** spoiler omitted **
Harther and Berenkor make their way back to their companions as carefully and quietly as they can.
Harther Stealth:
Berenkor Stealth:
Once back on the other side of the rise, Harther sketches a quick MAP of the layout of the bandit camp.
"We saw four bandits around the campfire in the center of the clearing, with three other bandits and the woman, Kestra, near the three large crates here," he says, pointing to the eastern edge of the clearing.
"Now, what's going to make our approach difficult are the two bandits hidden about twenty feet up in the trees here and here," the ranger adds, pointing to two spots to either side of the path leading from the ford into the campsite. "These two are watching this trail that we're on, so they'll see us coming as soon as we crest this rise that we're hiding behind."
"The river is flowing pretty swiftly, and I don't feel confident about our ability to swim across to sneak up on them from a different direction. Anyone have any ideas about how we could sneak up on them from this direction, or maybe draw them out?"
"Well, I didn't prepare my illusion today, but I can use my grandmother's ring to cast it anyway. It has a long range, although I'm not sure what I could use it for other than alerting the bandits to our presence. Hardly ideal. Now Berenkor, I believe that your sleep spell has a nice range to it, but they would seem to be fairly far apart, so you'd have to do it twice, and that's assuming they failed to resist it."
"Six of us versus ten of them? Great odds. No shooting through that dense cover either. Perhaps Berenkor can put the two sentries to sleep and then we sneak closer as best we can. I don't see any alternatives, unless we look for another ford and come back on the other side...not very likely, I guess."
Perhaps I could try- Harther your eyes are keener than mine; how far apart were the sentries?
The plan I have been formulating is a hit and run; me and Harther each take a shot at a sentry, and lead the pursuers into an ambush. Even if they don't take the bait, we may be able to take one of them down with a lucky shot. I like this plan because it does not rely on everyone managing to approach the camp stealthily.
My other idea is fairly simple- I use my innate talents and Ghost Sound to simulate the sounds of a large group of men marching through the dense undergrowth to the west; and we charge their rear while they are distracted.
We could attack under cover of darkness, and me and Harther can try and take the sentry posts quietly. The majority of the camp will be asleep; so even if the plan goes awry their response will be delayed. This is probably the least risky plan
As a final idea, Eseldra could use silent image to conjure up a rich looking merchant, let them fill him with arrows and when they move over to 'loot' the dead merchant; fill them full of arrows. However, without any sound this is a little artificial.
Eseldra certainly will accompany Tyr and Karthas. Stealth check:
Rani slowly inches forward, on the lookout for the bandit on the west side of the trail. Concealing herself in the brush on the east side of her trail, just before the ford, she carefully lines up a shot and waits for the signal.
"I agree with Harther, we should attack."
"This time I will try to be little quieter." Karthas admits, somewhat embarassed.
Perception:1d20 + 4 EDIT: this was 18 on the original post
Stealth:1d20 EDIT: this was 19 on the original post
Initiative:
Since sleep and SM1 are both full round casting times, Eseldra is going to move with Berenkor and when he starts his sleep she'll start a SM1 to summon a celestial eagle (5hp AC 14)(2 talons +3 1d4+1 & bite +3 1d4+1) (+1 damage is from smite evil if applicable) to harrass the left sniper, draw attacks of opportunity from him if he tries to use his bow, etc. I'll leave it up to Berenkor which square he wants, and she'll follow him (the square to the north of him). In case I don't get to post later today, she'll cross the ford after the principal meleers and use colour sprays if she can catch bandits without our own people, or acid darts if she can't.
Initiative:
Rani's targeting the west bandit, so Eseldra will summon her pet next to the east bandit.
Harther carefully makes his way through the forest on the west side of the trail, and conceals himself behind a narrow gap between two closely-grown-together trees. Sighting on the bandit hidden up in the trees on the east side of the trail , he draws his bow and waits for the signal to fire.
Initiative:
Actions- Move to Square K13 beside Harther, and begin to cast Sleep.
Assuming Berenkor manages this without notice, he will drop it directly on square N26; right on top of the fire, affecting the bandits in squares- M25,O25, M27, O27. If I am not around to elect where I cast it, I will aim it so I can affect four bandits, trying not to include the female. Its a 10" radius so should be able to manage that easily.
Stealth Check-
Initiative Check-
Berenkor and Eseldra each begin their short rituals, and each completes their short arcane mutterings within a fraction of a second of each other. Three of the bandits lounging near the fire slump to the ground in an unintended slumber, while one of them yawns but remains awake.
Nearly simultaneously, a beautiful golden eagles materializes from nowhere and begins to rip and tear with beak and talon at the bandit in the easternmost tree stand. One of its talons rakes deep scratches down the hapless bandits face, who screams in agony. Every brigand in the camp, save the ones (unintentionally) dozing near the fire whip their heads in the direction of the eastern watchpost.
Attack: Assuming we were blessed.
Damage:
Attack:1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 Assuming we were blessed.
Damage:2d6 + 7 + 3
EDIT: nevermind, in the surprise round I could only do a partial charge and thus only move 40 ft. So I guess I'll wait until the initiative rounds start.
Attack:1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 Assuming we were blessed.
Damage:2d6 + 7 + 3
EDIT: nevermind, in the surprise round I could only do a partial charge and thus only move 40 ft. So I guess I'll wait until the initiative rounds start.
Attack:1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 Assuming we were blessed.
Damage:2d6 + 7 + 3
EDIT: nevermind, in the surprise round I could only do a partial charge and thus only move 40 ft. So I guess I'll wait until the initiative rounds start.
On hearing the discordant notes of arcane spell casting Rani looses her arrow at the hidden bandit.
Harther fires upon the bandit up in the tree .
Attack: (includes +1 from Bless)
Damage:
While Karthas and Tyr begins splashing across the ford, Harther and Rani quickly loose arrows at the two lookouts. Harther's strikes a tree supporting the stand, but Rani's finds her mark, eliciting a surprised cry of pain from the bandit as the arrow catches him in the chest. He grits his teeth, but to Rani's amazement stays on his feet.
"By Erastil, that one's tough!" She lines up another shot and says a quick prayer for true aim and looses the arrow.
Round Two
Move Action- Move to N15 while drawing Heavy Crossbow.
Standard Action - Inspire Courage via Oratory.
In a loud, booming voice Berenkor proclaims to his allies-
And though the foe were many and fearsome,
hardened men of the Stag Lord,
the Chartered Six were far more handsome
their victory was assured.
Round Three
Standard Action-Fire Heavy Crossbow at nearest open target (if I have to fire into melee that's a -4 to whatever this attack roll comes out as)
Move Action- Move to Q12 to gain some cover (only exposed myself to ensure Karthas and Tyr would benefit from Inspire Courage)
Free Action- Drop Heavy Crossbow
Free Action- Maintain Inspire Courage
Round Four
Move Action- Draw Light Crossbow
Standard Action-Fire Light Crossbow at nearest open target (if I have to fire into melee that's a -4 to whatever this attack roll comes out as)
Free Action- Maintain Inspire Courage
Eseldra will move to N15 and fire her bow at Kestra.
Attack ; damage
Round 1:
Harther grimaces at his missed shot. He quickly nocks another arrow and fires at the same bandit in the tree .
Attack:
Damage:
Even though Eseldra's shot flies harmlessly over the brigand leader's head and Harther plunks another arrow into a tree, Rani's strikes home piercing the bandit in the west tree stand right through the eye before he could even draw his bow. He tips wordlessly forward and falls from the stand to the forest floor.
Eseldra's eagle shrieks and begins a news assault against the bandit on the east stand. With a triumphant cry from the eagle and a scream of pain from the bandit, the eagle snuffs out the life of the brigand like a candle.
Two of the bandits take up firing positions , each firing an arrow from their longbow at Tyr and Karthas respectively. Karthas easily ducks the whistling projectile, but Tyr is struck in the thigh by a well-placed shot.
The remaining bandits move to defend their companions and also loose arrows at the advancing warriors. Karthas is struck a glancing blow to his forearm, but Tyr is able to avoid the arrow as it splashes harmlessly into the river.
Kestra laughs with obvious mirth. She moves to stand near the fire and bellows, "You dare challenge me? I am the chosen of the Stag Lord in the north woods! I'll flay you while you still breathe! I will hang you with your companions entrails! Come then! Let us match steel!"
Berenkor moves and begins his rousing speech, lifting the hearts of his companions, but not before Karthas...
Karthas, running towards one of the bandits, brings his greatsword back with intent to split the man in half.
Attack:
Damage:
Harther steps to the side , trying to gain a clearer shot into the clearing while maintaining a bit of cover from the bandit archers. The ranger fires upon one of the bandits standing behind a barricade .
Attack: (includes bonuses from Bless and Inspire Courage)
Damage: (includes bonus from Inspire Courage)
Karthas's bellowing charge causes the bandit to freeze in terror. Even as he brings his weapon up in a meager defense, he knows the hopelessness of the situation. Karthas cleaves through bow and brigand both, dropping him in a single blow.
Rani moves from hiding and steps toward the shore, trying to find a target in the chaos of the bandit camp. She raises her bow and shoots.
Sadly, the golden eagle vanishes shortly after it kills the bandit sniper.
Eseldra needs to get close to use her colour sprays, so this round she crosses the ford and the slips into the bushes in M22, trying to hide in that square for a bit of concealment.