With his near-encyclopedic knowledge, Guujaw remembers learning that Mexica warriors would often spend the night to fast and pray before battle.
Angus smiles and nods towards the fort, "Our friend may be getting impatient, so what should I tell him?"
"They have actually treated with us honourably. I spoke hastily a moment ago, I was listening to the council that the Orcs would have given. But we are not orcs, we are men. We are BETTER than Orcs.
There is more at stake here than just this one skirmish. We must eventually make peace with these people. To act dishonourably will just make the next fight harder. And inevitable.
I suggest that we agree to their terms. We will meet them in the morning, at dawn. But AWAY from the stockade. We fight openly in the morning.
And if we win we let any survivors go. To tell others that we fought with honour.
If that is unacceptable, let us TELL them that we will fight, on our terms and at a time of our choosing. We can then still try to sneak in during the middle of the night. But at least WE will not be breaking our word, breaking a treaty.
It just occurred to me that, in fact, it is possible that they are HOPING that we will attack in the middle of the night. That they will happily martyr themselves to prove that we cannot be trusted, that we deal with them falsely. If it becomes known that we lie and butcher them while they are at their prayers their deaths may well reignite the war."
I disagree. There is no honor in war, and there is no treaty to break here that they have not already broken. I wish that they were open to talk of peace, but they are not. All we can do now is end the conflict, and stop them from doing evil, and killing the settlers that are coming. I like your ideals, but unfortunately I think insisting on an "honorable" battle when we are likely greatly outnumbered will only get us killed, and accomplish nothing.
"Well now that is food for thought ain't it. I guess were government so treaties.... Been easier if one of them had just socked me one when we were there I guess."
He looks at the others.
"I guess... well I don't know. Maybe we just go stand a ways off in the morning and wait."
He shrugs not being a big idea man.
"I'm willing to fight them if we have to. I just think telling them that we will fight in the morning and then sneaking back in the night to attack them at their prayers is wrong.
If we treat this group dishonourably then we will inflame the anger of others. Some who are, for the moment, following their governments orders will decide that the treaty is wrong since the American government has no honour. And we ARE currently representatives of that government, strange though that seems to me.
I want to be clear. I owe you all a life debt and I will cooperate fully in whatever you decide to do. "
Angus looks from one companion to the other, fingering the handle of his pistol. "There is a third option. We, tell him here and now. He's the first one to pick up his weapon. I could walk up and put a bullet in him. If we cut the head off of the snake, maybe the rest of them would go home peacefully."
Or swarm and kill us. Do we even know if this fight is winnable? ... Ah, nevermind. You're right that we don't have to listen to his choices. Just tell him honorably that if there is no possibility of peace, that we will fight now. Then quickly shoot him. Let's get this over with. We die or we don't die; at least it isn't drakes.
Zaranna moves back into position, and gets ready for what is to come.
Or swarm and kill us. Do we even know if this fight is winnable? ... Ah, nevermind. You're right that we don't have to listen to his choices. Just tell him honorably that if there is no possibility of peace, that we will fight now. Then quickly shoot him. Let's get this over with. We die or we don't die; at least it isn't drakes.
Zaranna moves back into position, and gets ready for what is to come.
Waiting for more input, Angus lifts his gear off of Marion's saddle, strapping on his belt and bandolier, then turning to study the priest.
"If we are to get on with it now I'd like to do so before the spell I cast on Huera expires. Guujaaw I have seen what these men do and have done, they are rabid wolves and only paused on us because we threaten them. Even a rabid wolf pauses at an angry buffalo. We need to put them down."
John Thomas simply nods and straps his shield on his arm.
"Aye, lets get to it then."
As the decision is made, the party feels...different. They feel stronger, more ready to face the challenge ahead. Eyes are sharper, minds are keener, blades feel like they could strike truer.
Following is a joke, I'm NOT actually saying it. Nor suggesting it :-). OOtS reference
"Ding? Did I just hear a ding? We should DEFINITELY wait until I have a chance to rest and regain my spells!!!"
'Ding? I know this man is from the far north, I wonder if the heat has affected him.' Looking from Guujaaw to the others, Angus 'quick clears' his pistol as he speaks. "If Guujaaw wants to rest, we should rest. But if were ready to go, then lets go."
Init Order:
John Thomas
Warriors
Atlatlists
Zaranna
Guujaw
Axlai
Angus
Kuruk
"Right, here it is."
John Thomas takes a small step and focuses on his defense.
Guujaaw throws glitterdust at the point where the arrow is. Should hit the 3 opponents
Will save DC 17 or blinded.
Regardless, they're pretty :-).
He then steps 5 ft back
Zaranna uses rapid shot to fire twice at the Mexica leader, hoping that if they take down the bloodthirsty leader than at least some of the others will see sense.
Angus tucks his pistol in his belt and turns walking toward the 'leader' of the Mexica. "Well I recon we're not going to take either proposition. And since you brought yer pig sticker along, we can do this right here."
Quickly drawing his pistol, Angus fires it point blank at the man.
Surprise round
Free action: Order Huera to attack she's 3 int so she understands.
Swift Action Animal Aspect Tiger for +2 Dex aiming for the leader
Huera charges in on same target
Despite the cascade of attacks, Axlai is still standing, and even angrier than before.
Could just grab him but better to just punch for now. Maybe grab him if this dont' worl.
"Ok big man. Lets work this out shall we? Me first."
John Thomas unleashes one uppercuts with each hand at the big bastard in front of him.
(Rapid shot)
Guujaw's cloud of sparkles envelops the bridge, but only one warrior seems affected. With his uppercut, John Thomas smacks the burly Mexica man squarely in the jaw. Axlai reels for a moment, before falling to the ground, his head making a resounding "KLONK" as it hits the wood of the bridge. The Mexica stare with stunned silence for a moment before the unblinded warrior roars and chargs at John Thomas. He soundly slashes the Irish man with a macuahuitl. A man rushes onto the stockade and begins to bark orders, while the three other men ready their atlatls and fire and Angus, Zaranna, and Kuruk. One of the small javelins flies true and hits Angus. The other two fly over Kuruk and Zaranna's heads.
Since the leader is already down, Zaranna directs her attacks to the guy barking orders (is that orange?)
'Good riddance to that one.' Quickly reloading the pistol, smilng, "Nice punch John, unfortunately you didn't hit him hard enough to scare the rest of them off. I guess we'll have to do it the hard way."
He then levels the pistol at the nearing Mexica studying him for a moment and squeezes both triggers. Then stepping behind John to clear the bridge for anyone who wants to advance. Calling out "We need to get to the shooters as quickly as possible."
Waiting until AFTER Zaranna has acted, Guujaaw will throw one of his absolute favourite spells : Euphoric cloud
20 ft radius centered on where the arrow is pointing
Fort save DC 17 or Fascinated. At the very least, blocks line of sight.
"Please don't hit any of the ones who are staring at the pretty lights. It would snap them out of it. But at least this way we can deal with them a few at a time"
Kuruk Casts Aggressive Thundercloud on purple dude lower right corner
DC 15 reflex save for half
Huera charges nearest dude attacking John
Zaranna's second attack hits the man on the stockade, who grunts with pain but stays standing. Angus' pistol strikes true, and Huera's charge finishes him off. When the cloud of sparkling lights appears, all but the man at the far end of the stockade and the man on the bridge are entranced. The man on the stockade is unable to dodge out of the way of the lightning cloud, and gets singed by the electricity.
John Thomas strides out onto the bridge, bleeding a bit, but running his mouth.
"See now you all should have just hung it up. Last chance up there, cut the bull."
He step up to the fellow on the bridge and throws a jab and a knee at the crotch.
'Ow! remind me not to fight John.' Seeing John knee the man in the crotch, Angus flinches slightly then calls out in Nahuaña hoping to end the fighting. "Axlai is dead! There is no need for you to die as well! He would make you to fight on, but the war is over. Your master Tenochtitlan, who serves Huitzilopochtli as well, has declared peace with the Americans. Lay down your arms so you may return to your homes and families!"
John Thomas' knee hits the man, who grunts and falls to the ground. The man at the end of the stockade grits his teeth and roars in Nahuaña, "A warrior does not surrender!" He slings a short javelin at Angus from his atlatl, scoring another hit.
Guujaw advances a little and uses his Evil Eye om the man at the end of the stockade. He then drops prone
Will Save, DC 17. or -2 on AC for 8 rounds. If saves, only for 1 round
"Blast!" Looking down at the atlatl dart in his leg, 'At least it missed the artery. Stubborn warrior, do they all have a death wish?' Dropping his pistol, Angus sighs as he unshoulders his rifle. "Suit yourself." He then aims the rifle at the atlatlist and squeezing the trigger the gun misfires and jams.
Doh! You're completely right. That will teach me to be doing 3 things at once :-(.
Pink AND Yellow made their saves. But we can see pink and not yellow
Moved Guujaaw to where he SHOULD have gone :-)
Lower right purple/pink one still has aggressive thundercloud reflex 15 for half or take Move action if hemoved to move the effect (I don't think he did)
Rapid shot w/Deadly aim
Huera is going to gore the next target she can reach
Zaranna shoots at pink (if still alive).
(Rapid shot)
As Zaranna's arrows hit the man at the far end of the stockade, he collapses, falling off of the low wooden structure. The rest of the men are engulfed in fog, but no obvious movement can be heard coming from within.
The party is up.
John Thomas moves as quickly as he can to open the door and move into the fort. Just before rounding the corner he looks over his shoulder to if the others are following.
"Do NOT go into the fog!!! Sorry, I should have mentioned that earlier. Forgot we hadn't fought together before"
You do NOT want to go into the fog as it will instantly affect you as well (requiring a fort save or you too will be looking at the pretty lights :-)).
I can't dismiss it so it will last awhile
Having already made his move John Thomas hears Guujaaw call out but only shakes his head as the fog doesn't find any grip on him.
I must be stronger minded then these poor fellows. They probably should have spent more nights in a bar instead of out here being angry.
Zaranna grumbles about the fog under her breath, wishing she could stay back like a wise person and kill her enemies at a distance rather than risk herself by going into the proverbial lion's den.
Then she follows John into the fort.
'Don't go into the fog?' Shrugging his shoulders as he watches John and Zaranna enter the fog, "Well, if it's ok I'll stay here for a moment." He reaches down and picks up his pistol, sticking it in his belt. He then attempts to pull the javelin out of his leg.