A kingdom in the wilderness (Inactive)

Game Master nightdeath

Kazz nods, "That should work fine my lady. I'm sure they'll have some ideas...speaking of which."

He rises from his chair and with the hint of a smile at Svetlana he makes his way outside.

Ammanas moves away from the brothers and takes up his usual position beside Kazz as the young kayal approaches them. He spares a glance at the gates before speaking, "I think you two will find that the gates open inward. Perhaps it would be best to jump down from the walkways and slam the doors shut from in here? Sirsi and I could attack from the guest quarters there and leave Magnus to charge them from the stables? A sound enough plan for you?"

Dalgar considers Kazz's words, his contemplations gving the impression of one very slowly thinking however.........

He speaks truly but will both be needed? I suspect one of us will be needed and that loud man may give us all away if not accompanied. No it'll better if perhaps Kearan joins the fight quickly leaving him to close the gates. His brother was the better fighter.

"Your plan is sound." A brief pause "I should think that my brother Kearan should enter the fight as soon as possible while I close the gates. It'll be good if we can spare them though I would not object to their deaths should they prove unrepentant. We do need some of them alive to learn more about their camp."

"Sunset, eh! No, problem! <Munch, Munch> After I've finished here, I'll go saddle Mjolnir. <Gnaw> Then I can ride out of the stable when they arrive <Slurp> and surprise them. <Yum Yum>. What we need is a signal. <Burp> I have a horn that someone can use. <Munch> Unless someone's got something else?"

Kazz nods, "Fair enough, just make sure none of them makes it past you. We agree it'll be better to take at least one alive. Though I'm not certain our loud friend has the stomach for what follows? Still, worth the attempt at least. We'd best go collect the others and make sure they know their parts."

Kearan looks between his brother and the gray-skinned man and nods. "I'm good in a fight. Hard fists, strong arms. I'll try not to kill them."

Kazz shrugs, "We only need one alive, preferably the leader. I'll try to pick off the followers."

Svetlana shakes her head. "Most likely zhey vill arrive tomorrow morning, just after sunset. Like zhey do every month. Zheir leader ies a mean bastard. I doubt he will go down vith out a fight"

Sunrise you mean?

"Let us start to prepare the place. We should make it as authentic as possible. The plan is sound and we are all in it."

So saying Dalgar starts looking for the wagon to push into position and help load it.

Kazz gives the large man a curt nod. He makes a circuit of the fort, checking buildings and making sure they have chosen the best buildings from which to spring their ambush.

Ammanas moves to the gates and attempts to close one side. The door moves slowly but closes as the same under the creature's pressure.

Kazz returns to the others, nodding to the wagon partially loaded with supplies, "It seems we have everything in order. I suggest we get some sleep, we should be up well before the coming dawn to take our places."

"Agreed." Kearan helps push the wagon into position and works on loading it, making sure to leave a barrel or two in a nearby building--to "load" in the morning--and also making sure that his axe is set in a convenient place to grab the next day. Once he finishes, he looks to Kazz. "Agreed," he repeats, before heading for a warm spot to bed down.

"While I can handle a sword, I'm no warrior, still we should be able to keep them distracted long enough for the bold sir Magnus to shatter them." Sirsi smiles slyly at Magnus.

Sirsi will retreat to bed shortly, to be ready for the ambush.

Magnus pitches in, helping to push the wagon in and load it to kearan's satisfaction, loudly laughing at his own clumsiness. When all is in place, he adds,

"Ha! That'll show them! Good job, everyone!"

before heading to the stables again where he feeds Mjolnir some pilfered treats, making sure he still has enough Feed and Bedding, giving him a final groom and murmering to him,

"Big day tomorrow, lad. Don't let me down. We gotta make sure we get these villains that are terrorising the good people here. This is good land, boy. How many trappers have they driven off? and Oleg and his wife don't deserve this. They are good people, Erastil bless them. Erastil has brought us here for this, I am sure. This is a quest worthy of his name. Let us make sure we live up to the task he has set before us."

Finally, after grooming and currying Mjolnir, and ensuring he is ready for bed, Magnus makes his way to his own bed, where he falls into a deep sleep, snoring loudly.

Kazz follows the others to the guest quarters. He stows his gear and then settles himself in a familiar cross legged position on his bed. Ammanas moves to the other end of the bed and the two seem to regard each other in silence for several minutes.
After a time Kazz closes his eyes and the shadowy figure of his companion seems to dissolve into the kayal. As Ammanas dissipates, a long shadow grows behind Kazz to be cast on the wall opposite the lantern.
With a sigh, Kazz slips into his bedroll and falls fast asleep.

Dalgar will check on the gates and ensure that his chosen position is secure enough to be well hidden before he retires to bed himself after checking on his weapons.

Kearan tosses and turns for a while on the bed, but eventually rises and grabs his gear. He heads outside and goes to the stables, where he puts down his bedroll and falls asleep in the night air, looking up at the stars.

The next morning, about an hour before sunrise, those inside the guesthouse are awaken by Svetlana, while those outside find Oleg at their beds. Everyone is guided into the dining room where a small but rich breakfast awaits. Oleg speaks "The bandits will arrive in about two hours. They'll pose as merchants so they won't arouse suspicion from guests. Our stores are right full as it has been a good month for the trappers. So I'll lead them in, and when they're busy packing up their stuff, you can ambush them."

Kearan nods as he rises, rolling his bedroll and setting it in a corner of the stables with the rest of his things before heading to breakfast. There, he nods again. "We'll get them, don't worry."

Kazz rises quickly and steps out of the guest quarters for his usual morning stroll. He returns a short time later, the small form of Ammanas, nearly invisible in the dark, trailing behind him.

The kayal eats quickly and says little at breakfast, his mind clearly elsewhere. Once finished he asks Kearan for a hand moving some old barrels to make makeshift barriers beside the fort's heavy doors to help hide Dalgar and Ammanas once the bandits arrive.

Once they are finished he nods to the tall woodsman and moves to join the others. He looks at Oleg, "Just make sure you make a fast retreat once the fighting starts."

Magnus rises and stretches, then goes to find a quiet corner for prayer, arriving late for breakfast. After a hearty breakfast, he goes out to the stables, to give hi his feed then put the saddle and barding on Mjolnir. He keeps up a continual stream of reassurance for the highly strung warhorse. he double checks all the straps, ensuring his trusty Longsword is at his side, and hangs the shield straps over the pommel for when he mounts. He leans the lance against a stable post, close enough to grab once mounted. Then he rejoins the others. hearing Kazz's comment to Oleg, he nods,
"Aye. This is not your fight master Oleg. You are too important to this community to risk. Truth be told, I don't like putting you at risk at all, but I can see no other way. I just pray that Erastil will bless us all."

Dalgar nods to Kazz as he helps to shift some old barrels and cover it with some old cloth allowing him to hide even better. Weapons prepared he gives everyone a thumbs up as he hunkers down to his position as the hour draws near.

As the hour draws close, Magnus moves over to the stable. He checks that the door is sufficiently ajar to ride out without difficulty, and that he can't be seen from the gateway, then mounts Mjolnir, grabbing his lance and holding his shield ready. He unconsciously soothes Mjolnir to keep him quiet.

Sirsi is nervous, preparing for a fight is something she's not used to, mostly they just spring up and you have to react to them.
She hums a little tune and tries to busy herself.

Ammanas settles into position behind the barrels by the door opposite Dalgar, his shadowy form disappearing almost completely.

Kazz strings his great black bow and moves to the door to wait. The teal pools of his eyes silently following Sirsi as she shifts nervously.

As if guided by an invisible time telling mechanism, it is almost exactly an hour after sunrise when those watching the outside area can see a group of riders arriving. Five riders guiding along two unburdened horses, most likely meant to carry the brunt of the goods. They arrive at the gate, and the leader calls out "Good day, friend Oleg. We are here to collect our shipment of goods"

Oleg goes to the doors to greet the riders, and they ride in. Oleg goes into the storage, while the bandits line up to load the goods onto the horses.

you can find the map here Please move your characters to where they are when the bandits come in.

Could we get a description of the bandits? Particularly the leader?

Moved Kearan by the wagon, where he's (acting like he's) helping the bandits load their goods, while really waiting for the time to strike.

Dalgar closes the gate.
My char is in place but could we have that link up in the campaign area? Don't think anyone wants to trawl through the posts to find what they want.

As soon as Magnus hears the gate being shut, he rides out and attacks the nearest bandit.

I can only assume that there is no charging, the space is too small and I would need to traverse the stable door anyway.

Magnus use his lance to prod the nearest bandit (10' reach)

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Attack: Lance: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
damage if hits: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

While Mjolnir lashes out with a hoof

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 not sure if he goes on my initiative or has separate, so I rolled. Ignore if he goes on mine
attack: Hoof: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21 crit. threat!
To confirm crit.: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14 depends on bandit's ac
damage: Hoof: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Extra damage if crit confirms: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

As the gate closes and Dalgar rides out, Kearan throws a powerful but nonlethal punch at the nearest bandit's stomach, leaving his axe to a time when lethal force may be necessary.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 - 1 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9 Nonlethal damage

Ok Magnus and Mjolnir each hit the bandit and he dies, Kearan attacks the bandit, but his blow gets deflected by the man's armour

The bandit leader is a tall gruff man in a leather armour and a green cloak, wearing a longbow and a sword. The other bandits are wearing leather armour and carrying swords

Ok, lets get this show back on the road.

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Ammanas slides shut his side of the door, trapping the bandits inside the trading post.

Kazz steps out of the sleeping quarters and fires an arrow at the nearest bandit.

Longbow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

Okay. Do we have an initiative count?

I think we are waiting for Sirsi. I am guessing we have surprise this round.

Sorry, had some real life issues, and didn't realise y'all were waiting on me
Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Sirsi moves around and attacks the closest bandit with her blade
Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Edit: Ooh, a Critical Hit, crit: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Sirsi, you have to confirm that it's a crit by rolling to hit again; a normal success is enough to confirm

Sorry, I knew that, just been some long days lately...
Confirmation roll: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

never mind - nothing to see here.

Shame. 3 down in the surprise round would have been nice

Considering both Sirsi and I hit that bandit I'm pretty sure he's down.

Sorry, missed that! 3 down it is then.

Now that's good news.