Raven nods along to Oleg's information, filing away the information for later use. When Svetlana herds her and Elvara aside, Raven cracks a grin, and says, "Moonradishes? I'll keep an eye out. I've heard they're delicious. From what I've tasted, you'll make good use of them!"
Giving a small chuckle, Raven returns to the main group, yelling, "Alright! Unless anyone has any objections, mount up and ride for the bandit camp! We want to catch them early, so they don't get suspicious when their raiding party doesn't return! Move out!" With that, she secures her supplies before mounting her horse.
Moonradishes eh? I wonder why the secrecy. She says and casts guidance on herself and her companion to ponder the question They are good for breeding.[/i] The hissing voice of Smexy comes as an answer in her head. Oh.. Fertility, they are trying to make babies. The inexperienced half-elf blushes slightly. "Of... Of course we'll help out if we are nearby."
Back to the others she says. "I agree that we should head to the bandits right away, but a few extra minutes won't matter. First we should interview the others to make sure their intentions are good, and to make sure of Aldrick here. They won't say anything nasty about you right? Are you sure both of those two feel like you and actually do repent and won't fall back to lawless ways once we let them out of our sights?"
Raven walks over to the unconscious bandits and takes out a coil of rope from her pack, binding them. She then kneels down and pours alchohol down their throats, before rubbing a foul-smelling tincture on their wounds and bandaging them.
"There. They ought to be coherent now." Raven leans down before whispering "For your sake, I hope you answer her questions right," before walking away.
The remaining (surviving) bandits seem surprised to be alive, corroborate their fellow's story and general impression. They're more than willing to flee the area in return for their continued survival and back up the locations and numbers provided. They're also willing to hold back a few days under the watchful eye of Alexai to ensure that they cannot influence the upcoming battle at the Thorn river camp.
Oleg seems dubious about them helping actually *guard* but is willing to maintain watch as well.
After dealing with the bandits Elvara confront the others over to the side. "To me it seems like they are all honest in their remorse. I vote that we spare them. Let us be known as those who reform the greenbelt rather than those who punish everyone harshly. I get the feeling that we all are in agreement that we should head for the bandit camp now, rather than figure out that their mission here fail and let them prepare defenses."
Raven simply nods in agreement to Elvara's proposal.
After disarming the bandits and finishing the day in the Trading Post, the party sets out at first light. With the directions given by the interrogated bandits it isn't difficulty to travel south towards the Thorn River, then follow it downstream towards the camp described by the bandits. The journey takes a relatively uneventful two days, before the sharp eyes of the party pick out a rundown watch tower peeking from the branches of a tree a mere 100 feet away, near the banks of the River upstream from a shallow of the River.
Raven signals for the party to halt before dismounting her horse. Turning to everyone else, she whispers, "The tactics that we used at the fort worked well for us last time. It's simply a matter of we're the attackers now, and they're well fortified. Elvara, you set up in a tree near enough to the theater where you can work your magic on us. You know your powers best, though, so if you have any recommendations, voice them. Vasilyan, like before, you're best at a range, so I would recommend you set up in a tree and snipe from there. Vorsirion, you've already demonstrated your skill at stealth, so I would suggest that while Smexala and I make a distraction in the central camp, you quietly take out the sentries in the tower. Sound good?"
Vorsirion, you're able to approach, stealthfully, and observe the camp unnoticed. In the watchtower about 15' up, concealed to all but your elven eyes, hides a man with a bow idly scanning the way you came (though it's clear he hasn't spotted you. Flanking the river across a small ford is another similar watchtower with another similarly concealed man on watch.
The around a copse of trees you spot a low fire and hear a couple different individuals conversing. It would be difficult, but not impossible, to sneak closer.
You see two men similar to the other nondescript bandits, in addition to one woman with a pair of wicked axes. In addition to the two men in the watch tower, those are all the bandits you can see, though it appears that there could easily be double that number there at one time given the number of rustic chairs and locations for bedrolls.
|
Not wanting to push things, Vorsirion falls back to his companions to explain what he has found.
"I could sneak closer, though at risk of being discovered, most likely," the elf adds. [b]"I cannot determine the total number of men encamped here, only that there are at least two guards in towers, and a small number of men conversing around a copse of trees.
Raven nods, cupping her chin in her hand. "Got it. Alright. Vasilyan, Elvara, set up. Once you're ready, give me the signal, and Elvara, make me big. Smexala and I will charge into the camp, giving Vorsirion the distraction he needs to silently take out the sentries. I'll try to take Kressle alive-she might know something."
"I'll make Smelaxa and Raven big, but then I'll follow after you instead of remaining behind. My spells does not have a long range unfortunately. I have to be up close to daze or trip them up. Those spells will likely be more effective than my crossbow. Hopefully "
Vasilyan nods, a confident expression written all over his face. "Let's make this quick then. Wait for me to fire a few arrows before attacking. I'll try to put down that lookout first."
With that said, Vasilyan draws a few arrows from his quiver and gets into position, trying to find a good spot from where to fire his arrows at the closest lookout.
The time for scouting is at an end, and after what seems like an eternity, the party moves towards the Bandit camp! Your movements forward cause a shout to ring out from one of the watchtowers, though clearly you have caught the camp by surprise.
Alexai's prayer to Abadar rings out, and the Blessing of the First Vault falls around the party.
Unsheathing her sword as Elvara's spell enlargens her, Raven falls into that serene battle-trance that the group saw back at the fort. Raven dashes towards where the main group of bandits are, using the advantage of surprise to close the distance.
I'll always assume that you people have readied / loaded weapons unless I said otherwise (in a formal ballroom, etc.)
Elvara ones again perform her chanting and maneuvers with the iron dust while Smexy moves forward, prepearing to engage the bandits.
The paladin unloads a barrage of arrows at the nearest bandit, scoring one hit through the brush.
From deeper in the camp, a brusque female voice bellows, "To arms you pigstickers. We're under attack!"
Vorsirion takes another shot at the guard in the eastern tower, but his shot strikes the wooden facade.
[dice=longbow attack]1d20+5;1d8
Two of the bandits fire on Raven with bows, though the Enlarged red-head clearly is unsettling and their shots go wide.
Smexy grows huge as Elvara finishes her spell. "Finally, I have my own sssssize ressstored!" She hisses and slithers forward, though she's not fast enough to reach the enemies either.
Elvara herself moves forward and fires a bolt at the man in the tower. She's not quite close enough to cast any spells at him nor anyone else.
Raven continues to stride forward, an unsettlingly calm look on her face. However, still unused to her rather large size, Raven swings... rather clumsily.
Raven's completely obliterates a small sapling that one of the bandits was standing beside; if it had been him, he would have been little more than a red streak. He clearly looks like there are a world of things he'd rather be doing other than fighting, but doesn't seem ready to flee quite yet (to his detriment.)
Elvara's attack is more accurate, though her bolt bounces off his shoulder at an odd angle and barely scratches him.
The female bandit in the camp hurls a pair of daggers at the en-biggened Slayer
One of them strikes cruely!
Vasilyn takes careful aim, and shoots the bandit in the watchtower. A few of the party may have seen the wreckage that is left of a human body when a balista bolt intersects with it. Somehow, the disciple of Erastil has a similar effect as his arrow takes the bandit full in the chest, biting deeply and flinging him backwards to the ground below.
With the strength of civilization, Alexai strides forward to the giant of a Red-head and touches her chastely on her calf, causing a blossom of healing energy to spread through her, closing her wounds.
The bandits then make another round of attacks. One wisely steps back from Raven, though likely not as far as he wisely should be. From the woods, you hear another move down from his watchtower.
One adds injury to insult, striking Raven.
With Alexei's healing light bolstering her despite her new wounds, Raven smoothly steps forward and lashes out with her sword.
Smexy charges forward and lunges out at the closest bandit, her massive jaws trying to engulf the man. Her black and red scales dances almost hypnotically in the sunlight as she moves with terrifying speed and power.
Elvara is not close enough to use her magic on the bandits and runs forward. Damn, I wish I could use my magic from greater distance.
Raven repeats her previous attack once more, only this time instead of obliterating a small tree, she obliterates a small man with a crash of her blade. The bandits partner stands with mouth agape and barely has time to turn before a massive scaled outsider barrels into him, knocking him to the ground unconscious as it slowly winds around his limp body.
With a snarl of, "B##$#, pick on someone your own size!" Kressle closes, and draws an axe to attach at Raven double handedly.
Clearly flustered, she misses widely.
Vasilyn begins his movement towards the rest of the party.
|
|
Vorsirion nimbly picks his way through the undergrowth, moving deliberately behind Raven to ensure he does not draw unwanted attention.
She seems to crave being the focus of their ire...
The elf's hand instinctively makes its way toward the skull at his waist. He brandishes it toward the blue-clad enemy.
The elf's countenance suddenly shifts, and for an instant, a cold-eyed creature of horror stands in his place. A wave of fear radiates from him, giving pause even to the elf's allies.
The target must be within 30 feet of you, and it can attempt a Will saving throw to negate the effect. If the target fails the save and has a number of Hit Dice less than or equal to yours, it is frightened for 1d4 rounds. If the target fails the saving throw and has a number of Hit Dice greater than yours, it is instead shaken for 1d4 rounds. This is a mind-affecting fear effect.
Vosirion's otherworldly and unsettling visage doesn't quite inspire as much fear in the bandit as the elf would have liked, but the other man does move back a distance, firing at the Enlarged Raven
Perhaps the spell did its job, as the bandit misses the broad-side of the broad.
Vasilyn maneuvers down around the banks of the river, seeking to cut off the retreat of any stragglers. Alexai Selectively channels to heal the party.
Smexy drops the unconscious bandit and slithers forward, in between the tree stumps before lashing out at Kressle."Nasssty woman." She opens her jaw wide, planning to suck the woman into her mouth.
Elvara meanwhile moves forward and pulls out a small ball of wool. Her eyes spins as she chants and the the wool expands rapidly and flies forward to the archer to engulf his head before vanishing.
"G̡̥̪͚̹̖̼̰̰̞͑̋ͧͮ͐͂ͤͬẖ̸̫̪̅̅͂̎͑̈̔̈͟a͖̲̥̦̤̞̽͆͑̇̎͆́̊͞y̶͇̘̬̳̅̓ͬ͛̑͝f̖͙͔͉̺̊́̀̌̏͋̀́ ś͚͈̣̘͒̈́͑sͭͪ̅͑ͯ̔͌̀҉̭͓e̔̊ͤ͟͡҉̹͙͍s͔̣ͦ͗͘͠ṡ̫̱͚̤̰͉̀ͅo̰̱̖ͦ̔ͬ̃̓̍̓f̸̠̘͚̜̻̫ͮ̔̂ͨ͐͊ͭ͑̀ ̕ą̴͕͈͚̥̰͂̊̎͘h̿͑̊͋̈́̾͂̍ͣ҉͘͏̟͇ ̶̘̘̣̞̻̙̅̆ͧ͒͗͡g̯̣̫̤̐̉a̛̮̫̰͓̔ͦ̐̔̀͢s̭̠͔͙̍ͨͣͧ͐̎͡s̗͚ͧ̓d̩̜͉̩̋ͥ̇̚ö̡̦̹̼̱̤̹̦ͮ͘͝b̴̛̬̥ ̯̪͖̓̃ͩ̈͠s̻̏̃ͬ̄͌̑̎̍̐̕͝͡ş̺͋̆̔e̷͖͔̲̳͔̹̞͇ͭͯ͒̍͜t̨̮̗̟̝̪̅ì̫̻̥̞̣ͩ͛͛ͪ̊͟f̮͎͚̱͖̖̩͕̮̌̊̾ ͆͆a̛̮̩̺̼̺̳͈͑ͤ̍̇ͨ ̵̴̦̂͌̇ͮ́̓̀d͚̬̆̿c̞͎̗̏͑̇̌̈͌̀l̳͎̿̐̓ͣp̴̨͖̻͖͋̆ͥ̅̇́d̲̻͉̗̠͔̮͍̪͋̾̕q͓͖̯̙̣̻ͮͦ͗ͣ̋̀͒ͫ͌́ ̕ͅͅ ̻̞̭͌̅͋ͨ̇ͮͦ̓͜͡ớ͙̯͍̗͉͕͚̼͊ͦ̉̇ͬ̐̈́r̩̦̙͓͎̍͗ͩ̿̽ͪ͆ş̟̮̬̝͇ͨ͌̽͋̒͂͌ͮs̩͓ͫ̎͟į͎̫͚̈́̓ͭ̈̅͒ͫ ̾ͯͅj̧̡ͨ͒̐̔͋́ͮͯ̕ͅd̡̹̪̝̺̣̈͊̑͌ͨ̄p̰̏͋́s̨̤͚̣̟̝͚ͨͪ́ͤ́͞e͓̖̘̠̮͚̞̽j̛̦̭̾̄ͯ͟"
Raven focuses on Kressle, absorbing every inch of her... before sheathing her sword. She then kneels down next to the man she struck down, checking to make sure the blood is still flowing. If it is, she attempts to stabilize him.
Raven turns towards Kressle, saying quite calmly, "Kressle. Surrender. I do not revel in bloodshed, and there need not be any more today. Tell your remaining men to lay down their arms." Her voice becomes significantly chillier. "If you refuse, I will plant a spear right between this man's eyes and slaughter all remaining in the camp. I do not revel in bloodshed. That does not mean I will not use it as a tool."
Raven focuses on Kressle, drinking in her fighting style, her wild stance, her rage, before lashing out at her with her sword. However, she flips the blade to the flat end right before it would connect.
The eidolon successfully strikes and grapples with the bandit leader, crushing her ribs as it winds around her tightly. The female bandit glares daggers at Raven and spits in her direction, saliva mixing with blood.
"Bloodshed? The Stag Lord will drown you in blood, you b&+!+! Kill this man for all I care. He failed in his duty to defend this camp, and I do not tolerate failure..." She struggles in vain, although it is clear that the battle is over. She begins to scream. "Release me! Release me or kill me!" She doesn't seem entirely stable.
The other bandit begins to make a run for it, but Vasilyn wings him through the underbrush, and his attempt is cut short.
Surveying the camp, it's apparent that the force you fought here is roughly half the numbers you might have encountered.
In the center of the camp, you find a cache of goods and ill-gotten loot. In addition to the tradegoods, jewelery, coins, and furs, you find a fine lute that is engraved with the initials O.L., Sera recognizes it as one that Oleg frequently played on long nights. Additionally, there is a case of liquor that a few of aficionados recognize as worth 20 crowns a bottle
Smexy winds tighter around the woman, pinning her within her coils. Elvara shakes her head with a slightly sad look on her face. "I take it you don't repent your banditry at all eh?" She loads her crossbow and holds it under the chin of the woman. "Why would you ask us to kill you? Surely anyone would like to live. If you tell us the right things, we might let us live. Now tell us about this Stag Lord. Why can't we just defeat him like we did you? Who is he? What tactics does he use?" Technically if she does tell us the right things Elvara will want to let her live, though what she says about the Stag Lord doesn't matter for that, but rather if she repents her actions.
At Kressle's crazed reaction, Raven nods and does exactly what she promised-plants a javelin between the dying man's eyes, pulls it out, and moves on to the bandit Smexala choked out. She does the exact same there. And to the bandit Vasilyan tagged with his arrow. It's quite disconcerting.
After her chilling errand, Raven returns to Kressle. "Answer her questions, Kressle. You're smart. Smart enough to know that the Stag Lord will kill you for your failure anyways. Just answer her questions. Then come with us. As long as you have valuable information, you're an asset. But if you don't give that information up, I will kill you where you lie screaming like a fanatic."