A Kingdom in the making (Inactive)

Game Master Wrath

threw some discussion into the ooc thread regarding how we want to run combats. Feel free to post your ideas in there. Cheers

You placed me back on the wagon, while I stated jumping down. It doesn't matter, but it might have helped the cramped quarters somewhat ;)

Despite the increasing disorder with agitated horses, screaming bandits and drawn blades, Anya remained relatively calm. She drew her twin blades and moved to engage the flank of the man who had just wounded their elven companion. She didn't like the close quarters imposed on her by the skittish beasts, but her wide arcing sweep and hidden upward stab with the shortsword had been drilled enough to work without too much hindrance.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Attack Aldori fencing sword
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 Attack shortsword
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Damage 1 (if applicable)
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Damage 2 (if applicable)

Lev's arrow whistles through the air and grazes the boy as he charges the elven ranger. The lad barely seems to notice it in his shock fueled rage at Mawj. He cannot ignore the sharp sting of Anya's first sword thrust though, and gasps as the second blade slips easily between his ribs and pierces his lung and heart. Blood bubbles from his mouth as he sinks off the blade and crumples lifelessly to the ground.

Map showing end of round 1

Ok, go ahead and post your round two actions. I will do the round summary and enemy actions once everyone has posted

Some things to note, the archer on teh tower has heavy cover at the moment and a very clear line of site to most of you, unless you are pressed directly against the wagon on the opposite side to him.

The archer in the hallway has heavy cover from everyone except Lev since his elevated position removes the table from play, but not the partial concealment from doorway

Those standing near a horse need to make an accrobatics check as well as any other actions too please. The horses have been spooked and are stomping all over the place. Accrobatics checks will avoid either a knockdown check or kick attack determined randomly

The girl with the bread is currently lying prostrate on the ground cowering in fear and is therefore not blocking line of sight nor movement

initiative round 21d20 ⇒ 18

Elsbeth runs to the corner of the barracks on her left,shoulders against the wall and behind the wagon nearby to cover from the archer behind the catapult, but being able to see the men engaging Arianna.
She readies a range attack spell to aid the girl.

Move action - 6mtr(20 ft)
Standard action - spell casting - Acid splash on the man to the left of Arianna
Ranged touch attack1d20 ⇒ 6
Spell damage (acid ,if applicable)1d3 ⇒ 2

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Arianna will keep her earlier posted actions. If possible she will take a 5' step between the two bandits and stab at each one seperately, unless they step up to engage her first.

Looking at the map i thought i wasn't near any horses, but in case i'm not automatically immune

Acrobatics1d20 ⇒ 1

Lev's eyes sweep over the battlefield, taking in positions and targets. Then he draws another arrow, aiming it for the man standing behind the defenseless woman.

"I'm going after the sniper next." He says calmly as he fires.

Attack on man behind girl: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage if hit: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Lev then crosses to the far side of the wagon and hops down behind Elsbeth, making his way to the ladder.

With 30 feet of movement he should end just beside the ladder leading up to the level the sniper is on.

Acrobatics 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Mawj will move 5 feet north, 20 feet east, and 5 feet south. This should place her one square into the southeast building with a line of sight to the bandit in the opposite building to the north.

Attacking bandit directly north near terrified girl
Attack w/ Deadly Aim and Favored Enemy 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Damage w/ Deadly Aim, Broad Arrow, Whetstone, and Favored Enemy 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Alandra screeches and tries to crawl under the wagon in front of her and to the left.

If that is possible, if not

She tries to climb over the wagon.

Acrobatics (if necessary): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

If she made it to within 25 ft. of one of the the bandits near Arianna:

She then raises he holy symbol and screams "Down!!!" at the bandit.

Casting command (DC 15) to drop to the ground.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 Acrobatics

Anya disentangled herself from the panicking horses as best she could, and approached the man close to the terrified girl. Yet as Mawj's arrow flew, and she saw take another solid hit after her brother's, she changed course just in time before jumping on one of the tables, and stepped towards Ariana, tried to maneuver herself to catch one of them pincered between the two woman.

"Hey!" she called out, to distract from the viscious slice towards the man's hip, followed soon by a stab towards the kidney... for her frist real bloodshed, the "work" was going remarkably easy and simple - just like training, merely more bloody.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Attack ADS
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 Attack SS
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Dmg ADS
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Dmg SS

As the bloody combat continued, Mawj sprang clear of the dead body at her feet and moved with grace around the barracks. Finding the door closed, she turned on the spot, raising the bow and heavy arrow in one swift motion before releasing. She had timed it perfectly, waiting for the man to turn in her direction and open his mouth. Humans were so predictable. The arrow arced through the opening in his mouth and pushed through the back of his head, pinning him to the wall behind with a sickening thud. Mawj smiled.

Lev, seeing his original target drop spun and released at the archer on the tower. The shot barely passed through the timbered cover the man was standing behind, but Lev was rewarded with a cry of pain from the man. He quickly leapt from the wagon and rushed towards the ladder leading to the wall, but his enthusiasm was cut short when his intended victim suddenly appeared above the parapet and shot him through chest. The arrow sunk deeply through muscle and the ranger could feel the moment it struck his rib and chipped the bone there. Pain tore through his side and for a moment all he could see was black (Critical hit on Lev, 11 damage)

The two men closest to Arianna continued the struggle, not realizing their leader had been killed by the elven harridan who had first shot their companion. One of the stepped further from the combat and tried to shoot the young thief, but the arrow lodged into the flank of one of the horses instead. The animal screamed in pain, rearing on its hind legs and flailing about with its hooves. Arianna and the other bandit desperately moved out of its road, but the move left Arianna exposed for a moment and her opponent slipped his short sword past her defenses, slicing the inside of her arm in a clever roll over attack (nearly a crit, unconfirmed. 3 damge on Arianna)

Things turned badly for the armed men from that point. Anya closed quickly with Ariannas opponent and between the two of them they sunk three blades of steel to the hilt in his torso. He didn’t even make a sound as they slid the red steel from his body and he crumpled lifelelssly to the ground.

Alandra rolled under the wagon in front of her, desperately seeking cover from the dangerous archer on the high ground. Once there she let her anger and the power of Pharasma channel into one powerful word.. “Down”. The archer who had shot the horse promptly fell to the ground, a look of absolute surprise covering his face.

Elsbeth shot forth an acid dart at the man, but it flew over his head as he dropped from Alandra’s command.

A shout comes from atop the tower, even as wooden bow and quiver of arrows tumbles from over the side. “I YIELD! I YIELD! DON”T KILL ME!”

In the matter of mere seconds, the courtyard is silent except for the last gasped breaths of the boy Mawj had first shot and the terrified sobs of the girl lying on the ground in front of the main building.

Combat over. Two rounds, now that was nice work. Some of you took damage in all of that, Lev in particular was close to a really nasty shot. I rolled two 20’s on the hit, then an 8, 2, and 1 for damage. Quite lucky in the end. I’ll post up xp and other info tomorrow morning in the OOC thread. Meanwhile you have two prisoners and at least one terrified lady to deal with, plus wounded perople and terrified horses. Let me know what you do.

Terra Nova

Lev grunted, tasting blood, and reached out to grab the ladder that he had meant to climb, only now he was just holding on to it to keep from falling.

"Drop your weapons and get down here. Now!" He ordered, doing his best to keep his voice gruff.

"Mawj," he said, not turning to look back at the elf. "I'd appreciate it if you hold down your natural instincts and not kill this man unless he actually attempts to flee or fight."

As the bandit climbs down, Lev continues holding on to the ladder to help keep upright, his face expressionless.

Only after the man is secured does he turn to Alandra. "I hope," he says to her with gritted teeth, "That you have some healing to share before I end up on the ground."

Man, good thing for that Favored Class bonus!

Elsbeth was going to do same thing as Lev but doesn't matter...and good thing lvl 0 spells are unlimited :) i was used with that c*4p of 3,5 lvl 0 spells

Seeing that things were settled Elsbeth faced the other surviving bandit Alandra ordered to go down, of course without approaching him, and shout with firm, loud voice while showing her most evil grin " You better follow your LAST remaining friend example hun'"

Intimidate 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Eyes still on the man on the ground she walked to the terrified woman and say to Mawj with calm voice "Yes please Mawj, we need help attending ourself and the horses now, not more bloodshed" then to the serving woman "Are you all right m'lady?"

Elsbeth was going to do same thing as Lev but doesn't matter...and good thing lvl 0 spells are unlimited :) i was used with that c*4p of 3,5 lvl 0 spells

Seeing that things were settled Elsbeth faced the other surviving bandit Alandra ordered to go down, of course without approaching him, and shout with firm, loud voice while showing her most evil grin " You better follow your LAST remaining friend example hun'"

Intimidate 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Eyes still on the man on the ground she walked to the terrified woman and say to Mawj with calm voice "Yes please Mawj, we need help attending ourself and the horses now, not more bloodshed" then to the serving woman "Are you all right m'lady?"

Another post i had to rewrite :( it is only me ?

forgot to include the bonuses from the Charming and Brigand traits, since the guy is both bandit and male both should be applicable,for a further +2 to intimidate

"You got hit too?" Alandra replies to Lev. "Yours looks worse. Tie him up then come over here."

Alandra leads Lev away from any of the downed badits and holds her holy symbol up, muttering a prayer.

Channel Positive Energy:1d6 ⇒ 4
Channel Positive Energy:1d6 ⇒ 1

She examines Lev again, then touches her holy symbol to the wound and says another prayer.

Switching cure light wounds for doom: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

A small smile touched Lev's lips. "Thank you for your aid, cleric. I am well again, thanks to you and your God." He dabbed at the blood staining his chin and touched the place where the arrow had struck him, probing carefully for a moment. "That was unpleasant."

He returned to the bandit then, ensuring that he is tightly bound. Satisfied, he turned back to the others. "Is Olev here somewhere? I hope we were not too late."

Mawj wrinkles her mouth with mock sadness, "Aww, you're all no fun." She turns to the bandit making his way down from the battlements and points at him. "Boy, I will wear your teeth in a necklace if you make any trouble. Now come down here with your friend and both of you strip to your smallclothes. Now." Once the still living bandits are separated from their gear, she will tie them with rope then search the bodies of the fallen and pile their gear in the courtyard.

Both bandits complied with almost pathetic cowardice to all the demands being made from them. Indeed, the man coming down from the tower is terrified since suffering the sting of Lev's arrow. The heavily bleeding gash in his upper right arm is testament to the rangers skill with the bow, and both survivors of the little bandit group are fully aware they are lucky to be alive.

The girl lying near the door at first cringes from the touch of Elsbeth, her hands instinctively going to protect her bodice. Elsbeth can clearly see now she is closer that her dress had been torn and hastily thrown over her shoulder. An angry red welt was only now starting to swell and bruise on her right cheek, and a small graze on her mouth indicated where she had been struck also. Her eyes were wild, but she seemed to calm when she finally realised it was a woman who was helping her up. "Thank the Gods you arrived" she stammers through tears and gasping breaths. "They really hurt my husband...he had a poster up....they went mad....thank gods" She broke down then, again sobbing into her hands as Elsbeth held her.

The horses attatched to the wagon had by this time calmed themselves, the weight of the wagon and the familiar feel of the harnesses working to bring them back under control. However the two other horses in the yard were both very skittish, and one was bleeding freely from the gash to its flank. They would have to be dealt with fast if any progress in moving the wagon and cleaning the area up was to made.

Mawj's efforts to gather the equipment from the dead were also hampered by the wild animals. Giving up the effort on those dead bodies near the horses, she instead stepped past the upset woman and Elsbeth and moved cautiously into the main building. As she stripped the gruesomly hanging man of his posessions, the keen eared elf heard a slight groan coming from further down the corridoor.

DM

Anya looked over the surrendered bandits, and tried her to decide on how she felt. She had seen executions aplenty, and wasn't any stranger to blood either - but usually it hadn't been her hands that spilled it, and not with the comparative ease. So despite the nagging feeling of having crossed a threshold, she decided this wasn't a disaster or something to lose sleep over... for now at least.

After a glance towards the surviving woman, though, she dediced that she'd just need to tough things out - keep her head and keep her convictions. They had arrived just in time, and if these beasts had been given half an hour further reign, the trading post might be a smoldering ruin adorned by crucified corpses.

Towards Lev, she uttered a low "Get some more rope, a dozen feet should be enough for these two" then turned towards the young cleric. A priest of the goddess of death wasn't usually the first you sent to see an injured person, but what was there to do otherwise? "Can you check if the Trademaster is alive, and see to his recovery?"

Her blades remained ready to strike. "Alright, my little friends. How about you tell me a story."

Helping the woman getting on her feet,Elsbeth kept her voice the most gently and reassuring as possible, and also spoke very quietly, almost so that she was sure only the brutalized girl could hear her "I know how a girl feels in times like these, i feel for you. Now you only need to forget everything. Let us check on your husband, then i'll be your serving girl for a change. We both need to take care of ourselves....and i admit i'm eager to have a looooong bath myself, better if hot"

Seeing that Anya was already dealing with the bandits, Lev nodded and headed toward the horses, seeking to calm them and move them away from the smells of the blood and gore. He hoped he'd learned to deal with them more successfully this time around.

Approaching the two very skittish horses in the yard, trying to calm them. Handle Animal Check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

"Are you injured?" Alandra asks the woman, then says "And take me to your husband, I can help him."

Alandra will examine both of them:

Heal check:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Heal check:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Mawj draws a dagger from her belt and moves down the hallway toward the source of the moaning, taking care to stay as quiet as possible.

Stealth 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

It quickly becomes apparent to the Elven ranger that the moaning is coming from aman lying prone on the floor. He is well built and dressed in fronitier furs and leathers, but they are torn badly. He seems to have been beaten severely, and a fairly savage looking gash on the side of his head still oozes blood into an alarmingly large pool of the stuff spreading over the floor. It would appear as if Mawj had found Oleg.

Alandra's quick ministrations of the lady out the front reveal she has been assaulted, and may well have been raped had the group not arrived in time. There isn't much she can for the girl at the moment though, as her trauma seemed to be more internal than external. It would take some time before she was ready to talk. Elsbeth continued to comfort the woman, tryng her best to calm her. (It's going to need some good diplomacy rolls to snap her out of an almost catatonic state. Others can assist if they say they're spending the time doing so. Give me three rolls please)

Moving into the house, the young cleric of Pharasma passed by the still hanging corpse of one the badnits and found Mawj crouched over Oleg. The man was near death, and would need immediate healing if he was to survive. The amount of blood he'd lost from the head wound was shocking. What's more, something seemed to have been shoved deep into his mouth and was possibly obstructing his breathing. Heal check to stabilize him, or magic, your choice. He's very close to death though.

Outside, Lev displayed an amazing insight into the horses nature and quickly had them calm, leading them into the stables and away from the stench of blood and death. The inured horse favoured its rear leg, and without healing of some type soon, it would probably be lame for life.A heal ceck, magic or even a handle animal check might be useful here to stop the wounded horse from causing more harm to its leg.

As Anya stood above the two men, they looked down at the ground. Her question caused the youngest one to flinch slightly, but the wounded man from the tower spoke wthout hesitation. "We didn't do nothin' to the folk. Happs told us ter stay outside and kep loadin' the horses. I saw you lotcomin' when I took one of the other horses out to hitchin' rail and brought in a freshn for the laodn'. Happs told us to keep goin' and act like nothin' was wrong. He was hopin' you lot'd leave, until he saw you was mostly women. That's when he sent me up ter the tower. Wanted me ter take out the man with you then we could all have a bit o' fun. I told him no way, but he's deadly ter cross, lady. He wouldagutted me and still tried to take you ladies." That's all he's going to give you for the moment. Intimidate checks for more info, plus some questions about things you want to learn about please. Others can assist. Also, at least two sense motive checks to see if they're lying or holding info back for anyone involved in the questioning. One for each prisoner)

Arianna wanders over to the two captured bandits, wiping the blood of thier fallen comrade off the blades of her swords.
"Listen up, Shite for brains. We only need one of you to tell us what we need to know. The one who gives us the best, most complete, information will get to see another sunrise. The other, well, should have been more forthcoming."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

"Oh no, he is in bad shape." Alandra says when she sees Oleg. She immediately raises her holy symbol and starts praying until he regains consciousness.

Channel Positive Energy:1d6 ⇒ 1
Channel Positive Energy:1d6 ⇒ 3
Channel Positive Energy:1d6 ⇒ 4
Channel Positive Energy:1d6 ⇒ 2

Anya flared her nostrils in bitter amusement as the bandit mentioned killing Lev and expecting them to frightfully submit to their whims. Were they really expecting them to be that stupid or weak - especially since they all were armed after a fashion.

Still, it was fortunate insofar as it had let them underestimate the group, and turned what might have been a nasty ambush into a scrape.

Seeing Arianna taking care of the already more compliant one, she turned her attention to the younger bandit... gauged his age. If laws were followed, they'd both dangle by sunrise, but maybe Arianna was on to something - there had to be some incentive to get them to talk. "So, this is the sorry lot of you? Or are there more at some camp?" Her eyes pierced into his for a brief moment. "Speaking of camp, where is it? It can't be too far off if you wanted to go by wagon. Kid, believe me... getting on our very good side is the thread you hang on."

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Mawj has little she can do to help these humans. "Well," she thinks, "other than save their lives." The elven ranger will continue to assist in cataloging equipment, then drag the corpses of the fallen enemies into a pile outside the fort.

Once the girl's husband had been taken care of, Elsbeth takes her in what appears to be the living quarters of the outpost, and looks for a bedrooms figuring it is the girl's own bedrooms. May it be her own or another one doesn't really matter to Elsbeth, she only care to have the poor girl have some rest,keeping with the comforting speech all along

diplomacy 1 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
diplomacy 2 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
diplomacy 3 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Now that she is looking at the building's interior,she also looks for a bath tub or similar accomodation.

trying to get the dot back :(

All of my message board dots seem to have disappeared as well.

They'll come back, it happens occasionally on these boards.

Waiting for Lev to give me an action before I update.

Cheers

Once the horses are established in the stables, Lev kneels down to examine the wound in the horse's leg.

"Don't know much about healing," Lev muttered, "But we'll see what we can do."

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

After doing all he can, he heads back out to the courtyard to stand beside Anya.

Olegs bleeding stops almost immediately once the magical healing of the Death goddess washes over him. For the briefest of moments, Alandra thinks she sees a shadowy raven staring up at her from above the mans head, then her eyes blink and the image departs. Oleg groans again, the colour in his face returning to a healthy flush though he still remains unconcious. His eyes flutter, and the young cleric knows he is not far from waking, though she suspects he will have an extremely unpleasent headache when he does so.

In the barn, Lev has no success in stabilising the horses leg. The beast almost screams in pain as he tries to minister to it, so the hunter steps away and leaves it well enough alone for now. As he departs the barn, he notices the animal keeping its leg supported off the ground for now.

In the master bedroom, Elsbeth carefully ministers to the young lady, and she eventually stops her sobbing. She clings desperately to the young sorceror, her head resting on her shoulder and says quietly "Don't leave me yet...please"

The two prisoners stare up at the women standing above them. The spectacle of the bloodied swords coupled with the almost casual way that Mawj drags off their dead companions after stripping their bodies of armour and other useful gear is obviously unsettling for them.

Again it is the older man who speaks, leaping in loudly to try and make sure he isn't the one to be hung. "Aye, we have a camp. Bout a days ride from here in the woods it is. 'Tis where the boss hangs out. She was the one as sent us ter rough these two up and get their gear. Honestly, I had no innerest in hurtin' these fine folk. We was just tryin ter get enough cash tergether so's we could make a new start over in tha west. Aint that right Bergan?" He nudges the younger man beside him who stares for a moment before nodding his head. He seems stunned still, possibly a little groggy from the magical compulsion that dropped him to the ground.

At Bergan's lack of response, the older man continues with greater desperation. "I can tell ye where ter find tha place ifn' ye want. Not a problem fer me, since I was plannin' on leavin' after we did this run. Theys evil they are, the whole lot of em. We've been plannin' ter leave fer a while now haven't we Bergan? Go on lad, tell 'em we've been plannin' on cuttin' out soon as we had enough cash."

Sense motive DC 12

Sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Not believing thier story for a minute, Arianna goes over to the wagon and draws out a length of rope. As she listens to the older one spin his tale she idly begins fashioning a loop of rope. Walking over to the gate she tosses the looped end over the top of the open doorway.
She looks at the old man "You talk a lot, but I dont hear anything." She ties the other end of the rope to the pommel on one of the bandit's horses.
"Well, which one is it going to be?"

Lev stepped up beside Anya and looked over at her and Arianna. "So. How's it going with these two? Have they said anything useful yet?"

Right now we're still in the "Good cop/Bad cop" stage of the game

Alandra does her best to straighten Oleg out where he lays, then goes out to find Lev to help her move him. When she finds him and Arianna questioning the bandits she listens for a while.

My dots were deleted. :(

mine are gone as well still ....and i'm struggling to NOT let you learn italian swearwords

So did Alandra actually ask Lev for help, or did she get caught up in listening instead? Either way, Lev is going to wait for Anya's answer before moving off.

Even thou she is not a Calistrian listener/prostitute Elsbeth knows which trauma the girl have suffered. Despite not being used to comfort others and starting to be quite impatient she'll stay here until the girl has recovered somewhat.

"Hey girl, i never said i was going anywhere. What's your name if i may ask ?" she said gently.

Not yet, she is listening for the moment.

1d20 ⇒ 5

"You left out the part of converting to Iomedae and taking care of three children" Anya mirthlessly replied, turning her attention to the younger brigand. "Your chance, boy. I'll show you a map. You point out where your group camps."

Her patience was clearly wearing out, with her blood still pumping through her neck in almost audible throbs. A leaden heaviness had settled in, but not one that made her more likely to be lenitent, but instead more callous and convinced to see this matter through to the hilt.

"Well now," Lev said examining both men without expression. "It looks like you both are in some serious trouble. These women who travel with me are not known for their patience. The elf hates humans and is already under a lot of strain from being forced to travel with them. Then there's the one who worships the God of Death over here, and this high-strung young lady with the rope has been in a foul mood for days. Personally, I'm not inclined to see men hang...but then, one of you did shoot me, which probably doesn't help you out with my half-sister here."

He nodded to Anya while he fingered the bloody patch on his chest where the arrow had struck him.

"So I suggest you answer their questions without embellishment. Where's your camp? Who's your leader? And anything else they might want to know. Because believe you me -- even I know better than to piss them off."

DM: Lev isn't really trying to intimidate them; he's just being as matter of fact as he can be. If you want me to roll, just let me know.

Mawj walks over to the table and removes a map of the Greenbelt from her pack. Spreading it over the flat surface, she turns Bergan and hands him a piece of chalk from her belt. "We're going to play a game. You like games, don't you, Bergan? It's very simple, so I'm sure you won't have any difficulty. The game is called, 'Fingers.' It goes like this," Mawj reaches down to her belt and retrieves a wicked-looking dagger, "for every question you do not answer completely and truthfully, I take a finger. In case you don't feel like talking, I'm not taking from the one who answers. No, no, I'm taking one from your friend. So, Bergan, do you have anything to share? Or are you ready to see your mate here regret your friendship?"

"He he, this is gonna be a fun game!" It's not clear if Alandra is serious or not...

The older bandit blanches as Mawj describes the details of her intended torture. His eyes bulge and he turns to Bergan, with tears starting to form in his eyes.

Bergan looks at him for the briefest of moments then says "I'll go one better'n show yer on the map. I'll persn'ly take ye there lady. None of them mean nothin' ter me. They've treated me like a dog since I joined 'em last week, and I certainly aint dyin' fer them."

He spits at the ground then, turning to the older man "Yer a lyin' bastard Grest. Ye'd as soon slit me throat ifn' it meant ye could avoid the gallows dance." He looks up into Anya's eyes then, grim determination on his face "He done things to the man inside. I heard 'em all laughin' while me and Osgred loaded the horses. Was me as told 'em when you was comin'. I told 'em we should leave but Grest and Happs wanted ter see what ye was carryin'. When Grest here said ye was all women, Happs came up with the plan 'o tryin' ter trick yers all into an ambush. I'm done with 'em, murderers and rapists all of 'em. Ceptin Osgred over yonder. He was just down on his luck, same as me, but he died none the less." He goes quiet then, waiting to see what the group will do to him.

Grest on the other hand screams in outrage "Ye traitorous whoreson! I'll kill ye meself and save these folk the trouble!" He goes to surge to his feet but the presence of so many drawn weapons stops him.

Inside the building, Elsbeth is startled by the sound of a heavy thud against the door to the room she's in. The young Chelish woman stands quickly, her hand reaching for the newly purloined dagger that Mawj had tossed her way earlier when she realised the man leaning on the doorframe was no threat to her. His bearded face looks up into hers and he trys to smile, but the act of doing so pulls at the jagged tear on the side of his face, causing it to seep a small amount of blood. "I'd almost think the Gods had sent an angel to se me and Svetlana to the heavens if I wasn't in so much pain. Have they gone? What did you do to save us lady?". Oleg had obviously woken, and was in far better mental state than his traumatised wife.

I've posted some more NPC images on my DM profile. I've also put the exploration map in there for what you have to date. Will give you more on that later.

I've put in the wanted posters that are already found hanging at Oleg's place, including teh one about bandits which was actually shived into Oleg's mouth. This is what set Happs off into his murderous rampage. Oleg is currently holding it in his hand.

A note on torture. It is an evil act, and if carried out may affect your alignment and the reactions of NPC's in the game. In this instance you may well get away with it, but be aware I will track evil acts and your alignment may change accordingly. If you are only trying to scare folks when threatening things you don't intend to follow through on, a successful bluff check will lead to a good bonus on your later intimidate checks. Keep this in mind for future interactions with some of the folk you'll need to get information from please.

Interstingly enough, hanging folk that have commited evil crimes and are unrepentant is cosidered lawful since it is the accepted penalty in these parts. We can get into a discussion about that particular hypocrysy in the OOC thread if you'd like :)