Caelus grumbles at the crossbow dart in his leg. He sheathes his sword and quick draws his long bow from his back. He knocks an arrow and aims straight at the woman on the platform, "Such language is unbecoming of a woman!!" He fires his arrow.
This ambush had gone surprisingly well, Shalia thought, seeing all five bandits down already. And even with the pleading look from the bandit she took down, Shalia knew it was pointless to even ask for them to surrender, given how the rest of her group had dealt with the bandits back at the trading camp.
Still, there was one bandit left to deal with. So, dropping her crossbow, she'd move quietly over to the platform.
Avizzi, much like his allies, doesn't care for the woman's tone or her language. Calling out, "Oh, just shut it," the tengu launches himself forward.
Arial stares in shock for a moment as his arrow buries itself in a bandit's chest. Just like shooting targets, really, he thinks as he steps out of the woods, hearing the woman's speech. It was obvious she was the one their prisoner had spoken of, and she had already wounded the nobleman with a crossbow bolt. In a moment, his eyes took in the battlefield. Shalia was approaching, but it would be risky for her to come up. It was that, more than her language, that made him decide to cast a spell. It might provide some distraction, he thought.
He dropped his bow and grabbed a feather from his belt pouch, reciting the incantation the way he had a thousand times, never in battle, though. When he felt the supernatural energy flood into the feather, he flung it in the air.
A moment later, an eagle screamed and swooped at the woman on the platform.
Caelus fires the crossbow and the arrow slams into her stomach, she groans in pain and snaps the shaft, the armour managing to take the majority of the blow but still clearly damaging her.
She smiles "So your one of those types, a little stuck up lordling." She drops the crossbow and kneels down fiddling with what looks like a small lever, you hear a click and a then a loud creak as if a gate is opening. She stands back up and draws two deadly looking hand axes, a look of pure joy on her face.
The smirk of joy is wiped out when she hears the screech of an eagle, she ducks instinctively just managing to dodge the birds talons.
Just as she raises herself a Chakram flies into her chest, chewing into her ribs. She gasps and wobbles on the balls of her feet, pain wit across her features. She smiles blood staining her teeth "Is that the...argh... best you got bird man." she gasps for air between each word but defiance is still in her tone. Kaylee shoots and another arrow rips into her stomach, she falls to her knees, blood pooling about her feet "This...this ain't the end..." Tam's arrow punches into her neck cutting her words short, slowly she leans forward and topples falling to the ground below in a sickening crunch.
Caelus snaps off the tip of the crossbow bolt in his leg before his pulls out the rest of the bolt. He muffles his grunt from the pain. He carefully walks over to the bandit making sure not to put any weight on his injured leg. He leans down and checks her, making sure she is dead.
Caelus looks over her, also looking for any thing of use that he or the party can use.
Kaylee goes over to all the bandits, checking to make sure that none still breathe. If needed, she will deliver a killing bow to any that need it. I wouldn't leave an animal wandering about the woods wounded, suppose I shouldn't do any less for this lot of "animals".
'Well well. These bandits certainly did not enjoy being surprised, did they? Shocking performance from them really.'
With the fighting over, she'd head to each of the dead bandits and search them for gold, weapons or anything of value, putting them in a pile and recording the loot in her book. While writing, she'd shout up to Caelus.
'Caelus, my dear. Would you be so kind as to place the plunder from that lady down here with the rest of it, so I can properly record it all?'
Avizzi's expression becomes one of joy and victory as the woman's body falls to the earth. "Go to Pharasma, you b$@&%," the tengu growls. He slowly walks over and wrenches his chakram from her chest, wipes it on her clothing, and replaces it within his clothing, also retrieving his first chakram.
Avizzi glances about, almost looking lost now that the battle is done. Then he sees Tam, and realizes the man has a good idea. With a nod to the presumed ranger, Avizzi quickly scales the ladder of the woman's platform, then looks about for any danger.
As far as you can tell Kressle is dead and not coming back anytime soon. On her body she has:
2 MWK Handaxe's
1 Potion of CLW
4 Daggers
85 GP
Looking through the other Bandits Kaylee manages to find one that still breathes but delivers a quick finishing blow. Equipment on the Bandits are.
25 GP
6 Shortbows
6 Shortswords
8 Daggers
On each of the Bandits and Kressle you find the same silver Stag Amulet that you found back at Oleg's.
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Tam gestures towards the cage at the other end of the camp. "There's a large cage over there. It looks like it housed some wild dogs or beasts of some kind. The cage door is open and I don't see any sign of the them. Look lively, they could have set been set loose."
Tam approaches the cage to investigate, weapon drawn.
Kaylee will go over to the cage that Tam points and out and tries to see if she can identify any tracks around it. "So you see any tracks other than human around it?"
Caelus gathers up all he has found on the lead female bandit and limps down the hill back to the campsite and deposits everything with what the others have found.
"Would anyone be able to assist me with the hole in my leg, or shall I drink this?" He holds up the potion.
"Sorry, I was so focused on the fight I didn't realize she hit you." Embarrassed, Kaylee moves over to Caelus and casts a healing spell upon him.
"#$%&!!!" the tengu screeches, pointing at the rustling he sees. "We got something coming! Ready yourselves!"
Avizzi pulls his sanketsukon and holds it at the ready, looking down at the others. He sees Caelus and calls out, "Drink the damn potion! We've got a fight on our hands!"
At Avizzi's yell, Kaylee runs over to Caelus to heal him quickly and then turns and points her weapon at the rustling he indicates.
Someone would dare interrupt the honest detailing of the plunder? How terribly rude, Shalia thought. Still, she drew her rapier and stood between the treasure and the rustling in the bushes pointed out by Avizzi, near the fire.
Caelus grumbles as he draws out his longbow and readies an arrow. He could charge the push with his sword drawn, but that might injure whomever was sneaking up on them, and they could be none hostile.
Tam shouts out and the rustling stops to be replaced by an eerie silence. Several seconds pass then a low rumbling growl starts to emit from the undergrowth, it steadily becomes louder and louder before the tension is released in an ear shuddering roar. The undergrowth explodes as a huge mass of tattered fur and blood charges into the clearing, the beast stands on all fours, massive paws burying into the mud. Bloody wounds seem to cover the creatures body and a madness pours from it's deep black eyes. What stands in front of you is a Bear.
Having seen a wounded bear still capable of mauling someone even with multiple arrows sticking out of it, Kaylee decides it's best to try to slow the beast down so that it cannot charge them.
Entangle
School transmutation; Level druid 1, ranger 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, DF
Range long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Area plants in a 40-ft.-radius spread
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: Reflex partial; see text; Spell Resistance: no
This spell causes tall grass, weeds, and other plants to wrap around creatures in the area of effect or those that enter the area. Creatures that fail their save gain the entangled condition. Creatures that make their save can move as normal, but those that remain in the area must save again at the end of your turn. Creatures that move into the area must save immediately. Those that fail must end their movement and gain the entangled condition. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, making a Strength or Escape Artist check. The DC for this check is equal to the DC of the spell. The entire area of effect is considered difficult terrain while the effect lasts.
If the plants in the area are covered in thorns, those in the area take 1 point of damage each time they fail a save against the entangle or fail a check made to break free. Other effects, depending on the local plants, might be possible at GM discretion.
'That... that is a bear' Shalia's refined accent falling back into something far more Varisian and common sounding, clearly rather surprised by the sudden emergence of such a beast. She'd drop down into a defensive stance, unwilling to advance towards those massive, rending claws.
Caelus aims his bow at the bear, ready to strike if Kaylee's entangle doesn't hold the thing. Not one to hurt animals, Caelus will hesitate to see how things play out.
However, the real part that bothers Caelus is hearing Shalia's drop in accent. Having a father who aired a large importance on clear diction and poise, the change in tone and inflection slightly bothers him. I will need to ask her about that after we are finished with this...
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'Poor thing,' Thinks Tam. 'They probably starved it and then set it upon prisoners, just for their own amusement. They may have even abused it directly. It's been driven half mad. The best thing that I can do for this one is a quick death. And If I find the bastard that did this alive...'
"I'm so sorry, neighbor. May you find and end to your pain."
Attack Roll
Damage
The tengu screeches, whether in fear or defiance you're not sure, and changes his position, apparently preparing to leap off the platform at the bear.
Arial spits an impressive array of curses in goblin (which is his favorite language for cursing) as he draws his bow. The sound dries up as he he nocks an arrow, pulls it back and fires in the smooth, continuous movement that his archery master taught him.
Bear Reflex Save:
The undergrowth suddenly comes alive around the bears ankles, roots and stems start to stretch out to entangle the creature however it manages to dodge the entanglement.
Arial fires and the arrow buries itself within the mess of blood mattered fur on the animals neck. It rears in agony and anger.
Tam's arrow punches into the bear's stomach as it rears to it's hind legs, the roar that issues forth seems to shake the very leaves from the trees.
The creature lands back on all fours with a heavy thud and growls deep and menacing, it struggles forward through the plants but slowly picks up momentum however you realise you have a moment longer before the creature can break free of the terrain.
14 damage taken to bear
Reacting as quickly as possible to the burst of growth that crops up around the bear, Avizzi draws to a halt after leaping forward off the platform.
In midair, Avizzi spreads his arms wide, and feathers billow out from his arms and torso, slowing him so he hits the ground lightly, still running forward. He tucks and rolls as he hits, reversing momentum to come to a halt. Staring at the bear, Avizzi quickly folds and straps his sanketsukon back to his pack , preparing to either fight unarmed or throw chakrams.
Arial
Avizzi
Kaylee
Tam
Bear
Shalia
Kaylee raises her longbow and lets an arrow fly towards the bear, but it seems to get lost in the vegetation surrounding it.
Great. A Bear. Shalia had known that, eventually, she'd have to come up against some wilderness creatures, but she had hoped that her first one wouldn't be one of these marauding, angry bears.
Still, it had to be dealt with. And with the spell slowing the bear down a bit, the odds were looking up. But only an idiot would fight where those rending claws could be an issue.
'You're not as scary as Old Bill asking for the tab to be paid..' Her accent slipping back into her more noble, confident sounding one as she speaks, then charging at the bear and at the last moment, tumbling round to strike at the bears flank.
Caelus fires the arrow as he sees the web land.
He quickly grabs another arrow and fires it at the enraged bear.
Caelus fires two arrows quickly, one is caught in the vines and roots however the other strikes true and pierces the bears shoulder. However it barely seems to notice.
Shalia's strike misses the bear completely and only manages to give its rear a decent haircut.
The bear begins to turn to attack Shalia when Tam's arrow burst's out the back of it's skull. The bear releases a strange wailing sound before collapsing, looking into it's eyes you swear you get the feeling it is grateful to be released.
Rather thankful that the bear went down before it could attack her, Shalia would poke the beast a few times with her rapier to check that it's dead, before turning to the rest of the group.
'So, does anyone know how to skin one of these beasts? I could do with a new cloak.'
Avizzi watches the arrow go through the bear's skull with shock. "Holy s#$t!" the tengu screeches, turning to Tam. "Nice job, arrow-man!" The albino raven-man seems almost angry on the surface, but you can easily tell it's just a game.
Avizzi strides forward through the new growth, lifts the bear's skull, and looks into the dead eyes. He reaches out a hand and closes both eyelids, then turns to the group.
"I dunno how to skin it, but I can fix us up some grub." With that, Avizzi sits down on the ground, removes his pack, and begins unloading various pots, pans, and untensils. "Anybody got a good knife?"
"I'm sure the bandits left plenty of knives about if you wish to check the quality of them Avizzi. As for wearing the skin, well lady, I'd advise against that until you have also taken the time to cure the hide. Otherwise it will simply rot right off of you. Not too mention attract a good deal of flies."
Kaylee will search about the camp to see what foodstuffs the bandits had laying about. If they were going to have a meal, she'd like something other than just bear meat.
'I'd assume that someone at Oleg's would have the skills to cure the hide, so it's just a question of getting it there. Which might be the trickiest part, really.
Oh, and if we are to eat, perhaps we should do something with these clowns?' She'd point over to the bodies of the bandits who still lay where they died. 'It's hardly good etiquette to eat with the dead, after all.'
Caelus puts his bow away and makes sure he is still okay. "Well I guess we can say the crisis is over for now." Caelus looks at Shalia for a brief moment with some puzzlement on his face.
Spotting the look, Shalia would quickly grin back to the swordsman.
'Caelus, my darling, you wouldn't happen to be able to figure out a way to get this bear back to the trading post, would you?'
Caelus looks to Shalia, the look of puzzlement gone. "Lash two trees together and connect them together with branches to create a make shift stretcher that we can put the bear upon. He use one of the horses to drag it."
'Ingenious! Since you know what you're doing, I'll leave that job to you.' After saying that in her usual noble manner, she'd turn to the rest of the group before continuing.
The rest of us, minus our cook, can get on with the task of dealing with these poor bandits. I'd suggest a pyre of some sort, as I don't think any of us brought our spades.'
Caelus laughs slightly at her word play, "I'm not much of a woodmaker, nor do I have an axe...."