Mordecai gives the man a single military nod and crouches down, hoping against hope that he would not be seen until the trap had well and truly been sprung. His sword shakes in his grip from how hard he holds it clenched in his right hand, keeping the quiver of arrows and the recently acquired bow within easy reach should the need for ranged combat emerge.
Stealth:
Stanis prepares beforehand with a casting of Mage Armor out of earshot, and tries to sneak up to Z19 (so the bandit has to wade through difficult terrain if he is going for him) with a stealth of . He stays crouched (+2 to hit him with melee, -2 to hit him with ranged and starts casting the spell when in position, targeting his 10 burst on the Y/X/6/7 intersection, getting all three red 5-point star baddies.
Stealth To cross river if needed
Stealth To get into position
Tam makes his way across the stream and settles down in to the heavy brush hoping his small form would go unnoticed in the dense foliage wondering how long he should wait before attempting to to creep up on the watchtower.
Sentry K3
Sentry K2
Pinkshirt
Aquashirt
Greenshirt
Orangeshirt
Kressle
Tam, James and Ali have not been spotted. They can take surprise actions against whatever target they wish. Remember, surprise round is limited to ONE movement or ONE standard action. I will assume that you had your weapons drawn and ready to for action.
Initiative Table!
The Party
Stanis
James
Tam
Mordecai
Ali
The Sentries
K2 Sentry
K3 Sentry
The Bandits
Bandits
The Sub-boss
Kressle
The map! Bandits are color coded for both of our conveniences.
Ali her sense tell her that she has made little sound, though to her left she hears a loud armoured crunch. 'Oh no, i knew it. We will all die here.'
Ali rushes across the small path hoping the sentries cannot see her before entering the undergrowth. Attempting to get closer to Tam as she feels the link with him straining over the distance.
Perception
Tam tilts his head listening to see if the rest of the party has done anything and sends a fervent prayer up to Desna for luck and then a smaller prayer to Noticula for help hiding in the dark.
He then takes a deep breath and moves quietly through the brush inching his way towards his assigned watchtower.
Stealth
Damnit, why does he wear such loud armor? James thinks with a wince, hearing a quite audible crunch from Mordecai and seeing the bandits respond. "Go! Strike him down, for your blade cannot fail with the Sting guiding it." The half-elf whispers urgently to Mordecai, finishing his spell and feeling it leave his mind.
Round One - Fight!
The archer in the tower at K3, despite the distance, actually heard Mordecai clunking into place, and turns towards the source of the sound. He pulls his bow, knocks and arrow and attempts to make Mordecai a pin cushion.
Mordecai, however, has concealment and there is a 20% miss chance. is high , and the shot aimed at Mordecai goes exceedingly wide.
Tam, it is your initiative.
Stealth
Tam watches as the bowman raises his bow and shoot off an arrow and inwardly he cringes slightly and prays to the gods to not let it hit one of his companions. Let it be some animal he is shooting at
He then creeps forward watching his steps as he makes his way closer towards the preoccupied bowman.
Ali senses the bandit near where she hides in the bushes. 'If i can distract him then maybe that gives James & Mordecai a better chance. Tam seems to be closer now, i shouldn't need to shadow him.'
Though the bushes and trees, Ali gets a sense of the bandit is. She pulls back her slingshot, the one that she often used to help her father hunt. The lead ball went zipping away towards its target.
Stanis starts casting his sleep spell, which will be completed on the start of his next round.
Ali's shot glances off the bandit's leather armor, and ricochets into the trees. He is unaffected, but may now be aware of Ali's location.
James, please state your action.
James crouches in the bushes, feeling the anger coursing through his veins, and finally decides something simple. These men attacked a common trader, a man and his wife who wanted no more than to make their livelihood. He feels the righteous rage given by his Goddess coursing through his veins, and his eyes smolder. This. Ends. Here. The half-elf calls upon his patron's power, and while he speaks the words under his breath and runs his hands along the blade of his whip, he watches as it lengthens and sharpens, looking for all the world like the sting of a wasp.
Round One
Bandit Actions
The bandit closest to Ali turns, lifts his bow and shoots in his direction, but since Ali is currently hidden in the brush she has concealment and there is a 20% chance that the shot will miss.
Concealment Miss Chance: high,
Bandit 2 draws his bow as part of a move action, and moves forward to AA13 and takes a shot at Mordecai.
Concealment Miss Chance 20%: high,
Bandit 3, not being incredibly stupid, decides to move out of the clearing and into cover at Y10, granting him a concealment bonus.
Bandit 4, also fearing being sniped from cover, will take it behind the log at AA7, kneeling down to get a +2 bonus to his AC.
K2 Sentry Action
The sentry at K2, having clearly heard Mordecai lets an arrow fly in his direction.
Concealment Miss Chance 20%: high,
Mordecai, it is your action
Mordecai takes the first arrow in the chest and grunts, tearing it out and then ducking as the second narrowly misses his eye. Growling, he hefts his blade and charges out at the closest bandit, swinging his enchanted blade high and fast at the man's throat.
Attack, enchanted by James
Damage
As his blade sinks into the man's flesh through his armor, breaking bone and blood splashing over his armor, he jerks his sword out of the man's limp body and lets it fall to the ground in a weak pile of limbs and a pool of spreading blood.
"Screw...stealth!" He grimaces at the pain in his chest.
Round One
Prior to Moredcai's action
The woman bandit tenuously identified as Kressle, knowing nothing about the nature of magic, but that double moving limits her ability to attack, moves forward and kneels behind the log for cover and +2 to her AC at AC10.
Thus concludes Round One
Round Two - Fight!
The archer at K3 now has a clear line of sight to Mordecai. He nocks an arrow and lets it fly, no longer hampered by any sort of concealment.
Tam, your action, please.
S@+~! Tam thinks to himself as he watches the archer draw another arrow and lets it fly. He must've spotted one of the party This thought is clarified when he hears a bandit's shriek of pain end quiete suddenly.
I have to get up to this guy and quick.
Stealth
Climb
Tam manages to creep up to the tower and begins to shimmy up the tower as quietly as he can manage.
Stanis drops the sleep spell so it catches Turquise and Green (Will DC15), then he draws a scroll and starts casting Enlarge Person, targeting Mordecai.
Aquashirt Will
Greenshirt Will
Round Two - Continued
The bandits that so formerly threatened Mordecai with their bows suddenly fall asleep standing up.
Ali, your action, please.
Seeing the hail of arrows fly towards Mordecai, Ali winces and heedless of the danger she rushes to his side. With her vision she feels the life flowing out of him and with a word to the Goddess she calls upon the poweer to restore him.
James steps calmly from the bushes, and strides toward the bandit woman at a quick stride, winding his whip as he speaks. "Your backup is gone, your lookout is dead. A smart woman would surrender. But you are not a smart woman. You have attacked my friends and taken a token of love that is not yours. I will have it back, and I will end the threat to their happiness." The half-elf's large eyes burn with anger, and his whip snaps out in a darting motion.
James's whip glances off the trunk Kressle is hiding behind, splintering the dried bark.
Round 2 - Continued
The only remaining bandit stands up from his kneeling position, and pulls his bow and knocks an arrow intended for James, who has stepped out of cover.
The Sentry at K2 sees that James is threatening his leader, and also trains his bow on James.
And finally, the woman Kressle herself rises, and sneers at James. "Your friends, hmm? Not for long, Sweetling. Pity." She draws a dagger as part of her move action, and throws it at James.
Mordecai, your action.
Seeing James struck by multiple Arrows and almost slain by a thrown dagger Mordecai gives a roar of rage and barrels straight towards the woman Kressle, sparing the sleeping men no mind, intent on putting himself between the woman and James.
Damned if these people aren't going to get me killed!" He thinks darkly even as he raises his sword, ready to strike down the bandit as soon as he gets within range.
Thus concludes Round 2, not with a wimper, but with your GM proving again that she is an idiot. :P
Round 3 - Fight!
The sentry at K3 sees the heavily armed fighter with an arrow sticking out of him rushing his leader, and fires upon him, but his shot fails and floats like a dainty feather to the ground, utterly useless.
Tam, your action please. One more climb check DC 15 should have you on top of the platform for a move action, and you'd still have a standard.
Perception
Tam strains his ears trying to locate where the bandit could be on the platform, he grimaces not hearing much over the shouts and clang of battle and maanges to haul himself over the edge of the tower. Ok nice an easy just get this guy before he manages to hurt one of your friends...just kill him...crap!
Climb
Stealth
Landing badly Tam twists his angle and manages to stifle an outburst of pain but not before a small gasp escapes his lips.
As the bandit turns he throws his knife pointblank into the man hoping to kill him before he can alert the other archer in the opposite tower.
Attack vs Flat footed
If a hit
Dmg
Tam's dagger meets the bandit's leather armor but does not pierce it, and he is now aware that you are on top of the platform with him. Fortunately for Tam, he has only a ranged weapon available to attack, so he does not get the chance to attack you... this round.
I have been told that Stanis has posted, and though I cannot see it, apparently it is Ali's initiative.
Stanis completes his Enlarge Person spell, and make Mordecai large, +2 str, -1 AC, 2d8 weapon damage, +2 CMB/CMD. He uses his move action to rise from kneeling, and his standard to move to AA14 to take cover behind the stump.
With the new stealth rules - revising Tam's assault instantly drops the Sentry at K3. His cries are silenced as Tam's knife slips into his lungs, perforating them. He falls to the surface of the platform, aspirating blood.
Ali, your initiative.
Updated Map. Reflecting Tam's victory.
Ma'am, you really should surrender! Brevoy's Justice wilt be fairer than if you hold the field this day." Ali calls to the raging woman.
'The blood, my friends,...' feeling her heart pounding against her chest in fear Ali moves quickly to the side of her friends.
Surrounded by the life of the forest around her, Ali acts as a conduit redirecting some of their energy to those in pain about her.
James, invigorated by Ali's magics, will jump atop the nearby tree stump, and strike down at Kressel with a flick of his wrist. "Your choice has been made. You are one who would harm the innocent, destroy the weak, and find pleasure only in your own foolish needs. I, James Herecea, pronounce you a killer, a murderer, and a thief, and sentence you to death."
James's whip finds purchase in Kressle's flesh, ripping away a bit of her shirt at the arm, and causing her to bleed. She growls in frustration, but it is not yet her initiative.
Round 3 - Continued
The Bandit
The remaining bandit sees that James has hurt his leader, and that Kressle is currently engaged with Mordecai, so he trains his bow on James, and his arrow finds purchase, dealing MASSIVE DAMAGE OF GM HATRED!! :P
The Sentry
The Sentry believes that James is also a sufficient threat now, knowing nothing about magic, or why the weak dude is waving his arms around. He too will fire at James. His projectile also hits James, and deals even more damage. He appears to sneer in satisfaction that he was able to defend his leader's honor.
Kressle
Kressle fairly sneers at Mordecai as she lifts her hand axe as part of her move action. "Aint you a tasty treat? Ain't too bright though, eh? Shame I hafta kill ya. Been real lonely since Happs."
Kressle's eyes widen when her attack goes wide, wondering at her terrible luck with her trusty axe.
Mordecai, your action please.
Mordecai snarls and towers over the woman Kressle, literally towering over her as Stanis' spell returns and makes him into a Giant yet again, he lifts the now immense sword above his head and then brings it down with a war-cry.
Attack:
Damage:
He brings the sword down with a roar, shouting, "In Ragathiel's name! Vengeance! His blow draws blood and he yanks the blade back with a jerk, spinning it in his gauntleted fist.
Ahhh ok, Here's my regular damage roll then :)
Damage, editted, Normal size.
Mordecai cuts down the villain Kressle with a great battlecry, and she crumples to the ground, gasping and gurgling as blood aspirates from her lungs as she lay dying.
Somewhere you believe that Calistria is chuckling as you invoked her domain as you struck the bandit.
Thus concludes Round 3.
Round 4 - Fight!
Tam, you killed the Sentry last round. You are standing atop a platform 20 feet from the ground, and it is your initiative. Whatever shall you do?
Move action to pick up the bow, so... Yes?
Longbow not proficient
Tam seeing the other sentry firing off more shots at his companions quickly ducks down and fumbling slightly manages to draw an arrow to the bandit's bow and fires off a shot at the opposing man in the tower....and watches as the arrow falls miserably short from the man not even gaining his attention so having no other recourse drops the bow and shouts at him.
"OI ugly is that your head or is that just another ass you have up there on your shoudlers!? What did your mother have a tumble with this guy over here or something!? Certainly would explain some things!" With that he laughs loudly pointing at the man.
While the enlarge spell might not seem as needed now, it still goes off, and probably scares the poor bandit that is left on the ground half to death. Then Stanis levels his crossbow at the tree-borne sentry and lets a bolt fly.
Relative concealment:
Attack:
Damage:
Stanis's bolt catches the bandit in the chest, and protrudes from his now broken ribs and punctured lung, but the lad still stands, bow ready to let off another round... likely at the tall thing that just murdered his leader...
Ali, your action please. James is about to die, he might like some healing. :P
"Oh Gawds." Ali says quietly sensing and smelling the blood it the air. Arrows and swords flying around. The chaos and death abounds, with a small sqeak she steps back from Kressles' slumped form and puts a hand upto James.
Feeling his pain from the arrows that hit his body Ali draws upon the strength around her a the life force flows through her into James' dashing form. Bringing back the vitality to the pious hedonist.
Sensing about her at the recumbant sleeping forms beside the camp fire, Tam's life-force unharmed, exhilaration fills her until she notices Kressle & the other bandits their life-blood adding to the forest floor. 'It didn't have to be this way. Surely someone could and should help the people so that they are not forced to live like this.'
"Surrender" Ali shouts "Kressle is fallen, surrender if you don't wish to join her. Her fate is not yours, renounce your ways; lest ye be judged."
Her face blancehed at the chaos and blood shed around her, knowing that it can be stemmed with the right words.
Round 4 - Continued
James hops down from the stump and moves forward to Z10, says something appropriately venomous and reeks his vengeance upon the final grounded bandit, slinging his whip, but unfortunately, his strike hits nothing.
The bandits
The remaining bandit, having seen Mordecai cut down Kressle with little effort, decides to cut his losses, and simply flees.
The Sentry
"Git back here, ya yellow son of a b¡tch!" he shrieks at his fleeing compatriot.
At this point, I will state that combat is over, unless you choose to take pot shots at the sentry.