Corneleous lets a crossbow bolt fly towards distant Belagio, but the distance is too great and the bolt flies wide. He sighs and hands his crossbow back to be reloaded, and the unseen force begins immediately to do so.
Lucon stills himself for just a moment, answering his opponents request with a steely glare, finding his feet with shield held high. He looks around to his beleaguered companions and lets out a battle-cry. "For home and hearth! For the Torchbearers!" he bellows, anticipating the bodyguard's lunge and meeting him halfway with a blow to the midsection that skewers through his armour. The smirk the hulking man was sporting is replaced by disbelief at he slides from Lucons blade.
The wagon continues to distance itself, about 80' away at this point.
"Why...won't...you...die!?" Jaiyana spits at the bandit before her, breathing heavily. The pain of her many small wounds and the weight of her armor and flail begin to wear on her. Belagio's voice breaks her concentration on the foe at hand, and causes her to snap out of her tunnel vision, realizing that she is in no condition to battle three men at once, let alone the leader himself. She sets her flail spinning one more time, trying to fell at least one of the two men before her, drawing herself back defensively. Her shoulder's sag as another blow falls short. She glances to her allies, and starts backing toward Amon and Coreleous, looking for stength in numbers. She skirts guard1 and bandit4 who'r still engaged in there own little battle, and also are the halfway point from where she was fighting, and Corneleous. As Jaiyana retreats both bandit1 and 2 try to injure her retreating form, but fail to either hit or penetrate her armor.
Tavi slashes at Archer3, stabbing for his knees. She cannot catch the wily archer with her blade however.
Amon pulls out his sling and lets fly at the nearby Bandit4, the stone striking him on the side of his head.
Enko's eyes dart toward the retreating Jaiyana as the bodyguard goes down in a bloody mess, and he darts over to the bandit attacking the pained guard1. He uncoils a fist at bandit4, and then moves swiftly to knock the man on his back with some unforseen motion of elbow and knee. He snaps a kick at the fallen bandit, knocking some of the wind from his lungs.
Guard1 swings at Bandit4 once again, this time running the bandit through, his eyes rolling into his head as he falls to the ground. The guard looks up tiredly and grins weakly at the Torchbearers.
Guard2 remains down and out of the fight.
Guard3 is hurt badly, and lies facedown on the ground.
----
Lucky for Amon, Archer1 continues to experience bad luck and misses the halfling.
Archer2 lies where he fell.
Archer3 drops the bow and wisks out his knife, slicing at Tavi but missing her completely.
Archer4 is gone.
Bandit1 (club) move in on the nearest foe, Lucon, but cannot hit the large man.
Bandit2 (axe) follows his fellow but likewise cannot hurt the armored carpenter.
Bandit3 remains down and out.
Bandit4 (club) lies at the guard1 and Enko's feet, out of the fighting.
Bandit5 (knife) again helps his boss up, ready to follow after him. "Ya ok sir?"
Bandit6 (club) lies still.
Bandit7 (knife) disappears among the trees in his flight from the insane Belagio.
Bandit8 (axe) remains out of the fight.
Belagio backhands bandit5 for his concern, and charges now for the closer Lucon, blades at the ready. His blades cut one deep crease in Lucons armor, but the other misses wide. "Well don't you look ready to die?" Bandit5 follows behind Belagio, but is not in position to attack.
The bodyguard lies in a wreck at Lucons and Belagios feet.
Archer1 Attack: Damage:
Archer2 Attack: Damage: Miss (low hits):
Archer3 Attack: Damage:
Bandit1 Attack: Damage:
Bandit2 Attack: Damage:
Bandit3 Attack: Damage:
Bandit4 Attack: Damage:
Bandit5 Attack: Damage:
Bandit6 Attack: Damage:
Bandit7 Attack: Damage: void
Bodyguard: Attack Damage:
Belagio: Attack1 Damage: . Attack2 Damage:
Guard1 Attack Damage:
Guard2 Attack Damage:
Guard3 Attack Damage:
Good Guys
Corneleous 14/14
Lucon 12/19
Jaiyana 9/23
Tavi 11/19
Amon 10/20
Enko 13/13
Guard1 1/9
Guard2 -1/9
Guard3 -2/9
----
The Bandits
Archer1 6/8
Archer2 -4/8
Archer3 8/8
Archer4 1/8 Running away
Bandit1 9/9
Bandit2 4/9
Bandit3 -2/9
Bandit4 8/9 Prone
Bandit5 2/9
Bandit6 -4/9
Bandit7 1/9 Running
Bandit8 -1/9 bleeding
Bodyguard -1/16
Belagio 18/18 +4Str(Potion)
Guards2&3 are down
Archer4 is gone, and Bandit7 is still running off. Archer2, and Bandit3,4,6&8 are down.
Lucon, Enko, have killed the Bodyguard.
Jaiyana and Enko is standing by guard1.
Guard1 has downed bandit4, with a lot of help from you all.
Amon and Corneleous remain side-by-side.
Tavi is now engaged with Archer3 in the trees.
Archer1 is on the ground about 40' from Amon&Corneleous, on the right side of the road.
Belagio stands where his bodyguard was, fighting with Lucon, neaby stands bandit5.
Jaiyana gives a grateful nod to the Viscount as the potion bobs near her. She snatches it out of the air and gulps it quickly down, feeling the worst of her injuries numb and heal with miraculous speed.
Enko draws a small bag from a sleeve.
As Balagio attacks, Enko pulls Balagio forward, grabbing his knife arm and pulling him to the ground, kneeing him in the abdomen for good measure.
(DC 11 Reflex or sickened 1 round)
Enko aims the bag at Balagio's foot; as it strikes it splats open, releasing a gooey mix of tar and resin.
Corneleous releases yet another sizzling acid from outstretched fingers, this one moving with deadly precision to slam into Belagio's side. He screams as the acid burns his skin. Before the acid even reached Belagio, the Viscount reaches behind himself and snatches the now-loaded crossbow from the air. Holding open his pouch you can see a potion rise of it's own accord, uncork itself, and move at a sedate pace towards the injured Jaiyana.
The wagon turns around a bend, now well over 100' away, and no longer in visual range of the bandit archers.
Jaiyana gives a grateful nod to the Viscount as the potion bobs near her. She snatches it out of the air and gulps it quickly down, feeling the worst of her injuries numb and heal with miraculous speed.
Tavi continues to slice ineffecively at Archer3, sweat beading her brow.
Amon whips his sling at Belagio, the stone passing just passing between Belagio and Lucon, but missing both.
Enko draws a small bag from a sleeve as he moves stand again by Lucon to face Belagio. Seeing the monk distracted Belagio cuts at him visciously, but Enko wasn't distracted in the slightest, actually luring the injured bandit to attack. As Balagio attacks, Enko pulls Balagio forward, grabbing his knife arm and pulling him to the ground, kneeing him in the abdomen for good measure. Belagio turns his body just enough to avoid a direct hit from Enko's knee, even as he falls to the ground.
Lucon's huge foe drops to the ground in front of him and the carpenter raises his weapon in challenge, but as Belagio approaches his courage seems to leave him. Staggering and dropping his guard, suddenly, the man looks too small for his armour and too clumsy for a blade. He ducks behind his shield, bringing his blade around in a low arc. However as Enko appears beside him, Lucon takes courage and when Belagio is dropped to the ground Lucon wastes no time, bringing his sword down, hard. The sword pierces deep into Belagio's shoulder, even as the man tries twisting to evade the attack. He looks severely injured, his one good eye darting about wildly.
Guard1 seems content to wait by Jaiyana's side, sword raised as he waits for the more experienced Jaiyana to make her move, ready to assist.
Guard2 remains down and out of the fight.
Guard3 is hurt badly, and lies facedown on the ground.
----
Finally Archer1 releases an accurate shot at Amon, the arrow slamming into the halflings shoulder.
Archer2 lies where he fell.
Archer3 feints right and then lunges toward Tavi, grabbing the halfling woman in a tight grip, her blade catching the Archer3 in the neck for his trouble. However, he's overbalanced them both, and halfing and archer tumble from the tree. Both hit the ground at awkward angles, and lie unmoving where they fell.
Archer4 is gone.
Bandit1 (club) reingages Lucon, but still cannot injure the defensively moving carpenter.
Bandit2 (axe) follows his fellow and this time hits Lucon, despite the defensive weaving of his sword.
Bandit3 remains down and out.
Bandit4 (club) lies at the guard1 and Enko's feet, out of the fighting.
Bandit5 (knife) charges at Enko, determined to help his boss. The knife opens a narrow gash on the monks arm.
Bandit6 (club) lies still.
Bandit7 (knife) disappears among the trees in his flight from the insane Belagio.
Bandit8 (axe) remains out of the fight.
Belagio, prone, injured, and furious doesn't even consider the poor position he's in, trying to stand and attack. "Die! Die! Die!" Enko, seeing an opportunity, aims the bag he'd drawn earlier at Balagio's foot; as it strikes it splats open, releasing a gooey mix of tar and resin. He attacks at Lucon anyways, and misses two times in a row.
The bodyguard lies in a wreck at Lucons and Belagios feet.
Archer1 Attack: Damage:
Archer3 Attack: Damage:
Bandit1 Attack: Damage:
Bandit2 Attack: Damage:
Bandit5 Attack: Damage:
Belagio: Attack1 Damage: . Attack2 Damage:
Guard1 Attack Damage:
Belagio reflex
Good Guys
Corneleous 14/14
Lucon 8/19
Jaiyana 17/23
Tavi -3/19
Amon 10/20
Enko 11/13
Guard1 1/9
Guard2 -1/9
Guard3 -2/9
----
The Bandits
Archer1 6/8
Archer2 -4/8
Archer3 -1/8
Archer4 1/8 Gone
Bandit1 9/9
Bandit2 4/9
Bandit3 -2/9
Bandit4 -2/9
Bandit5 2/9
Bandit6 -4/9
Bandit7 1/9 Gone
Bandit8 -1/9
Bodyguard -1/16
Belagio 2/18 +4Str(Potion)
Guards2&3 are down
Archer4 is gone, and Bandit7 gone. Archer2&3 and Bandit3,4,6&8 are down.
Lucon, Enko, are engaged by Belagio, Bandit5, Bandit1 and Bandit2. Lucon is flanked.
Jaiyana is standing by guard1, 20' from both Amon&Corneleous on one side, and Enko&Lucon on the other.
Amon and Corneleous remain side-by-side.
Tavi is down and unmoving.
Archer1 is on the ground about 40' from Amon&Corneleous, 25' from Jaiyana&Guard1, on the right side of the road.
Feeling better after the magical healing Jaiyana is ready to re-enter the fray. She sees that Lucon and Enko are engaged with the majority of the remaining foes and makes a quick decision to clear the field of the final archer before moving to assist. The ranger moves toward the bow-wielding bandit and draws a vial of alchemist's fire as she goes, hurling it toward her foe.
Enko shows no mercy to the raging Balagio. "Your reign of terror is at an end, Balagio," he says, and delivers swift, punishing blows in a blur of open palms.
[spoiler=Round 9]
Corneleous aims his crossbow and attacks the nearest bandit, one of those flanking Lucon. The bolt sails wide of the melee.
The wagon is well out of sight.
Feeling better after the magical healing Jaiyana is ready to re-enter the fray. She sees that Lucon and Enko are engaged with the majority of the remaining foes and makes a quick decision to clear the field of the final archer before moving to assist. The ranger moves toward the bow-wielding bandit, drawing a vial of alchemist's fire as she goes, stopping a few feet away and hurling it toward her foe. The Archer1 smiles as the deadly concoction misses him, but then is caught by surprise as the container shatters, however he does manage to twist out of the way of the splash.
Guard1 moves quickly after Jaiyana, already prepared to move should she attack someone. But he fails to injure Archer1 further.
Tavi remains down.
Amon moves 10' along the right side of the road towards Jaiyana and Archer1, and lets fly with another projectile from his sling. The stone sails off into the trees, not connecting.
Enko shows no mercy to the raging Balagio. "Your reign of terror is at an end, Balagio," he says, and delivers swift, punishing blows in a blur of open palms. The first strike Belagio manages to turn away from, but this only opens him up more for Enko's follow up strike to the mans temple, and Belagio crashes to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
Lucon brings his arm back with a steely look in his eye to plunge his blade into Belagio's heart, but seeing that Enko took the man down, he turns the strike towards one of the other bandits surrounding him, running the bandit2 through. The bandit topples over slowly, a trickle of blood spilling from his mouth.
Guard2 remains down and out of the fight.
Guard3 lies face-down on the ground.
----
With the downing of Belagio and the Bodyguard, the rest of the bandits lose heart. Archer1 runs off into the trees Bandit5 and Bandit1 throw down their weapons, and kneel with hands raised high. "Please please let us live! We give up! We surrender!!" they plead in wide-eyed fear. What was supposed to be another simple robbery, and Belagio having a little of his brand of fun, turned into the dismantling of their band. A check of the bodies show that one of the injured guards still live, but Tavi had landed on one of her knives in the fall from the trees and no trace of life remains in the fiesty young halfling girl. Your horses have scattered a little during the fierce battle, but all remain nearby, including Tavi's. The wagon you fought so hard to protect is gone around several curves in the road.
Leather Armor - x7
Chain Shirt - x1
Mwk Chain Shirt - x1
Longbows - x3/x4 if Jaiyana kills Archer1 (Archer4 threw his down before running away)
Arrows - x35
Knives - x4
Clubs - x3
Axes - x3
Mwk Longspear - x1
Mwk Heavy Mace - x1
Mwk Longsword (jeweled) - x1
Starknife - x1
Potion CLW - x2
Potion Brownish liquid - x1
Various pieces of jewelery - x5
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You bandits will remove all of your clothes. One of you will lead us to your base. The other will be held here under penalty of death should the guide lead us falsely.
The Viscount casts detect magic for the search, and readies rope to bind the prisoners.
How far did the caravan get? Would the guards be able to ride back to their companions?
The bandits look at each other at the Viscounts command, and one starts to quickly remove his clothes, "Hold it there Rendel!" and he gives you all a sly look, "How do we know you won't just kill us once you get the goods?" Upon hearing this question, the other bandit stops his clothes removal and looks up at Corneleous, "Please sir, I don't want to die!"
"If you don't want to die, then you should have chosen a different profession," says Enko. "We offered you a chance to surrender and you opted not to take it. Accordingly, we make no guarantees, but if you cooperate, you will improve your chances. He has none," Enko says, his foot on Balagio's shoulder.
Enko nods to Lucon, indicating to the weary fighter to knock them over if they resist.
The bandits look at each other, "Improve our chances? Well that sounds downright looney! We know what the dotarri or the hellknights'll do to us." The talkative one gives a little shudder, "and none of you look half so mean as those evil-looking knights. Belagio has lots of goods stashed away, and we'll promise never to go robbing again either!" They both look at you, hands clasped in front of them imploringly.
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Lads, you forfeited your lives the moment you took up arms as a brigand. Justice would be to inflict the same injuries upon you that you gave innocent merchants. Fairness would be to give you a clean and painless death here. We the Torchbearers may even yet find a way for you to keep your lives and earn your freedom, depending how far down the path from redemption you've strayed. Returning the stolen loot is a first step back on that good path. It's your choice: we'll dispatch you to Hell or you can cooperate with us now.
To Lucon Do you think you could catch up to the Caravan and your son?
The former-bandit shakes his head, "I still don't hear what I need to hear. Living with that crazy loon every day... Lets just say we woke up expecting to be dead. If he took a fancy to your eyes." The bandit shudders involuntarily, "I don't want to die, but these maybe's and improving our chances business isn't going to get you what you want."
"Tell us what you want to hear." Enko is impassive and does not look very forgiving.
The talkative one speaks up, "We want to live. Not maybe live, not a step in the direction of living. We want to live."
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What guarantee do we have that you won't turn back to a life of crime? You served a man who sadistically plucked out innocent people's eyes. You carry a great deal of sin on your shoulders. It may be more humane for us to end your lives here. How would you plan to atone for your deeds? The stolen loot is not a bargaining chip for your freedom. You will bring us to it, or you will die here and the birds will pick clean your bones. After you turn over the loot to be returned, we will consider your future options.
The talkative one gets upset, "We're robbers, fine. But you're gonna kill us because our crazy boss stole eyes along with coins." Gathering his courage the mouthy one rips his shirt a bit, "You're as bad as the Hellknights, just kill me now." The quiet one turns wide eyes at his bandit friend but maintains his silence, clearly quite terrified.
"We will not kill you." Enko looks to Corneleous for a moment. "Not without provocation."
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What would the hellknights or the dotari typically do to the criminals? What's the punishment for banditry, murder, and mutilation/torture?
I'm guessing even if we turn them over to the the authorities, they may suffer more than if we cleanly dispatch them here. It's not the same as the hellknights (law 'enforcement') in the city.
Particularly the mouthy one is asking for it.
Local punishments/laws? Knowledge local:
The Viscount is visibly angered. His jowls are red, he's sweaty and tired from the ride. Although uninjured, he's tottering from the massive expenditure of magic- his staff cane is the only thing keeping him from toppling over.
The talkative one has shown no remorse for his crimes. He admits to banditry and to being a part of the mutilation. What further enrages Corneleous is the disregard he shows for the horrible act of maiming innocents. Robbery he can understand; survival sometimes requires drastic actions. But to willingly (and remorsefully) cooperate with a savage like Belagio sickens him.
The bandit sneers right back at Amon, "Who's repentin? We robbed em, and maybe roughed em up a bit, then Belagio would have his fun. Just how it was."
He does look quite cheered up by Enko's announcement, "Really?! Why didn't you say so?" He points with a toss of his head to the east and the north, "The stash is that way." He struggles to his feet and helps his fellow up. They lead you on a 20 minute walk through the forest until you find yourselves at the top of a steep embankment, a dry creek bed fifteen feet down. It's here the bandit stops, pointing with one hand, "Right down there, see that log propped at this angle?" He indicates the angle with his hand, "If you move that out of the way, and toss the low shrubs out of the way, you'll see a short cave. Inside about 10' you'll find the goods."
Int Check:
Lucon walks around the battlefield, sadly scooping up the halfling woman in his arms, cradling her like a ragdoll. He waves off the Viscount absentmindedly, forgetting his usual stiff courtesies, and shakes his head. "We could catch up, but I would rather the boy not see me with a knight's weapon at my belt." he says, holding the scabbard in two hands as if it were a stolen treasure, grimacing guiltily. "It... would not do to put ideas into his head." He sighs, mournfully, and stays silent through most of the exchange, though the young bandit's pleas seem to move him. He looks earnestly at his companions, his face grim and silent, but his eyes pleading for pity.
"The Hellknights will merely take a hand. Better a maimed man than a dead one, lad." he says, laying Tavi reverently over one of the skittish horses and advancing on the bandits with rope in hand. Pray to your gods, and perhaps the dottari will not deliver you to the citadel for justice..." he says, with an apologetic smile, and if faced with no resistance will bind their hands, stumbling a little with the knots.
The bandit turns and points at Enko, his voice suddenly shaky, "That one said we wouldn't be hurt!" He looks frantically at Enko, "Don't let them make a liar out of you good sir!"
"I said you wouldn't be killed. And you will not,by us, unless you provoke it."
Enko has steel in his voice,though no anger. "You have set your plans in action. There is a price to pay. We cannot determine it; we can only say that you will be spared for now."
He turns to the other Torchbearers. "There may be traps. We should not allow them to set them off."
The bandit starts to protest further, but he stops, clearly having difficulty remembering the precise words of the monk. He starts again, but, realizing he's agreed to nothing concrete, falls silent and sullen. There is no change in the other, quieter bandit.
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Your full name lad. Give it. You fear the Hellknights? Perhaps you missed the demon that I brought forth from the bowels of hell? Perhaps you failed to notice that only you and your quiet companion are left with air in your lungs? My companions have agreed not to kill you. I have not. I could kill you with a flick of my hand. You watched as your boss plucked eyes from living victims. You could have stayed his hand, or left him and his sickness. But instead you helped. You may not have held the knife, but the blood of those men and women are on your hands. The viscount makes sure that his crossbow is floating near his hand, loaded.
The loud bandit has had enough apparently, and maintains his silence, staring at the Viscount in hatred. The quiet one speaks up for the first time, visibly quivering at the mages wrath and the floating crossbow, "I'm Tald Westaldi, and this here's Morl. Please sir mage sir, we don't want to die! Don't sic your demons on us!"
Lucon keeps his eyes downcast through the Viscount's threat, particularly at the mention of a demon. He raps his knuckles on the wagon three times, cursing an oath on the seven hells and making the sign of the pentagram for good measure. Breathing a small sigh of relief, he fidgets with the rope a little before presenting the rope and roughly tying the lad's hands.
"Westaldi. Good Wiscrani name." he says, thoughtfully. "Have you a trade, lad?" he says, pulling the knot taut.
Not showing any resistance, the dirt covered bandit seems glad that no one's hit him yet, "Not anymore sir, father was a dotarri, but haven't seen him for a long time. Probably dead. Never knew mom. Being a thief is all I've known." Morl just glowers.