Shoun's bolt flies far wide, while Ravvek's strike against the brute is also dodged. Raeva's bolt strikes.
Stabby
Raeva takes another shot at the brute.
Fire Bolt: disadvantage
Shoun stands and again a searing beam of fire shoots at the brute.
Rav spins and thrusts into the brute's leg!
Shoun and Ravvek's strike hit the brute. He lets out a yell and swings his mace twice at Ravvek but both blows bounce off.
The woman shouts in rage. "Bah.. tricked! You'll pay!" she says.
She bellows and retrieves the greataxe on her back. She swings at Raeva and the blade cleaves into his side.
The two bandits around Ruse draw their weapons and attack. One at Krissina and the other at Raeva. They are taken by surprise and their attacks miss.
The other bandits scramble to grab their weapons.
"We're under attack!" they yell.
You hear a high pitched whistle coming from somewhere near the statue.
If possible, Rav is going for a knock-out with the pommel smash!
Ravvek's strike knocks out Little Erik. He falls unconscious, his body landing on part of the tent for a soft landing.
Shoun will shoot the bandit that is threatening Krissina with fire, hoping to free her up.
Rav turns to face the berserker, Bring your fury upon me, my lady.
Shoun strikes down one of the bandits. The smell of burning flesh fills the area.
Raeva again targets the berserker.
Fire Bolt: advantage
Raeva's strike burns the berserker.
Krissina tries again at stabbing
Krissina strikes the other bandit and pierces his skin.
Ruse raises his axe and strikes at Raeva again, swinging with her full force.
The bite opens another wound on Raeva.
The bandit that Krissina struck slashes back and returns the wound.
The other bandits fire their bows at the party.
An arrow strikes the paladin's thigh.
There is much shouting and activity.
Ravvek ducks around Ruse and slashes at her open flank!
Shoun will again rely on his Elven ancestry to carry the day, pumping a beam of fire into Ruse this time. He will then encourage Ravvek to finish her off.
Raeva scrambles to get out of reach of his assailant.
Disengage.
Krissina harnesses the power of her infernal blood and lashes out 1/2 on a Dex save
Then if he's still alive try again with the rapier (if he's not then move up towards another one)
The bandit disappears in a wreath of flame, swallowed by Krissina's hellish rebuke.
Ravvek delivers a powerful strike on the Berserker. Raeva moves away.
You hear a loud voice and see a man who can only be Krulek. "What is the meaning of this? Who are you?" He is flanked by three other men, and behind him, about 15' behind, you see a group of six kobolds.
Ruse, bleeding from her wounds, stops her attacks and waits for your actions.
Ravvek looks to the man, Krulek. I am Ravvek, son of the North. I have a warning for you. The Dragon is not to be trusted. I understand, more than most what you have been through, and what brought you to this. Years of service to only have the nobility spit on you as reward. These scars, the young man turns his face, showcasing the nasty scars, were given to me by a rich man in Bryn Shander, because I stopped his son from bullying a dullard.
The scarred paladin looks from the man to Ruse, then back again, You will see that I chose to knock your man unconscious rather than strike him down. What say you, will you give us ten minutes?
Shoun was about to speak, but as Ravvek steps forward, he shuts his mouth and waits to see how this plays out.
Raeva stays ready.
One of the kobolds, larger than the rest and dressed in red robes, cackles.
"So Krulek going to fall for the sob story? Look at all the rest slain by them! Kill them all now!" the kobold says.
Krulek listens intently but seems not to show any weakness. He raises his sword and points to Ravvek. "Who sent you here? How did you know about this meeting place?"
A merchant asked us for help stopping the banditry, and we released your girl from that latrine she was being kept in, Ravvek says matter-of-factly, And we did it without putting a mark on her head, so she is truly free. Kindness often works better than blades. If your man hadn't questioned us, we would have come to talk to you without any of your men being harmed. So, can we talk?
Before the kobold can open its mouth again Rav says, And the next kobold that opens its filthy mouth will get an arrow.
Still in the back, Raeva adds, "Your anger is rightous, but your actions are hurting those you swore to protect. We only hope to find a way for you to exact vengeance without bringing harm to the people."
"To say nothing of your alliance with the cult of the dragon. Tsk tsk. you have been a naughty boy."
Krissina holds her tongue, this is Ravvek's show.
After Ravvek's insult, a bolt of fire springs from the kobold's hands and flies at the paladin.
"You dare insult me?" it yells.
The bolt scorches Ravvek.
"Stop it!" Krulek waves at the kobolds, then turns to the group. "Kindness? What kindness did the merchants show? They framed me for some goods that were stolen by thieves they hired, and sent their hounds on me. I have killed others that come before. You do not seem so different from the others."
"I say we should burn all of them. They will provide a good meal for the cult, especially the half-elf!" the kobold sorcerer says.
Ravvek has 1 inspiration from Krissina. Everyone except Ravvek make a perception check.
Ravvek starts for his bow, looks at Krulek then stares daggers at the kobold while he puts his hands on his wound and lays on hands (10 hp).
You think that I do this for the merchants? The merchants hired us, sure, but it is the starving people that gather outside of Phlan that stirred me into motion! It is OUR kindness that I offered and was repaid! Ravvek looks tired when he continues, I do not wish to kill you, as I have demonstrated upon your brute. Do you not see that your actions do not hurt the merchants, but they hurt the commonfolk? As the merchants squeeze the commonfolk, good people starve. Let me ask you one thing, was the one that betrayed you of House Cadorna?
"I'll help your decision along Krulek. Here are the ways I can see this going down.
One: you fight us to uphold your tenuous alliance with the Cult of the Dragon. Even if you beat us, you'll likely lose enough men that the Dragonborn will see you as weak, and then likely attack you and sacrifice you to the dark powers she serves.
Two: You fight us and we beat you. We clap you in irons and haul you in to serve penance for your crimes.
Three: you help us against the Dragonborn and win back some of the people's trust. You keep fighting here as a protector of the people and support them as best you can. Time will pass and people will just remember you for your good works. You'll eventually find a witness or some other proof that you were framed and you'll be reinstated. Or
four: you ally with the cult, we fight free and then raise an army against you. Not a bunch of mewling merchants hiding behind rented swords, but the Zhentarim. I know a commander of the Zhentarim that pays handsomely for any information about the cult of the dragon, and he'll gladly pay me to point him at your little band. So choose, but do so quickly. I bore of this."
[b]"As I said, your anger is righteous. But the merchants don't just write of the losses your attacks are causing them. They increase the cost of their goods until the common people can no longer afford them. Food, clothes, the basic things every being needs. You need, we need to come up with a better way. There has to be a better way.
Krulek considers the group's offers but he's obviously holding his tongue with the kobolds near. The kobold scowls at the speeches, particularly Shoun.
Suddenly, the howls of wolves echo from the woods around King’s Pyre. Crows take flight from the treetops, and a cold breeze blows in from the sea. Something is moving up there.
A dark figure emerges from cover, its skin wet with pitch. It wears an iron helmet hammered into the shape of a dragon skull and wields a rusty axe. Tusks rise from its pig-like jaw.
“For the Scaled Lords,” it snarls, and leaps forward. A group of orcs leap upon Krulek and his men as well as the kobolds.
You hear a shout from above. "More orcs! They're coming!"
Rav draws his bow and lets loose on the orc!
Oop, forgot my Initiative!
Raeva targets the large orc attacking Krulek.
Fire Bolt
Shoun fires a firebolt at the Orc attacking Krulek.
Ravvek's arrow strikes one of the orcs. It turns around and growls at the paladin.
Raeva's firebolt misses, but Shoun's strikes. The orcs notice the players, particularly the leader.
The orcs have the advantage of surprise and cut down some of the bandits. Ruse roars in anger and lifts her greataxe to defend Krulek. The kobolds are also gradually being overwhelmed by the superior force.
From above, an arrow flies and strikes an orc but the hardy creature does not fall. The kobold socrerer casts a spell and one of the orcs is wreathed in flames. Two of her kobolds fall, however.
Ravvek's arrow strikes an orc, but Raeva's misses. Shoun's strike leaves the orc hurt. The orc leader shouts at his minions as he focuses on Krulek. "Slay them!" Two orcs charge into the fray towards the party; one targetting Ravvek and the other targetting Shoun. Shoun avoids the blow but the greataxe of one of the orcs bites into Ravvek.
You hear a shout from above. "More coming!"
Ravvek grunts in pain as he backs up a step, Damn!
Shoun will fire on the one threatening Ravvek after taking a guarded step back.
Shoun will then offer advice to Ravvek as a swift action.
Ravvek cuts down the orcs facing him, his rapier piercing through the orc's neck.
Raeva continues to target the orc leader.
Fire Bolt
Shoun's firebolt fails to strike the orc, while Raeva just scalds it slightly.
The bandits recover, but the orcs press the advantage. Krulek takes a slash from the orc leader, who is also hurt.
The orcs on the kobolds cut another one down, facing Jeralla alone. She calls out and a wave of thunder erupts, tossing one of the bandits back as well as harming the orcs.
One of the orcs is thrown back into one of the nearby rocks. Another orc, still hurt, gets up, though a bit dazed.
The orc facing Shoun closes the distance and slices at him with his greataxe.
Taking advantage of Shoun's instruction, Ravvek performs an almost Superman-punch-style thrust into the orc on Shoun!
With most of the orcs down or wounded, Raeva chooses this time to cast Sleep.
Ravvek's stab thrusts through the orc's throat.
Raeva's sleep manages to send two orcs to slumber. The leader looks confused.
Shoun nods at Ravvek and then fires a bolt of fire at the berserker.
Shoun will then aid against the orc leader, shouting "Go help Krulek Ravvek!"