Lureene readies an action and Grak rises higher seeking a better vantage point.
Yvonne draws her scimitar and turns to face an alleyway down which she can see a mob charging. " Before they are trapped, get them clear! Men, hold back the mob!"
, Priyya, Mal & Tal, Monroe, Drakes & Soldiers; Alis, Felmor, Stallings, Lureene & Grak, Yvonne
Priyya urges Saija to get clear of the oil just as the trap is sprung. From the adjacent buildings, shutters are thrown open, and on the rooftops people rise up with crossbows, loose tiles, and other objects in hand. The Surya-ka-Vahaak sees a few on both sides of the street holding bottles with flaming rags protruding from the tops and shouts a warning.
With a curse, Alis takes aim on one of the would-be arsonists and fires her tiny crossbow...
Her first shot catches the attacker in the wrist and the drop their grenade indoors setting themselves and the building on fire. The people at the adjacent windows retreat with curses.
Unable to distinguish anything that looks like a ring-leader from the gathering mob, Lureene looks imploringly at one of the attackers feigning terror at being set aflame...
Sadly, her attempt appears to be ineffectual.
Yvonne stifles a curse and takes out another arsonist, the ghostly green arc of her blade hewing the attacker in two.
From the front of your column, you can just barely hear Stallings shouting for his men to target the grenadiers. However, his voice is cut off when explosions claps of thunder go off behind the carriage.
Ride Checks DC 20
Reflex Saves DC 18
Climb Checks DC 20
The cacophony startles the horses pulling the carriage and they bolt in terror throwing Alis to the floor and nearly knocking Lureene down. Outside, Felmor just barely avoids getting bowled over and manages to grab on with one hand, but Atish and Darya are throw to the cobblestones.
In front of the carriage, Mal and Priyya lose control of their mounts and it is everything they can do to hold on. No sooner do they start to bolt than do the other rioters hurt their grenades and a wall of flame goes up around Monroe and cuts Stallings off from the rest of the caravan. The wheels and back end of the carriage are smoking from the oil splashed on them. Within about 100 hundred yards, Priyya and Mal manage to regain control of Saija and Khaitan, but the carriage itself only stop when its front wheels impact a heavy pole felled across the street that breaks the wheels and snaps the tethers free.
Reflex Saves DC 20
The carriage breaks apart crashing into the street. Felmor miraculously manages to dive away at the last second and rolls with the impact. Inside, it's everything that Alis can do to avoid getting crushed in the calamity as Lureene gets slammed in the back by the flying debris of the rear axle. Only her supernatural composition prevents it from being a far more serious injury. A moment later, Priyya and Mal are by the sides helping to dig them out of the debris as Talvyra and Grak attempt to catch-up.
Perception Checks
With the exception of Lureene, whose ears are ringing from having gotten struck like a bell, the rest of you hear the sound of approaching footsteps from all around you.
Priyya surveys the scene - the clear damage to Alis and Lureene.
She channels the power of Alita, bathing their group in holy light.
Channel Positive Energy (Healing):
30' radius burst
Healing:
Mal slides from the saddle, cursing himself for a fool for acting hastily. Gonna want more attacks here. Then he shifts the power that pulsed in his legs and redistributes it to his entire body. His claws and teeth become somehow more frightening looking.
The sound of the approaching men draws a sneer from Mal, and strange words utter from his lips as his exposed skin thickens into pebbled animal hide.
he roars, a roar answered immediately by Talvyra, their voices mingling in a terrifying primal challenge.
Priyya debates staying in the saddle for mobility's sake or possibly to charge through the mob, if necessary. Seeing Mal's reaction, she suspects this is going to be a stand-up fight and the last thing she needs to do is try to retain control of a skittish horse in the middle of a battle.
She slides effortlessly off Saija's back, her blade rasping from it's sheathe. She plunges the blade into a flaming spar of wood - for quick use when needed. Then she leads Saija to a flanking position to provide the group with some cover from one side. She returns to where her sword awaits, near Mal. She can't help but admire his bravado. Yes! Let's see what they can bring against us.
She shakes her bow and screams, "DEATH! DEATH! DEAAATTTTHHHH!"
Seeing that Lureene is still in decidedly poor shape, Priyya touches the winged woman with a glowing hand suffused with magic.
Lureene staggers to her feet with the assistance of both Felmor and the carriage drivers, who rushed over to help the stricken ladies. On receiving the healing from the Surya-ka-Vahaak, she nods gratefully at her.
Hearing the approaching bootsteps, she draws her rapier, and mentally signals Grak to watch out for the ringleader of this mob. She then turns her attention to them...
Once Felmor has freed the ladies, he takes up a defensive position in front of the ladies, shielding them as best as possible from the oncoming enemies, while drawing his weapons. He does spare a grin at the enemies, and speaks quietly, "Ye is gonna pay fer wreckin' me ride."
Priyya smiles at Felmor's understated battlecry...
She glances at the transformed Mal. "I'm going to drop as many near the alleyways as possible. Bodies could make those entrances into choke points, we may be able to prevent them from rushing us all at once." She shrugs slightly, indicating that she doesn't see it as a likely outcome but it is worth a shot.
Lureene staggers to her feet with the assistance of both Felmor and the carriage drivers, who rushed over to help the stricken ladies.
The cacophony startles the horses pulling the carriage and they bolt in terror throwing Alis to the floor and nearly knocking Lureene down. Outside, Felmor just barely avoids getting bowled over and manages to grab on with one hand, but Atish and Darya are throw to the cobblestones.
Initiative Rolls
, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Alis, Mal & Tal, Enemies
Priyya doesn't hesitate. As soon as she sees an enraged group emerging from an alley she fires arrows into the front-line. She attempts to drop a few people quickly enough to force those in the rear to trip, fall, and bottleneck the area.
Full Round Act - FLURRY (SHORTBOW crit: 20/3x):
To Hit: Possible Crit?
Damage:
To Hit: Probable MISS on second arrow
Damage:
Confirm Critical (SHORTBOW):
To Hit: Crit Confirmation???
Bonus Dam: + IF the Crit is confirmed - Total DAM: 21
You find yourselves in a large open square at the intersection of two major roads. It appears to be a park of sorts with a fountain in one corner and old trees in the other three. What's left of the carriage is split in two. The front half lays in a heap halfway to the intersection, while the back half is burning away still stuck on the large log that was run across the road. In the northwest corner of the square, a narrow alleyway exits into darkeness.
Most of the buildings surrounding the square appear to be businesses whose storefronts have been barricaded against the recent rioting. From down each street, you can see a mob approaching, about 20 people in total, with a few dogs as well. Beyond them, onlookers are gathered, murmuring and waiting expectantly to see what happens.
After Mal lifts her out of the wreckage of the carriage and Priyya performs what healing she can, Alis finishes patching herself up with the wand you bought back in Drellin's Ferry.
With that done, she moves into a more defensible position in the southwest corner where the tree, buildings, lack of alleyways, and buildings will hopefully help to constrain enemy numbers and prevent you from being totally overwhelmed. As the mob closes in on their trap, the leaders of each of the four groups call out accusations trying to bolster the courage of their men against your attempts to intimidate them:
"We won't let Estoria control us!"
"Down with royals, fight for your freedom!"
"No more extortion, no more meddling!"
"Better dead than a sell-out!"
Completely bewildered by the unfounded accusations, Alis shouts out, "We are only passing thru to Malatesta! Estoria has no imperial intentions towards Elsmyr Dale, you are being deceived!"
Unfortunately, the crowd doesn't seem to be buying it.
Her ire rising, Alis shouts out, bolstering both her resolve and yours: "If the people of Dunwaar are too thickheaded to think for themselves, if you are going to attack a princess of Ilmarond over fears concerning Estoria, then don't cry to your mothers after we beat some sense into you!"
From somewhere unseen, a woman's voice calls out, "Indeed they have been deceived! Deceived by neighbors we once thought friends, deceived by incompetent and self-serving rules. Deceived by this very princess who attempts to win over the ruling class of Valehaven while she manipulates matters behind the scenes, behind a guise of innocence! See how her companions call for blood and death, how they shoot you in the streets without second thought? How she consorts with demons and monsters?"
"Death is too good for the likes of her! Capture and ransom is more fitting. Let us profit from her as she would have profited from us! People of Dunwaar, the Dunwaar Tar Dogs won't abandon you, sell you out or endanger the lives of everyone in the Dale like some people. Baltus Kale lies dead and his daughter founders. Now is the time to earn your independence!"
With that, a cheer goes up from the mob and they begin to charge!
MAP: Dunwaar Mob 01
, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Alis, Mal & Tal, Enemies
Hoping to divide the mob in two and delay the arrival of the further groups, Priyya takes aim on the leader of the eastern group.
Her first arrow hits the lead man hard nearly bringing him to his knees but he pulls the arrow free with a wince and keeps on coming. In her haste, her second arrow misses low skittering harmlessly off the cobblestones.
, Felmor, Alis, Mal & Tal, Enemies; Priyya
Song: Encirclement Battle
Lureene hears the womans voice and things start clicking in her mind. Not wasting time to ponder it now, she fairly screams at Grak mentally, . Once he has acknowledged the command, she moves up next to the Knight Captain and readies a spell...
Grak mutters a sigh, wondering what has gotten into his mistress. Still, he does not hesitate to follow her instructions.
Felmor nods at the winged beauty, Aye, if'n me not already wit' th' perfect woman... and moves next to her, readying himself for the charge to come.
Priyya smirks on hearing the words of the unseen woman. She casts a comment back towards her comrades, "Well, so much for this being accidental." She turns her attention to the charging masses and yells, like a drill sergeant,
Trying not to give Mal any reason to worry, Alis moves up behind him, in front of Khaitan, and takes aim at the leader of the south group with her sewing kit...
Her first shot is true, but it does little more than give the ruffian a scratch on his arm. Not this again! Did it get fouled in the crash?
You cast about scanning for the puppet master, but see no one.
, Enemies; Priyya, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Alis
Knowing the horse doesn't understand, Mal can't help whispering to Khaitan, "Hold my left flank, Demon-horse! And we'll show this rabble what warriors are!"
Talvyra must have trained extensively with Mal, as she uses the same tactic, waiting for someone to make an example of.
Lureene times the completion of her spell to exactly when the most enemies are within the target area as possible. With a flourish, she whips out a handful of colored sand from her component pouch
Will Saves (DC 13):
The thug moving around to come at Felmor get knocked out. The dog coming at Lureene and the thug behind him both manage to duck leaving the last man in line to suffer the consequences. The leader, who was also coming around at Felmor, drops the blade he was holding and is stricken in place by the spell.
The black and brown, stub-tailed dog snarls and tries to lock its jaws onto Lureene's legs...
Although its jaws snap at her shapely calves, it is both unable to unbalance her and its teeth are unable to mar her otherworldly flesh.
The thug that was behind the dog hops over the large log in the street trying to get an angle to where he can come at the temptress, but in a spray of blood and a gout of flame, the man's chest is split and he falls heavily to the ground.
From right next to him, another thug, this one a lad who looks like he's only just barely old enough to be called a man takes a swing at the Knight-Captain's head with cudgel shouting, "I'm gonna knock that hat off along with your head old man!"
However, all he manages is to make a loud 'whoosh' as Felmor easily ducks the attack. Risking a look over his shoulder, Felmor can see that the northern group is closing in on their position, although the leader holds up a bit allowing the bat and blade wielding thugs to pass him.
At the last moment, the leader whips out a heavy crossbow from behind his cloak and fires at Felmor, who once again manages to evade the attack.
The injured leader of the eastern group unleashes his two attack dogs who both charge at Priyya attempting to take her down.
Working together, the trained attack dogs, have no problem taking Priyya's legs out from under her, one ripping a bloody from her leg and nearly wrenching her knee out of place.
Seeing Darkmane in danger, Talvyra slinks up beside her and lashes out with tooth and claw very nearly ending one of the two dogs.
The other thugs run up behind the faster dogs shouting loudly and encouraging them. One tries to grab Saija's reigns and pull her out of the way, but the Setenbori horse refuses to budge from her mistress' side.
From behind the mob, the injured leader finding his shot blocked instead sees an opening on Alis and fires at her with the crossbow he was concealing...
However the bolt goes wide embedding itself in the tree beside her.
The southern mob converges on Mal with three of them attempting to surround him while the fourth is unable to approach due to their number.
Mal takes a swing at one of the men as they try to move around to flank him but is unable to connect. The three the proceed to do their best to beat and stab the giant ranger to death...
However, their attack glance harmlessly off of his magically toughed physique and breastplate. With a savage grin, he growls, "Now it's my turn!"
The first swipe of his claws catches the centermost attacker by surprise knocking him backwards against the wall of the shop behind him. It is only the sheer force of the blow that puts him far enough out of reach to avoid Mal's second slash.
Clutching at his injury, the man cries out as he slumps to the ground, "Freak– tried to– bite– me..."
Behind them, their leader shouts, "You'll never beat him like that, dog-pile the bastard!"
He then fires a shot from his own crossbow at the seemingly defenseless princess...
Yet the bolt goes seemingly gets whisked away at the last second as if by a breeze. "Lucky b%~#$," her murmurs.
, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Alis, Enemies, Mal & Tal
MAP: Dunwaar Mob 02
Reflecting on a battle some weeks ago Priyya thinks, This is the second time a dog has knocked me down! What is it with these canines?
Priyya lays a hand on her gashed leg, healing the injury somewhat.
She drops her bow, grabs her waiting sword, and slashes at the healthy dog in front of her.
To Hit:
Damage:
She calls out, "Saija! Kick him!" Priyya has no idea if this will do anything more than serve as a distraction, but that might be enough.
Priyya's slash strikes the snarling attack dog square in the chest eliciting a yelp of pain. It isn't down yet, but you've certainly given it something to think about. Beside you, Saija is distracted trying to resist the chump tugging persistently on her reins.
, Felmor, Alis, Enemies, Mal & Tal; Priyya
Lureene nods in satisfaction as her spell takes effect. She then turns her attention to the group approaching from the north. She concentrates on the leader of the pack, readying a spell.
Grak continues to circle the battlefield, following his mistresses' instructions.
While she is 'resting' on the ground and the attack dog is reconsidering it's career choice, Priyya takes a quick look around to see how everyone is fairing. She does as a double-take as she is greeted by the sight of Lureene's libidinous gyrations. What the f%^& is that girl doing?!?!
The leader smirks upon seeing Lureene's little dance and feeling the subtle tug at his will. He calls out loudly to his men, "I know we're only supposed to capture her highness over there, but it would be a shame to not avail ourselves of this beauty here, boys!"
Turning at the sound of the man's words, Alis curses mentally. Sh1t, we've got an opening a mile wide in our line. Mal's just going to have to yell at me later...
Ignoring the fact that his mistress is likely to jumped by a gang of horny rioters, Grak continues circling the square looking for signs of the mastermind. Unfortunately, he's unable to spot her.
, Alis, Enemies, Mal & Tal; Priyya, Lureene & Grak
Hearing the men's intentions for Lureene, the gallant Knight-Captain shouts out, "Oi, you whelps wouldn't know what ta do wit a lady if'n ye had it spelled out for ya! Gunna have ta git thru me first!"
With a subtle motion, Felmor plants his dagger between the bat-wielding jackass' ribs puncturing his lung. The youth drop to the ground, gasping for air as he starts to bleed out. Felmor then whirls about and lambastes the attack dog troubling Lureene with a solid blow that sets its fur smouldering.
He takes a step back, placing himself protectively in front of Lureene and challenges, "Either git yer pal to a cleric, or git yer punk asses over here. Ah'm gittin' bored!"
, Enemies, Mal & Tal; Priyya, Lureene & Grak, Felmor
Alis runs forward to take up a position between Felmor and Talvyra, drawing her rapier as she moves. Keeping up her inspiring oratory, she calls out Alis, "They aren't up for facing a real man, Sir Traker. Maybe they would do better fighting a poor helpless princess like me..."
She then snaps off a pair of shots at the attack dogs tearing into Priyya and is pleasantly surprised when they both drop from their injuries. It's just all or nothing today, isn't it?
"Actually, I'm not sure they are ready for me either!" With a smile she winks at the thugs and says, "Come on boys, double or nothing!"
, Mal & Tal; Priyya, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Alis
Priyya salutes Alis with her blood-stained scimitar in thanks, calling out. "You are in trouble now, Princess... You poached Talvyra's kills! She was looking for a hot meal. Now, she'll have to fatten up on these rioters and Tar Whelps."
The leader of the northern group looks at his men standing slack-jawed and growls, "Well don't just stand there you daft punks! Grab her and let's get out of here!"
With that, he drops his crossbow, and charges forward drawing a rapier as he runs. At the last second, he grins switching his sights from Alis to Felmor!
The blade strikes home and the rogue laughs, "You ain't the only one with moves, pal!" It is then that Felmor feels the familiar burn of poison in his veins!
For a moment, his vision blurs, but Felmor fights thru it and remains standing. "Dun tell me that's all ye got?" Felmor asks.
Behind him, the injured attack dog, leaps at his flank...
"Son of a–" Felmor manages to withhold a curse from offending the ladies' delicate sensibilities and the last remaining attack dog pulls him to the ground.
The mob leader just laughs and says, "Well ain't that a b1tch!"
The Sylvan Spoiler...
Mal practically growls out a response, the strained words sounding strange in the musical language.
The other four thugs from the northern group rush forward, one hoping to bash Felmor's brains out, the others clambering past the wreckage of the carriage hoping to grab the attitudinal princess. Alis and Talvyra however, have other thoughts about this plan...
The man, who can't be a day past 18, cries out in surprise when Alis actually pierces his side with her rapier, then in shock when the finds a panther ripping him a new one. Panicking, he attempts to grab Alis and get back out of here...
"No! You're all bloody!" Alis exclaims.
With a muffled thunk she punches him in the face with the guard of her rapier. The kid's eyes go googly from the impact, and he falls to the ground knocked out.
Sparing an uncertain glance at one another, the other two thugs lunge at Alis together. "Would you guys give it up already!"
Moving like lightning, Alis skewers the man adjacent to his group leader and then whips her blade across the abdomen of the last assailant giving him a nice gash.
Wincing from the injury, the man finally tries to grab Alis...
...yet fails so badly, she quips, "What was that? I'm over here! Are you blind or just stupid?"
Seeing the tiny girl in her expensive dress just fell two of his men and injure a third, the leader shoots her an incredulous glance and swears, "Invidia's t1ts, would you shut up! And quit killin' my lads! What the hell kinda princess are you, anyway?"
From further east, the leader who was injured earlier curses and moves closer winding his crossbow for another shot. "Outta my way," he hisses taking a shot at the hunting cat tearing up his men.
However, the shot goes astray and instead embeds itself in the debris of the carriage.
"Well don't just stand there, KILL them!" he shouts. "And quit trying to grab that girl! Knock her ass out first!"
The four men on the eastern front, look apprehensively at Talvyra and the growing pile of bodies around the hunting cat and the 'princess'. Two muster the courage to approach hoping to beat the hell out of Priyya while the other two draw crossbows and fire at Talvyra...
However not one of them are able to land a blow. Their leader groans and runs his hand thru his hair in frustration at the debacle before him.
Priyya's Checks
Seeing how badly things are going elsewhere, the southern leader spits and drops his crossbow running forward to help. The others shift around trying to bring their full numbers to bear against the big man.
As the four lunge to grab him, Mal swipes with his right hand tearing out the throat of the man to his right. A spray of blood covers him and the others. With a savage howl, he cries, "More, , I'll take you ALL on!"
Grapple Checks
Together, the three men manage to tackle Malandraenas, although what they think they'll be able to do now is anyone's guess...
Link: Grappling
Link: Grappled Condition
"Don't let him up!" the leader shouts, struggling to keep the big man down, "Crazy bastard'll kill us all!"
; Priyya, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Alis, Enemies
MAP: Dunwaar Mob 02b
The man swings at the Knight-Captain's head, but he winces when his weapon strikes the pavement instead, shocking his hands from the impact.
Let's see if we can even those odds...
Mal feels an odd tickle from the feather in his hair and a surge of adrenaline shoots thru his veins.
With a maniacal laugh, Mal flays the two grunts, knocking one off and putting the other within an inch of being rendered unconscious. His every sense is filled with the fear of the men and seeing their leader before him, he clamps down on the side of the man's neck with such ferocity that in mere moments the two of them are soaked in blood!
"Sweet mother of the gods!" the man cries in terror.
; Priyya Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Alis, Enemies, Mal
MAP: Dunwaar Mob 02c
Not taking kindly to the men shooting at her or swinging for her hunt-sister, Talvyra retaliates...
And sends one of the attackers falling on his rear, nearly unconscious from bloodloss!
, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Alis, Enemies, Mal & Tal
MAP: Round 03
Lureene sees the Knight Captain has quite literally fallen for her, and she blushes as she looks over his lean form. Such a gallant fellow!
She sees a chance to allow Felmor a chance to get to his feet, so without hesitation she steps forward and reaches a slender arm out to touch the thug harassing the Knight Captain.
Felmor notices the dog still on him, and decides to put the canine out of its misery.
When Lureene touches him, the man blinks in surprise unable to do more than gaze upon the vision of perfection before him.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Felmor's flaming blade splits the dog attacking him nearly in two. With a smirk, he spins on his back and plants his dagger firmly in the leg of the gang leader standing in front of Lureene. "Aha!" laughs the cagey sailor, "Caught ya peekin'!"
Priyya touches the wound on her leg once again.
(no AoO) - Lay on Hands:
Taking advantage of the general turn of the battle, Priyya sweeps her blade horizontally, looking to shear though the remaining rioter's knees.
To Hit:
Damage:
Successful or not, she stands up.
Grak continues flying above the group, hoping his mistress is in a better mood, as he continues scanning for hidden foes.
With a single slash of her scimitar, Priyya takes off one of the rioter's legs at the knee and he falls to the ground screaming until he passes out from bloodloss. The remaining gang members practically piss themselves when they see her hop to her feet seemingly without a scratch on her yet covered in the blood of others with a snarling panther by her side, a whirling dervish of death behind her, and a blood-soaked, roaring madman to the south.
The two men holding crossbows from the east look at one another and crying out, ""
With their obvious enemies breaking, Priyya turns her attention to the enemy above and behind. Unfortunately, she may not have a chance to get a clear shot... but others might. She says as quietly as possible but loud enough for her closest teammates to hear.
"I think the chatty one is on the roof behind us. I saw a Tar Dog looking that way."
Lureene glances up towards her oldest friend, then her gaze shifts over to where her eilodon saw the newcomer. She then looks over at Priyya, and points a finger up behind her, "There he is, Priyya."
"Invidia's t1ts, would you shut up! And quit killin' my lads! What the hell kinda princess are you, anyway?"
"That's no way to address an elvish princess you know. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"
She stabs him in the opposite leg from where Felmor injured him and quips, "There, now you won't notice how much your right leg hurts!"
Having had enough of the princess' fey-like banter, the man wails, "Oh to hell with this!"
He attempts to tumble away from the three people assailing him, but he's not quite quick enough to evade Alis...
Lucky for him, running was about the last thing she expected and blade whistles thru the air harmlessly. The man runs into the nearby alleyway attempting to get away. Taking a cue from his leader, the man struggling past the remains of the carriage tries to get away too, but lacks the grace necessary to ensure a safe escape.
"Hey!" She stabs him in the rear as he turns tail, "Don't you know it's poor etiquette to turn your back on a royal like that?!"
When the man falls on his face beneath a tree after only 30 feet, she gives a *hmph!* and says, "That's more like it!"
Further south, the two men grappling Mal, let go out of sheer terror in an attempt to get away.
He eviscerates the grunt who was on him as the leader breaks free and runs back around the corner out of sight.
To the east of Priyya, the two crossbowmen drop their weapons and run towards the crowd in that street nearly knocking their group leader over as they go. Cursing beneath his breath, the injured man calls out, "Gods damn you, wait for me!"