"Picking off a few at a time is a smarter move though it runs the risk of them noticing and the rest of them holing up, making it harder in the end." Ingrit conjectures. "A vote?"
"Ah got nah problem wi pickin em off, but Gozreh's blessings to me are almost gone, reckons a nights sleep make us stronger, specially for Erland and tha city folk, Dami." the young druid warns Ingrit. "Depends how many Erland can put to sleep like tha agin. He got some weird stuff goin on tha."
"Likewise, I almost without magic for today. Most of us have been hexed for healing, and I've only one cure spell and some cantrips remaining. I am rather neaky, if that helps, though."
"I suggest we sleep now, which will allow us to attack refreshed at night. If we see an opportunity, we can pick off bandits fetching more firewood. If they sleep through the night, we pick off the first ones to come out in the morning, then launch our assault. As for sparing the bandits' lives, that's all well and good if it can be done safely, but I'll not risk having the survivors call out to their friends. They earned their fate when they chose a life of banditry."
Let me just warn you that resting or sleeping outside in this cold will be outright dangerous for those of you that do not have innate cold resistance.
"While I agree that we need rest, I don't think you all understand just how cold weather like this can get come nightfall. In the north, where this kind of weather is normal, sleeping outdoors is a death sentence for most people." Ingrit says looking each of the men in the eye in turn.
"Tis true that ya say, Ingrit. It t'aint like a normal day nah more, not with dis cold." Eianar ponders her words. "We need t'way ta bring 'em out an let Ingrit use her bow. We canna wait til dey decide ta come out, tha could be all night. Oi says we make sure tha no-one in da stable, maybe a good place ta hide. We wait til dusk, if none come out den....Da ya think if wees called out like one o' deys we caught an pretend ta be an injured fella, dey send out to investigate?" an air of indecision hangs over the druid, as he contemplates the effect of the cold. He explores the options in his mind once more, wavering towards action tonight.
"With this coat and furs, I will be perfectly fine. Right now, I hardly need it at all, to be honest. The state less should be warm enough, horses put out a lot of heat after all. As to attacking now, I don't think we're in a position to succeed tonight. Without magic and still lightly injured, we would be overwhelmed in short order."
"Do you think you could keep the horses calm and quiet Eianar?" Ingrit asks looking in the direction of the stables.
"I dinah know how it goes wit dem animals, but oi can give it a go." Eianar answers Ingrit. "If we was lucky, sure it'll work, gota hope the gods o luck are on me side." He looks at the city folks, looking to see if they would last the night in the cosy warmth of the horses and the bushy left eyebrow raises itself. A smile crosses his face at the thought of the remembers smell of warm living horse flesh, soft and hard at the same time. "Oi can try...."
"Very well, the stables are probably the best shelter we'll manage. Let's see if we can make it there unobserved."
"Right. Let's go, Einar."
Erland drops into a crouch, with Fiske padding along at his heels.
stealth
"Aye.." he says as he lets Gozreh's magic flow into him, concentrating to pad softly through the snow, as he readies himself to enter the stables. He approaches with the stable positioned between the him and the hut, looking through cracks in the walls to spy the interior. "See ought Erland." he whispers as they take in the stables, finding a quiet spot to enter.
They enter and Eianar puts his hands up to the horses and starts a soft whispering sound to calm them down and try to make them friendly. "Shhh, me beauts, quiet now, we mean no 'arm." He knows that the words mean nothing to the proud beasts, but the tone and pitch are soothing and sweet to their ears. Once the animals are calmed and quiet, Eianar offers them the warmth of straw on the hard ground and to rest and sleep.
Keeping well out of sight from the windows or the lodge, you sneak into the stable. There are three horses in there, looking a little nervous and shivering from the unnatural cold, but generally well tended. Two of them carry the emblem of Lady Argentea.
The horses respond well to Eianar's attempts to calm them, and soon enough you all find yourselves gathered indoors, taking advantage of the body heat of the horses.
I take it that your plan is to rest eight hours to replenish your daily abilities and then assault the lodge before dawn?
Well, it must be your lucky day for it turns out that the horses have been recently fed. Judging by the tracks to the stable they only feed them twice a day at most.
The bridge that the bandits were talking about is to your left, but you see no sign of a blue witch.
There seems to be two entrances to the lodge, but the one facing the stable has no tracks leading to or from it. Every half-hour or so a bandit steps out and looks around but does not cross the yard. Later in the evening a number of bandits exit the other door and come back a little later, but nobody disturbs your rest.
You recover 1 hp each and can reprepare spells and dailies before you begin your assault.
Do you wait for the bandits to come to you or do you want to attack them under the cover of darkness?
Looking at the ground in the stables, Ingrit tries to determine when the horses were last fed and how often foot traffic passes through the area.
According to the tracks and amount of grain the horses had been recently fed in the afternoon when you arrived and will probably be fed twice a day, which means that the next time is in the morning.
"So it will likely be morning before anyone comes out here again. We strike now we're likely to find the majority of them asleep until the noise starts, and even them perharps unarmored and unprepared." Ingrit says looking at the others.
"I'm a fan of attacking at night. The less prepared they are, the better."
"Arr, but wees move roun' ta te main entrance an attack from thar. Oi dinna trust t' ground in front o' us, it should ha' shown signs o bandits, but there was none. Oi believe if wees can move t' horses, theys will panic when theys bandits try to escape. It'll stop 'em 'scaping wit their prize possession, t' Lady. Once t' horses are secure, wees can approach from t' east, and through the main entrance. Wees mus be quiet as wees can, surprise em like Ingrit says." He looks around at the others hoping for a response before continuing ...
"If its elpful, oi can create a bit o mist in front o' the door, but tell mees nah, cos I gotta refresh mees blessings from Gozreh."
Which door do you want to try then?
"It's been snowing continuously which probably covered up their tracks." Ingrit replies. "The benefit of attacking from this side is that they'd have to get past us to get to the horses."
"I think the closest entrance is the best. If that's the one they use to feed the horses, it's most likely the most lightly guarded."
I'm not sure I understand your plan. Are you going to release the horses and take the entrance nearest the bridge?
Yep, that's what we're doing ...
Stepping briskly across the snow Dom tries the door of the main porch and is surprised to find it unlocked.
More to follow, but it is time to roll initiative.
Init
A bearskin rug dominates the floor of this trophy room, and the heads of several deer have been mounted on the walls. Doors lead north and south, while two hallways go farther east. As you turn the corner you notice and are noticed by five bandits huddled at the far end of the room. They are awake and armed, but Eianar and Erland beat their initiative.
Eianar and Erland are up, then the bandits. They are armed like the one you fought earlier.
Erland takes the turn and casts sleep.
DC 14 Will or fall asleep for a minute, up to 4 HD of foes.
"Good night, bandits, don't fret about this battle any longer."
Three of the bandits succumb to Erland's spell, leaving only two standing.
Using his quarterstaff, Eianar moves forward and strikes at the bandit.
Eianar gives the bandit a good whack but he is still standing, if barely. He draws his sword and stabs Eianar for 6 points of damage. His companion draws his bow and fires at Domitian, hitting him for 3 points of damage. He also lets out a scream to alert the lodge. You hear movement from the room to the south.
Then you are all up.
Daze action on bowman Will save DC 14
Amidst the erupting chaos, Ingrit fumbles her shot at the other archer.
Bot for Domitian Olavsgaard
Dom runs over and attacks the bowman.
Attack with falcata two-handed
Eianar lets out a deep sigh as the sword bites into his flesh and the hurt spreads through his body, "Damn yous, tis urtful tha."
Eianar attempts to hit the bandit in front of him.
Eianar
Attack with quarterstaff
Domitian cuts down the dazed bowman while Eianar knocks out the other bandit. While you hear noises from the south, nothing more happens in this round. While Erland still has an action, I think we can drop out of initiative for now.
What's next?
Erland lays his hand on Einar's arm and channels healing magic into the man's wounds.
HP healed (Healing Hex used on Erland)
"Quick, let's get ready for the others. These fellow's won't stay down for very long!"
"Aye, thank 'e Erland, yur touch is real blessed by the gods." Eianar thanks the witch, and recovers his poise. "Tha's three, ow many more we got now?" he asks rhetorically as his mind whirs. "Let's quick bind 'em an gag 'em, afore theys start to makes trouble fer us. Domi, stay ahind te door, catch 'em if any enter. Dami you looks cross the stable, makes sure they ain't gonna run off."
had healing hex from Erland.
HPs 12 (6 damage, 9 healing)
I make it 8 bandits from 12 ... 5 in the barracks, 3 from the bushes
Damiano looks at Eianar with confusion written on his face
But they are just there and if they are binded , how coud they run off ?
Do you mean you want me to look if we are not attacked by a pincer move ?
"Eight ain't the same as twelve, tha's more o 'em, their leader and the Lady. Wees don't wanna lose 'er." responds Eianar to Damiano.
As you set to it binding your captives, the door opens and four more bandits appear. These however, seem to be in worse condition than their peers. They are unarmored and look quite sick, their red eyes and cold sweats betraying some kind of infection.
They are a little taken aback by Domitian blocking the doorway, so you may act before they do.
"These lads are still breathing, if a bit constrained at this point. I recommend you re-think your current course of action, and put those weapons down now."
Erland stands up and looks over the obviously ill men, keeping his crossbow ready to fire.
"Perhaps I could take a look at you, assuming you're willing to talk, of course."
Sounds like a good time for a Diplomacy check.
diplomacy