Sheoll was focusing on Rowena's words, trying to calm himself. She was right, of course. Cooler heads must prevail. If he was to build comradrie with his companions, if he was to build loyalty, he needed to stick to his word. He was glad of her council, and relaxing some when she gave her warning; unfortunately, he still did not see what came next...
Surprise Round
Rowena, uncertain of what hid in the shrubbery, swiftly let go of Tassira's hand and using her free hand (the other/off hand is holding her loaded light crossbow), she began casting a spell to aid her companions, calling upon Erastil's blessing.
Once again she calls out to her companions (free action), "Something's in the bushes yonder!"
As Rowena shouts out, three humans burst out, one with a longbow pulled out and the other two with what appeared to be small darts.
The one with the longbow speaks loudly. "Let those two go, and turn back now! Or you'll all meet the same fate as your friend there!"
The other two raise the darts up to prep for anyone trying to play the hero.
Group 1 - Rowena and Sheoll
Group 2 - Newcomers
Group 3 - Tassira and Alexander
Round 1!
Round 1
Rowena takes a 5 ft step forward to stand between Tassira and Alexander.
Reaching out her hand, she touches Sheoll's arm and begins casting Shield of Faith on him.
Sheoll growls..."Enough of this"
Darting forward past the disabled tripline on the ground, he moves forward quickly and low towards a fallen log ahead, then planting his foot on the old wood, he launches himself into the air, his body shuddering from the power burning in his blood.
In midair, his form writhes and expands slightly; small tentacles, mouths and eyes appearing randomly about his skin. Claws rips through his fingers and his skin darkens to near grey. As he comes down on the two bandits on the north end of the bushes, his hands are tight around his greatsword as he brings it down hard with the force of an otherworldly beast...
Reeling from Sheoll's furious assult, the first bandit falls as greatsword cuts them from shoulder, across the torso to the opposite hip. As they fall to the ground, the one with the bow turns and looses their arrow at Sheoll .
But it's a miss as his hands shake from viewing the tempered rage of the Aasimar.
The other bandit though, decides that opportunities lay elsewhere and raise their dart high, aiming right at Tassira.
They then pull out a longsword and raise it, ready to deal with then next attacker. Maybe.
Alexander becomes aware of the danger too late but takes only a moment to read the situation before realizing that he wouldn't be able to move quickly enough through the brush to strike at there opponents. So instead steps to the side clearing his line of fire as he readies the long bow strung at his back. Taking only a moment to call on the internal reserve of power he enhances the accuracy and deadliness of the bow as the first arrow is nocked drawn and loosed to strike at the nearest enemy.
Tassira hisses as the dart punctures her shoulder. Her eyes turn a deep green. "Mo sheal." She whispers as she points a finger at the offending bandit.
A green missile leaps from her fingertip!
Taking advantage of the situation, and his unnevered opponent, Sheoll presses the attack, swinging his sword at the other bandit nearby;
As the bloodrager tears through the bandit who is now quickly figuring they are little to no match for the group, the magus's arrow strikes true on his ally, seconds before a blast of arcane might from the tall soreceress fells them. Going wide-eyed, it's evident they should have backed off.
Round 2 Go!
Round 2
Rowena takes a 5 ft diagonal step , lifts her loaded light crossbow and fires at the bandit .
Alas, her bolt flies astray and she reloads the crossbow .
Round 2
Sheoll growls, and dark specks of dark red spittle spewing from his open mouth, and the random maws that have appeared about his skin echo that action. With the same fury, he brings his sword down again on the nearby foe
As Sheoll tears into the final man, horror crosses his face. The splatter of blood not only finds itself on the Bloodrager's weapon, but also on their arms and chest.
The battle draws to a close, three bandits dead and Cadell having passed to Pharasma's Boneyard.
Going with what he has in hand Alexander steps forward arrow knocked. He scans the area ahead of him as he moves forward ready to fire at any more aggressors that show themselves or find any other traps. Alexander tries to catch Sheoll's eye once he is close and indicate the path and a sweeping motion with his head.
As Alex moves forward, no sudden movements are had. It finally looks like, at least in this part of the wood, no one seems around.
Sheoll is breathing heavy as he looks around the small area of forest. For a moment, he looks back to the cart where Cadell's body lay. Thinking he would have like to have known him better...he would have like to had the opportunity to form a more solid opinion about the man.
As he pondered the mortality of his former companion, his form slowly began to shift back to a less fearsome visage, and he found himself slightly out of breath and his cooling blood made his body feel heavy.
"Rowena, Alexander, Tassira...do you see anyone else? He had hoped to keep this part of himself hidden for a bit longer, but circumstances did not seem to be in his favor. At least, for now, the voices were quieted. And to his mind, these men were little worth bogging down his conscience.
Wiping some of the blood spatter from his face with the back of his arm, he took another look around the area, trying to see if he could determine how long the three bandits had been waiting.
Upon the death blow delivered to the last of the three brigands who had surprised and attacked them, Rowena turned upon Sheoll's query, noting the blood spray/splatter, but not remarking upon it. She, too, wanted to inquire into Tassira's wounds, but dared not at the present time lest they were being overheard. Lifting her loaded crossbow, the young priestess scanned her eyes across the surrounds and shadowed shrubbery/landscape hoping to spy either subsequent traps, footprints or hidden brigands.
Tassira blinks several times. In the span of a few minutes, she's seen no less than four people die horribly.
How did I not see them coming?!
She holds her shoulder, still bleeding from the dart that got her.
Sheoll, a look around reveals that there is a small campsite consisting of bedrolls and a small pit for fires near where the original bandits had jumped out at. However, it appears that the others had prepped an ambush site well in advance.
Alex and Rowena, your searches show that while the ambush spot had been readied in advance, the area doesn't look heavily used. Indeed, it appears that the three ambushers hadn't been there long.
Hans and Gernon approach Rowena as they look down at Cadell's body. Speaking up, Hans gives a small cough first. "Should... Should we put him on the cart with us?"
Hans's revised quote: "Should... Should we keep him in the cart with us?"
"It does not appear that the brigands have been here long." Rowena cautiously shared her observation with the others.
"I am not hurt", Rowena quietly replied to Alexander's inquiry.
The young priestess looked to Tassira and the bleeding wound upon her shoulder. Her gaze then turned to the blood-smeared Sheoll and waited to see if the warrior had wounds that needed healing before she acted.
To Hans' question regarding the body of their fallen companion, Rowena quietly advised, "Yes. And, if you can cover him with something, please do so to keep away the carrion birds."
Tassira holds onto her shoulder where the dart hit her. "..."
She's not saying anything, but it appears she's willing to continue.
The battle over, Sheoll returns somberly to the group. Nodding at Rowena,
"I agree, thought it looks to me like this site has been used before. To keep folk from happening upon their camp, or to waylay travelers, I cannot say."
Looking over at their new captives, he then glances over at Hans and Gernon.
"Find a sturdy tree and tie those two to it. We'll move on to the camp, and we can't have them with us, for a number of reasons. Gag them as well and we'll return for them later."
Turning back to the group,
"Unless anyone has objections."
Hearing Sheoll's suggestion Alexander nods his head. No objection here Sheoll. Since we have time and relatively security maybe Rowena should look over Tassira's wound.
Hearing Alexander's suggestion that she should do her duty as healer to his cousin, Rowena silently and mindfully stepped back toward the noble sorceress who was still favouring her wounded shoulder.
Lowering her loaded crossbow carefully to the ground, Rowena advised Tassira in quiet voice, "I must see how deeply you are wounded and determine if the dart was laced with anything." The young priestess went straight to work on examining the wound where the dart had punctured the skin. She wondered if the dart was tipped in toxin, as the one which felled Cadell seemed to have been, but in the dying light (and with her current concerns in mind) she was unable to determine if Tassira was poisoned or not.
Still speaking in a discreet voice, she added, "I cannot determine if Tassira has been poisoned and we do not know how much time we have before the other brigands come looking for their missing comrades. I can perform a healing spell on her to try and alleviate what injury I can see. But once this spell is done, I will have no higher magic left this day. Be aware of this, all."
Do what ever you feel is most appropriate and thank you. With that Alexander turns back to scanning the woods for potential enemies bow still in hand.
At Sheoll's suggestion of leaving the men tied to a tree, Hans and Gernon go and pull them towards a nearby tree. "You should have warned us about those other three..." Gernon says as he loops a rope around the trunk of a tree.
The one being tied up goes wide-eyed. "You... You aren't just gonna leave us here, are you? You know there are monsters out here! Hell, just Tuskgutter is bad enough!"
After completing the healing spell, Rowena looked up at the tall sorceress and softly enquired, "Does that feel better, Tassira? Tell me if the shoulder still pains you."
She had inclined her head respectfully upon Alexander's prior words to do what she felt appropriate.
Having caught the tail end of the conversation between Hans, Gernon and the two prisoners, Rowena enquired swiftly as she collected her crossbow from the ground, "What or who is Tuskgutter?"
Hans turns to Rowena and frowns. "Tuskgutter is a big, angry, vicious boar. Rumor has it it might be part demon or something, but it has killed folks round here before. Wanders the wood, real nasty."
Gernon nods as he finishes tying to last one to the tree as well. "True enough. Never seen it myself, but the boys who have say it's got hide as tough as steel and tusks sharper than spear points with an attitude to boot."
Thetwo tied men now start squirming violently now. "Please, you can't leave us like this! Tuskgutter come round, we're boar feed for sure Gernon!"
A boar! Rowena's eyes moved to the low shrubbery and the shadows around them, watching and listening anew for the ferocious Tuskgutter.
"Keep quiet!" Rowena quietly admonished the captured bandits. "For certain you will draw this Tuskgutter's attention with your commotion."
As Rowena looks around, the threat of a wild boar now evident, she hears noises, but none that would indicate anything more than the occasional bird or squirrel. The two men, as well as Hans and Gernon, freeze, fearing suddenly the creature of local legend coyld indeed be sneaking up in them.
Whispering, Hans looks at Rowena. "Is it here?"
Tassira nods as Rowena heals her shoulder. "...I'm fine."
She readies her crossbow and starts sweeping it all around.
Rowena heard Tassira's reply and was reassured the sorceress had full use of her arm once again.
Upon Hans' question, Rowena replied in whisper, "I heard some noise, but it sounded more like bird or squirrel."
"Sheoll, Alexander, do you see any sign of a wild boar?" she discreetly called to the two males surveying the area.
Tassira holds her breath as she looks around, afraid to say anything for fear of attracting the wrong sort of attention.
She blinks rapidly and tries to get herself under control, trying to ignore the fact that three more people just met violent, grisly ends before her.
Sheoll blinked hard. A boar? this is indeed a strange land if folk fear a pig. He knew that they could often be trouble, but it was a bit surprising that the creature had garnered such a reputation. Still...it was better to be careful, besides, he was suddenly in the mood for some pork.
"I don't see any signs of the creature. I think if this camp-sight has been here for a while, the fire would have discouraged any of the wildlife from coming near."
After taking a quick glance around,
"I think we should press on. There's still this Kressel and the rest of the bandits to deal with."
Alexander scans the forest around him but his mind is on other things. Cadell's dead and I wasn't able to keep Tassira safe. I need to be better, faster. Thank Old One Eye Rowena was here. Alexander nods his head to acknowledge Tassira before speaking. I don't see anything but the forest is pretty thick... Alexander's voice seems to die out for a moment before he speaks again his train of thought having changed upon hearing Sheoll speak. I have to agree with Sheoll. It seems unlikely that Tuskgutter if he even exists and isn't some kind of forest bogeyman would be right here right now. Why set a up camp to rob people if it was a dangerous area. I think they are trying to con us.
Thinking on it for a moment Alexander begins to formulate a course of action. We might wish to leave Hans or Gernon here maybe both of them to watch over those we captured as well as the horses and gear. Alexander thought about mentioning Cadell's body as well but thought better of it. This could be a rally point if things go poorly and we are forced to retreat or get separated in some other way. The horses don't really provide much advantage in thick forest too easy to get dragged off by a stray branch and they make stealth difficult if not impossible. Turning to Hans and Gernon. How much farther to the main camp?
Rowena, loaded crossbow ready, listened to Sheoll and Alexander even as her gaze kept glancing into the surrounding low-lying shrubbery in case Tuskgutter was real and not a myth.
"I am ready to press on", Rowena responded in quiet voice. "And I am amiable to leaving Hans and Gernon to guard the prisoners and watch the wagon and horses."
The young priestess' eyes scanned before her as she waited for one of the reformed brigands to answer Alex's question.
Tassira blinks and looks around again. She's still shaken from not having noticed the bandits before they attacked...
Her hands are trembling so badly that she's more focused on keeping herself from dropping her crossbow than on her immediate surroundings.
With the two fools tied up, Hans and Gernon agree to hang back. After all, they don't want to face their former boss now that they have effectively turn-coated on her. The two captives appear a little more at ease, at least, though they obviously fear what might be coming to them.
Pressing in on foot, the trail continues on for some ways, the underbrush growing more and more wild. Indeed, at spot it looks almost as if there is no trail, just a gentle divide in the trees.
But, slowly, the trail opens wider after another few hours of walking.
Rowena remains toward the back of the group, her loaded crossbow held before her as she moves.
She attempts to be as quiet as possible as she walks, knowing full well she does not have the training that Sheoll and Alexander have. The young priestess sends a silent prayer to Old Dead Eye as she scans her eyes around the unruly underbrush and across the trail.
While Tassira is still quite distracted, her footsteps are eerily quiet among the fallen leaves and branches.
I haven't made much noise... is this my fey side helping me or something else altogether? She has a puzzled expression on her face as she moves.
With the rally point left behind Alexander tries to make himself as quiet as possible as they stalk through the woods in the general direction of the enemy camp. Alexanders bow is currently stowed on his back with both hands full one with a dagger and the other his sword ready for combat. As much as he would like to talk with the others he remains silent to prevent any lurking enemies from being alerted. Maybe we should learn some common hand signals for situations like this.