Suddenly realizing the commotion around her, and seeing the bandits up on the platforms taken out, Bea charges towards the ford to try to get in between the party and trouble that might be coming from that direction.
With no obvious tagets, Simn made for the ford, not yet decided whether to cross, but certainly intent on reaching it so as to either defend or advance over it.
Havrin moves toward the ford, nocking another arrow to his bow as he looks for approaching bandits.
Seeing two of his allies head for the fords, Jacyn moves up with them, trying to stay close without crowding whatever space they may need to fight.
Adam looks up at the corpse reluctantly.
"Later, friend. With gratitude for your future donations."
Then he continues towards the ford with the others.
As you head for/cross the creek, you hear a woman's voice shouting in the camp, "On your feet, you poxy whoresons! To arms! 'Ware to the west!"
The voices answering her are not very distinct, nor do they sound very alert. By the end of the round, no one has come out of the trees. Bea, Jacyn, Simn, and Havrin are all close enough to see a lot of movement around the fire, although no individuals can be picked out.
With the bandits still in disarray, Simn crossed the ford, making for a position of cover behind the logs. That ought to be a good spot to shoot from.
Unable to get a clear view of the bandits, Havrin moves carefully across the ford and takes up position behind one of the logs. The ranger keeps an arrow nocked to his bow as he watches for a viable target.
Bea and Jacyn have yet to act this round. (Jacyn, you can cross the creek anywhere, and if you make a Riding check to jump over the creek it won't slow you down.)
Havrin, you have a clear shot at one bandit. He's got a shortsword out, but he's unarmored. You hit him cleanly. He doesn't go down--quite--but he's staggered.
Four more bandits advance through the woods, dodging as they come. All four are unarmored and armed with shortswords. Behind them comes a woman in a chain shirt, also dodging, with a dagger in one hand.
Spotting the bandits through the trees, Bea readies her sword and braces herself for the oncoming men.
Adam waits until the bandits are just about to attack, then stamps his foot four times, picking up a fast rhythm, before breaking out in a fast-paced exciting song.
"Without recourse, courage, luck, or honor,
the black hearted saught their own demise.
For suicide, 'twas said, was sooner,
than waiting for a maiden's thighs.
"Their wits were sharp, a stagnant cheese.
Their blades were ready, to be released.
Hearts pounded strong, in fear or flight.
And death became them, by dawn's rosy light."
Seeing the bandits were rather closer than he'd thought they'd be, Simn nevertheless loosed a shot at the closest before reloading and taking aim once more.
Jacyn pulls on Smoke's reigns, keeping the over eager horse from rushing into the fight. "Easy, now. Wait for them to come to us."
Realizing he doesnt have much room to let Smoke run to make much use of his lance, Jacyn puts away his lance and draws his longsword.
So, to recap:
Round 1 (surprise round); began with bandit in near platform noticing Bea:
Havrin shot a bandit in the near tree platform, Retsiji moved up and cast protection from evil on Jacyn, Simn cast bless on the party, Jacyn positioned himself to quickly cross the creek, and Adam killed the bandit from the near platform. Bea lost her action due to surprise. At the end of the round, the bandit in the far tree platform tried to get a look at the party.
Round 2:
Retsiji shot a bandit in the far tree platform, Havrin moved towards the ford, as did Adam and Simn; Bea crossed the creek, as did Jacyn. Shouting from the bandit camp.
Round 3:
Retsiji crossed the creek, Havrin crossed the creek and shot a bandit, Simn crossed the creek and took cover behind a log, Jacyn switched weapons, Bea held action waiting for bandits, and Adam crossed the creek. Four bandits and Kressle advanced on the party, dodging and ending up 30-40' from the party.
I'll get the next round recorded tomorrow; long day today.
Round Four:
Havrin nocks another arrow to his bow and fires at one of the approaching bandits .
Round 4:
Seeing Simn preparing to shoot, Retsiji murmurs a few quick words and touches his shoulder. Diviner's Fortune: +1 to hit (and on saves & skill checks, if applicable) for the next round.
Round 4:
Bea, since the bandits weren't going to come into range during Round 3, I'll assume that you moved up in front of Retsiji to prepare to meet them. Havrin, Bandit #5 barely dodges your arrow. Adam waits until the bandits are close before unleashing his devastating wit on them. Simn fires as they close, but misses.
I've updated the map, and will run out the bandit attacks when I get back from a meeting.
Round 4 (continued):
Bandit 4 on Bea:
Bandit 5 cannot attack, and keeps dodging.
Bandit 6 on Jacyn:
Kressle on Bea (thrown dagger):
Two bandits slash at Bea with their shortswords, while Kressle throws a dagger at her. One bandit takes a swing at Jacyn with his shortsword, and the fourth bandit dodges in front of the log, across from Havrin. All of the bandits miss.
Bea attacks one of the two bandits in front of her, catching him across the torso. Bea, that one broke ribs. The bandit doesn't quite go down, but he's pretty-much out of the fight.
Jacyn, over to you.
Jacyn swings his sword down from atop Smoke at his foe.
Once his sword blow has landed, Jacyn grabs the reins, and adjusting so Smoke can lash out as well.
Jacyn cuts down the bandit in front of him, wheels on Smoke and gallops around to end up next to Bea, where Smoke bites at the bandit Bea hit. He obligingly goes down.
At the end of Round 4, here's the UPDATED MAP.
Round 5:
Retsiji gestures and chants a brief incantation.
Adam continues singing satire, drawing his blade as he advances on Bandit #5
"Though valiant in their swarthy rows,
black-hearted knaves did fall to crows,
for from the sparkling river's mist,
a Smoke came burning at rider's wrist.
A paladin they thought they'd slay,
but instead they learned to rue the day.
And were in the rays of golden dawn,
mowed over as a scyth'ed lawn."
Round 5
Ignoring the rest of the men in front of her, Bea sights the woman and skirts the tree to confront her. Thinking of Svetlana, she clenches her teeth and lets out a mighty yell as she swings her sword. Justice will be done today!
With mayhem erupting all around him, Simn went for the direct approach, firing a crossbow bolt at the bandit directly in front of him. It looked like others were dealing with the leader; he'd try and whittle down her followers.
Round 5:
Pending Havrin's action, I'm going to proceed.
Bea, Kressle shakes off Retsiji's spell and moves to meet you, drawing a pair of handaxes and attacking you with both. One barely glances off your armor, while the other one lands solidly. You hit her solidly as well, though.
Adam, as you advance Bandit #5 swings his shortsword at you and misses. Bandit #4 fails to resist your spell. However, he advances over the log and attacks Simn with his shortsword, hitting him. This sufficiently staggers Simn that he misses his shot.
All five of the bandits who were hanging back advance about ten feet and fire longbows at Jacyn. One cleanly misses, one glances off his armor, two were narrowly deflected by the protection from evil spell, and one hits.
Round 6
Bea shrugs off the wound from Kressle and attacks again with the same vigor.
Round Five:
Havrin calmly drops his fine bow and reaches back to unsheath his greatsword. In one fluid motion he draws his blade and slashes at the bandit that has moved adjacent to him .
Round 5:
Havrin nails Bandit #4 solidly in the midsection. The bandit goes down in a bloody mess.
Jacyn, I believe you have an action yet to close the round.
Jacyn and Smoke launch an all-out assault on the woman Jacyn believes to be the bandit leader.
Kressle nimbly dodges Jacyn's sword, and the horse's teeth can't get a purchase on her armor. One hoof, though, catches her in the torso and draws blood. She's still up and going, though.
Round 6:
Retsiji begins to cast a spell.
Adam changes the tempo of his song a little, to help calm his companions down after being injured.
"A queen of bandits darkly stood
amid the branches of her brood.
Her fellow robbers deathly bled,
and soaked the ground in crimson red."
Adam moves to flank the bandit attacking Simn.
Adam, Havrin took that one down. If you like I'll let you keep that attack on the one facing you.
Round Six:
Havrin steps forward and slashes his greatsword at the bandit battling Adam.
Having singularly failed to accomplish anything so far, and seeing Bea wounded, Simn reached out to her to repair some of the damage.
Round 6:
Adam stabs the bandit in front of him, who flinches back into Havrin's sword swing and goes down forthwith.
At her action, Kressle withdraws and flees back past the archers.
The archers are a little rattled by this, but continue attacking. Three fire at Bea; one hits . Two shoot at Havrin; both hit .