After waiting for darkness to cloak the forest, the two goblins sneak off into the undergrowth, looking for where they know the bandit camp must be. It's not hard to find, the smell of smoke and distant winking of campfires through the trees draws them towards it. Once they get close they can hear the raucous noises of men drinking and joking. Treetopper spots someone who isn't enjoying the night though. As the goblins creep silently closer to the camp, the observant goblin notices on bandit up on a platform in a tree. The platform is twenty feet off the ground, and the guard stationed on it has a rifle. He has a good view of the surrounding forest, and appears to be dwarven.
Treetopper signals to back out and make a circuit around the camp looking for more platforms and ways where a blind human could make his way between them.
Zort follows Treetopper without complaint, though he does wonder if he could take out the lone dwarf right now.
Didier keeps an eye out for any bandits encroaching on their small, hidden camp, though he's not particularly good at it, and keeps getting distracted.
The two goblins complete their scouting mission without being spotted by the bandits.
Clearing: The bandits created this semi-permanent campsite by cutting themselves a small clearing. Tree trunks and logs serve as chairs, all centered about a stonelined campfire. A heap of kindling and smaller sticks lies nearby. The bandits generally prefer to sleep under the stars, but a number of folded tents are stored under the platform for wetter nights.
East Watchpost: A wooden platform 20 feet off the ground gives a great view of the campsite and the trail to the west. A rope ladder allows access, but if pulled up to the platform, access from below is possible by climbing one of the nearby trees (DC 15 Climb check). Tents, firewood, food, and other supplies are kept under a canvas tarp below this post.
West Watchpost: This post is identical to the East
watchpost, save that no supplies are stored below it.
The Logs: Two thick logs lie positioned alongside the forest trail.
The Wagon: An old, broken-down wagon sits here.
Zort divulges a scouting report to Didier and Dolgren.
Zort picks up his top hat and begins spinning it nervously. "We're outgunned. That's the truth of it. We'll need to out fox them if we want to walk away from this."
Gus scurries out from Zort's coat pocket, sits on Zort's shoulder, and seems to nod in agreement.
"Suppose there's 'bout a dozen of 'em. That's a good many barrels pointed our way once the smokin' starts,"Zort says. He puts his top hat back on his head. "Maybe Treetopper can out their post on the Western tower. I can try and make the watch at the other tower nod off and sleep. Then we burn their supplies and let the wilds sort 'em out. Whatever we do...it'll have to be foxy.
"Out-gunned, perchance, but not out-matched. It seems to me that they have no watch if we approach from the North-East: the bank of trees would hide us from their tower guards. They are in the open, we would be firing from cover with surprise. But I will listen to other counsel."
Dolgren is not rash - few dwarves are. But he has a liking for adventure and danger that sometimes gets him into trouble.
"That seems a viable plan, though we should leave horses nearby in case we need to run," Didier says. "I think we should attack around half an hour before dawn. That is when they should be at their most vulnerable."
"Umm," Treetopper finally speaks up. "I don't think we can win a straight up fire fight. They outnumber us two to one. We should approach from the west. I bet we can take that one guard. Even if we're not quiet, defending the west would be easier than the northeast where they can rush us. No?"
"I will admit that military strategerie has never been my forte. I would accept either plan. Regardless, we should keep the horses nearby if we need to run."
Zort shakes his head. "At least one of us will be buzzard bait if we go for a shoot out. If we reckon we must take 'em on direct like, then I vote for the western approach."
"West it is." Didier agrees.
The marshals, decided on a plan, approach the bandit camp from the west.
Treetopper leaves his rifle on Ozark and quietly commands Ozark to defend Dolgren.
He sneaks up to the guard and climbs the tree.
Dolgren follows Treetopper through the scrub, taking care not to be seen.
Didier knows he is not a stealthy man, and waits for the others to deal with the first guard before moving forward. "Let me know once you've got him, and I'll move up." he says, before the others go.
Zort follows Dolgren. Furtively of course.
Initiative:
Party 15.75
Kressle 10
Bandits 10
"Eh! A bloody goblin!" the dwarven guard exclaims from his perch as Treetopper sneaks towards him.
Didier draws the rifle he took from the bandits at Oleg's place as he hears the guard shout. He then holds position, hoping that whichever goblin alerted the guard can talk his way out of it.
Still concealed among the trees, Dolgren aims at the guard. It is odd to be preparing to shoot one of his own race to protect a goblin, but it is an odd world. Dwarves who forsake their honour and throw in their lot with bandits have offended Torag.
Treetopper hopes the guard saw Zort. He keeps stealthily climbing to the top.
"Eh! A bloody goblin!" the dwarven guard exclaims from his perch as Treetopper sneaks towards him.
Didier draws the rifle he took from the bandits at Oleg's place as he hears the guard shout. He then holds position, hoping that whichever goblin alerted the guard can talk his way out of it.
Still concealed among the trees, Dolgren aims at the guard. It is odd to be preparing to shoot one of his own race to protect a goblin, but it is an odd world. Dwarves who forsake their honour and throw in their lot with bandits have offended Torag.
Treetopper hopes the guard saw Zort. He keeps stealthily climbing to the top.
Zort aims his pistol at the guard, hoping it was Treetopper the guard spotted.
The scruffy dwarven guard raises his rifle and sights down on Zort, before squeezing the trigger. A crack like thunder echoes through the night, immediately followed by shouts from the camp. The dwarf's shot misses Zort. It is immediately answered by the crack of Dolgren and Zort's own guns as they return fire on the guard. Zort's pistol misfires! Dolgren's shot however strikes the guard in his shoulder, wounding but not killing him.
=======================================
______________________________________________________
Dolgren calmly rotates the barrel of his rifle and fires another shot.
Treetopper waits for the shots of his companions against the dwarf. Then, he quietly crests the top pulling his small cavalry blade.
He slashes at the mid section of the dwarf from left to right
Zort glares at his revolver. I'll tend to you in a minute. Zort fires at the dwarf guard again.
The shot misses high. It belongs to the heavens now.
Zort says, "Fellas, gotta' fix my piece." Then Zort darts a bit farther back into the bush.
Didier works his way forward through the darkness, toward the light he can see in the distance.
Dolgren calmly rotates the barrel of his rifle and fires another shot. This shot kills the platform guard, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Treetopper waits for the shots of his companions against the dwarf. Then, he quietly crests the top. He draws his rifle, preparing to lay down cover fire for his friends .
Zort glares at his revolver. I'll tend to you in a minute. Zort says, "Fellas, gotta' fix my piece."[b] Then Zort darts a bit farther back into the bush.
Didier works his way forward through the darkness, toward the light he can see in the distance.
[b]"Cain't see s&+@, Jasper! What's going on?"
"F#$*ed if I know Jeb, sound like someone done shot Hrothgarl."
"Oi you two twits shut the f!&+ up and keep your eyes west," a female voice cuts off the bandits conversation. The humans' eyesight is too poor to see the Marshals through the darkness.
================================
__________________________________________
Zort gestures awkward at his iron, casting mend. Then he heads back toward the tree with the platform.
Treetopper sheathes his scimitar and stays concealed and looking for a target for his rifle. He whispers to his companions below, "Dead. Get ready."
Dolgren allows himself a grim smile at the bandits' complaints; this is just like the War against the secessionists. He takes cover amid the trees and aims at the next target.
Treetopper targets the chick with two axes.
Didier takes aim at the woman near the fire, and, ignoring the pain shooting through his hands, fires his rifle.
Zort gestures awkward at his iron, casting mend. Then he heads back toward the tree with the platform.
Treetopper draws his rifle and stays concealed and looking for a target. He whispers to his companions below, "Dead. Get ready." He fires off a round at the woman, hitting her in the chest.
Dolgren allows himself a grim smile at the bandits' complaints; this is just like the War against the secessionists. He takes cover amid the trees and aims at the female leader of the group, putting another round into her.
Didier takes aim at the woman near the fire, and, ignoring the pain shooting through his hands, fires his rifle. As his bullet hits the woman she crumples to the ground, dead or dying.
"Oh s*~+, they got Kressle!"
"Everyone get down!"
The bandits all drop prone, taking cover behind logs and brush. The remaining dwarven sentry on the second tower raises his rifle and fires a round at Didier. The bullet tears through the oracle's shoulder, mere inches from his jugular.
================================
_______________________________
Uh oh
Whew!
"By Torag! Another dwarf!" Dolgren is incensed by the treachery of not one, but two, of his race. Banditry - the forsaking of the law - is one of the gravest sins a dwarf can commit.
Moving into position, he takes aim at the wretch, sights along the barrel and fires.
Treetopper drops prone and focuses on the dwarf in the tree. He holds a breath and squeezes the trigger. The bullet rips through the dwarf's shoulder.
Zort moves closer and fires at the dwarf in the tree.
Zort shouts, "Surrender, we've got you surrounded!"
Grunting from the pain, Didier casts a spell to at least partially ward him from the bullets. He then drops prone.