince* (-1 and prone)
4 bandit thugs (1/2 with shields, 1/6 thugs)
ROUND 15
Kevros drops behind the tower wall (or parapet) with a thud to get out of harms way and tries to find a way to heal. If he sees Katrina, he waves to her for assistance. If not, he makes sure that Akiros is stable and searches for a healing potion which may still be on his possession.
Tristan looks to the monks.
Watch these men, they have given up. I will call out the Stag Lord.
Tristan walks out 30' toward the Stag Lord and goes full defense. The goal is to get Within 40' to charge.
Current AC: 28
Round 15
Kevros feels around the pouch and does not find any more potions, he then searches Akiros a bit more and finds another potion strapped to his belt, it looks blue just like the other healing potions. Nothing is marked on the potion bottle though it has a green thread holding the stopper to the bottle.
The monks look at the men, then say, "We give you mercy but we don't trust you, a swift kick to knock you out or death will come to you quickly your choice."
The man holding the shield closes his eyes and puts down the shield ready to receive the punch. Which takes him down. The other man just breaks for it. He does a much better job evading the debris on his way out and begins to circle the wall dagger now in hand.
Katrina sees that Kevros is still awake but has nothing for him, she nods to Kevros and moves quickly to Quince and Angeus. She does not make the jump and tries to hold onto the wooden wall of the tower. Angeus hears a thud as something big slams into one of the walls, then she can see clawed hands come over and see Katrina's face. She eeks out, "help me!" She seems to be having trouble climbing over the wall.
The Stag Lord spits on the ground and shoots at Tristan, but armor and shield prevent the arrows from doing any harm. The archers beside him begin to move down the hill with their wounded besides them. Four conscious and two being mostly dragged. The Stag Lord yells, "I will be back and have my home soon enough, watch your backs." The Stag Lord is 80 feet away from Tristan, though his men are at least 30 feet farther if not more.
Round 16
27 Kevros (0/19)
23 Monks (11/11, 14/18)
20 Stag Lord, AC 23 with cover , -9 hp
19 Archers (2/6), AC 20 with cover
17 Angeus (0/22)
15 Akiros* -1/47 (four arrows)(up with Saren and Kevros)
13 Saren* (stable at -1/37)
9 Katrina*, -3 hp
7 Tristan
5 Quince* (-1 and prone)
4 bandit thugs (1/2 with shields, 1/6 thugs)
ROUND 15
Kevros looks hard at the potion and thinks to himself, "Well, I do not want to use an unmarked potion nor do I want to use his last potion. It will be selfish of me to do so." Kevros places the potion back on Akiros belt.
He then sees Katrina and realizing she can do nothing more for him, he nods his head back to her with a smile.
He sits back down, draws his sword, places it next to him, then breaks the shaft off the arrows until they can safely be removed and heal up at later time.
He hears the Stag Lord departing and keeping as much cover as possible, he checks to see what the monks and Tristan are going to do while getting ready to reload his repeating crossbow.
He's wounded and I can track them. Better fall back and take this opportunity to gather our strength.
We will be right here waiting. You come knocking any time. I will be happy to end you.
Tristan laughs and cracks a smile as he backs away keeping up his defense.
Round 15
A voice cuts through the fog of Angeus' mind, causing her to groan and sit up carefully, painfully.
Looking about, she sees a pair of hands scrabbling at the side of the tower, then Katrina's face and her cries for help.
Hurrying as much as her wounds would allow, Angeus slides over to the wall , pulls herself up and grabs hold of Katrina's arms, pulling the woman to safety....
ROUND 15 - Supplemental
Kevros hears and sees Tristan letting the Stag Lord go, he looks to the Monks to see what they are going to do.
Cough
Kevros sprays out some blood in his cough, then wipes his mouth off with his arm.
The monks look to each other then those around them. They take their time to make sure each of the bandits are either dead or knocked out. Then they disarm them and take off their armor.
Tristan you can see one of the bandits runs off down the side of the fort, do you give chase?
Katrina smiles at Angeus as they get her over into the tower. Then she begins to use her healing kit to cover Quince's wounds first, then Angeus's wounds.
Once Tristan is back in the fort the monks secure the gate again, securing it the best they can.
No chase, he is probably in light armor and I'm not so he will out pace me.
Tristan makes his way back into the fort keeping his shield and defense up until the Stag Lord is out of view.
Is everyone ok? Those awake sound off. Katrina we need your help.
Tristan failed to notice Katrina was already helping and doing what she could as his concentration was on the Stag Lord.
Brother monks. We need to do what we can to secure this gate. I'm sure he won't be happy loosing his home. I don't want to give him the chance to plan and come at us. Katrina has some healing magic. Once rested I want to track and take the fight to him. We need to take stock of the wounded and see how bad things are.
Seeing the monks are not going to pursue as well and the Stag Lord continue to retreat. Kevros painfully stands up and finishes reloading his crossbow with his last magazine. Kevros nods as Tristan makes a request to the monks to secure the gates, he then painfully sits back down waiting for help to arrive to assist both him and Akiros since he does not know what potion is on his belt and he has broken Stag Lord arrows in his body. He does not try to take them out since he is in severe pain and can feel himself fighting consciousness. Knowing Katrina went to go help Quince and Angeus, he remains there on the tower, quietly and patiently.
Quince groans clutching at the place where he was struck. His eyes go wide when he sees Angeus' wounds. He coughs as much as mutters in celestial. Closing his eyes he leans toward Angeus praying and clutching his holy symbol.
He slumps back exhausted.
She takes her time to bind the wounds of each of you doing her best to mend your deadly wounds. She takes extra time and care to take out the arrows.
She continues to do her best but without the proper supplies it takes her much longer to make success. She says to the monks, "Luckily we have time."
Through slitted eyes, Angeus sees Katrina move among her friends , patching and binding wounds.
A movement to the side catches her attention...Quince, in pain, leaning towards her, muttering his prayers, arm outstreched. Seeing what he was about to do, Angeus tried to stop him, but was too weak.
She closes her eyes as Quince's warm hand grasps her shoulder, gasping at the sudden heat there, the flesh knitting together, forcing the arrow out of her body to fall to the ground.
Opening her eyes, she looked at Quince, his face ashen with exhaustion and laid her hand on his cheek.
After the healing of Katrina and Quince the group is conscious but still very much hurt.
Good everyone made it and all are alive. I can't believe you guys took the fort while he was out. I though for sure you would regroup and then come and save me, but I got to say I like how it ended up. Us in here. Him out there. Lets gather our strength. With the few of them that escaped I should be able to track them well enough. Lets head out in the morning and hit them hard. Quince, Katarina we will need all the healing magic you have. Everyone this is Akiros. He has made a turn, and will help us. He was once a paladin. Lets help him remember what it means to be just and good. Now I could use some rest.
Kevros nods and looks at Tristan, "Although I like the security of the fortress, we can not let him decide when and with what to attack us with. He left us hurting pretty bad and may not expect such an immediate response or he can be foiling us into the open with a tactical withdrawal? Perhaps, you ... He then looks at Angeus, and if she is well enough ... Angeus, to see if he is truly regrouping or trying to lure us out into a trap? Granted, we chewed through his men pretty good but part of the reason why we repelled him was because of the ruin-fortress. I would love to go with you but I would make too much noise. So in short, I think we should scout, then use that information to attack. But we need to do it quickly before he gathers all of his strength or more back. What do you all think?" Kevros looks at everyone. Then he goes to searching for any bolt he can recover.
Quince kisses Angeus on the forehead tenderly. He offers a pained half smile. He settles into a semi-comfortable position near Angeus.
"I have no power left in my prayers today. Perhaps in the morning. How did we fare, is that blasphemous cur dead?" He shifts slightly and leans against the tower wall.
He listens annoyed that the Stag Lord is still alive. "I think we are in the strongest position we will find at least for now. How long were we out? We should make sure the gate is re-reinforced and that there are no hidden access points. Our enemy might be able to find reinforcements. If we are going to sleep here, which is probably best we should know if there is a secret or hidden entrance."
He adds as an after thought mustering a smile. "Tristan have you ever skinned a bear? My beat is that bear thing with the feathers would make a great rug."
Bear thing with the feathers? What are you speaking of Quince. Did I miss something during the battle?
"Tristan, he is talking about the creature we killed when we laid siege to this Fortress Ruin, not in our last battle with the Stag Lord."
Ah, you laid siege to this ruin why your friend and ally gave himself up for you to escape. I see I see. He smiles.
No worries. I'm glad my sacrifice worked. We seem to now have the advantage. I'm not sure about a rug Quince, but we could use some food tonight as we rest. I'm sure Katrina can throw together another good stew.
Angeus stretches and rises, trying to get the kink out of her shoulder where there'd been an arrow just moments before.
Looking out across the wilderness, she says "Kevros is right, we should make sure what the Stag Lord is doing. I'll se out and see if I can catch up and see what they're planning."
"The rest of you should really check this place over, I'm sure there's some loot hidden somewhere..." she says wistfully,then begins gathering her gear.
Kevros painfully smirks at Tristan's comment, "I apologize but that is why we took over this place, so we could regroup and then rescue you which obviously didn't need to happen. At first, we didn't know it was a Stag Lord keep and it was easier to take over than to keep."
Kevros gives out a painful laugh and sits down waiting for his turn to receive Katrina's tender care.
"If Katrina has the ingredients, the cooking items, the time, and the energy to make stew, that would be nice after all of the injure receive some attention. However before that, we need to make sure we are secure enough to heal for the day and regroup."
Kevros looks to Tristan then to Angeus, "We should get our eyes on the Stag Lord as soon as possible and the scouting mission should be quick. The longer we take to recover, just allows the enemy to gain strength as well. Of course, we do not want to act too soon and be too under prepared, exhausted, and injured to fight. This next phase will need to be executed just right or we could give the upper hand back to the Stag Lord."
Kevros nods to Angeus' comments, "We will search for hidden loot after we secure the keep and repair any damage we possibly can. We can not stay here and let the Stag Lord attack us again or we will be sitting ducks for his painful bow."
Kevros rubs his wounds while looking over to the monks, then painfully stands ...
"I am going to see how Nightwing and the rest of his monk apprentices are doing."
Kevros walks over to see how Nightwing and monks are doing while he waits for his turn to receive some care from Katrina.
With the group having all their magical healing expended, they wait for Katrina to come to each of you to mend wounds the best she can.
Angeus was at 7 gaining 5 so now at 12/22 hp.
Quince was at 9 gaining 5 so now at 14/19 hp.
Kevros was at 0 gaining 5 so now at 5/19 hp.
Saren now at: 4/37
Monks are now at: (11/11, 18/18)
Nightwing now is at: 2/19
Akiros now is at: 4/47
With the group now numbering nine strong, leaving two in the tower at all times to remain vigilant as the others recuperate in what Akiros soon tells the group the Stag Lord's and his quarters.
As the night passes with each person resting, each gains HP equal to level plus con modifier. Though if Angeus heads out to follow the Stag Lord she won't heal just yet.
Quince was at 14 gaining 4 so now at 18/19 hp when he wakes up.
Kevros was at 5 gaining 5 so now at 10/19 hp.
Saren was at 4 gaining 7 so now is at 11/37.
Monks are now and still at: (11/11, 18/18)
Nightwing was at 2 gaining 5 so now is at 7/19.
Akiros was at 4 gaining 8 so now is at 12/47.
Katrina ...
Angeus, I don't think you should go alone. We should go together or we should rest and heal up a bit and hit them in the morning. I'm sure together we can find the trail. What do you think?
Tristan being treated by Katrina, gives him 5 healing making his hp at 18/26.
Then once he is rested, 5 more, making it 23/26.
---After channeling---
Quince now is at 19/19 hp
Kevros now is at 17/19 hp.
Tristan now is at 26/26 hp.
Saren now is at 18/37.
Monks are still at (11/11, 18/18)
Nightwing now is at 14/19.
Akiros now is at 19/47.
Katrina now is at 16/16.
"Well hopefully after that we are rested and mostly well. I want to make sure that the wounds are fully healed so let me inspect each of you." She says to the group after she had the group help her roast some of the meat and create a stew from part of the owlbear.
"Much better Katrina. We can set out now to defeat the stag lord for good. Everyone pack up. They can't be far, we will make our way back here after we deal with them."
Quince nods and gathers his gear and spends time in prayer as he preps Scram. He talks to the horses making sure they are ready for the road.
Quince makes his way to Angeus stopping a few paces back looking her way whistfully. He moves closer , "Easily the most beautiful site probably anywhere and after yesterday I got a peak of the Heavens. So its a pretty informed opinion." He chuckles and puts his arm around her.
Angeus smiles at Quince's compliment, allowing him to hold her for a few moments, before leaning in and giving him a kiss on the cheek, "Just don't be doing that again!" she chides gently, then giving him a quick hug, gathers her things.
"Alright, let's go." she says to Tristan and the others, before heading out of the fort.
Angeus tries to use any and all terrain and flora to conceal her movement as she tries to track the Stag Lord and his thugs.
Since Angeus stayed with the group through the night, in the morning she is healed as well with the channels, she is now at full hit points.
The monks and Saren choose to stay at the fort as the group takes Akiros to go look for the Stag Lord.
The day is clear and only has a slight breeze. Though that crisp breeze keeps each of you chilled. Between Angeus and Tristan the trail is found easily, with Angeus in the lead the group follows Tristan. About three hours later the group comes upon Angeus.
There before her is a makeshift camp and the few body parts left clenching weapons. Blood covers most of the camp. The fire is out and no smoke is coming out of it.
As the others arrive. Angeus inducates the small owlbear. "There's that critter over three.... Something big happened upon these, tore'em up pretty good."
-Posted with Wayfinder
+2 if humans so maybe
Quiet, there is a large owl bear there. It is watching us. Looks like the Stag Lord got away but his men were not so lucky. Prepare yourselves.
Tristan slowly draws his blade as he stares on at the beast waiting for it to strike.
"Aye, I see them. Let's stay quiet and move along after the Stag Lord. We don't need to be messing with those owlbears right now." He says in a hushed tone, still watching the owlbears he indicates away.
He steps in and looks for the tracks but does not see any discernible direction the Stag Lord may have fled. He says, "Tristan lead on, we will follow since you see the trail." He still watches the owlbears longsword and shield ready.
"Sounds good, if we don't disturb their food or get too close to the little one we should be able to pass by."
Quince nods not making a peep.
Angeus motions the others to back away, quietly, leading with Tristan to make way around the desolate camp ground.
"Good eyes, Tristan. I missed Staggie's tracks ..." she mutters to Tristan as they make their way through the foliage.
Backing away from the owlbears seems to have been a good choice for they don't follow. Soon the group is on the Stag Lord's tracks and now he is by himself.
The tracks lead away from the copse of trees and out into the hills once more. Then the trail simply stops. Looking out you see many places someone that knows these hills could hide and it could take a day to search just in this area.
Must be a ranger. Guess this is one of his choice's in terrain. Lets be vigilant in our search and start sweeping the area. We have the horses to do the leg work for us.
Not sure what you want here so.
trying to figure out what makes the most sense and best place somone would try and lay low. Looking for a natural shelter of some kind like caves as well.
The group follows Tristan's choice and sticking together begin to search out for the Stag Lord.
The group takes several hours but the Stag Lord must have fled a different direction than you began to search. No signs of him were seen.
Kevros thanks Katrina for her healing and cooking ...
Kevros replies, "Yes, Tristan good eyes regarding the Owl Bear!"
Kevros looks at Tristan, "Tristan, do you see the Stag Lord's trail?"
Angeus turns around in her saddle in frustration at the absence of any sign of the Stag Lord.
"Where did he go? Let's get back to where we started, we may have missed something." she suggests.
Kevros turns in his saddle to reply to Angeus, "If we lost the Stag Lord's trail, that would be a good idea. We don't have time on our side to be hunting for days for a trail that might never appear."
Kevros looks from where they came from ... "I wish they would have taught me in the military how to track but unfortunately, I can not help unless the trail is really apparent and if it is slipping up Tristan, there is no way I could help."
Kevros pauses, "Perhaps, we should invest in some blood hounds one day to help you trackers or help us non-trackers?"