As you walk casually down the streets enjoy the sites, you are - nevertheless - suspicious of any potential threats.
Something didn't seem quite "right" at the tavern, and ever since that time, you've all been a bit edgy on what might be coming.
Thus far you’ve noticed many of the people here wear the usual garb that you’d associate with this type of town. Fancier clothing; warmer – but the armor and weapons don’t seem to be very heavy. Many people carry daggers, some of them wear light leather armor, possibly a breastplate or two; and the occasional pistol or rapier at the side of certain men.
It is no surprise, then, that you are able to notice moving in a relatively tight bunch behind you the group that is coming forward.
Melthune, Taissa and Zayna spot them easily enough through the crowd, and quickly alert the rest of you and you all glance behind you to see what they observe...
You see four men behind you. Three of them wear northmen gear and have northmen skin coloring. They’re fair skin with long dark hair and thick beards, and they’re armed with crossbows, rapiers and other type of clothing that is local to Varisia or the Shoanti tribes specifically. Moreover, they are covered in heavy animal pelts; some of the pelts look like wolf skin and one of them is wearing what looks like a wolf’s-head helmet.
Yet it is the last man who cause's you to be most concerned...
The last is a man whose gear looks like he’s from Rahadoum, possibly. He’s taller, leaner and carrying a large shield and a naked scimitar in his hands. His skin is black and he has a gold ring in his nose and in his left ear. He is wearing a heavy wool cloak, and the cloak is dyed red.
This group not only stands out for the gear, but also because the crossbows are clearly loaded, even though they’re slung over the bowmen’s backs (a bad move for a crossbow as it would wear out the firing mechanism – unless they’re planning on using it very soon). The fact that the southerner is not only carrying a strange gear, but is carrying his scimitar out of the sheathe and open in his hands is obviously a threat.
In case there was any other doubt, you notice they’re all eying you intently and some of the northmen attempt to use some sort of weapon (you can’t tell what it is from here – there is just too many people between you).
As they prepare to use their weapons, you realize that even though there’s civilians all around – these men want blood!
Daya:
Hack:
Melthune:
Taissa:
White Fang:
Zayna:
Bad guys –
As a Free Action the man with the scimitar points his blade at you and calls out to the others in Common –
”You know what to do - take them!” he barks out.
Positions:
Daya: R:17
Hack: R:16
Mel: T:16
Taissa: S:17
White Fang: S:18
Zayna: S:15
All of the men surrounded by green are your enemies. The people with no “halo” on them are civilians. The man in red is at S:7. You can see where the rest are Here.
That said - good Luck!
Round 1
The enemies with the crossbows don’t seem too eager to use them just yet.
Instead, they raise in their hands some sort of heavy looking rocks attached to large cords and fling them with deft precision at Daya and White Fang – targeting them specifically.
The first bowman moves up to R:11 and flings his weapon at Daya hard –
The second man moves to T:12 and attacks White Fang
The final bowman moves to V:12 and takes another shot at Daya..
Finally, the enemy with the sword and shield moves hard up to Zayna at S:14 and takes a swing at her with his scimitar…
.
Hack charges to R:12, and attacks the enemy.
Hack charges to R:12, and attacks the enemy.
.
[dice=Con check to stabilize ]1d20-1
Don't worry, you should be okay if your Packmates are able to aid you.
Meanwhile, please make a Wisdom Check for some extra information, thanks!
Melthune simply takes a step forward, raising her fists and taking a swing at the fellow who's got a length of steel in the musket wielding woman's face.
Trying to take the pressure off the melee'd Zanya,
"Try and get to cover!" Melthune yells at the musket wielding woman over the noise of the crowd and scuffle of combat, indicating P:14.
"FOR HOUSE GUARDII !" Melthune hollers out.
Zayna screams as her chest is sliced open brutally by the man with the scimitar. "What the f&%$!? I don't even know you!" She steps back from the man, tottering on her feet and raises her musket, firing on him point blank. Her round strikes him in the shoulder, blowing off a flap of bloody red flesh. Zayna is reloading before it even registers with her that she's hit. She whips an alchmical round from her bandolier and rams it down the barrel with a smoothness and speed indicating she's done it countless times. As soon as she reloads she takes aim at the man again, preparing to fire.
__________________________________________
The heavy furs they are wearing; the thick pelts and so on… these men are likely trappers or trackers. They probably hunt in the wilds and try to catch beasts to skin for their fur.
Yet the southern man seemed eager to call the shots, not the northern men. He also had seemed to order his men to attack both the redoubtable Daya and the amazing White Fang first. Not the girls with muskets, not the big guys with swords. It’s almost as if the guy was specifically trying to take out the beasts first for some reason – before they could get away.
Now why would the guy want to take out the beasts first? And – more specifically – why would the guys with the big crossbows decide to not use their crossbows and instead use their bolas?
White Fang considers that for a while, realizing that there must be some mystery involved there, and he will no doubt discover it soon.
Melthune, the Cestus manages to land a light graze on the man’s shoulder; hit, but not badly.
Zayna, the musket easily makes contact with the swordsmen in front of you. At this range you are aware that he is clearly not wearing any armor – merely carrying the shield, so he’s either extremely confident or possesses the skills of a powerful martial artist who is very good at dodging even without armor.
Meanwhile – the explosion of the gunshot reverberates over the cobblestones and the high stone walls and echoes through the area. It’s likely that it was heard for at least eight or nine blocks!
Taissa issues a loud, deep growl as the attackers take their shots at Daya and White Fang and the pup goes down and is still.
Taissa's takes a 5 ft step to R:18 (free action).
She bends down and checks on the prone pup's condition (standard action).
************************************************************************
Daya flies in rage toward the bowman enemy (V:12) who attacked her. She is currently at V:13. Her screech is piercing.
She attacks the enemy with her sharp beak, hoping to inflict injury.
She hovers in the air (5 to 10 feet).
As Taissa bends down to examine White Fang she can see that the goodly pup is unconscious, but not bleeding out.
While she didn’t realize it at the time, it seems that the bola – unlike their crossbows – is specifically designed to do “non-lethal” damage. Most men aren’t proficient with such weapons; but after traveling with Geser, she recalls that Bounty Hunters are…
It’s likely they were trying to catch or trap both Daya and White Fang; but for what purpose, she does not know…
Meanwhile
Daya does an excellent job in hitting the enemy square in the face, tearing into his flesh with her sharp beak!
As her move action, Taissa removes the CLW potion from her pouch and administers it to the unconscious pup, pouring it down his little mouth.
Once he revives and opens his eyes, she rises and as a free action she commands the pup in Worg (and growl),
As her move action, Taissa removes the CLW potion from her pouch and administers it to the unconscious pup, pouring it down his little mouth.
[dice=CLW potion on White Fang]1d8+1
Once he revives and opens his eyes, she rises and as a free action she commands the pup in Worg (and growl),
** spoiler omitted **
Top of Round 2
The “leader” of the party calls out to his mates –
”Catch the bird – drop the caster!”
The bowman by Hack takes a 5 foot step back to R:10 and draws his rapier then goes on Total Defense
The bowman in the middle of the company drops back 5 feet and draws his crossbow and takes a shot at Zayna.
The bowman by Daya drops back 5 feet from the bird and draws his bow as part of a Move Action and fires it at Daya as part of a his attack Action.
Finally, the enemy facing the priestess growls and turns to Melthune and swings his blade at the red-haired knight –
[dice=Fort save]1d20+3
Daya - you succeeded at your saving throw (which is good news. Though you wouldn't know it, the arrow was poisoned).
Meantime, I'm off to bed for real - I have to be up early for my first job.
See you all tomorrow!
As her attacker's weapon skips off her armored fore arm Melthune smiles.
"The guard will he here very soon. Run, run while you still can."
As her attacker's weapon skips off her armored fore arm Melthune smiles.
"The guard will he here very soon. Run, run while you still can."
Melthune - you were hit for 11 Damage.
In the first place, your AC is not a 24 if you're not using your shield or your full armor. But even if it was a 24, he still hit a 24.
Also, you can't do Intimidate and attack - Intimidate is a Standard Action.
Do you have a preference as to which one?
If not, I'm going to assume you're just going to attack him.
Severely wounded by the arrow, Daya screeches in anger and flies 5 feet to attack the same bowman enemy at V:11, with the full force of her might. She is protecting the pack and had seen what was done to White Fang.
She raises her voice and shouts in Roc speak to Daya (free action),
Even as tired as she was due to the lack of sleep, Taissa draws the lucerne hammer from her back, takes a 5 ft step to R:16 and attacks the enemy that was at S:14 with her reach weapon (10 ft).
**********************************************************************
White Fang uncharacteristically heeds Taissa due to his injuries. The pup follows Taissa lead and moves to R:17 and standing tall, growls as viciously as he is able to attempt to intimidate the enemy (S:14) closest to his Alpha.
If the growls do not work, he howls and howls and howls, hoping the noise will draw the attention of good folk to aid the pack.
Zayna raises her musket and fires at the leader of their assailants again. This time she hits him straight in the forehead. "Do I look like a "caster" now m&+##@ f$&!*+!?" she screams angrily, as she reloads her musket. Being slashed open and nearly killed tends to put Zayna in a bad mood.
Hack steps up to R:11, flies into a Rage, and attacks the enemy.
Zanya leaps back and her bullet blows the head of the enemy clean off his shoulders. It explodes into pieces and the sound reverberates throughout the now empty streets as the last of the citizens have long since fled.
Hack – enraged – takes a heavy swing at one of them – but as the scum has elected to use Fighting Defensively as his last action Hack’s attack missed – but barely (initially I had Total Defense but then checked and found he couldn’t do that and take a 5 foot step, so he had to do Fighting Defensively and so Hack just missed – but barely).
Melthune elects to intimidate the leader, but as the leader is now dead, there seems to be little left to do except deal with the remaining two villains.
The party now prepares for the response of the assailants...
On their turn, however, they elect to turn and do a full and charge off down the very street you came from.
Meanwhile the entire thing is over in only a few seconds. Two men lay dead on the streets and the common people have fled the scene, though it is very likely that many have witnessed what occurred, though whether they will report it or not is another story...
At this time, the long-time resident of this city – Melthune – speaks up quickly to the group:
”Those shots will have been heard all over – the Town Watch is likely moving to get to us quick-smart! We can either wait for them and try to explain ourselves to the authorities, or we can try to get the hell out of here and hope that no one reports us.”
”We need to decide fast, because they’ll likely be here soon!” she adds glancing around, as if any moment a barrage of musketeers will be charging around the corner.
Hack, visibly fatigued, allows the enemy to withdraw with the others.
We need to search 'em and move on quickly.
Hack steps to the nearest fallen enemy and rifles through his belongings.
"Good fighting." Taissa gives a separate nod to Zayna in regard to her final, crushing shot to the Rahadoumi leader. The last two Northmen had run and had Taissa the time and energy to give chase, she would have tracked them and asked a few questions.
Facing Hack, Taissa adds, "Agreed. We do not have time to explain ourselves nor do we know if these hunters have a connection to the locals. I say, a person per body, Hack has one, Melthune check the other, and search quickly and then we move on. There are those in direct need of healing and that takes precedence over explanations to law keepers." Taissa had a natural distrust of the human system of law. And she was unfamiliar with Korvosan law.
The tiredness that was present from the moment they had docked, still pervades Taissa's body. She watches as Daya stares at the arrow that had pierced her flesh momentarily. Seeing that White Fang is still alright and is able to follow, she simply commands, "Come, little one" and goes to carefully inspect the arrow on the ground, lifting it by the back end of the shaft and not touching the small arrowhead. She lifts it to her nose and sniffs a little. It wouldn't surprise her if these hunters used some form of poison to further their ill intent.
Lifting her head to Daya she gives praise, "You fought bravely, Daya. I shall see your wounds are healed. And White Fang's, too."
Melthune frowns as she looks from Taissa to Shenkt,
"What? These curs attacked us. They came running down the street. That one," She indicates the now 'Head shorter' sabre wielder, "Seemed to be in charge." She folds her arms.
"Zanya's rounds will have been heard for blocks. If we are seen running, why then will the authorities believe us should they cross our paths. We've done nothing wrong." She finishes emphatically.
"By the looks of what's left of this one they were probably just Quadiran slavers looking for some exotic wares to take home and make a profit on..." Melthune sniffs dismissively.
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Hack steps to the nearest fallen enemy and rifles through his belongings.
1. Wolf skin armor (essentially it’s Leather Armor – but if worn it counts as Cold Weather Gear).
2. Rapier.
3. Masterwork Heavy Crossbow.
4. 12 bolts
5. Vial of strange chemical – possibly poison – amount of doses unknown.
6. Pouch with coins in it – amount unknown.
7. Traveler’s Clothes
8. Manacles.
9. Second set of Bolas
10. Dagger
11. 20 feet of rope.
12. Tinderbox
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"Good fighting."
"Come, little one"
White Fang moves scampers proudly around Taissa’s feet, generally making a nuisance of himself barking happily now that his team has won the fight!
"We won, won, wooo-ooonnnn!" he says howling out his happiness, his tail doing a tiny dance of happiness!
It is a type of variation of Oil of Taggit – sometimes called Oil of Restfulness. Found Here.
Normally ingested, this variation can be applied to weapons, which is not usual, but in this case very effective at causing an enemy to become helpless in a fight.
This confirms your suspicion that the poison was meant to take the animals prisoner rather than kill them outright.
But why…
That’s the question!
Hack grabs the MW Crossbow and 12 Bolts.
Well, I guess I won't be needin' to buy that bow.
[ooc]The rest of you can see the spoiler and take what you like.
Melthune does help relieve the bodies of their now, no longer needed, possessions.
Hack grabs the MW Crossbow and 12 Bolts.
Well, I guess I won't be needin' to buy that bow.
Melthune does help relieve the bodies of their now, no longer needed, possessions.
Hack, taking what he wanted, begins to saunter off.
Let's move this along, huh?