The collar around his neck rubbed the pale skin to a fiery red. Ali had to run to keep up with the horses or risk being dragged after them. On occassion, he had tumbled over a tree root and been dragged after.
However, thank the Gods, today he was placed upon the donkey. After being run to exhaustion, Ali had heard that something was happening today. "We won't have any more of your lollygagging." they had said last night punctuating each word with a swift kick.
Now as the entered the shadowy area, the smell of fresh horse and warm bread made Ali's spirits rise. Then the bellowing....
On her turn, Ciri quietly stands and nocks an arrow.
Subotai pulls back on his bowstring, looking for the best target.
"They're all so open, no challenge for Subotai!" he thinks.
"Ah! The doors are still open! Wasn't the little man supposed to close them after they entered?! The Northman sprang his 'trap' too early
Subotai fires at one of the bandits on horseback directly in front of the gateway, he's hoping to cause panic and keep any from escaping. He gauges the distance... Fifty feet, give or take, well in range for my shortbow, shooting from above gives me a bit of leeway, yes that one will do
He raises his bow ever so slightly to account for drop and releases!
Subotai's arrow flies true and buries itself in the gut of the mounted male bandit closest to Grub's position. The man cries out startled. He looks down at the arrow in stunned amazement. As he sees the blood that begins to leak out of himself, his face becomes very, very pale.
The smell of blood and fear spooks the horses, and they begin to jostle their riders whinnying with concern.
The hood whips around as a slight creak of Ciri's leather armor betrays her presence. The figure seems to contemplate her, but takes no other action.
Ragnar stands axe and shield at the ready, Subotai's arrow catches the rider near the gate in the gut and the battle is on!
Ragnar pushes forward and swings his axe at the fiirst rider in front of him. The riders leg in the stirrup a chunk of meat waiting for the chopping block.
"Ya see bandits! Today is yer last day of.... Banditing! Throw down your arms and let the law prevail!"
Ragnar moves forward and swings
"Or, aye we could do that."
He hefts his hammer and moves in behind Ragnar.
Ali can hear the sounds of a scuffle, 'Perhaps, I can get out of here?! Maybe I ain't gonna die!' The figure upon the donkey fidgets slightly.
- Surprise Round
Grub looks at the gate, then looks at the bandits.
"They're in the way!" he hisses in Ciri's direction.
Grub looks confused and uncertain how to proceed.
Ugly Woman Bandit: 17
Bandit 1: 17
Happs Bydon: 15
Subotai: 14
Bandit 2: 14
Hooded Figure: 11
Ali: 8
Bandit 3: 8
Ciri: 5
Ragnar: 5
Grub: 3
Norri: 2
Seeing the man next to her in shock as the arrow buries itself in his stomach, the female bandit wastes only a few seconds before sliding off the side of her own horse. She retrieves a battered warhammer and roughly nudges the figure draped on the donkey.
"Time for you to earn your food! Heal, dog!"
Then she turns to face the Ulfen warrior and the dwarven cleric.
The bandit's with straw colored hair leaning on the tarp pole eye bugs wide as Ragnar and Norri charge up, weapons drawn. Over the raging Ulfen's shoulder he sees an arrow embed itself in the mounted bandit.
"Rovagug's Maw!" he curses loudly. He turns and glances up towards the roof catching a glimpse of movement. He's moving even as he looks. Straw hair runs to the space between the wagon and the building. He whirls around knowing that the unseen archer will have a hard time hitting him there. He draws a longbow and begins to knock an arrow.
Happs Bydon, the bandit group's leader looks around at the scene.
So Oleg thought to hire these two to defend his post, eh?
His mount seems less spooked than the others. He draws his longbow and takes aim at the blond warrior.
"You made a mistake today, my friend!" he jeers.
The arrow whistles briefly before going thunk loudly into Ragnar's shield.
As the arrow embeds itself deep in the bandits guts Subotai surveys the scene looking for his next target.
He won't be of much threat now...
He sees the leader of the band begin to draw back on his longbow aiming straight at Ragnar.
Ah ah ah, not today my friend!
He looses the bowstring and the arrow flies out wildly.
Damn!
He quickly begins to ready another shot.
The bandit that Ragnar took his wild swing at reflexively leans back. Then in a fairly practices move, he draws his short sword.
He swings hard hoping the new decoration in Ragnar's shield would distract the warrior.
Exposing his lack of true martial training, the bandit's strike is easily parried by the Ulfen war machine.
The hooded figure regards Ciri once again, then turns its head to watch as the armed men continue to fight.
The whistle of the arrow and the howling grunt as it buries itself in the bandits abdomen; makes Ali remember how vulnerable he is. The cloth sack covering his dirty face obscures the sound, however he knows the bandit is behind him.
Suddenly the tap of a horse into the donkey makes Ali start; followed by the harsh commands of the woman. Her grating voice reminding the youngster of all the pain-filled nights in camp...
At least this command of heal wasn't accompanied by pain, well not yet, so it was only one bandit to heal. 'I need to get out of here, away from him.
Ali shouts, humiliated but knowing better than to show any disobedience. Shivering at the memory of the first night amongst his captors.
Sight was never his, so the hempen sack hinders him less than his captors thought. Concentrating, despite the fetid bag he feels for the life-forces stretching away from him. The glowing strands that surround him, it only takes a moment to decipher those of his captors, especially Redig, from the others - the ambushers. The one nearby, that has a strong life-energy. Ali thrusts forward the spirit - that individualism some call a soul; attaching it the potential rescuer (or another slaver). Thus there fates were intertwined, if the ambush was not successful at least Ali wouldn't have another dawn. 'I'm glad I kept this trick to myself, or...' Ali cannot comprehend joining souls with Redig.
He falls from his donkey to the floor, and scurries away towards the injured bandit. 'I have to get away.' Moving beside the horse steadying himself upon wobbly legs.
The ugly woman hears Ali floomph off the horse onto the ground and begin to worm crawl his way toward the melee. For a split second she wonders how the stupid boy got untied. Then she roughly kicks the trussed prisoner.
"Hey! You're going the wrong way. Stanley is to your right!"
With a whoomph as the air is knocked out of Ali, with the negligent kick to the ribs, the course is corrected. The bound and blind-folded scrawny youth crawls across the hard cobbles towards Stanley.
"Stanley" (Bandit 3) is rather upset about the arrow in his belly. He drops from the horse, and as the shock of the impact jolts his wound, he cries out anew.
Falling on his knees next to the hooded prisoner, Stanley mumbles piteously, "Heal me. Fix me, boy, please." This soon degenerates into mewling like a baby.
Stupid, hairy, four-hooved walking shields! Ciri whispers in Infernal as she lines up a shot on the only target who is not now on the ground and milling amongst the horseflesh: Happs.
She takes a couple of quick steps to the end of the causeway to be as close to the gate as possible, and nocks another arrow.
"Drop your weapons! Or don't - that'll be more fun!" she yells from atop her perch.
Ciri's arrow rips past the bandit leader's hand as he reaches for another arrow. He cries out in pain, a red line scores across the back of his hand. His face turns to locate the source of the attack. When he sees Ciri, his face contorts in rage.
The arrows zip past Ragnar taking bandits and missing entirely, finally, after seemingly eons the battle is truly joined!
Ragnar sweeps forward and swingss his axe at the bandit in front him
The cold steel is unrelenting, and the Ulfen fighter's hit is grievous.
The bandit's cry of pain and fear is more of a gurgle than is potentially healthy. He pitifully raises his short sword as if that will stop any more blows.
Grub seizes the opportunity to leap onto the back of the horse closest to him. Clutched in his hand is a lasso of rope which is tied to both gate doors.
He strikes the side of the horse comically, never even close to landing on its back. Even as he tumbles backwards, the horse rears startled whinnying in panic. The lasso manages to get tangled up in the saddle straps as the horse and the riderless one next to it both scramble to leave. Jostling one another the two horses turn and flee through the open gate. With a great creak, the gate doors slam shut.
Grub pushes his hat up looking at the shuddering gates, as the panicked horse continues struggling against the evil tentacle that keeps it tied to the wooden doors. He gives a low whistle.
"Well, would you look at that!"
Then he glances over and sees the shocked and swiftly darkening face of the ugly woman who is now staring at the chubby halfling.
Norri sees the gore splatter from Ragnar's attack.
"Ah well... That's another way to do it aye."
Norri holds his hammer aloft and reaches out to touch Ragnar's back and offers him Guidance
"Damn you!" the ugly woman shouts at Grub.
She turns and rushes at the blond man with the dangerous axe, swinging her warhammer heavily.
Having never really been trained to fight a skilled warrior, it's as if the ugly woman can't think to do anything but aim at Ragnar's shield. She pounds the hammer on the thick wood leaving a small indent from the force of the hit.
The bandit who ran to hide from Subotai's arrows raises his longbow and takes aim at the terrifying axe murderer that jumped up from the tables.
"We just want our food you crazy bastard!" the man shouts. Tears of actual fear run down his face and his hand trembles.
Having just raised his shield to block the incoming hammer, Ragnar is slightly off step to protect against the arrow coming from the other side. It strikes him but as it is just a sharpened stick with fletching, it does not stay lodged and falls to the ground with some of Ragnar's blood on the tip.
Snarling, Happs hisses something as he leans forward and swings legs around to dismount onto the the bed of the open wagon. Kneeling down, Happs fumbles with his belt pouch, blood still trickling from the shallow gash on his hand. He yanks something out. It is difficult to see thanks to its small size and the horses in the way.
Standing at the window, the young girl watches as Ragnar and his comrades fight the nasty bandits. She can feel the anxiety that exudes from Svetlana, and when she glances at the woman, the girl sees the worry lines on the matronly woman's forehead in full relief.
"Where did Corrie go, Bubbles?" the little girl mutters to her toy. "One day we'll find out and save her."
As blood sprays, the little girl doesn't even blink. She can feel the life ebbing from the two men. She knew what she was required to do of course. Sighing, she rubbed the stuffed bear's head like it was alive.
As the combat truly begins and every member seems to be engaged Subotai needs to pick and choose his targets much more carefully lest he impale an ally. He sees Happs on the wagon, maybe not the best option but he isn't around any allies either!
He'll do!
As the combat truly begins and every member seems to be engaged Subotai needs to pick and choose his targets much more carefully lest he impale an ally. He sees Happs on the wagon, maybe not the best option but he isn't around any allies either!
He'll do!
1d20+4 = 22
1d6 = 6
Ciri watches her fellow archer with admiration.
As the combat truly begins and every member seems to be engaged Subotai needs to pick and choose his targets much more carefully lest he impale an ally. He sees Happs on the wagon, maybe not the best option but he isn't around any allies either!
He'll do!
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
1d6 ⇒ 6
Ciri yawns and surveys the very fine tan she's acquired...
Subotai's arrow is almost flawlessly shot sinking into Happs' shoulder. The bandit leader grunts heavily as the force of the hit jostles him. He throws an angry look up at the archer perched above. Changing his original plan, Happs heaves something in Subotai's direction on the roof.
The bottle arcs threw the air and falls directly at Subotai's feet, and the liquid flame splashes all over him.
Green fire falls all around Subotai landing on the wood of the old fort's main building. A whoosh!ing sound is heard as the wood ignites, and a small section of the roof is now ablaze with a small fire.
Bandit 2 takes a ragged breath and with determination born of adrenaline fueled anger, he moves 5 ft over to provide a flanking position against Ragnar with the ugly woman. He swings his short sword knowing this could be his end if he can't defeat the Ulfen berserker. The horses had fled, and the gates closed behind them. The ragged outlaw knows the only way out was to finish off these bullies Oleg has found.
Weakened by Ragnar's previous hit, the man's swing is so feeble, Ragnar doesn't even bother to block it as the blade merely clangs against the metal of his armor.
The hooded figure laughs harshly as the green fire of alchemist's fire blooms on the inn's roof. He reaches into his robe and removes a small pouch. He begins sprinkling something on the ground at his feet. It appears to be some kind of powder or seeds. Once done, he merely continues to watch the melee.
Ali crawls further on, the whoomph of the blaze causes his stomach to turn. 'Fire, it consumes... chaos... death.' the youth thinks back the destruction of his home with a shudder.
The thud of the gates seems to snap Bandit 3 out of his moment of milking sympathy for his injury. His eyes widen as he looks at the trembling gates even as the horses on the other side struggle against the rope tangled in their bridles. Then he collects himself and rises to his feet reaching out to where Ali is.
"Best you be doing your trick now, dog," he hisses at the pitiful captive even as he draws a scratched and notched short sword.
This guy sounds like a jerk. I hate jerks. Though I admit they make me look better by comparison.
Ciri lines up a shot at Bandit 3.
The arrow sails past the bandit as he hunches trying to reach for Ali.
Subotai leaps clear of the danger.
Bandit 1: 17
Happs Bydon: 15
Subotai: 14
Bandit 2: 14
Hooded Figure: 11
Ali: 8
Bandit 3: 8
Ciri: 5
Ragnar: 5
Grub: 3
Norri: 2
Ragnar turns his attention to the small man who ran to flank him.
"Eager for your end eh? Let's see if I can help you, it feels like ages since my last real fight!"
As Ragnar deals the man a second grievous wound, the bandit collapses onto the ground. His eyes flutter and he is only barely conscious if at all. His blood runs bright red in the light of the sun.
Grub looks up, eyes wide, as the whoosh of green flame splashes across the roof above.
"Uhhhh...that's not good," he states to anyone listening.
He jumps to his feet and runs to the common eating area where a tub of water used that morning for cleaning dishes sits with cooling soapy water. Hoisting up the tub, Grub grunts at the effort and begins to slowly waddle towards the main building door.
Brother Norri moves to Ragnar's side.
"I have yer back lad, face forward!"
He holds himself in a defensive posture, to ward off any more flanks.