Round Five Recap:
Karthas: Looking for any advantage he can get against his opponent, Karthas tumbles away from the bandit leader and moves into a position that will allow him to flank the female bandit with Niko. Once he and the wolf are in position, Karthas attacks the bandit with a mighty swing of his greatsword, but his blade only manages to cut a few links from her chain shirt as she dodges aside at the last second.
Hiram: Hiram moves into the clearing as quickly as he can across the icy ground. Nocking an arrow to his bow, he moves around the western edge of the camp in an attempt to block the bandit woman in case she tries to make an escape.
Euron: The nature priest watches the battle as he removes a scroll from his pack. Coughing as he reads the words, he activates the powers contained in the scroll to cast a healing spell to partially heal his grievous wound.
Tunica: Euron’s elk mount glances up in its munchings and watches the wounded bandit flee from Cinders into the forest. Unconcerned, the elk goes back to enjoying its evening meal.
Cinders: Cinders allows the fleeing bandit to escape. Seeing the heated battle with the bandit leader, the oracle moves next to Karthas. Cinders attempts to slash at the female bandit around the corner of the barricade between them, but the blade of the scimitar bounce only manages to remove some wood shavings from one of the sharpened stakes sticking out from the side of the barrier.
Niko: The wolf lunges forward in an attempt to bite and trip the female bandit standing between him and Karthas. However, the woman the wolf’s snapping jaws with near contemptuous ease.
Jamison: Jamison attempts to press the attack on the female bandit, but the enchanted plants continue to grasp at him, preventing him from moving toward his quarry. With his giant-enhanced strength, he rips himself free from the vegetative embrace. For the first time he notices the extent of his wounds, and offers a quick prayer to Erastil to heal a bit of the damage previously inflicted by the bandit arrow.
Eseldra: Eseldra fires a dart of acid at the bandit leader, but her missile disappears harmlessly into the woods.
Tyr: Tyr determinedly strides across the icy clearing toward the bandit leader.
The Bandit Leader: With a fierce snarl, the bandit leader slashes her blade at Karthas...
Karthas - MISS
...but she is distracted by the snarling wolf behind her and misses her intended target. With howl of frustrated fury, she grips the hilt of her sword tighter and prepares for her enemies' counterattacks.
Round Six:
Initiatives:
Bandits – 21
Karthas – 17a
Hiram – 17b
Euron – 16
Cinders – 15a
Jamison – 15b
Eseldra – 13
Tyr – 8
‘Kestra 2.0’ – 6
The fleeing bandit continues to crash headlong through the forest without looking back.
The still-entangled southern sentries try to lend what aid they can to their leader, and fire their bows at Cinders and Karthas.
Cinders - MISS
Karthas - MISS
Not having as much success as he would like, even through his rage, the barbarian takes a deep breath and swings at the bandit leader again.
Attack: (bless, flank)
Damage: (sneak attack, dirty fighter)
Watching the sentries to the south pepper the group with arrows, Hiram moves forward and throws his lasso quickly.
Eseldra fires off a magic missile at the bandit leader (or another bandit if she's down by then).
Unable to get herself into a more advantageous position, Cinders attacks around the barrier corner again.
Her sword slams into the barricade, sending splinters flying, and for the briefest of moments, it gets stuck, luckily not long enough to lower her defenses.
Looking at his stomach wound, the druid grunts when he sees it continues to bleed. "I guess that'll have to do" he says to noone in particular and heads back towards the bandit woman to get his revenge.
As he approaches, Euron first let's the wolf attack.
Magic Fang Power Attack Bite:
Damage:
CMB to Trip:
* Remembered bless this time!
Euron follows Niko's assault with a stab from his sizable ranseur.
Attack (with soft cover):
Damage:
Round 6
Jamison slaps the clutching plants away from him, moving to continue the assult on the bandit leader.
Round Six – Battle Conclusion:
Karthas: Regaining a modicum of control through the haze of his rage, Karthas stabs his greatsword at the female bandit leader. This time her reactions are not quick enough, and the Kellid’s blade slides through the bandit’s right kidney.
Hiram: Hiram moves further toward the southern end of the clearing and throws his lasso, trying to loop one of the sentries above the camp and pull the hapless bandit from his perch. Unfortunately, the paladin’s lasso gets snagged by the still-writhing vegetation surrounding his target, and is nearly wrenched from his grasp.
Niko: Niko lunges again at the female bandit, but she manages yet again to avoid his snapping jaws.
Euron: His wound partially healed by the magic of his scroll, the nature priest makes his way back to the fray with the female bandit leader, his steps unhindered by the icy ground. As he approaches he brings his ranseur to bear and stabs its tines into her back, puncturing her lung and grazing her evil heart.
Tunica: Having stripped the available foliage from the tree before it, Euron’s elk mount turns its attention to a low shrub and samples more greenery.
Cinders: Cinders attempts again to slash at the bandit leader around the corner of the barricade, but her blade only succeeds in slamming into the barricade, sending splinters flying from the wooden barrier.
Jamison: Jamison slaps the clutching plants away, and moves forward enough to swing his giant-sized greataxe at the female bandit as she stands impaled on Euron’s ranseur. The woman hears the whistling swish of the axe cutting through the air and looks up just in time to see the blade as it slices through her neck, sending her head flying to land in front of Hiram’s feet.
Eseldra: Eseldra casts a spell and sends a bolt of mystical force to slam unerringly into one of the sentries entangled up in the trees .
Seeing their leader slain by the band of heroes, the bandit sentries entangled in the trees to the south of the camp throw down their bows. ”We surrender!” they yell fearfully. ”Please don’t kill us!”
Karthas ends his rage.
Trying to catch his breath, the Kellid says, "We've made a habit of not slaughtering those who have surrendered to us...provided they can provide a bit of useful information."
"What do you know of this so-called Stag Lord and his where abouts? Tell us all you know and you may yet live to see another sunrise."
Ah'm sorry, Hiram - Ah seem to 've gotten a mite bit carried away, Jamison's voice booms down from above. His magically enlarged greataxe swats the head away from Hiram's feet and into the woods.
Everybody gather 'round, an' Ah'll ask Deadeye fer 'is healin'. Mayhap he'll hear me and mend us up somewhat. Them two fellers up there can wait a jiffy.
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Cinders sheaths her scimitar and walks up beside Karthas. "I suggest you do as he says," she tells the bandits. "And while you're at it, repent your wrongdoing and promise to return to the light and never harm another soul again. For if you harm another or steal from another or commit any other offense against another, you will burn."
As the healing power washes away his wounds Tyr sighs softly in relief at thier closing.
Seeing the surrendered bandits are in hand with Cinders and Karthas, Tyr begins to move about surveying the campsite and the bodies.
As Euron watches his wounds mend, he shoots Jamison a look of thanks. "I always liked ol'Dead Eye."
He scratches Niko behind the ears and whispers something to his friend. The wolf licks at the druid and he stifles a chuckle.
Euron finally makes his way to the east part of camp where his elk continues to graze on the plants wet from the sleet. "I see you're enjoying yourself." The animal makes a soft sound, not unlike a cross between a horse's whinny and a Brevan war horn. "That's alright, we'll need to practice yer training a bit more." Grabbing the reigns, he leads the elk into the camp.
Finally, Euron looks to the others. "That was some pretty good fightin' there. While I'm not much for company usually, I'm glad to be in all of yours."
Finally, the druid also investigates the camp site, taking as much time as necessary, since he figures the night may well be spent here.
Euron will also see if he can round up something for dinner.
After a few minutes, Jamison shrinks down to normal size.
Nodding at their surrender, Hiram goes back and gets his mount, letting Jhod know that he can come forward and that healing is probably necessary.
Getting back to the camp, Hiram pulls out his set of manacles, and chains the two together. He tucks the key under his shirt, and clears his throat,
"All right'cha'y'all. Someone want to interrogate these here folks? I'll go about and prepare the dead."
Hiram pulls a shovel out from his packs, and begins gather up what he can of the bodies and pulling them to the west side of the camp for proper burial.
Eseldra uses a prestidigitation to make her hand look like another magic missile is ready to go. She stands behind Karthas and adds her presence to the intimidate check.
Tyr helps Hiram, lending his strong shoulders to the task of digging.
Hiram, lemme give a hand with that.
Jamison gestures for Hiram's shovel, and once it is handed over, he grows again to twice his previous size, as does the shovel.
Bigger shovel makes fer bigger shovels full 'o dirt, makes fer quicker holes. Same fer bandits as it is fer puhtaytuhs. He pauses briefly, before beginning to dig again. Ah feel bad fer these 'uns, sad that their errant ways 'n their bad decisions cost 'em their lives. Deadeye'll make good 'o their husks yet, though - in a year ferns'll be growin' in this glade, drawin' their nutrients from these men. In ten years, Erastil'll have cleansed this here glade o' any evidence that robbers n' theives were ever even here. The unlikely Cleric's diatribe continues, abated occasionally by the harsh scrape of metal on earth and rock as he digs. But make no mistake in yer heart, these men and this here woman chose their fate long ago. They chose t' prey on others, and such isn't Deadeyes way, nor the way o' good folk here in the Greenbelt. We done right in bringin' our arms t' bear against 'em, and ah'd do so again. Reckon ah will.
The holes dug, the Cleric returns to his normal size.
Here's yer shovel back, n' my many thanks fer the use of it. If'n yeh wouldn't mind sayin' a word over the departed, ah'd be mighty honered t' stand by n' have a lissen.
Tyr stands politely to one side as Jamison does an impressive job of the digging. He nods in thanks and appreciation at the other man's work, also standing quietly as the rites are done over the fallen.
With the battle concluded, Jhod and Mikmek lead the companions’ mounts and pack animals down to the campsite by the river ford. Jhod busies himself calming the animals from the bloodsmell while Hiram, Jamison, and Tyr dispose of the bandits’ bodies. Mikmek strips the bodies of their possessions before the three men bury them. The industrious kobold piles the gear together in the center of the camp for the companions to examine.
"What do you know of this so-called Stag Lord and his whereabouts? Tell us all you know and you may yet live to see another sunrise."
Cinders sheaths her scimitar and walks up beside Karthas. "I suggest you do as he says," she tells the bandits. "And while you're at it, repent your wrongdoing and promise to return to the light and never harm another soul again. For if you harm another or steal from another or commit any other offense against another, you will burn."
Eseldra uses a prestidigitation to make her hand look like another magic missile is ready to go. She stands behind Karthas and adds her presence to the intimidation.
”The Stag Lord?’ one of the captive bandits asks. The man glances at his companion, and the two share a fearful look before he continues. ”’E’s a monster of a man. A deadeye with th’ bow, an’ I see’d ‘im crush a prisoner’s hand to mush in one fist. Come to think on’t, I ain’t never see’d him without his creepy stag helmet on. Some o’ the boys think he ain’t got no face under it, but not me – I think that creepy helm is ‘is face!”
”An’ now e’s even crazier’n ‘e useta be,” the other prisoner adds. ”I mean, ‘e ain’t never been right inna head, but now e’s a bloody drunk. Few weeks ago ‘e punched me horse fer spittin’ in the yard. For meself, I wouldn’t care if’n he dropped dead tomorra, but even drunk out o’ ‘is mind ‘e’s still got a fair bit o’ fight to ‘im.”
”Some of ‘em says that strange ol’ man ‘e keeps locked up in th’ basement o’ the keep is really runnin’ th’ show, jus’ usin’ th’ Stag Lord as a puppet,” the first one pipes up. ”I got a look inta th’ ol’ guy’s eyes once, an’ it skeered the water outta me. ‘E ain’t some-un I’d want ta cross!”
As each bandit lays in their mass grave, side by side, Hiram moves among them, placing their hands at their sides, and pulling a copper coin out of his belt pouch for each of their eyes. Finding he only has enough for 4 bandits, he looks to the group,
"Beggin' yer pardon, but does anybody have 8 more copper coins? Don't feel right sendin'm off without the proper toll. Pharasma's owed his due anyhow."
Nodding, Hiram steps out of the hole, and bows his head.
"Ain't much to say I 'spose. You chose poorly in this life, and may yer gods have mercy on yer souls. Like Jay Dubya said, least yer bodies'll be put to good use."
Standing there for a moment not knowing what to do, Hiram looks to the others, and hands his shovel to Tyr.
"Since ya offered, mind coverin' 'em up? Nice and deep. Or I'll do it, if'n'ya want to start rippen down them barriers over there. From y'alls talk before, seems like ya fought here before? No reason to leave them bandits a working camp to just move back into. Might as well throw them and them tree stands in the fire."
Hiram looks around before continuing,
"This would be a good place to stop for the night, but I ain't a fan of sleepin' here in case them bandits come again."
"Sounds like you know a fair amount. Where does he stay? How far away is it? What defenses does he have? Please answer my questions as if your life depended on it...because it surely does."
"Beggin' yer pardon, but does anybody have 8 more copper coins? Don't feel right sendin'm off without the proper toll. Pharasma's owed his due anyhow."
Karthas stops his interrogation ever so briefly to toss eight copper Hiram's direction.
"A bit better than they likely deserve, but if it will put your mind at ease..."
Snapping some tree branches, Euron ties up freshly caught rabbit, fashioning a crude spit over the bandit's campfire.
As Hiram works to bury what he assumes are thieves and murderers, he can only shake his head. Back to the mud they go.
He watches silently as Karthas and the others go about questioning the remaining bandits, wondering just what his new companions would do with a captured man. Probably would be hung from a tree if it were the Swordlords, to deter a third group from taking this camp...
Niko crawls on the ground, eyeing the small mammals and sniffing at the air.
Catching the coins, Hiram nods his thanks,
"Certainly, but their burial is not for them. It is for us to honor our own deities and our morals. And...I ain't never seen a properly buried body get up again."
Finally, the druid also investigates the camp site, taking as much time as necessary, since he figures the night may well be spent here.
Euron's search of the campsite turns up a pile of camping equipment and packs haphazardly strewn about just within the forest growth along the southern edge of the clearing. The druid theorizes that his entangle spell caused the gear to be scattered about so, and that the bandits likely were about to set camp when the companions attacked.
Within one of the packs, Euron finds a change of clothing - obviously a woman's clothes. Wrapped within the clothing is what appears to be a ceremonial dagger - its blade is made of razor-sharp obsidian, and the pommel is a cat's-eye stone.
Well said, Hiram, well said.
Well said, Hiram, well said.
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"Sounds like you know a fair amount. Where does he stay? How far away is it? What defenses does he have? Please answer my questions as if your life depended on it...because it surely does."
The first bandit who spoke passes out from fright at Karthas’ intimidating presence.
The other bandit quakes and stammers so much that he is barely intelligible. ”Ah…Ah…Alright! I…I...I’ll tell ya ever’thin’ I know! Jes don’ do fer me whut ya done ta Kressle!”
”Stag Lord’s ‘bout four days’ ride south down tha Thorn, where it runs inta tha Tuskwater. ‘E an’ ‘is men’re holed up inna old fort onna hill. Good bit o’ tha place’s fallin’ down, but it’s all surrounded by a wood-post wall, ‘bouta dozen feet high ’r so. One gate in, on tha north side o’ tha wall. No trees ‘r nothin’ ‘round it.”
”Stag Lord keeps ‘bouta dozen ’r so men with ‘im in tha fort. Buncha mean cusses. ‘Best o’ tha best’ ‘e calls ‘em. Just ‘im an’ ‘is men and that bird-bear pet ‘e’s got. Don’t let no others stay near. Rest o’ us live scattered ‘bout tha north part o’ tha Narlmarches an’ Kamelands. ‘S long ‘s we bring ‘im ‘is tribute once ta month, ‘e don’ send ‘is boys after us. Leaves us alone. ‘Less’n a course yer unlucky enough ta be bringin’ in yer tribute an’ get drafted fer a ‘special job’ like we did.”
”Stag Lord wuz mad ‘s a hornet when Kestra’s tribute didn’ show couple o’ weeks ago, but since she wuz Kressle's sister, ‘e let ‘er slide a week. When she still didn’ show, ‘e ordered ‘er sister Kressle to go see what wuz up. Me ‘n tha boys ‘ad just brought our tribute in, so she ordered us to come with ‘er. We got here this mornin’, scouted ‘round a bit, an’ found what wuz left o’ Kestra an’ ‘er men a few miles north o’ here. Kressle’s been mad enough ta spit nails since. Then you folks come along. Guess you tha one’s that did fer Kestra too?”
"Well, there 'tis. I done tol' ya all's I know. So what're ya gonna do with us?" the bandit asks, his voice quavering.
The sleet finally trickles to a stop as dusk settles in, although the sky remains overcast. The companions manage to set up a relatively dry (or as dry as can be expected on icy, sleet-covered ground) camp around the now-roaring fire pit fueled by the dismantled barricades. Euron, Hiram, Jamison, and Jhod manage to securely corral the mounts and pack animals. Jhod also offers healing to any of the companions who are still injured. Mikmek insists on setting up a tent for Eseldra, and after several comical mishaps with rope, tent stakes, and canvas tent, the kobold finally stands proudly next to a close approximation of a shelter.
Cinders looks over the quivering bandits carefully. "What we do with you depends on what you intend to do next," she says. "If we set you free, where will you go and what will you do? Answer carefully, and mean what you say."
Tyr walks over from where he was helping bury the fallen to listen to the fellow's tale. Upon Cinders declaration, he stand by silently, listening intently.
Cinders looks over the quivering bandits carefully. "What we do with you depends on what you intend to do next," she says. "If we set you free, where will you go and what will you do? Answer carefully, and mean what you say."
”Well now, Miss, them’s good questions. Can’t speak for Bregan, there,” the bandit answers Cinders, jerking his head toward his unconscious companion. ”But fer me, mah gut ain’t much in fer bandit’n no more. Problem is, ain’t much more fer me ta do ta get by. Ain’t much good at huntin’ an’ trappin’, an’ farmin’ ain’t never been one o’ mah strangths. ‘M a fair hand at buildin’, but ain’t much call fer that roun’ these parts.”
Jamison pipes up when mention is made of a watch.
If'n ya'll would like, Deadeye has granted me th' ability to place a ward around th' camp, which'll alert me if anyone enters th' immediate area. Ah could place it 'round the camp, or ah could place it on the path a ways up, which'd give us plenty o' warnin'. just lemme know where ya'll want it.
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Eseldra, grimacing at the monstrosity of a tent Mikmek has constructed for her, turns towards the bandit. "Oleg has already taken in two reformed bandits and given them honest jobs at his trading post. The same offer may be there for you."
Finished with the burial, Hiram listens to the group as he sets up his own small tent. He makes a quick search of the camp and retrieves the two arrows that survived. He gets out a cooking set, and pulls out some dried meat, rations, and a full waterskin.
He starts to cook everything in one pot, a sort of meat stew surprise.
He grimaces as he tries it, but eats it just the same.
"Mama always did say I had no hand fer cookin', but y'all are welcome to what you can stomach."
He leans back after his quick meal, and starts sharpening his handaxe and working slowly through sharpening his arrows, while examaning some of the new arrows that the group found.
"You say you're a builder hunh? We happen to be going to a rediscovered temple that may need a bit of work on it. I am sure if you showed sincerity in turning from your wicked ways, the High Priestess there may certainly employ you and your skills."
Hiram does a little more work sharpening, and speaks up again when the issue of watches comes up.
"Do we have anyone with specific sleep needs? Myself, I don't tend to sleep much, growin' up on a farm does that to you. Maybe we could split the time up into 4 shifts? That way, most of us would have a good long nap throughout the night, while still being able to keep safe."
Hiram puts away his sharpening stones, re-sheathes the sharpened weapons, and stows all his unnecessary gear. He turns his hand to cleaning up the cooking pots, and makes ready to discuss the watch.
"Anyone have a lantern? Oil burns at an even rate, maybe we could use that as a sort of thing to keep track of how long each shift is?"
Shift #1
Euron(8) and Hiram(1)
Shift #2
Karthas(5) and Tyr(2)
Shift #3
Eseldra(3), Jamison(3) & Cinders(-1)
Euron offers the cooked rabbits he caught earlier to anyone who's hungry, and not a fan of rations. He cooked them medium-rare.
At Hiram's question Tyr steps up,
"I have oil and lantern." He says simply as he goes through his back-pack and removes said items, a Bulls-eye Lantern and a flask of oil.
"It sounds like you have a couple options for honest work," Cinders says to the bandit. "Promise to seek those out and I will have no objection to letting you go if my friends here are agreeable to it as well. Note though that if I ever discover that you have returned to a life of banditry, I won't hesitate to kill you. As for your unconscious friend, when he recovers, make him aware that I extend the same offer to him." She then waits for a response.
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Eseldra…turns towards the bandit. "Oleg has already taken in two reformed bandits and given them honest jobs at his trading post. The same offer may be there for you."
"You say you're a builder hunh? We happen to be going to a rediscovered temple that may need a bit of work on it. I am sure if you showed sincerity in turning from your wicked ways, the High Priestess there may certainly employ you and your skills."
"It sounds like you have a couple options for honest work," Cinders says to the bandit. "Promise to seek those out and I will have no objection to letting you go if my friends here are agreeable to it as well. Note though that if I ever discover that you have returned to a life of banditry, I won't hesitate to kill you. As for your unconscious friend, when he recovers, make him aware that I extend the same offer to him." She then waits for a response.
The bandit’s eyes widen at the companions’ offers of a path to redemption. ”If’n yer sure ‘em folk’d want ta take me on, I’d be happy ta turn mah hand ta an honest trade. Sounds like there be more need at that there temple o’ Deadeye ya mentioned, so I’ll see if’n that High Priestess there’ll have me. Don’t ya worry none, Miss. If’n Deadeye’ll have me, then mah bandit’n days’re over. If Bregan there’s got any sense, ‘e’ll do tha same.”
2wW:
Wealday, Pharast 27 – Early Morning Hours (Shortly After Midnight)
Euron and Hiram’s watch shift passes uneventfully.
About two hours into Karthas and Tyr’s watch shift,
Keeping his eyes upon this apparition, Tyr movies carefully towards Karthas, the other person on watch with him.
Keeping his eyes upon this apparition, Tyr movies carefully towards Karthas, the other person on watch with him.
Keeping the thing in sight, Try hisses towards Kartha's to get the other man's attention.
To the bandit: "Fortunately for you, we are currently heading towards the temple of Erastil to meet the 'high priestess' now. You may accompany us, and we'll be able to make certain that you don't 'get lost' on the way."
In response to whatever's going on with Tyr: "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"