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You have been riding for a week, now. The green mountains rise high and verdant on your right hand, to the north, although they have recently grown obscured by the small forrest you're passing through. The road winds its way through the trees, clearly well tended and often traveled, although you have met few other people on your journey.
It is just past noon, and although the sun bears down with great heat, the verdant greens of the crowns above make for a cool, pleasant ride.
Yangsheda, Sakiko
Among the trees, you spot hairy men in dark armor, with shields, spears and bows; You're ambushed!
Sakiko
You also note that something has been dug into the road, just ahead of you. The two warriors at either side are each holding an end of rope.
Ambush! Yangsheda cries out to his fellow riders as he reins up hard. He unslings and fires his bow at the figure north of him, while simultaneously trying to place the attacker's origin.
;
;
Yangsheda puts an arrow into one of the hobgoblin's shoulder.
The raiders let fly a volley from their bows, while two of them, under the cover of their shields, pull on their rope, causing a fence of wooden spikes to unearth from the ground. Your way forward is blocked.
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Sakiko opens her mouth to yell out a warning, but fate finds in unnecessary as arrows already start to fly. Instead she calls out a spell, calling upon the spirits of nature to restrain and hinder their foes.
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, DF
EFFECT
Range long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Area plants in a 40-ft.-radius spread
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw Reflex partial; see text; Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
This spell causes tall grass, weeds, and other plants to wrap around creatures in the area of effect or those that enter the area. Creatures that fail their save gain the entangled condition. Creatures that make their save can move as normal, but those that remain in the area must save again at the end of your turn. Creatures that move into the area must save immediately. Those that fail must end their movement and gain the entangled condition. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, making a Strength or Escape Artist check. The DC for this check is equal to the DC of the spell. The entire area of effect is considered difficult terrain while the effect lasts.
If the plants in the area are covered in thorns, those in the area take 1 point of damage each time they fail a save against the entangle or fail a check made to break free. Other effects, depending on the local plants, might be possible at GM discretion.
Then, she attempts to get off her pony but doesn't manage to slip off quick enough.
Branches reach down from the trees, and long lashes of grass arise to grab onto the raiders. The one on the very edge manages to keep out, but two of them are caught up in it.
The air was warm and pleasant, blowing gently from the North as Kiyoshi rode alongside his fellow swordsmen. A pleasant grin upon his face as he spoke to Scholar Yangsheda and Takeshi Abe.
"...so the girl trips over, cups of sake spilling everywhere! Now, I wasn't too mad but the others there...well.." -The story is interrupted when Kiyoshi notices Yangsheda's sudden far off stare and the shout of an ambush escapes the man's lips.
Eyes widening, Kiyoshi pulls back the reins of his horse and scans the battlefield. Arrows attack from all sides, some missing, some hitting, when he catches sight of the hobgoblin to the right of him and along the Northern side of the road
"I've got this one!" He shouts, trying to quickly slide from the saddle of his horse.
Kiyoshi quickly slips from his saddle, the metal of his armor jingling loudly, as he lands and takes off quickly. Peacebringer is drawn from its long scabbard and a quick whistle is made to tell his horse to flee. With great haste, his feet crash through the forest as he raises his blade high to bring it crashing down onto the hobgoblin.
"Should've known better!" Kiyoshi shouts, bringing the massive blade down in long, destructive swing.
Abe raises an eyebrow at the halfling as the forest comes alive to impede the mountain men.
He climbs down from his mount, and advances on the villains while drawing his blade with a flourish.
Nidashi rides along in relative silence dwelling upon the loss of his master when pandemonium breaks out around him. Fool, he admonishes himself as he jumps off his horse and draws his dead master's Katana.
Through sheer luck, Kyuzo manages to draw Kikko and deflect the first bolt headed his way. The second, he ducks. He feels warmth on his cheek. He didn't duck fast enough.
With a surprisingly acrobatic spin, he hops off his mount and strides towards the men on his right. He stands between them, to give them confidence and stikes at hairy bandit to the south with blinding speed.
After the strike he lifts his blade so he can see the other behind him in its reflection.
Yangsheda grunts in pain as one of the mountain men's arrows buries itself deep in his thigh. Hemmed in by the horses, he stays in the saddle and returns fire over his comrade's heads at the ambushes.
;
HP 12/18
Maneuvers readied: scything strike, shoulder rush, dizzying venom prana
Extracts prepared: Adhesive spittle, cure light wounds
Kioshi cuts down one man, Takeshi puts another arrow in another, and he goes down.
Kyūzo lands a cut across a warrior's chest, and although heavily wounded, the mountain man still has the wherewithal to fall back and notch amd let fly another arrow, before going down.
,
Another warrior drops his bow, and closes in with Kyūzo, drawing spear and shield.
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The two stuck in the binding grass and branches struggle wildly to get free.
Meanwhile, Nodashi is attacked.
,
Out of the forest, from the north, their commander comes running, shouting at the top of her voice. He's decked out in resplendent red laquored armor, with a mask worked in the likeness of a dragon. In his right hand, he's holding a katana.
You hear a number of people running up the footpath from the south.
Realizing that there is a good chance that she would be lost underfoot if she dismounted and joined the melee Sakiko instead directed her trusty steed towards the warrior in red. With one hand on the handle of her sword, she brought her masters lesions back into her mind.
Only when she approached the one in red did she draw her blade with a brief war cry and then both steed and lunged towards their mark. With the extra height from being mounted she afforded herself to aim her green sword towards the neck of her foe.
"Spirits curse you!"
The warrior in red was clearly wasn't expecting much from neither her or her pony and only just managed to twist away in time to avoid a new necklace in red.
Amon, up until this point, had no idea they were ambushed. Drinking as usual, the man realized that something was amiss when the world turned sideways and he hit the ground. Groaning, he pulls himself to his feet and picks up his jug. Good. Still some in- He thought, when the hopes of drinking the rest of the sake was dashed as an arrow collides with the clay jug, shattering it and spilling his rice wine all over the forest floor.
He holds up the bit of the jug he has, and looks over at the bandit who had shot at him. "You." he says, dropping the broken pottery and slowly pulling Oni's Fang from it's scabbard. "I'ma gon' kill you first."
Alas, Amon's threat falls on dead ears; Kiyoshi has already driven his blade deep into the raider's chest, leather plates and all.
Sakiko lands a cut perfectly aligned with the unprotected gap at the commander's shoulder. It is a light cut, but bleeding profousely. Still, the warrior is quick enough to sidestep the pony's kick.
The mountain-folk fell dead, the long and red gash from Peacebringer's edge spilling the forest floor with crimson. The massive blade whips through the air, cleaning the blood from it with ease.
Kiyoshi's ears perk up, the sound of more combatants it seemed approaching from the south. The battle to the North was going well enough and he was certain that with all of his comrades aware of the fight now, the battle would sway in their favor.
"We must secure this flank." Kiyoshi thought to himself as he manuevered around one of the trees, trying to hide himself and prepare to ambush the attackers that came.
Nidashi crouches low his Katana held low before him. His blade hums through the air as he awkwardly slashes at his opponents legs. He silently curse as he can imagine his masters disapproval for such a pathetic strike.
Yangsheda surveyed the chaos around him. Takeshi and brave little Sakiko seemed to have the bandit leader pinned down. Kyuzo and Kiyoshi had the other side of the field well in hand. He heard Amon bellowing from somewhere nearby, which at least meant the big man was still alive.
Yangsheda swivels around in his saddle and levels his bow at the south path, ready to fire on the first bandit that enters his sights...
Abe struggled through the underbrush as Sakiko rode past him to engage the dragon-faced warrior.
Unusually well armed for a hillman. And the crimson dragon -- an ill omen.
As he closed in to assist, his eyes widened as he saw the man skillfully dodge the pony's attack. From bad to worse. I must circle around him some to cause him to divide his attention.
Abe flitted swiftly from tree to tree, trying to make his around the commander to assist Sakiko.
Thinking to see a momentary advantage as the man craned his neck around to watch, Abe lunged in recklessly with his blade, only to be parried at the last moment.
This man is skilled...
The red-clad warrior slashes his blade at Takeshi as he rolls past.
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Kyūzo brings his green-etched blade aroudn in a cut, which the warrior effortlessly catches on his wooden shield. Kyūzo follows up by slamming his horns into the head of the unfortunate fellow.
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The red-clad warrior roars, and does his level best to drive his blade through Sakiko's bowels.
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One warrior closes with Takeshi, while another retaliates against Kyūzo.
,
,
Meanwhile the two stuck in the living plants struggle fervently to get free.
One accomplishes just that, and runs south to gang up on Kyūzo.
Just now, the reinforcements enter the picture - yet more warriors, presumably having been stationed nearby.
Amon scowls at the dead bandit, but finds just the thing he needs within sight... More bandits!
He lumbers through the trees, and the first of the five hobgoblins is treated to the sight of a very angry drunk wielding a literal demon's fang chopping down at him.
Amon bellows. Kiyoshi is, yet again, sprayed with blood.
With the advantage of size mostly negated by her being on a pony Sakiko had plenty of time to bring her sword up in a forceful block, putting her trusty steed's strength behind her blade instead of her own.
After crossing blades with the warrior in red she directs her pony to rear up and try and kick him again - it was unlikely to inflict more serious damage it seemed - but it might leave her some time to try something new!
Releasing her left hand from the grip of the sword and called out for the spirits to aid her as she raised it towards the sky. A small swirling cloud quickly formed around it in response.
Taking advantage in the warrior's split attention she leaned in once her pony stood down again and touched the red armour, transferring some of the graven chill to him.
"The spirits freeze you?!"
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
EFFECT
Range touch
Targets creature touched
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance yes
DESCRIPTION
Your melee touch attack deals 1d6 points of nonlethal cold damage + 1 point per level, and the target is fatigued. The fatigued condition ends when the target recovers from the nonlethal damage. This spell cannot make a creature exhausted even if it is already fatigued. You can use this melee touch attack up to one time per level.
Amon cleaves one man clean in twain, and the group backs away from him nervously.
Ice gathers on part of the commander's breastplate, and he staggers from the pain.
Round 3
As Kyuzo sways away from attacks, he swiftly sheathes his blade. As the bandits close in, thinking him vulnerable, he draws and slices with terrifying speed.
Kyūzo deals the opporunist a deadly wound to his throat, and he collapses in the grass and fallen leaves with a pitiful gurgle.
Kiyoshi moved as quietly as he could through the trees, manuevering his way up against the trunk of another. The hillmen had arrived and he readied his blade to strike. The serene movements were interrupted as Amon burst through the undergrowth and brought his fang upon their foe. The man was split apart, his fellows seemingly shaken, and there was a spray of blood across Kiyoshi armor and clothing. He looked down at it with a quiet sigh, shaking his head as he moved in quickly to close the distance.-
"Of course, he'd have to be next to me again." The words slipped out of Kiyoshi's lips nonchalantly as he closed in on the hobgoblin. The warrior lifted his blade in defense, as the tremendous sword flashed through the air with deadly intent.
Nidashi steps up to the villian in front of him trying to time his strike with Takeshi's blow. He lashes he out quickly at his oppent and smiles inwardly as he knows his blow strikes true.
Abe diverts his attention to one of the hillmen long enough to dodge a clumsy spear thrust. His contemptuous smirk is rendered somewhat less effective by the crimson stain slowly spreading through the broken sleeve of his nerigawa...
And then he is back on the man in red, trying to maintain pressure on him with a quick, if more cautious, series of thrusts from the man's bad side.
Yangsheda grabs a small clay jar from his belt and quaffs it with a grimace. He stands in his stirrups and spews the foul concoction across the armor of the bandit leader. As it hardens into a sticky glue, the portly monk yells out to the leader in the goblin tongue loud enough for all to hear,You are surrounded and half your men lie dead, red clad one. Lay down your blade and save the lives of the rest. An honourable defeat is preferable to an ignominious death.
Yangsheda's arrow is caught on a shield.
The red-clad meets Yangsheda's spittle and diplomacy with a clamour of "Death!", in the common tongue, even, as he tuns aside Takeshi's attack.
This resolve seems to bolster him - his movements are surer, and he even sheds his prior fatigue. Still, the patch of glue on his armor does inhibit his range of movement, and his footwork is somewhat ungainly.
Meanwhile, Nodashi strikes down yet another mountain-man. Invigorated by the sight of his leader, the warrior does not go down despite being dreadfully wounded.
Kiyoshi emerges from the bushes to swing at a startled warrior, but he inexpertly catches your blow on his shield.
Yangsheda's insult to his honor must be answered, and so he strides forward, and slashes upwards at the man sitting higher on his horse.
,
There is one warrior still stuck in Sakiko's greenery, continuing to struggle against the vines.
Further south, the warriors seem to have regained some courage. They shout to each other in their mangled tongue, and with a unified shout, they all rush forward to attack Amon and his terrible blade.
,
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One of them make a beeline for Kyūzo, joining his hard-pressed ally.
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The wounded one does his level best to cut down Yangsheda, seeing an easier target in the grey-haired scholar than in the fully armored Nodashi.
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Sakiko and her pony continues to dance the warrior in red, but the precision of their assault falters. The steed, perhaps sensing how outmatched he was, simply sweeps his hooves towards the bandit. The halfling slashes trough the air with her glowing hand; a hit would only be trough the favour of the spirits.
HP 25/27, Rage 8/9
The first warrior's spear seems to find its way home, but what should have been a fatal stab glances along Amon's cheek, barely drawing a line of blood. Amon bellows in laughter, becoming a terrifying figure in battle. Amon continues his attack, tearing into the bandit that attacked him with drunken, angry zeal.
More blood sprays the air as Amon continues to keep this flank of the battlefield well in hand.
Sakiko has been graced both by the spirits and Yangsheda's gooey spittle, and slaps the warrior lightly on the chest with an open hand, causing him to stagger backwards several steps.
Amon continues to cause much mayhem.
It saddened Kiyoshi to hear that defiant shout from the bandit leader, consigning his men to the continued slaughter. It was a valiant attempt at peace though, he gave that to the scholar.
The hillmen ignored his strikes, bringing a glower to his face as he shook his head. As the hobgoblin next to him went to strike with his spear, the uchigatana would sing through the air and would attempt to leave the weapon entirely destroyed.
+ 1 = 17
Kiyoshi would look towards Amon for a moment, giving him a light raise of his eyebrows before whispering quickly. "Show them the error of their ways, Amon." He would break away from the wave, moving back towards the others and where the bandit leader still continued to fight fiercely.
Abe catches a glimpse of the Devilbreaker's rampage through a gap in the forest, and considers his movements for a moment. Unconventional. But not devoid of structure. I will have to study this one in more detail...
Ducking a blow, he notes the enemy commander's preoccupation with Yangsheda and decides to take advantage of it, slipping away from the mountain-man to his north. Matsukaze hums in his hand as he aims a flurry of strikes toward the man's vitals.
Yangsheda sighs, disappointed but not surprised at the bandit leader's defiance, but then the moment of introspection comes to an abrupt end in the face of sword and spear.
He kicks his mount hard in the side with his good leg and the beast cants to the left narrowly avoiding the spear thrust. Yanghseda twists to the right and barely manages to get Heaven's Eye out of its sheath in time to parry the leader's vicious sword chop.
With only one good leg, its all Yangsheda can do to stay in the saddle and continue to fend off his attackers.
HP 12/18
AC 18 (includes +2 fighting defensively)
Maneuvers readied: scything strike, shoulder rush, dizzying venom prana
Extracts prepared: cure light wounds
Nidashi charges toward the commander and try's to strike him while he is engaged with his companions.
I despise doing this," Kyuzo thinks as he lowers his head. With his sword still at the ready, he swiftly moves the blade from a high guard to low, horizontal strike. Once it is out of the way, he lunges forward, head first, into his opponent. He then withdraws quickly and goes back on the defensive.
Kyoshi deftly lobs the head off of a spear, leaving the man clutching a useless piece of wood.
He and his sole remaining partner cower under their shields, sending nervous glances behind them, looking for support. They are sure to get it; from the south approaches a pair of warriors, flanking two spearmen. But these are no ordinary warriors; their flesh is baked from red clay, and the ground shakes under their weight as they walk steadily closer.
Their faces are stern and immovable, their eyes unseeing. They lower their stone longspears towards Amon.
Takeshi deftly slides Masamune through a gap in the armor at the commander's throat - it's only a shallow cut, but nevertheless it bleeds profousely, and the much besieged commander roars in anger. Meanwhile, the wounded warrior staggers towards Takeshi, and desperately swings at the man.
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Kyūzo wounds one black-clad warrior with his sword, although his horns do not find purchase. The warrior stabs at him before he collapses in the dirt of the road, bleeding heavily. The hale warrior beside him follows suit.
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The entangled warrior is finally free from his bonds, and rushes to relieve his leader, who is starting to falter under continued attack. The red-clad warrior takes this opportunity to reposition himself, and with a shout of defiance, tries to create an opening for the new arrival with a broad sweep of his slender katana, crossing blades with Nodashi.
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Rather then following the red warrior as he slips away Sakiko repositions to deal with the new arrival. That one looked significantly less experienced so hopefully her swordsmanship would have more effect on him!
And it seems as if it did!
Sakiko runs her sword through the man's chest, killing him.
Amon swings his blade, cutting down yet another foe.
Power Attack, Raging:
Damage:
Nidashi tried to find his center and control his breathing while he stepped to the side to flank his opponent. His sword flashed in front of him as he brought it across his body toward his opponent.
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Kiyoshi moved to assist his friends but the tide of battle seemed to be changing once more. The enemies to his North were being cut down, his allies making progress and slaying the vicious hillmen that refused to surrender. With these large, strange constructs though, Kiyoshi's attention was pulled once more to the South.
He would maneuver around the large, boisterous man known as Amon, his own blade slashing out to try and cut down the hobgoblin.
Abe sidesteps the hillman's attack, then dips his head in thanks as Sakiko runs the attacker through, freeing him to focus once more on the warrior in red. He sees his moment as the warrior is pressed by Nidashi's powerful attacks, and attempts to slip Matsukaze through his defenses once again.