DM Alexander Kilcoyne's Sargavan Saga

Game Master Alexander Kilcoyne

Wouldn't have matter much with a 2 on the dice Jakob.

Qhude flexes his shoulders back to stretch out his back, but does not yet take any action... preferring to wait on N'bellocq to return from his forward scouting.

"I believe I will be tagging along as well this time," Kieran remarks as he moves to follow N'bellocq. "If for no other reason than the simple fact that having someone to watch your back is a rather good idea."

Stealth 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Ansha fidgets quietly while she waits, looking around warily. "Sure would be a stroke of luck to have found them so quickly," she murmurs.

Tebati acknowledges Ansha's remark with a glance but doesn't speak, not wanting to jeapordize Kieran and N'bellocq's chance to overhear what is being said on the other side of the hill. She would expect more noise than merely two voices if they had already stumbled upon the whole tribe of Bandu. But who other than the Bandu would be comfortable enough to stop and carry on a conversation in the midst of such dangerous lands? Keeping her trident in hand, she waits for a sign from the scouts ... or a cry from the other side of the hill that says they are discovered.

N'bellocq and Kieran creep up the hill, taking cover behind a dull grey rock at the very top. Risking a peek towards the sound of voices, they see two Bandu men apparently patrolling the area, moving up the hill towards Kieran and N'bellocq- though their posture is relaxed and they seem to be chatting amiably to one another. They are just under thirty feet away and moving closer by the second.

A little under half a mile away, some kind of makeshift camp has been set up- the Bandu are gathered around a large fire. Its obviously not a permanent location and there are no houses or tents; the Bandu seem to be celebrating their raid, and several women are openly rutting with their chosen men while others prepare food. Numbers are difficult to ascertain at this distance, but it seems like there are at least a dew dozen. You get the impression they have probably stopped to sacrifice their victim before returning to their cliff dwellings.

Growing impatient and with no intent of hiding either his person or his chosen task, Qhude moves up to the top of the rise making no attempt to hide himself.

He holds the severed head with a straight arm down on his left side, and the guisarme in his right parallel to the ground. His face is neutral as he moves forward, though there is an air of tangible menace about him...

It will take some time to get to the top so i'm awaiting Kieran and N'bellocq's next move still.

Getting a sense of numbers and that time is short, N'bellocq signals to Kieran that he is ready to report back. As he turns, he sees Qhude headed his way. Well, this will get things started

N'bellocq tosses a rock toward the side of the hill, away from Qhude's approach, hoping that the rock's skittering passage will allow distraction enough for Qhude to get further up the hill before being spotted.

Kieran nods in agreement, though a quick look towards the two Bandu coming their way and the expression accompanying it indicates his thoughts were a little more confrontational in nature. 'Though if all went well, it would not have been much of a fair fight,' he briefly ponders before following N'bellocq's example and taking a moment to see if the patrolling pair will take the bait.

Qhude continues his stalk up the hill in plain sight and making no attempt of hiding himself.

He'll start his spiel once he sees some Bandu with his own eyes.

Though she makes no move to stop him, Ansha turns an incredulous look on Qhude's back. "What in the Abyss is he doing, just marching up there like that?!"

Tebati's gaze flickers toward the elf before returning to the grisly figure stalking up the hill. "The Bas'o are not known for their ... subtlety," she smirks humorlessly. "He will do as he intends: create a frightening spectacle. He may succeed in causing some to flee; the rest of the warriors will move to challenge him. And then, if luck is with us, we may use his distraction to find and free their captive." Her questioning eyes seek out Kieran and N'bellocq at the top of the hill, looking for a sign of what they have seen and which way the group should go to look for Bethany once Qhude has engaged the Bandu.

Ansha covers her face with the palm of a hand, muttering, "Desna be with us, then."

Qhude has only gone a few impatient steps when N'bellocq tosses a rock, hoping to draw attention away from him, Kieran and the approaching Qhude. Unfortunately, his plan goes awry and in fact has the opposite effect- one of the two warriors cries out in alarm as he spots the pair and hefts his spear, about to hurl it at N'bellocq.

Name of Combat-

Round 0 (Surprise Round)

Ordered Initiative-
N'bellocq- 15
Kieran- 13
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 Bandu- 13

Active Effects-

Map-

Notes-

N'bellocq and Kieran are both knelt behind a rock, 30 feet from the pair of Bandu warriors. Only they and one of the Bandu act in the surprise round.

Action-

Surprise Round

N'bellocq snaps off a quick shot, determined to silence the cry.

PBS bowshot -> 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

but firing from one knee on a rocky slope is not a comfortable position.

"So much for that then," Kieran mutters with a sigh as he breaks cover and quickly closes the distance to the Bandu that cried out, his curved sword already in his hand and ready to strike the moment he finds the chance.

Round 0 (Surprise Round)

Move action to get within melee distance of the Bandu that cried out, drawing a weapon as part of the move.

Sigh... I actually made a post where Kieran charges and attacks -with pretty good rolls too- before I remembered that a surprise round only allows a single move or standard action. :-)

Or a charge up to your speed. So actually... you can make a partial charge if you wish. Happy to assume you drew a weapon as they approached.

Oh... I did not know that. It goes to show that I should have read the whole Charge entry in the PRD. Well, in that case...

Charge attack (masterwork Aldori dueling sword) 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11
Damage (slashing) 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Sneak attack 1d6 ⇒ 6

Unless I am mistaken, Kieran gets to act before the Bandu (the one that cried out), so that means he catches him flat-footed (i.e. no Dexterity bonus to AC and sneak attack applies), right?

Due to charge, Kieran takes a -2 penalty on AC.

Edit: Figures... And here I thought the site kinda sorta stored dice rolls. I guess it does not when you delete the post instead of editing it. I am more than slightly annoyed.

Sorry, birthdays are a drag on my posting time... ;).

N'bellocq's arrow goes wide and although Kieran rushes the Bandu warrior swiftly, his blade glances off the warrior's leather armour. Stumbling backwards from the assault, the warrior hurls his spear at Kieran at point-blank range. In his panic he overthrows it- the spear hurtles past Kieran's shoulder and off into the distance.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Bandu Patrol-

Round 1-

Ordered Initiative-

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 Jeggare

Qhude- 21
Ansha- 16
N'bellocq- 15
Jeggare- 15
Kieran- 13
Bandu- 13
Jakob- 11
Tebati- 11

Active Effects-

Map-

Kieran is 5 foot from both of the Bandu, while N'bellocq is 30 feet away behind a rock. Qhude is 40 feet downhill from N'bellocq, and everyone else is approximately 15 feet from Qhude.

Notes-

Action-

A cry of alarm and the sound of combat begins to reach the group waiting anxiously at the bottom of the hill...

No line of sight on whats happening until you reach N'bellocq.

Round 1: 10/23 HP; AC 12

Qhude strides forward towards the noise, pausing when he crests at the top of the hill. As he looks to the tribesmen he holds the slaver's head up in front of him yelling in Polyglot "Kneel and yield Bandu, or I will kill you..." letting the trophy in his hand speak to both his ability and intent...

Intimidate: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Initiative 15; Round 1: I am ready to shoot on 15, but want to see if they yield first.

AC 17; hp 19; Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +8; CMD 20

Awaiting Ansha's action.

At the cry of alarm, Ansha starts forward up the hill, leveraging her staff into the loose sand as her boots sink in with each step. So much for luck.

Double move up the hill.

HP 12/12 AC 11 CMD 11

Corrected status: AC 17; hp 14/19

Although the Bandu pales at the grisly sight of Qhude and his threat, he seems poised to bolt in the direction of the camp rather than yield. N'bellocq puts an arrow into his neck before he gets a chance.

Jeggare follows Ansha up the hill, clutching his crossbow tightly.

Kieran's up, and is within 5 feet of the remaining Bandu.

Taking a step towards the remaining Bandu, Kieran aims for the man's midsection with a rather straightforward horizontal slash. "Not much time to put on a show, my good man," the half-elf says to his opponent in Polyglot, the words accompanied by an almost apologetic look.

Round 1

Melee attack (masterwork Aldori dueling sword) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Damage (slashing) 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Sneak attack 1d6 ⇒ 3

Not sure if sneak attack applies (I think the remaining Bandu is the one that has not got a chance to act yet, thus he is still considered flat-footed, but I am not quite certain), but I thought to include it just in case.

Despite his initial failure, Kieran recovers swiftly and with a swift slash, cuts down the second Bandu. Things are tense for a moment or two, but at this distance its unlikely anybody in the distant camp saw what just transpired.

Seeing the two men felled Qhude grunts, placing the severed head on the ground a moment as he retrieves another vial from his pack, drinking it down before speaking to the others "I will walk into their midst and make no secret of my coming... if you wish to walk with me you are welcome at my shoulder... If not, then I hope neither of us is dead when we next meet gaze."

Qhude then picks up the severed slaver's head and makes to walk at the Bandu encampment, countenance devoid of fear...

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 6) + 3 = 12 - up to 22/23 HP
Pregnant pause to allow for challenge / discussion of Qhude's intent...

"Now, how can anyone decline an invitation such as this one, friend Qhude? Impossible odds and almost certain death make for fine additions to any story I will be telling of our time together," Kieran quips with a soft chuckle as he wipes his blade on what little clothing the now dead Bandu at his feet seems to be wearing.

"That is, if we live past this day, anyway," he adds with a shrug, as if commenting on the weather or making idle conversation to pass the time. "Besides, I cannot very well let you go there by yourself. What would that say about me?"

Despite his apparent nonchalance, the half-elf does turn his eyes for a brief moment behind him and towards the rest of the group moving to join them, his thoughts on one of them in particular. 'And here is to hoping she does not kill me even if I do survive this,' he thinks with a little smirk.

Arriving just in time for the skirmish's end, Ansha lets out a quiet sigh of relief. Her gaze wanders over the surrounding terrain, looking back down the hill toward the stragglers of the group. "Not much in the way of cover between here and there," she says. Her melodic voice trailing off as her gaze returns to Qhude briefly. Looking out toward the Bandu camp again, she squints her emerald eyes.

"Rather open about...things, aren't they?"

Are there other terrain variations around the Bandu camp? Like a ring of hills we could hide behind to circle around it from another direction?

Tebati crests the hill anxiously but is relieved to see that the others seem to have things under control and no one looks any worse injured -- save, of course, the Bandu. She approaches Kieran and slips an arm around his waist.

"I will gladly join you Qhude. I have no ties to these people to know what to expect. But I respect your honor, and the honor you believe these people might afford you....or I will kill many more before we teach them your honor." N'belocq says with a bloody grin.

"I'm not sure that the ruse will last for long if we're still armed. But perhaps it'll be enough," Ansha says in reply to Tebati. Glancing back over the hill's crest to Jakob, she looks again at the two slain Bandu. "We may want to hide these two though. There may be other patrols out, and if they find a pair of bodies just lying around in plain sight, they might get suspicious."

Arriving just in time for the skirmish's end, Ansha lets out a quiet sigh of relief. Her gaze wanders over the surrounding terrain, looking back down the hill toward the stragglers of the group. "Not much in the way of cover between here and there," she says. Her melodic voice trailing off as her gaze returns to Qhude briefly. Looking out toward the Bandu camp again, she squints her emerald eyes.

"Rather open about...things, aren't they?"

Are there other terrain variations around the Bandu camp? Like a ring of hills we could hide behind to circle around it from another direction?

Using distance and the terrain you could approach the camp from a different direction, but the camp itself is on flat ground and open terrain in a radius around it.

Qhude nods as N'Bellocq states that he will walk with the Bas'o. He also holds a meaningful gaze with Tebati, showing that he did understand what they were here for. To Ansha he adds "They are open as they believe there is nothing here that does not fear them... that shall not last..." Qhude then slowly turns toward the Bandu camp and begins to walk toward it.

Once out of easy earshot of the others, Qhude confides in N'Bellocq without turning his head "You honor me brother... We will face down the demons together... Have you toyi-toyi before?"

toyi-toyi - protest dance

"I have never taken to dancing. The ankle chains made it difficult it, and never had a reason to push it and try."

"I'm not sure that the ruse will last for long if we're still armed. But perhaps it'll be enough," Ansha says in reply to Tebati. Glancing back over the hill's crest to Jakob, she looks again at the two slain Bandu. "We may want to hide these two though. There may be other patrols out, and if they find a pair of bodies just lying around in plain sight, they might get suspicious."

Tebati rolls her shoulder in a fatalistic shrug. "We have little time, and our options are few. Qhude's gambit has the best chance of working if he gets near them without arousing their suspicions; if it fails, we must have another course of action ready. Perhaps if we seem to come from another direction, the warriors will mobilize against us and leave Bethany behind for Qhude and N'bellocq to free from a smaller and less veteran force. As we cannot approach unseen, to serve as a diversion is the best we can hope for." She looks down at the limp bodies of the unfortunate patrol and wrenches N'bellocq's splintered arrow from the one's throat. "Shall we roll them down the hill or simply leave them behind the rock?"

Wrinkling her nose in evident disgust as she looks at the two Bandu corpses, Ansha replies, "I'll let you handle that."

Turning her gaze northwest, Ansha takes a step in that direction before looking back at Tebati and the others. "But those are my thoughts exactly. Hitting them from more than one direction seems prudent. We might be able to mop up other patrols in the process; and whether they spot us or Qhude and N'bellocq, the other group will hopefully have the opportunity to free your damsel in distress. Circle to the northwest behind these hills, then, and come at the camp from the west? We may want to hurry, if we're to arrive at roughly the same time that your cousins do."

"'Cousin,'" Tebati corrects the elf, a slight edge in her voice. "Qhude is Bas'o, not Bonuwat." Or all we all just 'Mwangi' to you? she wonders testily, wondering why Avistanis find it so easy to take note of the differences in appearance and accent between the nationalities of their own continent and seem blind to the distinctions between tribes that are obvious to Tebati. "And she is Kieran's damsel," she smiles teasingly at the half-elf. "Your plan is a good one in my eyes," she agrees with Ansha. "Kick them down the hill," she suggests of the Bandu. "If they are found, it will be possible they have fallen, and anyone who wishes to investigate will have to go down the slope and lose sight of the encampment."

Ansha returns Tebati's shoulder-roll with a sardonic smirk. "Humans all look the same to me," she replies flippantly, apparently guessing the source of the edge in Tebati's voice.

"Then however do you possibly manage to tell the rich and influential men from those beneath your notice?" she mutters under her breath, with a hard glance up at Ansha.

Unless anyone has a better idea, assume we're disposing of the evidence and working around behind the hill to approach the camp from a different direction?

Ansha giggles in reply. "Trade secret," she says with a wink.

No objections here. Was Kieran going with Qhude and N'bellocq?

Qhude nods to N'Bellocq's words while keeping his eyes ahead upon the target. He replies "We will unlikely make the camp without challenge... when they do, I will toyi-toyi... though it is less a dance, then a statement. If you are willing you can follow."

As Qhude stalks forward he keeps a weather eye on the encampment, looking for the first Bandu that notices them...
Perception: take 10 for 14

No objections here. Was Kieran going with Qhude and N'bellocq?

Not according to Tebati's plan. Two Mwangi went out on patrol; they'll be expecting 2 Mwangi coming back. Plus, it'd be nice to have someone melee-able with us if we end up drawing off the main force. But that's his decision to make.

Tebati shakes her head at Ansha's flippancy but can't keep herself from smiling as well.

Seeing the two men felled Qhude grunts, placing the severed head on the ground a moment as he retrieves another vial from his pack, drinking it down before speaking to the others "I will walk into their midst and make no secret of my coming... if you wish to walk with me you are welcome at my shoulder... If not, then I hope neither of us is dead when we next meet gaze."

Qhude then picks up the severed slaver's head and makes to walk at the Bandu encampment, countenance devoid of fear...

"A half-baked plan with virtually no chance of success and an excellent chance of a horrible death? All to nobly keep someone you barely know from being carried away to an unknown fate?"

Jakob is smiling

"I would not miss this for three hundred acres and a ship full of coined money."

"You and N'bellocq deliver your gift. We will be close by when things go wrong."

"I will follow your lead." N'bellocq keeps his pace measured and calm, despite what he is feeling.

Qhude stalks forward for a few more hands of seconds before suddenly stopping to turn to N'Bellocq. Dropping the guisarme for a moment, he extends a hand to his umkhaya for a warrior's handshake with clasped forearms "Ngiyabonga brother... for your trust." holding the grip for a time before turning to re-take the polearm and continue on his way.

Qhude begins to chant softly while they walk.

umkhaya - family member
ngiyabonga - thank you

"Off you go then," Kieran calls out to his two comrades, the soft sigh he allows to escape his lips coloring his words with a hint of regret at not joining them. "Do try not to get yourselves killed without me. Or at the very least wait until we get there."

"Goodness me," he comments to Tebati in a lower voice as he draws close to her, his tone one of mock astonishment, "is it me or are we actually becoming a nice and proper band of friends and comrades? Certainly there is enough camaraderie and jest between us all to actually make me think so."

"Stranger things have happened," she shrugs, smiling, and then rises up onto her tiptoes to whisper into his ear.

Tebati stays next to Kieran as the group quickly moves to follow Ansha's plan. "You say you are pleased not to leave me, but your heart chafes at letting the two of them walk into danger without you." She shakes her head. "Qhude's gamble is a desperate one. We must give it every chance to go right, but if it goes wrong ... it will go very wrong. We will have to rescue not only Bethany, but Qhude and N'bellocq as well. I like our chances better with you than with only two women, a caravan driver, and Jakob." Her tone indicates that she considers all four rough equals in matters of combat.

Pre-emptive apologies to Ansha, Jakob, and Jeggare for her largely uninformed opinion. ;)