Sheoll continues on with the rest of the group, keeping an eye out for danger and trying to be as quiet as possible.
As you all approach, the fey-blood in Tass seems to manifest some, her body seemingly moving with grace and skill in the tree line. Thankfully, Alex spots a small tree-stand ahead of them, a man sitting in it with something in his hand.
With an audible pop, a bolt embeds itself into the ground before your all's feet. From just past the tree the stand is in, noises can be heard of shouting, running and what-not.
Alexander jumps back going into a fighting stance. He realizes the position of the enemy and calls out to the others while pointing him out with his sword.
Rowena attempts to take cover by some nearby shrubbery, so she is not an open target for the brigands. She holds her loaded crossbow before her in the event she has to shoot and scans her eyes to see how many brigands she can spy and their positions.
Sheoll comes back to focus from his small respite after the new bandit's "warning"
"Blast them all...where are they now? he says, taking a good look around.
It seemed the voice within would be fed again, and a part deep within the warrrior was joyous.
Tassira immediately seeks cover, bringing her crossbow to bear and trying to keep herself calm.
Okay. Okay. No guarantee that they saw me. Calm down. Get ready to put them to sleep.
She takes several breaths, her heart beating rapidly with fear. She feels her magic *buzzing* at her fingertips, begging to be unleashed...
@Alex: The bandit in the stand is about 60 feet away.
@Rowena: Yeah, that ain't gonna help.
@Sheoll: That roll will. The bandits you hear are shouting as they apparently are grabbing weapons. The sound seems to be coming from just to the east or so of the tree the man shouted from.
Alright, map is up. You all are free to position yourselves within reason in that southwest quadrant. The bandit who shouted is the one that is just north of you, and the sounds are coming to the east.
INITIATIVE!!
@Alex: As long as they are in line of sight, yes. The trees grant a little cover, but they have a nice sized fire which is illuminating their area. I'll say
Initiative
Bandits First
Party Last
Aiming from his stand the bandit in the treeline raises a shortbow up, aiming at Sheoll
The others, now with weapons drawn, begin to advance forward.
Alex moves close to the tree stand investing power in his dagger before drawing his arm back and flinging the dagger at the treed bandit.
Not being able to do much from her current position, Rowena, loaded crossbow in hand, moved 5 ft to stand behind Sheoll and attempted to defend herself as best as possible from any ongoing ranged attacks. She did not want to be separated from the group in case her healing was required.
Brandishing the sling Alexander had fashioned for him, Sheoll twirls the weapon around several times before releasing the stone at his enemy in the trees then ducks slightly to be behind the cover of the cart.
Unused to the weapon, his shot goes awry and the rock goes low, striking the tree instead, knocking a chunk of bark away.
Hearing the approach of several more bandits, Tassira focuses inward, drawing upon her arcane power...
She starts casting a spell. Let them come this way--when they try to cross the river....
Alex's knife, imbued as it was, flits from hand, catching the man in the stand. The man yelps, stepping back. Desperate to pull the knife free, he spends his action trying to pull it out.
The most northerly bandit will move 5 feet west, then diagonally 15 feet (2 squares) southwest. There, he will hunker down, readying an action.
The bandit just to his south from that point will move to the south end of the log in front of him, raing a bow and firing it at Alex.
The bandit furthest south will move closer, but won't be able to fire just yet. The one nearest the camp fire will advance forward 30 ft, placing him just next to the bush at the logs. There he'll ready his bow. The half-orc bandit that was next to previous bandit will rush, moving 60 ft for the cart.
The half-orc in the second stand swings out, spending his turn climbing to the ground
Finally, the most north easterly bandit will double move, moving North then West, bow at the ready.
Round 2
Looking up and over the cart, Rowena noted the Half-Orc bandit with bow moving fast toward the cart where Tassira and she stood behind for some cover.
Steadily aiming her crossbow, the young priestess sent a quick, silent prayer to Old Deadeye and then fired across at the bandit.
Then quickly ducked behind the cart, loading a new bolt into her crossbow.
With a light flick of a finger and a quick unfathomable mumbling hiss a large drop of acid follows the line of Alexanders finger in the direction of the bandit previously hit with the dagger. Alexanders voice has a hard sarcastic edge to it as he yells up at the bandit. With his ultimatum made Alexander moves closer to the tree stand to get out of the direct line of fire from the other bowman and forcing the treed bandit to lean out of the stand to target him.
Tassira opens her eyes as she finishes her incantation. Her eyes flash yellow as she focuses on the two bandits approaching her wagon cover.
"Codladh."
Pausing for a moment with a rather stupefied look on their faces, the two closest bandits almost comically collapse to the ground from the Sleep spell cast on them, and will remain asleep for the next minute.
Sheoll eyes the bandit in the tree with some frustration. We can't afford to be flanked with the odds this way
Scooping up a rock from his crouched position, he whips the sling at the same foe that Alex threw his dagger, hoping to finally bring him down.
'BLAST!!", he yells out in frustration, his rage barely bottled.
Alexander gives Sheoll a kind of shrug from under the tree stand trying to express his hope that the bandit throws down his weapons.
With Sheoll's attack going wide, the bandits begin to set themselves up proper. One moves forward and gets to the log slumping down and firing an arrow at Sheoll, who thankfully has cover at the moment from the cart (granting an effective +2 to AC!).
The others in the main group continue to move forward, the one that had climbed down from the one watch tower now moving toward the group, trying to pull a sword free from the sheath on his waist.
The one furthest north, now with their two handaxes drawn, continue to move forward, appearing to be rushing towards the cart, either unaware Alex is where he is or uncaring of the man.
Round 3
Rowena takes advantage of the crouched Sheoll and rises over him and fires her loaded crossbow at the bandit with the two handaxes to the far north.
And then she crouches down by the cart again and loads a new bolt into her crossbow.
Rowena's bolt flies free, the slight recoil of the crossbow causing it to fly over the head of the oncoming bandit.
Seeing the bandits cluster together across the river draws Tassira's attention. Making sure to stay behind the cover of the wagon, she looks over at Sheoll.
"Sheoll! Don't let them near us, please!" She says before beginning to move her hands in arcane gestures.
Seeing as the bandit didn't throw down his weapons Alexander decides to follow through with his threat. Stepping back to get a better angle Alexander pulls out another dagger gets a good bead on his enemy and throws striking out at the same bandit in the tree. I should be able to give some support in a moment.
With a groan, the bandit struck by Alex's dagger heaves over, the blood from his chest slowly seeping out as his breath leaves his body along with his soul.
Sheoll watches Alex's blade fell the bandit a split second after Rowena fires her crossbow, crouching low he darts forward to the north several paces, pulling a throwing axe from his side as he moves.
Coming to a halt, he grunts slightly as he heaves the axe forward at Rowena's target...
With the angry Aasimar rushing forward, the axe flies true and digs into the bandits arm. She growls at him and barks at the others.
The one rushes Sheoll, her axes swinging in unison against him.
The others move forward some paces, their swords now drawn as they move in on the cleric and sorceress!
Round 4
Peeking up from her crouched position, the young priestess notes the fast-approaching bandits. Rowena draws up from behind the cart, standing a little over the crouched sorceress and fires a bolt at the bandit with the sword closest to Tassira.
She then crouches low again (by the cart) and loads a new bolt into her crossbow.
Seeing that the enemies approaching the two ladies Alexander summons power to his rapier as he hoofs it to there position but doesn't feel comfortable jostling past Tassira while she is casting. When you are able get behind me Tassira. I will provide what cover I can. With the warning given Alexander focuses his energy on casting a minor magic and with a flick of a finger and the same unfathomable mumbling hiss from before a large drop of acid follows the line of Alexanders pointing digit.
With his attention back in the battle Alexander smiles at the lead bandit he struck with the acid with neither humor nor warmth.
Sheoll winced as the axe bit hard into his side. He knew this woman was a threat, and he couldn't stand another blow like that. Taking a deep breath, he surrendered to the voices within.
He body surged and rippled, his skin darkening and his fingers elongating and hardening into claws. His last thought before the transformation truly took him over I mustn't let them down And with that, swung his limbs with all his might, hoping to tear into the woman.
Tassira's eyes flash gold again as she focuses on the three bandits trying to cross the river.
"Codladh." Her voice echoes through the trees.
Hearing Alex's warning, she retreats behind him, still holding her crossbow.
The one on Sheoll roars as his first claw catches her. Raising up her axes, she takes swings at Sheoll, rage filling her eyes as she does.
The others take their checks...
The one closest to the party rushes forward, his sword being brandished. He dashes at Alex and takes a swing.
The second passes out, falling in the cold river. The third one goes around the cart but is too slow to attack just yet.
The final one rushes towards the spellcaster who is 'hurting' his friends.
Round 5
Rowena took a 5ft step back seeing the three bandits suddenly close in on her, Tassira and Alexander.
Pointing her loaded crossbow at the half-orc bandit behind Alex, she fired the bolt, hoping to score a hit.
She then reloaded her crossbow with a new bolt.
Tassira recoils from the bandit approaching her in time to see Sheoll go down in a spray of blood. Seeing the axe-wielding bandit (Is she the leader?) stand over him causes her anger to flare to new heights.
"Gabháil seo!" She points a finger at the axewoman, and a green missile of force leaps from her finger, racing toward her!
Alexander turns away from the bandit that had been struck multiple times with bolts and acid hoping that the enemy was down and even if he was not that Rowena would watch his back but either way he had no choice but to turn and face the two other attackers bearing down on him and his cousin. Driving his sword arm forward with the turn Alexander catches the nearest bandit with a solid thrust to the chest. The point meets a slight resistance as it slides past the edge of a rib bone before sinking deep into flesh.
A vicious yank and kick is enough to free the rapier following its extraction Alexander calls out a sharp quick incantation and a dazzling explosion of light appears directly in front of the other bandit. Alexander tries to take advantage of the distraction by pressing his attack blade extended ready to nick and cut if his opponent should wish to proceed on his path hopefully forcing the bandit to deal with him as the immediate threat rather than Tassira.