Autumn walked along side Solstice and Frostbite while looking around. She kept an eye out for a game trail that might be big enough to get their group through the thick brambles.
She broke off a branch of the brambles carefully and held it up to the group. "Brambles like this work great as a dead hedge to keep animals in pens, pigs really hate them. They also help keep predators out of the pens as well. Not worth it to them if they're getting cut up the whole time." Autumn explained before she tossed the branch back into the thick bush of thorns.
Many paths wind down to the water. Some are game paths, many are not; being just places where the brambles don’t grow.
The river blocks further travel west at this point, however. The only way across would be to swim.
"The only way to continue on the path we have been is to go across the river, which would mean swimming." Autumn pointed out as she looked to the group. "We can try to move around going north or south if we do not wish to swim."
"Truth be told, I don't know how to swim," Drazen admits. "I never had to in the streets of Restov. But isn't there a good ford close to the bandit camp? Or we could go southeast as far as the river crossing?"
Autumn looked to Drazen a little surprised but then nodded. "Yes that makes sense." She finally said. "You are correct that there is a river crossing to the south of us." Autumn said pleased to see that Drazen remember some facts about the land. "We go south to cross were the stream is smaller then head back north east."
The journey is swift as you pass downstream, following the fast flowing waters of the river. A path through, or around, the thorns and brambles is easy to pick out. The way is shaded by wide tree limbs. The occasional brooks that feed the river are all easily crossed. Before noon Herger, and Autumn begin to recognize the landscape. Thorn Ford is nearby. The river you had been following had indeed been the Thorn.
The sound of wood chopping can be heard as you approach the old bandit camp. Then the sound stops.
Autumn held out her arm to stop the group the moment she heard the chopping of wood. Her body became stiff to keep herself from moving as she listened. Finally she looked to the group and place one finger over her lips before leaning close and whispering lowly. "It sounds like more have taken over that camp we cleared. Not surprising. After all four were away when we first took the place, I hear three at minimum now, I could try and get closer to know for sure. Either way we can't just leave them here... not this close to Oleg's."
"They have watch towers, so the moment we leave the treeline they'll be able to see us coming. So we need to move fast. Any last thoughts before we do this?" Autumn asked.
"Yes, my thoughts while not tactically sound is we just advance forward. The bandits of this region need to learn we are here and that their ways are no longer tolerable."
He grumped but he did his best to keep his voice low.
"Perhaps we can take out the bandits in the watchtowers first?" Drazen proposes, uniquely equipped to do just that. "If there are few of them, it will not matter. But we should avoid open confrontation for fear that there are more of them than we can handle."
+2 Vs humans
Torek has been quiet for a while but chimes in, "We need to take them but we need to be careful while we do so. Taking the watchtowers is a good idea if it can be done quickly and at range. Scouting is good but any error might be costly... perhaps I should do the scouting; I'm very good with seeing things, and I've improved with not being seen. The only thing is how many is too many to handle?" Torek is, as usual, a little too unfocused to be decisive.
"Yes but going in without a plan might not go over well..." Autumn said before she snapped her fingers. "Last time they had archers in towers in the east and west. I took care of them last time, and I can do it again. Frostbite can run down anyone who tries to run off. So the rest of you can focus upon those on the ground. Does that sound like a fair base idea?" She asked.
"Jhod, you don't have to partaking in this if you wish. You can remain with our horses while we take care of this."
”Don’t fear, I will fight these louts with you.” Jhod points. ”And look over there, it’s another platform. They must have added it since you were here last.”
"Then I just have a little more work to do" Autumn stated. "But I can do it. Good eye though Jhod." She added with a thankful not to the older priest.
Just then, a bird call sounds. The sound of the bandits grumbling and ribbing one another fades to silence.
"I think Titian is right! The whole place went silent right after the call." Autumn said as she shifted on Solstice. "I'm heading for the tower over there . Hug the trees if you can, they'll provide cover from the archers for a bit." Autumn said before she turned and spurred Solstice on. "Come on Frostbite!"
Frostbite ran after Autumn and Solstice, keeping just far enough behind as to not be under Solstice's hooves.
Torek is torn between wanting to follow Autumn but keenly aware of his own poor horsemanship. He dismounts, and follows her as as best he can sword in hand.
The bandits have initiative, and readied actions.
So, no Autumn does not yet see the bandit. Nor he her.
Autumn dismounted from Solstice and moved into the trees. The area would keep her hidden from the towers and bandits till she reached the one tower before her.
Slipping from the horse he tossed the reins torwards Brother Jhod. He moved forward behind his shield and pulled out his morningstar. He didnt like it, but he liked the idea of bandits even less.
Jhod climbs down from his horse and moves along beside Herger.
As Titian moves between tree groves, he passes through one of the bandit's line of sight. The man takes his shot.
But it passes behind the knight, and into the trees.
Autumn moved through the trees to the base of the tower and began to climb.
-------------------
Drazen dismounted from his horse and moved to join Jhod and Herger.
Autumn moves toward the platform where she expects a bandit to lurk. There is one there, and he looses an arrow down through the foliage at the bold hunter.
But the arrow is deflected by a branch and misses.
Autumn makes it to the ladder at the base of the platform, and begins her climb.
Everyone else can go.
With Titian moving in for the charge Herger did his best to catch up and somewhat make himself a target. Not necessarily for arrows but eyes. He knew Autumn was trying to get to one of the blinds, and beside her wolf and horse was left on her lonesome, plus Titian on his mount, they looked like easier targets to seperate if the bandits were giving a chance.
He furthered the attempt to draw attention by letting loose an old Ulfen Warcry from his early early days. Banging his morning star against his shield.
Torek looks about as others move when Herger charges out toward the camp completely isolated.
What! We are totally split now, who do I back up? Torek wrestles with this thought for a second, knowing that as soon as Sir Titian charges, Autumn and Frostbite will be on their own. Torek wants to join Autumn but the brave cleric is now alone so Torek moves towards him breaking cover.
Run x4 1 round of 12.
Torek moves rapidly running to Hergers's side.
Drazen quickly moved after Herger, trying to keep up with him and now Torek as he entered the area.
The bandit on the northeast platform calls out. "I got three comin' on. And a knight." Then he looses an arrow at Herger.
The arrow whizzes by Herger's ear, to bury itself in the ground behind him.
Jhod follow along behind at a more leisurely pace. He draws back on his fine bow, and sends an arrow flighting in return.
The bandit screams in pain, as Jhod's arrow strikes true.
The bandit hit by Jhod returns fire. His arrow barely misses Jhod.
Sword in hand, Drazen moves forward and incants a spell, targeting the archer that just fired arrows at Herger and Jhod...
Despite the arrow going by him the large cleric cursed and shook his head.
"Ol'Dead eye, we have some wayward fools looking to banditry instead of good hard work to provide for themselves, help us simple folk show them the error of their ways."
He called out focusing as he moved forward and casting a blessing on his allies.
"If you fools lay down arms and ask for forgiveness you get to live. If not well the penalty for banditry in almost every society isnt pleasant."
Autumn heard the war cry and for a moment froze. That was something entirely new to the huntress, thus she made a mental note to never make Herger mad. But his cry did give Autumn a very large reminder that they were in combat, and she needed to be up at the top of this tower right now.
With renewed purpose, Autumn hurried herself up the tower to remove the danger to her friends it held.
Torek moves up to guard both Drazen and Herger.
"Amen Brother!" Torek supports Herger's prayer. Quieter he says, "We need to stay together, we don't want to get too divided. I think there are six or seven of them, one mounted."
An arrow passes behind Titian. He does not notice it, but Herger, Torek, and Drazen do. Though they cannot see where it came from.
As Autumn climbs onto the platform the bandit tries to shove her back off, but she is able to hold her place.
Titian saw three bandits standing in front of a campfire. The fire is only a bed of hot coals covered by ash.
One of the bandits hefts a huge club, one a warhammer, and the last wields a pole arm, a glaive-guisarme.
From Titian's current position, he sees only the one with the greatclub.
Autumn gave the bandit a wolfish grin before she let out a loud whistle.
"I highly suggest you give up." Autumn stated. "Because if not you'll meet the bottom of this tower fast, and my wolf along with it!" She added
Autumn reached out to grab the bandit, and hauled him over the side of the tower to meet a waiting Frostbite below.
Frostbite's ears perked up as a whistle rang throughout the area. She knew that whistle! It was Alpha's sound! swiftly Frostbite left Solstice and bolted to were the sound came from.
Torek spots the arrow flying by Sir Titian from an unknown source. "We need to engage, there is at least one more hidden archer. Getting in combat, should make shooting us more difficult. Let's advance and attack."
If my nearest companions agree, we move forward as a group towards the tree west of the three in camp.
Torek keeps scanning the area looking for an archer in or around the camp.
+2 Vs humans
Following up on previous observations Torek says, "Actually I don't think that horse has a rider so, one less there. As for another archer I see ..." What the GM says.
Drazen follows Torek toward the camp without, however, engaging in melee yet. Rather, he stops at the ranger's side and once again incants a sibilant spell that seems to induce a deep slumber...
The bandit gives Autumn a wolfish grin, dropping his bow, and going for the sap at his belt.
Autumn grabs, trying to shift him off the platform, but his strength is too great; he is not budged.
With sap now in hand, the bandit swats at Autumn.
But he misses, fanning the air.
The wounded bandit on the platform looses an arrow at Jhod, but the cleric is more spry than he looks; hopping out of the way. Actually the wounded bandit's aim is poor, the cleric could have stood like a stone, and the arrow would still have missed.
Jhod for his part moves up behind your line, then looses another arrow at the the platform bandit.
The bandit groans, and slumps over dead, or unconscious.
The polearm wielder yells at Titian. "What's the matter tin man?! Scared?!"