The group of explorers slowly follows the trail of the bandits as it winds through the hilly region. Mawj and Lev led the troupe, carefully threading a path through the bracken and scrub of the region. The bandits are finally found in a small dell, with a natural spring feeding a pool of fresh water there. Lev spots the guard first, standing in the shadow of a taller tree at the top of a rise overlooking the dell and the approach to the camp. The man doesn't se the elf, but he tenses at some percieved noise or movement and lets out a low whistle of warning. The camp below suddenly moves in response. The men and the dwarf there reaching for weapons and dropping what they were doing.
Arianna will move up to square F-17 and fire her bow at the dwarf.
Attack roll:
Damage:
S/A Damage:
Realizing that they'd been seen, Lev rushes the nearest guard, doing his best to take him out quickly. He charges forward, drawing his sword as he moves and dropping his bow just before he reached the guard. As he reaches the guard, he swings his greatsword in a mighty arc, teeth bared ferociously.
Anya draw her swords both as she made a ducked beeline for the bushes close to the springs, kept both of her weapons at the ready all the while hoping the brush was enough to keep the bandits from hitting too well, or ganging up on her too effectively.
Mawj lets an arrow loose at one of the human bandits.
Attack J18
Attack
Damage
Arianna moves reckleesly forwards, losing her concealment but taking the shot at the dwarf while she can. Her arrow hums as it strikes him just under the armpit, sinking deeply into the muscle and sinew and eliciting a scream of pain from him. His eyes lock on the woman even as blood begins to pour from his mouth and into his dark beard.
Lev does what he does best. Unleashing the powerful force that is his sword, he swings hard and fast, barely bypassing the guards defenses but hitting with enough force that he kills the man instantly.
Anya dashes to a position where she can threaten the bandits enough that ranged atacks at her companions is now dangerous as well. Even as she arrives, the telltale flight of Mawj's arrow whistles past her to strike the nearest bandit a glancing blow to his back.
Having survived the intitial assaul, the dwarf draws his bow and returns fire at Arianna before trying to find some cover. The arrow flys straight and would have pierced the young rogue if she hadn't been partially covered by the tree she was standing behind. The girl flinches back from the arrow as it glances off the tree in front of her face.
The other two bandits standing near the fire also draw their bows and move to cover, unleashing inneffectve shots at their attackers. The man closest to the water had left his bow at the fire so drew his short sword to engage Anya. The weapon was skillfully swung and almost caught the young duellist offguard. At the last moment she twisted aside and the weapon went past her.
The bandits all start yelling as they are attacked, trying to call commands but clearly they have been caught unprepared for this.
Alandra, seeing her friend threatened by the swordsman moved down the slope and called on her god to confuse and daze the man. The swordsman shook his head seuddenly, seeimgly confused and dazed by whatever it was the goddess of death had shown him when the spell effected him.
From the back of the group, Elsbeth's lovely voice echoes with the power of her magic and a ball of pure force is unleashed across the gully and into the chest of the heavily wounded dwarf. The bearded man grunts in surprise and pain as the magic blasts his already wounded chest open, leaving a scorched mess of flesh and bone where his heart should have been. He slumps forwards, his lifeless fingers letting the bow he was carrying fall to the ground.
There is a groan of dismay from the other bandits as he dies.
Primary Attack
Offhand Attack
Anya turned quickly as she had learned, avoiding the first blow that would otherwise have put a nasty, quick end to the battle. Her counterblow, executed from the very same moment only managed to ruffle the ruffian's hair, but the nasty low blow from her offhand caught the bandit off his guard. The blade snuck below the armored layers of hide, drew blood - but Anya was forced to withdraw her blade before it could penetrate deeply enough to be a fatal blow.
Damage
Sword dripping with gore, Lev turned away from the bandit he'd just killed and glanced down the slope. Anya appeared to be doing well, and with the death of the dwarf the bandits were dispirited.
Smiling grimly, he rushed down the slope to the nearest bandit, sword overhead and crashing down like an avalanche on the figure.
Anya's secondary blade easily drew blood on the dazed man, eliciting a gasp from him even as he deserately tried to shake the fugue from his mind.
Further behind this combat, Lev let out a terrifying warcry and charged the man closest to the dead dwarf. The big sword swung mercilessly in and decapitated the hapless bandit, sending the head in an arcing loop into the spring behind him.
The sound of bowstrings being released is quickly followed by two meaty thwaks as both Mawj and Arianna unlesh their shots at the remaining bandits. Ariannas shot is particularly fine, striking her target in the left eye, even as he draws a bead on her. The arrows impact drives deep into his brain and he drops dead instantly.
Mawj's shot is less decisive, but combined with the wound Anya had already dealt, it was sufficient to finish off her target.
Just like that, the combat had ended and the bandit camp was silent.
With the bandit camp cleared, the path to the lightning blasted tree is cleared. Lev's previous map discovery celary indicates this to be a location of a hidden treasure, and was most likely what the bandits were looking for. This section of hills is riddled with caves boulder clusters, and it is quite likely the men cold have searched for a long time before locating the cache.
When the exploration team finally arrive at the tree, they quickly discver the cache, hidden beneathe the roots in a shallow pit covered with rocks. It looks to be that the young lad that had been eaten by the spider had done in a mage of some description and stored his gear here for some reason.
Anya examined their find, obviously disinterested in the more scholarly items - but very much so in the ring. She tried to recall what Oleg had mentioned several days ago, and tried to match that description against what they had just discovered. Maybe she could take a burden off the man's shoulders now.
Lev wipes the blade of his greatsword clean on a bandit's cloak and returns it to his baldric, turning to look over the scene with satisfaction.
"It seems the decision to deal with these men at a later time was the right one. Well done, all."
He helped in the search for the cache and when it was located, nodded to Elsbeth.
"I hope some of this will be useful to you."
He looked to Mawj. "That bow is of unusually skillful craftmanship. Would that be something you'd be interested in? Or perhaps you, Arianna?"
"All in all, a satisfactory day's work."
Alandra moves among the fallen bandits, saying a quiet prayer over the dead ones and stabilizing the dying ones.
After that Alandra looks at the dagger. "I don't fight much, but this is better than mine and I will take it if nobody needs it more."
"They will be very useful,thanks Lev"
Having fully explored the hill region and the come to the boundary of their charter, the party sets camp for the evening in order to determine their next course of travel. In the hills, the sounds of a hunting wolf pack howls their mournful cries to the night sky. Above them, the sound of thunder rumbles through the sky as the storm that has been building for the last few days comes rolling across the hills from the west. Great flashes of lightning surge through the cloud bank, providing a spectacular vista for the party as they prepare their camp for the evening. The night promises to be wet and windy out in the wilds.
Lev and Mawj (Knowledge Nature DC15)
Alandra looks downcast as she eyes the weather. "I don't like those clouds."
Alandra looks downcast as she eyes the weather. "I don't like those clouds."
Between the peals of thunder, Lev listens more intently to the cry of the wolves.
"It is not the storm that should concern us. A wolf pack is approaching, and a large one at that. To arms!"
He reaches for his bow and readies an arrow.
"I was worried about going around with my clothes soaked wet, but so suddenly that doesn't bother me any longer"
Taking the wand and some scrolls out of her bags"Seems like these will be useful very soon"
The sound of the wolves grows progressivley closer and an edge of nervousness grows in the horses as their howling gets closer. However, the storm beats them to the campsight, finally breaking in a rush of strong wind and icy rain as the big clouds unleash their full fury across the hill region.
Visibility drops to mere feet and the fire is completely drenched withing moments. Everyone flees to the feeble protection of their tents, taking what small shelter they can from the severity of the wind. Any thoughts of staying with the animals is put paid to when the hail starts, tearing into their campsight with devastating efficiency. Elsbeth and Anya's tents are completely destroyed in the onslaught, and both women find themselves huddled in wet clothing under the feeble shelter of a fallen tree while the storm blows its fury about them.
By the time it passes, several hours have passed and no one has slept. Surprsingly, the horses have kept their tether, preferring to remain in the lee of the rocky outcrop where Lev and Bergan placed them rather than bolt into the night. A roaring noise follows the sound of the receding thunder after the storm passes, and they quickly discover it to be the sound of the water rushing through the gullies around them. The deluge had caused flash floods and the decision to camp on the higher ground suddenly seemed a wise one indeed. By the time morning comes, everyone is tired from the restless and very wet sleep they recieved.
It is at least midday the next day before the two scouts determine it is safe enough to travel again, and their trip is made more perilous by the washed out gullies and slippery banks. Moving north, they manage to get some exploration done before the need to camp again. As the light fades from sky and teh deep purple of the night rises from the horizon, the sound of howling wolves again echoes across the plain.
Elsbeth has only 5 words to tell after this night "Don't Look At Me Now"
Anya didn't take well to the sleepless night. Her hair was a mess, and her mood was worse. She almost murdered anyone with her eyes who so much as glanced at her, and didn't speak a single word unless prompted
The scouts managed to find a fairly secure campsite amongst the relatively flat landscape. The ruins of some ancient structure, uilt for creatures much larger than any human, lay fallen and broken amongst a small stand of trees and shrubs. The old ruins would at least provide shelter if more foul weather rolled in and aid in defense if any attack were to come that evening, especially with so many adversely affected.
Surprisingly, it was Elsbeth who spots the wolf pack first in the failing light. She screamed a little and quickly backed way pointing out the shadowy forms of the large hounds as they loped towards the camp. They had split into two smaller packs, tongues lolling as they moved in unison towards whatever scent they had decided was worth tracking for food.
Knowledge Nature DC12
Fortitude save:
Perception check:
Lev moves closer to his sister to offer what protection he could, drawing his bow as he did so. He nocked an arrow in place, sighted down the shaft and released in one smooth motion.
"Smart pack," he remarks, dryly.
Lev's shot flies true, injuring teh wolkf whihc yelps in response at the arrows bite. Mawj steps to teh side of the fallen pillar and puts a second arrow into the animal, almost bringing it down. The yelp of pain from the beast is loud and long and it breaks from the fight, tearing into the shadowy light with its tail betwen its legs and blood streaming from the two wounds.
Anya moves forwards, positioning herself as best possibleto defend the horses but still get cover. Her blades hang ready for the moment one of the wolves closes with her. She doesn't have long to wait, with three of the closest ones going for the horse nearest the edge of the campsite. The fourth and most distant wolf closes on the young woman, snarling as it does so and slashing with its teeth. Anyas blade bites into its side, even as the animals teeth sink into her flesh as well. Both combatants flicnh and separate at the pain of the reciprocal attacks.
The remaining two wolves at the southern end of the the camp rush into the firelight, changing targets from the horses to the closest manthing threatening their hunt. Both of the snarling creatures snap at Lev, and one of them gets a firm bit on the hunter, but fails to trip him as is the usual tactic of these things.
A scream of pain and terror erupts from the horse at the far end of the picket as teh three wolves engaging it tear into its flesh. All three animals sink their sharp teeth into the creatures soft flesh of the loins and underbelly, spilling its guts all over the ground and bringing the animal down very quickly. The packs snarls intensify as they smell the blood and the remaining horses go into a complete panic, pulling sharply at their tethers as they respond to a primal instinct of fear at the sounds and smell of the attack.
Arianna fire her bow at one of the wolves near Anya (E-14).
Attack roll:
Damage:
Watching her arrow sink deep in to he feasting wolves side Arianna bellows at the wounded animal. How'd you like that? There's plenty more, come get some!"
Elsbeth is too much exposed, and used up most of her powers without having a chance to replenish them. She is very upset.
Alandra moves up to a position where she can provide combat healing as needed . She hoots a shard of ice from her holy symbol at one of the wolves on Lev.
Arianna's shot sinks into the hide of the biggest wolf in the pack. Blood streams into its dark fur and its head snaps instinctively at the arrow causing it so much pain. The creature turns and snarls, aggressivly protecting the fresh kill its pack brought down.
Elsbeth fires off a small splash of acid at one of the wolves but just misses it in her haste to get safely into cover. The Chelish noblewoman breathes a little easier as the bulk of the fallen collum now protects her.
Alandra moves fowards and shoots the cold of the grave itself at the nearest wolf attacking Lev. The creatures yelp is somewhat satisfying to the young woman, letting her know her attack was successful, though only just.
Bergan meanwhile moves towards the horses to try and calm them. His hands out wide he makes what he hopes is a calming noise, but the horse he approaches is in a pure panic now. Eyes rolling and the foaming sweat of fear pouring of its flanks, the big animal kicks out instinctively and connects solidly with Bergans head. The noise is sickening and the young man drops like a stone to the ground, twitching slightly.
Lev glances around, taking in the scene. "Defend those horses, unless you want to walk back to Oleg's!" he shouts. Then he drops his bow and draws his greatsword, immediately bringing it down with all his might on the wolf before him.
Lev drops his bow and retrieves the greatsword from his back. The big weapon swings high and drops with a sickening crunch into the wolfs head, killing it instantly. The big hunter smiles at the success, but is still faced with one of the beasts snarling in feral hunger and instinctive defense of the packs kill.
Mawj takes aim at the beast threatening Lev, but the shot goes wide as she has to pull across at the last minute to avoid hitting Lev in the whirling combat.
Anya, swinging both weapons to her best ability slowly gives ground to the ferocious animals now facing her. Not used to attacking such creatures, both her weapons miss, but her defense never drops as both wolves bow focusing on her fail to get through her steps and parries.
Lev's wolf snaps fast, barely missing the hunters leg and spraying grat ropes of saliva all over the big man. He turns slightly as another horse screams in terror and pain, as the remaining two wolves tear into its haunches and lower legs, but failing to kill it. Blood pours freely from its wounds though and the animal is panicked beyond reconciliation.
Arianna fires her bow at the wolf she wounded before.
Cursing as the arrow flies wide, Arianna drops her bow and rushes to stand next to Anya to prevent the pack from reaching the other horses.
Elsbeth exits slightly from the pillar and again tries to shoot acid on Lev's target:
Alandra runs over to Bergan and checks him. If he is still alive she stabilizes him.
Arianna fires wildly before stepping in to support Anya. The two women now face 4 enraged wolves, and Anya didn't have a weapon in hand...yet.
Elsbeth kept up her magical assault on the wolves, releasing a dart of acid into the wolf attacking Lev. The beast wimpered in pain as the acid interacts with its earlier wounds and it begins to attack less aggressilvely.
Alandra meanwhile moves over to the prone Bergan. Checking his pulse, she finds it weak and fluttery so she quickly calls upon the magic of her goddess to stabilise the man before he slips forever into Pharasma's realm.
Things get complicated then, as two of the horses pull free of their tethers in the pure panic of the moment. Both animals rear back and flail their hooves, but Alandra's crouching stance near Bergan saves her from being kicked. She looks up into the madly rolling eyes of the animal and realises it's about to break and run though, and she and bergan are right in their paths.
After killing the first of the wolves facing him, Lev risked a quick glance around to take in the situation, which was growing increasingly dire as the horses began to break free from their tethering. He was tempted to break away from the fight to try and restrain the horses but he knew it would only invite the wolves to rush the horses as he tried to control them.
Sighing regretfully, he turned his attention back to the wolf growling at him. "I take no pleasure in this," he said grimly and brought his sword around in a sweeping arc of lethal steel.
Lev then turns on his heel and moves toward Anya, growling fiercely in an attempt to distract the wolves away from her.
Lev's sword finishes his last opponent clealy, though he feels some remorse in doing so. He quickly turns and rushes to his sisters aid, just in time to see her kill one of the wolves attacking her nad severly injure teh other.
The big hunter flinches suddenly as an arrow soars past his ear, skipping off the dark grey stone of the ruins in front of the ranger. He can hear the elf swearing loudly in her own language as another shot goes wasted.
Just as Lev reaches his sister, he watches in horror as the last wolf facing her tears into her exposed flank, dragging her to the ground and savagin her terribly. It looks up at the hunter, his sisters blood staining its maw dark red while its eyes reflect the firelight eerily. . He has little time to feel shock though as he watches Arianna similarly attacked and tripped by the packs largest wolf. It snarls menacingly at the girl as she lies prone on the ground, though its companion fails to make the most of her now prone form as its snaps innffectively and the desperately scrambling young woman.