"Should be easy enough to surprise them if they stroll in so pompously." Olo replies, with a mouth full of stew dripping from his chin. He's clearly happy to be eating a home cooked meal, no matter how simple it may be. "We may want to get that door shut behind them though. Think I should hide and bar them in from the outside? Someone on the terraces can drop me a rope and I'll scurry on up. Could also summon a creature or two from the other side of the walls... Would have to be sure the whole lot of them comes inside though. Have you noticed if any keep watch outside, Master Oleg?"
Oleg thinks for a second, "No, none stay outside. Happs waits on his horse near the entrance, while his men dismount, grab the furs, and then they all leave together. And yes, they all have bows and swords."
Damrak grimaces slightly: having survived his first real swordfight, he's not keen on repeating the experience quite so soon, and was hoping to persuade everyone to take the shooting option. He does acknowledge however that Den is correct: the walls provide no cover from the inside against return fire.
"What do we want to do, then? If we split up and have some shooting from the wall and some down here, we risk being outnumbered on the ground - all they have to do is engage in close combat and they can't be shot at without endangering our own side. Can I suggest that we have at most 2 on the wall? With 4 of us down here, there's less risk of being overwhelmed by the 6 or 7 of them." With these words, Damrak is aware that he is likely condemning himself to the melee group: both Den (certainly) and Olo (probably) are better shots than he is.
He sighs at this thought, but he's loyal to his companions and will go where he is best placed: "I admit that I'm not experienced at this - I'll happily defer to your expertise. Where do you need me to be?"
The rest of the day passes slowly, as the party puts its ambush plans into action, doing reconnaissance on the Trading Post, burying the 3 bandit corpses, planting traps, and discussing strategy. Lana prepares a decent dinner and then goes to the bedroom with Oleg. He says, "I know you want me barricaded inside my home, but if the bandits call me outside, I will have to go. It will appear unusual if I do not go out and they may smell a trap. I trust you warriors will give them the hell they receive. Of course, as soon as battle starts, I will rush back inside."
The next morning, as one hour after sunrise approaches quickly, Den sees in the distance six men approaching on horseback.
Damrak will use the sound of the gate opening to cast protection from chaos: it lasts a minute, so even if it takes a few seconds before the ambush is sprung it should last for the duration of the combat.
0th: Message, Dancing Lights, Acid Splash, Drench
1st: Identify, Grease, Color Spray
Grimath steels himself as the bandits approach. Angradd guide my hammer that it might deliver the justice this lot deserves.
With his Axe and Shield at the ready, he stays crouched behind the straw, waiting for the bandits to walk in to the trap.
Dendarial quites Acio as they both crouch under a tarp looking like pieces of the broken siege engine. He has to resist taking a look at the approaching bandits and tells himself he will hear them clearly enough as they enter the fort.
Soon enough the clacking of multiple hooves draws near. You then hear a knock, followed by a yell, "Yoohoo, Oleg! Wakey, wakey, it's tax time!!!" Laughter from multiple male voices ensues. Then several men dismount and push open the gate. Grim and Olo stick to their cover, as two mounted riders pass them by, unaware of them. One of them, a leader by the sounds of it, yells loudly, "Oleg, get your butt out here now! My men and I are here for our monthly tribute, ya old oaf! Tell yer perty wife to make my men some breakfast! We're hungry!"
A door opens and you hear Oleg's voice speak up, "Yes, yes, sir, Mr. Happs. I'll get Lana right on that. The goods are ready for you sir. They're in the storeroom." Happs responds, "Good, Oleg, good. Such an early riser. I like that. Glad to hear you know your place and exhibit proper respect. Davis, Jerold, Milhaus, Manny, get off yer asses and pack the goods on the horses! Now!"
The bandits hurriedly dismount, "Yes, sir, Mr. Happs."
As the bandits walk to the storeroom, Happs suddenly yells out, "Hey Oleg, ya seen Rufus and a couple of his boys? They been missin' from the camp. They didn't visit ya and yer missus?"
Doing his best to stay calm, Oleg replies, "No sir, Mr. Happs. I reckon he might be drunk somewhere."
The bandits laugh, as they joke around and push each other, as they make their way to the storeroom.
Den tenses but does not otherwise move. He waits to hear either the sound of a trap sprung or discovery.
Happs responds, "Good, Oleg, good. Such an early riser. I like that."
Damrak swears furiously under his breath: bad enough that he had to get up this early (although getting coffee with warm milk was a welcome breakfast), but now these bastards are gloating about it?!
He narrows his eyes. They will be sorry. They will all be very sorry.
The bandits continue laughing as they move to the storeroom. "Yeah, heat up some breakfast for us wench! We mighty hungry!" The two unsuspecting bandits move into the storeroom ().
As the first two bandits walk in with smiles on their faces to grab the goods, the steel jaws of the bear traps go off! You all hear a sustained scream, as the trap rips off the leg off one of the bandits, killing him instantly, while the other bandit screams in pain, his leg restrained by the trap!
The other two bandits behind them stare in shock and they start screaming for help. Happs and the bandit rider look up in shock, "What the...OLEGGGGGG!!!!
Oleg, aware of what was going to happen, bolts into his house!
The ranger, moving quietly, moves at half speed from cover to stand in U7.
Aniebth quickly breaks cover, emerging from the stables and moving to keep her back to the wall.
Grimath grins as he hears the bandits cry out as they stumble into the traps.
Time to close the gates and seal their fate.
Athenasius shifts into line of sight of the bandits gathered in front of the storage room and throws his arm out in a swift motion. The air shimmers around him briefly as he declares his command in the powerful, vow rich tongue of Draconic: ""
0th: Message, Dancing Lights, Acid Splash, Drench
1st: Identify, Color Spray
Expanded:
1st: Grease
Damrak shudders as he hears the snap of the traps and the subsequent screams - one of which is quickly cut off. He is brought back quickly into the present as his companions move around him.
Moving quickly into plain sight of the bandits outside the store-room, he brings up his crossbow with practiced ease and fires at the nearest one. No sooner is the bolt in flight than he deftly draws and loads another bolt, ready to fire again.
Olo rolls up his sleeves and mutters a nonsense phrase under his breath as he casts a spell. His fingers outstretched, dancing in direction of the bandits at the gate, or rather, at the ground below their horses feet. "Sorry, horsies..."
Happs screams out, "Kill them, kill them all!"
Bandits:
Happs:
Anibeth:
Athenasius:
Damrak:
Den:
Grim:
Olo:
Initiative Order:
Olo
Bandits
Rest of party
Happs
Olo grunts in frustration as he pops out from behind the hay bails. Not my lucky day, huh? Better make it one then. He quickly draws his bow and takes aim at the closest bandit on horseback.
Round 1: Bandits!
Bandit just shot by Olo grabs his short sword from his sheath, takes a 5' step, and tries to cut Olo, but the swing sails high! "Accursed halfling! It's an ambush!"
The bandit shot by Damrak sees he is stuck and dares not move. He fires back at him but he stumbles in the grease and the shot goes wide.
The bandit adjacent also dares not risk falling and grabs his bow and shoots Anibeth but missed poorly as well.
The fourth bandit, his leg caught in the bear trap, enraged, drags the bear trap with him and comes outside the storeroom and draws his bow.
Dendarial moves 20' along the wall to the north and shoots Happs while he is still flat footed.
Damrak grits his teeth in annoyance at seeing the shot go into the bandit's thigh - that's not where he was aiming. He's a decent shot, he has skill and hours of training; but straw dummies aren't armed, and bulls-eye targets don't shoot back.
He blinks as the bandits return fire. No one told him that combat was so chaotic. He doesn't see where the arrows went, but he's not hit and he doesn't hear anything from Anibeth so he assumes she's ok too. He hastily brings his crossbow to bear again and fires at the bandit he hit before, aiming as best he can at the chest: the way he was taught.
Anibeth continues to move into the center of the compound and calls upon Shelyn's aid. "Blessed Sheyln grant us the courage, power, and grace to stop the ugliness of these bandits and their scourge upon the love of the owners of this homestead."
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 1st; concentration +4):
1st—
0 (at will)—detect poison, light, mending
"Well now! The Song of the Spheres is fickle today." Athenasius marvels incredulously at the ineffectiveness of his spell. Stepping out of the barn along with Anibeth and Damrak, he points the business end of his crossbow at the closest bandit and squeezes the trigger. "Better give up now friend!"
Grimath bolts out from behind the stack and collides with the gate with a audible crash. Using his initial momentum, he digs his feet in to push and begins swinging it closed.
"Justice has finally caught up with ye lot. Ye'll not be leavin' here today alive!" he calls out, confident that the grease will keep the bandits from making it out the door before he's finished closing it.
Happs clutches his bleeding shoulder and looks at Den up on the wall. "Damn elves! I hate you, I hate you all!" He quickly grasps his longbow and pulls an arrow, the hatred clear in his eyes as he looks up at the elf. He pulls back the string and lets an arrow loose! It flies straight into Den's chest propelling him backwards into the wall, pain running throughout his body. The elf looks down to see blood pouring out the wound. He tries to speak but is unable to before he collapses to the floor and loses consciousness, the bow falling out of his hands.
Happs dismounts as a move action on the right-hand side onto the non-grease portion.
Meanwhile, the horse moves forward trying to get out of the grease and falls.
As Olo looses his arrow he hears another whiz by above his head. He looks up to see that arrow lodged deep into Den's chest as the ranger collapses to the floor.
"DEN! Dammit! Anibeth, get up there!" He shouts. He wants to go himself, but he's well aware a fallen halfling is of no use to anyone. He steps back from the goon at his side, and, feeling lucky, looses another arrow at the bastard.
Likely no one can see but the blood ceases flowing from the ranger's wound.
Round 2: Bandits
Olo's arrow connects again, wounding the bandit severely. The bandit grunts and draws his shortsword, moves to S13 and swings at Olo, cutting him deeply!
The bandit caught in the bear trap shoots at Damrak but misses completely.
The last bandit shoots at Anibeth, "Die, priestess!" The arrow hits her in the chest.
The bandit's horse stands and steadily makes its way out of the greasy squares and moves up.
Protection from chaos (+2 AC, 6 rounds remaining)
Judgement (+1 damage, lasts for the combat)
Damrak flinches involuntarily as another arrow sails past him; he then hears a sickening thud as Anibeth is hit and watches helplessly as Den collapses to the floor. This is not allowed. This is not allowed. The young inquisitor has never failed a mission yet: he does not intend to start now. The - controlled - anger courses through him, driving away his nerves and calming him. It is as if he is back on the training ground, all the distractions gone.
He levels his crossbow at the bandit who shot Anibeth, reciting the mantra he used to use when he practiced on the straw dummies, imagining they were real wrongdoers. No need to pretend, now: "Abadar's weapon; Abadar's Law. I bring the Law. I bring - ."
"Athenasius - I can clear up here. Get the leader!"
Damrak's bolt hits the bandit in the chest and he wobbles, unsure of whether to die or live.
"Very well!" Athenasius nods at Damrak and moves around the wagon into line of sight of Happs. Gathering strands of morning light into his palm, Athenasius calls out as he extends his arm towards the bandit: "!"
He then slips prone in hopes of avoiding any retaliatory fire from Happs.
0th: Message, Dancing Lights, Acid Splash, Drench
1st: Identify
Expanded:
1st: Grease, Color Spray
0th: Message, Dancing Lights, Acid Splash, Drench
1st: Identify, Color Spray
Expanded:
1st: Grease
Satisfied that the bandits are trapped, Grimath turns his attention to Happs. "Now... lets see what yer made of!"
Before closing Grimath lifts his battleaxe up and calls out to Angradd. "Bless this weapon, that it might lead this bandit t'his just end!" He then points the axe at Happs and begins to close.
Den's down. I've got to help. To far to do anything percise, lets get as close as I can and call upon Shelyn... It'll help the bandits too, but its the best I can do.
Moves towards Q11, not sure how much is difficult terrain, etc and channel. I think it avoids Happ, but does benefit one of the regular bandits, Den, and myself
"Blessed Shelyn, help me to heal all those present and hurting"
The ranger stirs on the ground.
Round 2: Happs
Seeing Grim approach battleaxe in hand, Happs moves 5' east to T19 and draws his longsword, still gripping the bow in his other hand. "Too bad, you're not an elf!", he spits out. His blade cuts Grim across his belly. Happs looks shocked that the dwarf did not fall and he looks worried at how tough Grim looks.
Nearly as quickly as Olo feels the heat of his enemy's blade, a cool sensation washes over him... something he has never felt before... something divine. The bleeding slows as his wound begin to heal. So this is the grace of Shelyn....
He remembers the trap set a few paces behind him. With a deep breath, he musters another bit luck. He tumbles backward away from his enemy, and quickly nocks another arrow. With a steady exhale, he shoots.
To Avoid Attack of Opportunity:
Standard Action to Attack
Olo deftly moves before the bandit can try and attack him, but worried that he might set off the trap, his arrow flies wide of the mark.
Round 3: Bandits
The bandit attacking Olo moves to S9 and attacks but he misses the short agile halfling.
The bandit in the bear trap shoots Damrak but misses poorly as well. He decides not to put more pressure on his wound so he does not move.
Grimath is surprised that Happs was able to land a blow on him right away, and swings wide as he retaliates.
"Ye'll not take down a member of Clan Hammerswrath so easily!"