Amoonrann hears the vague threat posed by one of the bandits, but she is far too focused on stopping the escaping bandit. She charges towards the gate and lets fly another another Stormbolt to fell the bandit before he gets away. She won't be able to cat him after this, so she turns her attention back to the fort and the battle within only to see the stables have caught fire.
"Arathiul!" Amoonrann screamed, realizing she was too far out to do much of anything, "Someone get the horses!
Triaxus palms the dagger he had intended to introduce Happs to and runs for the stables. He halts briefly upon seeing the writhing mass of weeds and vines, but hearing Aballon's whinny among the other horses steels him. "Amoonraan, if you can, end the spell in the barn!" he shouts, and begins using his cloak to smother the fire before it can spread.
Roga steps forward, and nearly cleaves Happs in two with his powerful blow.
The fleeing bandit tries again to hold on as Amoonrann's Stormbolt hits him. He is able to keep his seat... And takes off on horseback, out of range of spells and bow .
The bandit that was left in the stables is no longer conscious due to catching fire.
Roga stands chest heaving over the corps of Happs. He finally realizes that one is getting away and graps his longbow and aims for a short time and let the arrow fly.
The arrow flies wide not even close to the intended target.
Out of combat:
Seeing that one got away and the stables are one fire he hurries over to help put the fire out.
Once Roga makes it over and it seems that the fire is out, Triaxus scowls at the scorched remains of his traveling cloak, then moves over to see if there's any way he can assist Stellan in aiding Elros. If not, he then draws his second starknife and goes to see if that bandit caught in the blast was smart enough to drop and roll.
"Great work Triaxus, was there a 5th bandit somewere?" Roga asks. Then he suddenly remembers Elros. He turns around and heads over to the elf.
Round X
Init: Party
HP: XX/XX
Location: blah blah
A minute or so after the last bandit makes his escape, anyone watching the road sees another horse approaching. As the figure begins to resolve out of the distance you can see that they are riding on a large draft horse. The rider is wearing a wide brimmed red hat, pulled low. They also have a very high collared red riding cloak, fastened up so that all that is visible between the brim of the hat and the top of the collar are some brief flashes of grey-green skin and a pair of intense yellow eyes. Seeing the smoke rising from the trading post, and the gate wide open the figure heels the horse into a canter, quickly approaching. Once they are close, you can make out by the shape of her breastplate that the figure is female. She is heavily armed, a long hand-and-a-half sword at her left hip and the butts of several spears jutting over her shoulder. Below her armor she appears to be wearing simple undyed doeskin breeches and boots.
Seeing the carnage spread throughout the courtyard, she quickly dismounts and draws her sword, holding it warily in the direction of the party. she says in a growling accent that is difficult to place.
Amoonrann quickly noticed her order were either unheard, or disregarded. Thus it seems it falls to her to deal with the fire. So she charged back towards the burning stable at best speed, a Hobgoblin on a hourse passing her and dismounting in the courtyard, uttering threats. Amoonrann was not swayed from her destination and she continued to the bard calling out, to the stranger. She shot the Hobgoblin a threatening look as she sprinted towards the stable, clearly in no mood for this kind of a pissing match.
"Bandits attacked, and now the place is burning. So shut up and help, or get out of the way," she replied to the intruder before she shouted out another command "Olegg! Water! Now!"
Stellan sees he has done all he can for Elros for now, it will take aid and time to heal him further till he can benefit from his hex again.
Seeing Triaxus come over Stellan says, "I've done all I can for him now, he just needs to be brought inside for greater warmth. A healer needs to stay with him to provide aid of water or better broth until he regain consciousness, that may take hours. My magic can't help him again until tomorrow. Perhaps you could bring him there while I tend others."
Rising his voice a bit but not shouting Stellan says, "Any one hurt who needs my aid? Should I help with the fire or stick to healing?"
Did any of the horses in the stable bolt while all this was going on?
Perception About Grendolynn, what do I know from what I see?
"Oleg's in there." Stellan waves at the main house. "Bandit were shaking him down, we challenged them, went badly for both sides, one bandit is escaping that-away." Stellan points to outside the compound.
When Amoonrann calls for aid he goes to help.[ninja mod.]
ninja'd minor rewriting of post assume speaking at same time. Miinor mod to actions.
Upon hearing Elros is well, Triaxus stands, and goes to tend to the still smoldering bandit by the barn. Hearing the shout from the gateway, calls back as he starts pressing out the few flames still alight. "Well, this lot happened, for the most part; if you're here about the charter, well, the introductions will have to wait. A bit occupied with the fires and all!" From the groans of said bandit, Triaxus' extinguishing method may not be particularly gentle.
Hearing the group's explanations, and choosing to believe them based on the visual evidence at hand, Grendolynn says, "I am indeed here about the charter. Sorry about the sword, I thought you might be bandits." She quickly sheathes her blade, and looks around for a well or cistern. Not seeing one, she frantically asks,"Where can I get some water!?"
"In time friend, you're safe now" Roga says to Elros.
Seeing that Stellan has tended to Elros, Roga heads back to the stable and looks for the last bandit. As he finds him he pulls him from the fire and extinguish the fire on him.
Stellan, would you tend to this one, he might have important information. Roga yells
Oleg and Svetlana burst out of the house shortly after Grendolynn arives, and rush to aid in putting the fires out. After what seem an intense couple of minutes, the fire is successfully doused with little more than surface damage to the stables.
The bandit that Roga pulls out and extinguishes is unconscious, but clearly still breathing. He will require some healing, and a little rest before he is likely to wake.
Svetlana runs between each of the group members, giving them a hug and thanking them again and again. She pauses a moment at Grendolynn and extends her hand. "Welcome! It appears you arrived just in time, thank you so much! This is Olegs, and that -" she points over at the gruff, unhappy looking man with the great beard, "is Oleg. I am Svetlana, his wife.
She continues chatting away excitedly before Oleg asks quietly from where he stands a short distance away from the group "..Did you get the runner?
Grendolynn will lower her collar to expose her face completely, it is now clear to everyone that she is indeed a hobgoblin. She smiles broadly at Svetlana and says, "Hello, My name is Grendolynn. Pleased to meet you mam." while holding out her hand for shaking. As the import of Oleg's question dawns on her a concerned look crosses her face. "Runner? I'm afraid I didn't pass anyone on the road, I'm sorry. Now that the fire's out, can someone explain exactly what happened? I was given a charter to tame the Greenbelt while in Restov and told to make my way here. " She raises her voice so as to be heard by everyone in the courtyard for that last question.
While her goblinoid features are not exactly pretty by human standards, she lacks the maliciousness often seen on the faces of the 'savage' humanoid races. Her expression is friendly and open. If she notices anyone staring at her, she will blush and fidget uncomfortably with the edges of her cloak, but maintain her smile.
Looking up from the bandit at Oleg, Roga shamefully lowers his head and answers: "No we didn't, I'm sorry, but we'll go after him. I will not leave you to fend for yourself."
Not having noticed Grendolynn's race yet Roga turns his head aand yells: "Stellan, I need your help with this one."
He then finnaly looks at Grendolynn, clearly shocked by the fact that there is a hobgoblin standing beside them, he lets the bandit go and stand up. With his hands on the hilt of his sword he asks:"Would you mind producing your charter? I don't have the best experiences with the green races."
When Roga reaches for his blade, Grendolynn's eyebrows instantly shoot up and then at his comment her cheeks burn a bright christmas-bulb crimson. "Is this how the clergy of Erastil are taught to treat strangers?" She says before pressing her lips into and firm line and swinging her pack off her shoulders to rummage through it. She pulls out a charter that is identical to the one Roga was given. Her nostrils flare as she hands it to him and says, "I didn't choose my parents any more than you did human. If you doubt my intentions, use your magic to peer into my heart. You will find no wickedness harbored there." She hesitates for a moment before continuing, "In fact, I serve Old Deadeye in my own way. His ears have often heard my prayers..." As she trails off her eyes lose focus for a brief moment, and you can tell she is reliving many memories.
"And is charging into a burning fort, with your sword drawn, threatening those within how you were taught to treat strangers?" Amoonrann interjected as she joined the two in their discussion. "What's the expression about people in glass houses and throwing stones?" she added, looking the Hobgoblin over.
Immediately, Moony could tell she didn't like this one. It had nothing to do with her parentage, it was something else. Her mannerisms, maybe? Who could say. Nevertheless, Amoonrann was not impressed and she made no effort to hide her disapproval either.
Mind you, she wasn't exactly singing praises of the others, but she had spent at least some time among them. Still, the Hobgoblin was new and, as far as Amoonrann was concerned, unwelcome.
"I was tasked with defending these lands from the bandits who have apparently overrun them. The trading post I was sent to meet my companions at was in flames with corpses littering the yard and a motley crew of well armed people running about. That is when I drew my sword, and asked a question. Once it was answered, I put my sword away and helped you extinguish the flames. I was even polite enough to apologize. I don't see how I could have reacted any differently without shirking my duty to protect the innocent. If I'm so unwanted, perhaps I should just go back home?" She snatches the charter back from Roga, and begins to walk back to her horse. She looks upset, not in an angry way, just very sad. Racist curs...I had hoped they wouldn't be this way. Erastil, if you want me to stay give me a sign. Show me that enduring this senseless hatred is what you need me to do. Once back at Bella's side, she motions Svetlana over and whispers to her "It seems I am unacceptable to my new 'companions'. I have however traveled very far, would it be possible to rent a stall for my horse and a room for myself for the night before I head home?"
"And we were just attacked by bandits," Amoonrann quickly retorted. "Is it really so odd to you that we would want some proof of your intentions before we greet you with open arms?!" she called to the hobgoblin who had gone to speak with Svetlana.
Amoonrann had no issue with Hobgoblins. Indeed, given her own questionable parentage, it would make no sense for her to bare them any ill will. Amoonrann, however, was not fond of hot headed fools whose solution to a problem is to charge in, weapons drawn, and ask questions later. Things were rarely gained through such tactics.
"Foolish girl," Amoonrann muttered to herself before she made her way over to Stellan and the Elf. "How does he fare?" she asked Stellan, though her voice was hardly sympathetic. More calm and practical.
"I'm standing right here Roga, no need to make my ears bleed. I'll tend to the little miscreant."
Heal How is the bandit?
Stellan disarms the bandit saying, "This might wake him up, so it would be good if someone stood over him with bared weapon."
Standard action:Heal Hex.
Stellan's face gurns and he mutters a small incantation. Frosty breath billows from his mouth and nose, washing over the bandit. Where it meets wounded flesh it seems to freeze it for a second then the wounds shut, leaving a thin white mark.
Cure Light Wounds
"We're still going to need to get the hurt into shelter." Stellan remarks to everyone.
Looks around and spots Vinur coming out from where he hid during the fight and fire. "There you are, you rascal, good boy, for hiding."
Please, any warriors, who are good riders, chase after the remaining bandit. I ride like a rock and Hjarta, my horse, is a breeding mare, not a well-trained mount."
Stellan looks annoyed at the endless bickering.
After Roga's and Amoonrann's speeches.
"Amoonrann, please let it go, not everyone need be your enemy. Grendolynn we are all upset, everyone here is a stranger to each other, I met none of the charter bearers until yesterday. And it's been a horrible week for me, and a bad day for everyone here, right now. Tempers are strained and trust is in short supply." Stellan waves at each person as he introduces them."This is Amoonrann, Druid of the Green, who gives trust as freely as it has been given to her, Triaxus the Stalwart, who has given me no trouble at all, Roga, a Hunter of Erastil, and raging hypocrite, watch your back with him, Grendolynn. The bleeding Elf is Elros Unlucky, who I'm surprised is still alive, he's tougher than he looks. Oh and I'm Stellan Volkov a witch of winter's breath, a healer and forester. I'll swear by the spirit of wood and winter to mean you no harm and pledge succor if called by you, if that will make you feel more welcome. But things need to be done now." Stellan continues his many tasks.
Replying to Amoorann, Stellan says, "He's badly hurt but with care he'll live. He is much tougher than I believed, I thought him dead with the first arrow. I cannot heal him again today, but I can care for him."
After Grendolynn walks away from him, Roga walks up to her, put a hand on her shoulder. "Grendolynn was it? You know as well as I do that the clergy's primary mission in these lands is to help the small hamlets in the border lands including protecting them." Roga says perhaps a bit more harshly than intended and continues in a more friendly tone: "You are sincere and seem honest and I offer you my apologies, but please understand that many greenskins does not come in peace."
"I would gladly chase this bandit down but he has ahead start and alas I can't track him. So if an able tracker can help me I think we should give chase." Roga responds to Stellan's first suggestion.
"And this raging hypocrite who like a word with you later regarding your craft winter witch. Just remember Grendolynn, didn't chose her parents, you chose your craft" Roga adds with anger lingering is his voice.
Mumbling an almost silent incantation to Erastil, Roga's irises shine with a pulsation green light and he turns his gaze to Stellan.
Yes, He is casting detect evil.
"Please tend to Elros." He continues in a milder tone of voice
Stellan's speech, though passionate and good, and righteous, and all the things a heroic speech should be, fell on deaf ears with Amoonrann. Everything the witch had said was true, but it was true at face value. And things that were true on the surface shouldn't be mentioned, either because they're obvious (thus mentioning it serves no purpose), or they shouldn't be mentioned because they are shallow truths. A forest is a forest, after all, but if you view it as such, you miss seeing the forest for the trees..
"Roga is right. We can't catch the one who got away," Amoonrann replied, "by now, his lead is too great. We could ride after him, but tracking would slow us down giving him an ever increasing lead. But..." Amoonrann trailed off, and then she walked over to where Roga had put the unconscious bandit.
"We know someone who knows where that runner is going," Amoonrann said, and she got down to check on the well-being of the bandit.
Since Stellan healed him for 6 damage rather than me.
If a had prepared Cure light wounds I could apply those but I prepared Mage Armor, and Sleep both used. I can use the hex on every creature once per day and that's it. I do think we should get a wand of cure light wounds ASAP. I really did not expect one person to get so badly wounded and my cure damage roll for you was below average. So I'm not ignoring you.
"You're quite right Amoonrann, lets just hope he will talk, when he wakes. Perhaps their leader has a map of some sort?" Roga answers.
He walks over to the corps of Happs and searches it in hope of finding a map that can help them.
"I think we need to rest before we give chase." Roga says to no one in particular.
"Oleg are you and Svetlana hurt? and has the fort suffered more damage than the stables?"
"Say, does anyone know where Caelus went?"
Stellan, with or without aid, moves the bandit and Elros into the guest house. He starts long term care using his healing kit(+2), expending two uses out of ten.
Take ten (if allowed) 10+4+2=16 Double hit point recovery overnight.
Elros is so hurt, might not wake till tomorrow, bandit has good chance in an hour.
"The bandit should wake in an hour or so, Elros.... longer."
Amoonrann, without saying anything walks into the guest house where Stellan and Elros were. After watching Stellan for a moment, she stops him and she gets down on one knee and she began whispering softly. The cabin filled with the sound of whispering winds, as if the wood itself were the source. As Amoonrann spoke the words of the forest and her eyes glazed over yet again, she reached out and touched Elros' arm.
Grendolynn ignores Moonie for now. When Stellen addresses her she looks at him firmly for a moment, then nods. When Roga apologizes to her and puts his hand on her shoulder, her eyes begin to tear up, before she swallows hard and says, "I know well the violence of 'greenskins' Roga. Apology accepted."
As the group is talking and tending to the wounded thief, Grendolynn walks around the courtyard making careful observations of the buildings. She reaches the shed about the same time Stellan asks about Caelus. "Could that be him?" She asks, kicking the door open and pointing to the Taldan man hanging from the rafters by his sword belt. She grimaces, "Looks like he didn't want to be here anymore..."
Turning to address everyone, she says, "So apparently you all don't trust each other, and have had a very bad day. Everyone is talking about giving chase, but why? Even if that wounded thief is willing to talk, why go to them? What makes you think that the bandits won't return here? You've killed several of their number and denied them their loot. I'm assuming this isn't the first time they've been here. Rather than trying to take them on their own home turf, would it not be better to fortify our position here and then set up an ambush for them along the road? If things go badly, we could retreat into the fort and shut the gates. We'd have a much better chance of surviving against greater numbers from behind these palisades. Not to mention the fact that forcing them to return here will split their numbers, unless they completely abandon wherever they are camping now. I know I have been here the least amount of time, but honestly, all I want is to help." As she finishes she holds her hands open palms out at her sides and quirks her mouth slightly to side and looks at each of them in turn, hoping she won't have to endure any more ridicule.
Amoonrann walked away from Elros, having done what she can for him and she came to the door just in time to hear Gren's speech, which made Amoonrann shake her head. "Except that we have no way of knowing what numbers they could besiege us with; nor do we know they are the only bandit camp here. If there are others, and if they rally against us, what then?" Amoonrann asked, rhetorically. "Our 'position' is wood, and easily burned; our catapults don't work; and I doubt we've enough food and water to last long," she added and then she sat on one at one of the tables in the courtyard, facing towards the center of the fortress.
"We are in no position to suffer through a siege," she said, and she closed her eyes to think. The Hobgoblin did raise at least one good point: in their current state it would be unwise to attack the bandit camp. Their mettle was untested and indeed, though Amoonrann had faith in her abilities, she was hardly inspired by her companions. While they had managed to survive their first challenge together, it was only by the skin of their teeth, and the result was probably one of the worst possible.
"Well, if there is an army of bandits out there, I'm sure the unconscious one here will brag about it." She says pointing at the captured thief. Beyond that she is at a loss for words. "How did they get in here in the first place? Did they trick you?" She asks the group.
Svetlana frowns as the party bickers among themselves. "Please - I must beg you to put aside your differences, at least for now. We must decide how to proceed. If a bandit really did flee..." She flees to Olegs arms and hides her face in his shoulder, sobbing quietly. Oleg pats her back awkwardly, and whispers in her ear as Grendolynn opens the door to the guest house where it appears Caelus has hung himself. Without looking, Svetlana runs back to the main house.
Oleg approaches Roga and shakes his head. "No, there was no damage to any of us or the fort. I guess we have you to thank for that. But I swear if those bandits come back and give us worse than we already had... I'll take one of those horses m'self and ride up to Restov, ask your charters to be revoked." He gives the party a long, cold look before he starts walking back to the main house himself.
On the body of the cloaked man, Roga finds: a dagger, leather armor, a composite Longbow (+2 Strength), 50gp, and a silver amulet in the likeness of a stags skull.
Inside the guest house... The bandit wakes up with a sharp intake of air, and freezes as he notices where he is, and who he is surrounded by.
Grendolynn turns to Oleg and says, "Don't worry Sir. We'll..." she starts, then thinks better of it, "...I'll, try to make sure that nothing else bad happens here. It looks like our prisoner is awake now, once we talk to him maybe we'll have the information we need to keep you safe." She looks at the others in the group and aks quietly, "Who's going to talk to him? We need to find out what he knows, but it's not gonna be easy. He knows the penalty for banditry as well as the next man."
"I'll give you a hand, Stellan" Triaxus offers when the witch calls for aid in moving the wounded. Upon his return, he tenses slightly at Grendolynn's appearance, but relaxes a touch when she greets Oleg with a handshake. The introduction Stellan gives for him bring a bit of a smile, and he responds with, "Well, it certainly beats Triaxus the Hot-headed, Impetuous or," he added with a visible distaste, "...the Heavens-sent. Good to make your acquaintance." He gives Roga a bit of a look as he accosts Stellan, but keeps his silence, as his next words, and Oleg's, are a stark reminder that there are greater concerns to be had.
"Amoonraan's right about bunkering down; this was a garrison; now it's a trading post, and not as defensively strong. And if that lead bandit is any indication, fire bombs would be a strong possibility. Not something I want to test the walls against." He pauses a moment to consider his next words, then continues. "For how they got in, well, that was due to a number of errors on all our parts, and as Stellan states, when we got here, trust was in short supply, with all the unknowns we had in consideration to each other. But seeing as we haven't all killed each other yet, I think we can at least stay off each other's throats long enough to keep what happened from happening again, for Oleg and Svetlana's sake if nothing else."
He pauses again to count on his fingers, and adds, "If Svetlana was correct in her initial assessment, there were a dozen bandits, and two that were particularly worrying; that's hardly an army. Five were here today, and the one that escaped was badly wounded. That makes...eight remaining, at least close enough to make a rapid response. And that's assuming they choose to attack in force, like an army, and not from surprise or in a position of clear strength, like, well, bandits. We got caught with our pants down, with fewer numbers than we have now, and still repelled an effective ambush with a pretty disjointed attack. We work together, and it would take a right mob to beat us back. So, any chance we can hold it together long enough to solve this problem for good?"
"Oh, and I think we can convince our guest to be cooperative. Let me chat with him for a minute."
Amoonrann had no real interest in even attempting to interrogate the downed bandit. She had a hard enough time dealing with people who wanted to cooperate; let alone those who were being less than helpful. In short, she just didn't have the patience for interrogation. In fact, the whole idea of an interrogation just seemed...surreal, to her.
Slowly, Amoonrann opened her and then she went over to the bodies of the other thieves and started taking off whatever gear and loot that they had. There was no sense letting these things go to waste and, indeed, the dead have no need of armor and swords and bows and the like. The task was mindless enough that it allowed her to think about the days events, and for that, the Tiefling was grateful.
Grendolynn listens to Triaxus and then says, "Well, we can't leave Oleg and Svetlana here to fend for themselves in any case. I'm proposing an ambush out on the road anyway. We would only fall back here as a last resort. Oh, and it's a lot harder to light thick timber walls on fire than it is a barn full of hay." She pauses for moment and then finishes, "I say go ahead and talk to him Tri, see what you can learn."