Brycen exclaimed as he noticed the halfling fleeing. He yells out to the halfling as he positions himself around Sneeg. We be comin' ta get ya soon, ya yeller belly elfshit stained coward!"
Brycen leaps in the air and attempts to flank Sneeg, who was already being flanked Dmitri on one end, and Thomas on another, effectively trapping him in.
Sneeg [Poacher]DEAD/30 [Bulls Strength 3/10]
Sorc [Gem Sorc//Air] -1/18 [Dust 2/3]
Cleric [War Priest//Human] -1/19 [Magic weapon 2/20/Truestrike]
Halfling1 [Cutpurse] -5/10
Halfling2 [Cutpurse] 1/10 [Resisted Silent Box]
As Dmitri comes running up behind Sneeg and transfixes the man on his bastard sword, Brycen leaves nothing to chance and crushes the man's skull with his longhammer. The gruesome mess (for it only just resembles a man) slumps to the ground, completely and unequivocally dead.
The sole survivor's eyes go wide as he throws himself on the ground before the giant ferret snarling over him.
"Mercy! By the gods, have mercy!"
Standing at the gate beside Tyanos, Happs chuckles quietly to himself as he tosses his bow aside and grabs a battered looking blade from beside the gate. "You've got a hell of a band here for a merchant. Remind me not to piss you lot off." He runs a finger along the blade, looking somewhat satisfied as he stalks toward the surviving halfling. "Let's finish this and get Illana back."
Tyanos puts a hand on Happs shoulder to stop him.
"Now now, priorities my friend. We can't get them to talk if their dead. But we really only need one for that."
He points to the unconscious enemies as well as the halfling.
"Strip them of everything but their under garments and tie them up. The woman and the brute get their fingers and mouth's restrained too. Please hurry everyone, we are on the clock as it were."
Making his way over to the halfling, with Happs in tow but not near enough to gut the bandit, he speaks.
"Now I am sure it is clear to you that my friend here would deny you mercy and I am very reasonable. I offered, repeatedly I may add, to deal fairly with Sneeg. He was not reasonable and instead of listening to me he listened to that rather foolish woman. Now he is dead and all save you have been brushing up against death's door. Now if you wish to prove reasonable and give me no reason to allow my friend his way. I suggest you tell us where his lady is, the number of guards, and any other defenses to be had. The more forthcoming you are, the safer you will be in my care. This is your chance to take up my offer, only one of your band will be getting it. I am reasonable, not charitable."
Calling Eshie back, Kareta softly pets her partner and brushes the dirt out of his fur. "Good job, Eshie!" she coos, giving him a large chunk of dried meat. "We'll hunt something fresh later."
As she finishes tying up the still-conscious halfling, She adds to Tyanos' offer: "Tyanos means what he says. A lot of the guys helping us were former bandits as well. If he says he'll spare you, he will."
While the party was busy dealing with the lone survivor, Dmitri looked at the battlefield within Happston. He was relieved that this wasn't a major conflict like the mist-branch incident several years ago where fey and farmers had a decisive battle over a misunderstanding. He was confident in his comrades abilities and looked towards the bodies of fallen and began to rifle through their belongings looking for anything of value and clues to Happ's friend's whereabouts.
Bind up the his injured and then stand near them.
Thomas waits until they have done that before calling upon the inheritor
Happs grunts, obviously not happy with letting any of Sneeg's merry band survive... but smart enough to keep his mouth shut while the halfling spilled his guts. The halfling looks nervously from Happs to Tyanos, and seems only somewhat relieved by Kareta's assurances. Whatever it was, he gave up all the information he could as quick as he could.
"It wasn't me! It was all Sneeg's idea! He never thought you'd pay up and was coming here ready for war anyway! The sorceress made him think he could curry favor with the Stag Lord by bringing in a traitor's head..." He gulps, looking over at where Sneeg's head used to be. "Sneeg has another half-dozen watching over Happs's girl, but only his right hand will stand a chance against you lot. He's under orders to kill the girl if Sneeg don't come back by midday. Holed up a couple dozen miles south in some old temple thing."
He glances around nervously while the bloodied survivors are tied up and corralled in Happston. "Uh, don't uh, tell them I talked. Or I'll be dead before tomorrow."
Dmitri takes the time to remove any valuables from the survivors as he and the others tied them up and staunched their wounds.
On the bloodied lump that was once Sneeg, you find a pair of rather nice handaxes and an impressive looking heavy crossbow. The man's armor is quite battered, but still a functional suit of studded leather. A trio of empty vials hang from his belt, but one still holds a flask of viscous, black fluid. Beside it dangles a pouch of gold--63 coins from a Brevic mintage.
The halfling and his unconscious companion readily surrender their belongings, which amount to two healing potions, he assures you, and a small pile of halfling-sized daggers. There's also another 50 coins between them.
The sorceress carries a few scraps of paper on her person, but little else of real value. A brutal looking mace hangs at her belt, a single sapphire inset into its pommel.
The largest of the prisoners, the fellow with the greatsword, tosses uncomfortably in his unconsciousness as you loot him. Other than the impressive looking blade, he still wears his beaten and bloodied scale mail and carries a silver amulet of an equally impressive blade sunder a great stone. The pouch on his belt contains 94 gold pieces--much of from cities far to the west.
2 mwk handaxes
mwk heavy crossbow + bolts
Mwk Studded Leather (broken)
Potion of Hide From Animals
2 Potions of Cure Light Wounds
10x small daggers
1 Scroll of Gusting Sphere
1 Scroll of Alter Winds
Mwk Heavy Mace
Mwk Greatsword
Mwk Scale Mail
207 loose gold
Thomas stabilizes the wounds of the prisoners, but his healing only stirs most of them in their sleep. Apparently after being beaten halfway to death they're difficult to rouse.
Once they have stopped bleeding everywhere, Thomas looks at the both Dimitri, and Hadin for their injuries.
Let the others recover normally, I think we can be back to give them their fair trial soon enough.
We must still save the girl, and strike as soon as possible.
Hadin is paler than usual, having lost a good deal of blood from the deep wound by Sneeg. But he tries to carry on.
Tyanos again puts a hand on Happs shoulder, keeping his back to the halfling he gives the man a wink. Before addressing the halfling.
"That's good, you have been most helpful. But your going to have to give us a little more. As I am sure you know, Happs is very unreasonable about all this. So your going to personally lead us, your going to help us get the fair lady back. Then at the happy ending of this little story, your going to keep your head. Now feel no need to accept these conditions, you always have a choice, the other is I give you to Happs or the local Brevic guards and present my testimony to your aid. Yet ultimately the judgements will be theirs. Should you choose to help us, with the addition of our success. Well I could not allow such a fellow with clear intent to turn his life around in a more positive manner to have his life and opportunity cut short. That would be a grave injustice. So will you help us sir? Forgive me in all the confusion I never got your name?"
Happs frowns, tapping the length of his sword against his leg. "Unreasonable? I think I've been rather accommodating, all things considered. Haven't cut a single throat yet, though I'm getting a little twitchy. Might not be able to hold it much longer."
"Um. I can lead you there, I guess, if that'll help, but if they see me they'll kill me for sure..." The halfling looks rather taken aback by the sudden change of tone, and the rather severe juxtaposition between Tyanos and the angry fellow beside him. "...I'm Miko."
We must still save the girl, and strike as soon as possible.
Hadin is paler than usual, having lost a good deal of blood from the deep wound by Sneeg. But he tries to carry on.
"Here, let me help you with that..." Kareta said, casting a healing spell.
Tyanos shakes his finger at Miko.
"Now now, why would they kill you if you came to warn them. Sneeg has been ambushed and his ambusher's are coming for them. They look right, we hit them from the left. You just keep your head down and your feet quick during the confusion and it's a happy ending. You won't even have to lie to them, you already look the part. Now we all best get ready to go, we are wasting time."
Turning to Happs.
"I can leave the men I brought to guard your people and keep the prisoners if you want in on this Happs. You can focus on your lady's safety while we focus on dealing with the enemy. Just to be clear your going to have to follow our say so. If your good with that then your welcome to come with us."
Many thanks to you, Kareta. But keep some magic for those gravely wounded.I can heal Dmitri too.
Ol"Deadeye, please bless those who aren't afraid to shed their own blood to protect others!
Hadin calls on Erastil's favor, healing most of the ranger's wounds
"As long as you let me kill at least one of these bastards for myself, I ain't got a problem with letting you call the shots." He casts a glance over his shoulder, where what remains of Sneeg's crew lie bleeding and bound. "I'm thinking the loudmouthed lady would make a rather fitting eye for an eye in the whole affair. But first we get Illana back, aye?"
Happs rather nonchalant discussion of offing one of his colleagues makes Miko gulp down a lump in his throat, but he nods a weak consent to Tyanos's plan. Better to be on the winning side by any means, he figured.
A wave of curative magic fell upon the stalwart warrior as Hadin called forth his god's restoration. Dmitri saw that his grievous wounds were beginning to stitch themselves back together. "Thanks friend."
Tyanos chooses not to answer Happs, he would deal with that bridge when he got to it. With any luck his lady would calm him down enough to banish those thoughts anyways.
"Well shall we make haste then."
He goes about updating his men from the post about their duties and their hopeful return with the lady.
Thomas reaches over and taps Hadin on the shoulder.
Well done sir, well done, but let me see if I can help as well.
He then passes him the cure light potion.
Thank you, Thomas, I feel way better now. Let's strike theses bandits as soon as possible. Our main goal is the safety and freedom of their hostage, of course, not another bloodbath.
The halfling looks up at you, then kind of shrugs. "I don't suppose I'll be getting a horse to lead you there? Short legs and all that..."
Happs chuckles, waving over one of the men who'd collected the bandits' horses. "Give the little man his horse back. If he runs off, it'll just make hunting him down all the more fun."
As everyone mounts up and readies for the road, the halfling leads you off to the south--heading around the Thorn River and back in the direction of the isolated temple you'd brought Jhod to. The halfling slows to a stop perhaps 10 minutes from the temple, turning on his steed to look at your group.
"This is the place... I'll come in from this side and draw their attention like you wanted. I guess you can... come from the south? Should I wait a minute?"
Well, time is wasting. Should we see if they will come out for him hollering ?
Thomas waves offhandedly at the halfling.
As the party reached the familiar site of the Temple of Erastil, something didn't seem right to Dmitri. He had recalled the words that the captured halfling expunged - "the priest is there, as well as the lady and some of our friends. This thought gave him pause. Had their lack of care and inaction resulted in Jhod's enslavement and Wetscale's ultimate demise? Sneeg's foul plot had surprised him. He took a knee and made a solemn vow to whatever force would hear him - On my watch, I shall fight to protect my comrades.
However, with his comrades still in toe, Dmitri could exact justice. In a hushed whisper to his comrades - "We had the element of surprise last time at Happston but now we tread on enemy territory. Thomas, could discern for magical wards that may have been placed?"
He then turned to Hadin. "Are you capable of seeing the evil in man's hearts? If so, could you detect them from this range?"
And lastly he stepped towards Kareta, Eshie and Tyanos. "Kareta, I value your bonds with animals. Has Eshie detected anything strange coming from the direction of the Temple? And Tyanos, have you a plan in mind for us? I trust your judgement, friend."
I can see, or better say sense the evil in people hearts and souls, if they are close. But sometimes, i'm asking myself: who can see if my own heart is pure?
"If Sneeg can be believed we don't have time for anything fancy. The lady's safety is our first priority, other then that I suggest everyone focus on the same targets unless your judgement deems a bigger threat. We need to bring them down fast or force a surrender."
He drew his crossbow and looked at the halfling.
"Give us a minute or two but make sure to sell it when you tell them. When we strike, help us or take cover. The choice is yours."
I could detect magic, but it does take some time to figure out where it is.
While silently going over his part, Thomas gets ready to cast a spell.
Calling over Esie, whom had been chewing on his whet bone, they turn their attention to the temple, keeping behind the treeline.
Approaching the treeline, Kareta can see a few figures milling around beside the temple stairs and the pond before it. A ramshackle sort of wall has been erected at the temple's entrance, fitted with a door that looks only barely functional. There's no sign of Illana or Jhod, though it's also hard to get a good look without breaking into the clearing around the temple.
Kareta quietly makes her way back to the group. "There are a few guys moving around outside, and they've put a barrier up. But the door is pretty weak. I couldn't see any farther inside without trying to sneak in myself." She shook her head. "And I may be quiet, but I'm not that quiet."
Axe Warrior 34/34
Brigand 15/15
Brigand 15/15
Brigand 15/15
Brigand 15/15
Brigand 15/15
After a few moments lying in wait, you hear the frantic footfalls of your conspirator running into the campsite. A few shouted words are exchanged, though you can make out the vague semblance of a few directions and see a few panicked hand gestures through the thick undergrowth.
As instructed, the halfling thief points their attention straight east--away from where you've positioned yourselves. Showtime, part two!
Round 1
*cracks knuckles* "Dey nevah lern, do dey?"
"Tune of arse kickin' is a go!" Brycen strikes a chord on his lute.
He then impatiently waits for the crowd to come forth, eager to smash some skulls in.
May the inheritor guide us in this endevour
Axe Warrior 34/34
Brigand 7/15
Brigand 15/15
Brigand 15/15
Brigand 15/15
Brigand 15/15
Hadin bounds through the brush, raising his shield high as he enters the clearing. He hefts his flail high, rushing at the closest of the brigands and striking with the might of Erastil before he can raise a proper defense.
The heavy head of his flail cracks against the unsuspecting bandit, the sound of the impact quickly drawing the attention of the others from the opposite side of the clearing back towards you. A few frantic shouts and a whole lot of pointing does little to stop them from being too far to aid their ally.
The flimsy door built over the temple's entrance flies open as a brutish green hulk stomps out from within. "What the hell's the meaning of this racket?" His eyes go wide as he spots Hadin (et. al.), and he shouts to the heavens with a roar of both anger and frustration. He holds in his hand an axe. A very, very large axe. And he looks like the sort that doesn't have a whole lot of trouble swinging it around.
Round 1
Thomas looks at the big man, and grimaces.
He then attempts to quickly line up a shot with his bow.
Hadin attacks the axe-holding half orc
Surrender now!
Kareta draws a bow and takes aim at the nearest bandit.
Dmitri hefts his blade and rushes the largest target available, the Big Orc who had been shouting orders out.
Axe Warrior 34/34 (on Temple stairs)
Brigand 7/15 (melee with Hadin)
Brigand 11/15 (1 move away)
Brigand 15/15 (opposite side of camp)
Brigand 15/15 (opposite side of camp)
Brigand 15/15 (opposite side of camp)
Kareta puts an arrow through the nearest bandit (who wasn't already taking a flail to the face), knocking him off balance even as he turns on the charging heroes.
Round 1
Eshie snarls and charges at the bandit his partner shot.
Axe Warrior 34/34 (on Temple stairs)
Brigand 7/15 (melee with Hadin)
Brigand -1/15 (1 move away)
Brigand 15/15 (opposite side of camp)
Brigand 15/15 (opposite side of camp)
Brigand 15/15 (opposite side of camp)
Dmitri and Eshie break the treeline as one, the ranger headed for the stairs to the temple while Eshie moves to close on Kareta's target. With a leaping takedown, the giant ferret rolls to the dirt with a bandit in his jaws. The man is frantic and conscious--but only just, as blood pours from the wound in his neck.
He pulls away from Eshie, but only succeeds in tearing a larger hole in his skin. Blood pools as his consciousness fades.
The bandit in melee with Hadin raises his blade, even as his ears ring from the heavy blow he'd suffered. With a quick, slow slash he manages to get just beneath Hadin's guard. The cut is shallow, but the wetted blade proves that even a paladin is mortal.
The remaining 3 bandits split, even as the halfling turncoat disappears back into the brush. While one splits to head around either side of the meditation pool before the temple, the remaining one pulls a longbow from the ground and levels an arrow at Kareta. The other two draw javelins, hurling them into the fray as they close range on Hadin and Dmitri, respectively. While the arrow goes wide--very, very wide--the two javelins pierce both air and their targets. Though neither javelin strikes perfectly true, both manage to catch an exposed flank and draw blood.
Round 1
Tyanos closes the distance with the long bowman, drawing a flask as he did. No bandit was going sit back and shoot without paying a price. He lobs the flask at him.
Inspired by frustration and anger, Dmitri readies himself for a charge and throws his full body weight into one deadly blow. "Take this, bandit scum!" The mighty ranger level his blade and went to strike the bandit that had pierced him with the javelin.
"My turn!" Kareta draws another bow and fires at the bandit that shot at her.
As Dmitri attacks his own foe, Eshie turns to attack the bandit that fired at his partner.
Thomas attempts to line another shot up at the bandit that Kareta just shot at.
only to put his arrow in the dirt by the bandit.
Hadin tries to whack his foe again, grimacing through the pain of the wounds
Axe Warrior 13/40 (on Temple stairs)
Brigand 7/15 (5 ft from Hadin)
Brigand -1/15 (dead)
Brigand -5/15 (dead
Brigand 15/15 (Melee w Dmitri)
Brigand 15/15 (Melee w Hadin)
A flare of flame erupts from the unstoppered flask as Tyanos lobs it high over the campsite. It strikes true, shattering as that flare erupts across the bow-wielding bandit.
Thomas nocks an arrow, but an unexpected gust of wind knocks him aim well off target, hitting nothing but the dirt. Hadin raises his flail and brings it down atop the foe before him, who staggers backward from the force of the blow. Though not quite down, the blood runs thick from a gash above his brow and he breathes heavy...
The big orc fellow bellows a rather rude comment about your collective mothers, then leaps down half the steps of the temple to greet Dmitri with the head of his greataxe. Dmitri stops short, ducking left just in time to avoid being cloven in twain. The blow of the axe shears off flecks of stone where it impacts, but this does little to deter Dmitri. He ducks around the rear of the orc and offers his own deadly blow, to much greater effect.
Meanwhile, Kareta and Eshie team up on the longbowman. Kareta's arrow flies true, piercing her target with perfect precision. Eshie, the fury of a ferret undeterred by a touch of alchemical fire, leaps, chomps, and drags the flaming (and screaming) bowman to the ground. The alchemical flames quickly finish having their way with his clothes, and as the flames burn away their accelerant, so too does it burn away the bandit's resistance...
The bloody bandit before Hadin staggers back on his feet, barely able to see through the growing wound on his forehead. He uncorks a flask that smells vaguely of bad whiskey and quickly chugs it down. The wound patches itself up, at least partially, and he looks a little stronger on his feet.
The javelin-men draw their blades and finish charging into the melee, leaving their longbow-bearing ally to his fate. But as their morale falters, their blows fall with half the strength they should and neither Dmitri nor Hadin have any trouble shrugging off their strikes... though Dmitri is now isolated on the stairs of the temple!
Round 2