Obi, as usual, is quiet most of the ride, the look of anger so foreign to him clear on his face. He readies himself for the upcoming battle by going over the fiery incantations that burn brightly in his mind, making sure he gets each and every one o f them right, down to the last, faint ember.
As the Wardens near the bandit camp's location, Eadric reigns in his horse and waits for the others to converge on him. After everyone is close enough he remarks in a hushed tone, We are getting close now, we should probably come up with a plan on how we intend to take the camp. There is a small river crossing before we reach the camp and they have two elevated watch platforms from which to spot our approach. Last time we had planned an assault after dark. Dealing with the watches first and then taking the camp proper. My preference is dealing with the platforms first and then charging the camp from my horse. What are everyone else's thoughts?
Garric listens intently to Eadric's intelligence report. "I agree, we need to wait till dark, as a half-elf, as long as there's some light, I can see pretty well. Are the platforms lit? Lit torches in camp? If not, how do they see in the dark? I agree we should pick off the guards on the platforms first. My bow will come in handy then, I am a pretty good shot with it and I hate those scum. To your knowledge, any non-humans in the camp? I am also somewhat stealthy, so it should help me get within range and hopefully one-shot each bandit. Then the cavalry can ride in! Do we know the exact locations of the bandits or are we guessing? Could you draw a map or do we need more intel?"
"Seems like it will be cloudy tonight, may affect our vision in the camp, but we have no choice but to strike tonight." Garric pats down Grady, feeds him some fruit, and checks his bow and arrows to kill the time, till it gets dark. Garric then asks Eadric, "Do you know what type of armor the bandits wear?"
"I agree that taking the sentries out is key for our success. Also, last time we were here, I offered to cast some sleeping spells on the bandits, who outnumber us about 2:1. That should give us time to deal with fewer bandits at the same time".
"My spell was going to help too.. maybe knock a few out.. blind them for a bit."
Torod waits to be told what to do in the upcoming battle. If no one tells him what to do, he plans to charge in and kill stuff.
Garric sees the bandits on horseback and badly wants to take a shot at them, but he controls his emotions and backs the party back into the woods, preserving the element of surprise.
Ellaria notices the bandits as well, and points them out to her friends, but follows Garric's lead in withdrawing from this fight and preserving the surprise until later.
Perception
Garric will pat Grady and tell him to move along toward the path, saying "I know how much you hate combat, you damn pacifist." Then, he will tell Eadric and the that he is going around to scout to get a better look. "If all breaks down and I get noticed, I will lead some bandits into the woods, while you charge that axe-chick."
Garric will try to reach the bushes west of that wagon on the map to get a better view, bow in hand.
A fire, darkness, and mocking whistles. Obi could almost feel the manacles again as the unwanted memories rise up in his mind, breaking past every mental wall he'd put around them.
With a shudder, he feels adrenaline start to flow through his body and he starts to breath harder. For Imiria, he was going to fight the instinct to run away. If an eye for an eye is fair, what's a life without a hand worth?
Torod stays ready for the impending combat. At the first sign of trouble he casts Magic Stone on his sling bullets.
"Now they learn of the judgment of the World."
Garric listens intently to Eadric's intelligence report. "I agree, we need to wait till dark, as a half-elf, as long as there's some light, I can see pretty well. Are the platforms lit? Lit torches in camp? If not, how do they see in the dark? I agree we should pick off the guards on the platforms first. My bow will come in handy then, I am a pretty good shot with it and I hate those scum. To your knowledge, any non-humans in the camp? I am also somewhat stealthy, so it should help me get within range and hopefully one-shot each bandit. Then the cavalry can ride in! Do we know the exact locations of the bandits or are we guessing? Could you draw a map or do we need more intel?"
Eadric responds to Garric's questions, We weren't finished our previous scout of the camp before the 'incident'. As such I am afraid I do not know if any non-humans are present. Then or now of course. I do have a map, drawn by Ula previously. Eadric produces a crudely drawn map and shows it to everyone.
...Garric then asks Eadric, "Do you know what type of armor the bandits wear?"
All the bandits we have encountered thus far have worn leather armor.
Eadric adds, I recall Oleg mentioning that a bit further down from the bandits and likely beyond their sight a bridge crosses the stream that might allow us to come into the camp on the other side of the stream.
Eadric also pulls back into the bushes when the patrol passes. Shortly after he whispers to the others, I am not one for stealthy approaches or attacks from hiding, I would be better suited to a horseback charge into the camp once the way has been cleared. Garric, you and the others should deal with the sentries and then once the attack begins in earnest, I will ride in and join the fray. Does this sound agreeable?
Eadric notices the bandit with the torch, but nothing more...
...tell Eadric and the that he is going around to scout to get a better look. "If all breaks down and I get noticed, I will lead some bandits into the woods, while you charge that axe-chick."
Eadric nods silently in agreement with Garric's plan. Eadric's eyes remain fixed upon the yonder camp, the laughter from the bandits echoing in his mind. He reflexively clenches and unclenches his fists in anticipation of the coming battle. As Garric moves towards the camp and the other's make their own preparations, Eadric moves a short distance away to a spot not visible from within the camp and mounts his horse, hopefully unseen. Once mounted he leans over and whispers words of encouragement into his steed's ear. Straightening up he looks momentarily skyward and whispers a short prayer to guide and protect all those that fight alongside him this evening. Finished his prayers, Eadric tightens the strap on his shield before firmly grasping his lance and leveling the point in the direction of the camp. He awaits the call to charge.
Before Garric leaves, Eadric produces two vials and offers them to the group, Oleg gave us these in thanks for dispatching Happs and his men. They might prove useful here this evening. One is curative and the other bolsters one's defenses. We should determine who best will benefit from these gifts.
1.So far, I see 4 bandits + leader, correct? 3 around fire + 1 on catwalk, correct?
2. The sentry with the torch, was he one of the bandits around the fire?
3.Can I see the other platform from my current position?
4. Can I tell how the guard on the platform got up there? Ladder? Climbed the tree?
5. How hard would it be to climb this tree?
6. What time of day is it?
Garric will wait it out from his hidden position, to see what happens, if more bandits appear, or if some go to sleep, etc.
"We can't wait forever. Our chance to strike will have passed with dawn's arrival."
Now, that he has a better vantage point, Garric shoots another arrow, this time at the lookout across from him, with surprise.
"That's either very good or very bad. Either way, it's time for us to go in."
Torod moves to where he can see a bandit and targets him with a Storm Burst if within range or a sling shot if not.
Storm Burst Damage
Sling Damage
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Garric remembers the hatred he felt, reliving his mother's fate, and said hatred only fuels his aim, as he shoots and kills each successive bandit.