Elena Voritzova |
Elena sees Richard chase the bandit around the corner. She up the stairs and tries to shoot from the top of the tower.
I do have line of sight but the corners of the building are pretty close so I assume the red bandit has cover.
Modifiers: +1 bless -4 cover -4 in melee. Total -7.
longbow: 1d20 + 3 - 7 ⇒ (10) + 3 - 7 = 6
She shoots, but the arrow flies past the bandit and lodges in the dirt on the ground ahead of him.
Colwyn the Toad |
Seeing the bandit leader drop like a sack of stones, Colwyn looks back at Niadroub and Elena on the ramparts, then shrugs.
He quickly cocks his head to the east.
"I suspect Richard has that last fellow well in hand," he thinks.
He turns around and keeps his sword trained on the surrendering yellow bandit. Colwyn kicks his bow away and commands him to drop any other weapons he may be hiding.
"Would someone kindly fetch my rope so I can tie this hog?" Colwyn calls out.
GM_DBH |
Niadroub. The cages at 5 are the middens. You could put prisoners in there if you wanted? :)
Richard cuts down Red as he tries to flee, the man not listening to any calls for his surrender.
Silence falls over Oleg's as the short, sharp battle ends.
You secure both prisoners quickly. Oleg comes down from the roof with a look of satisfaction on his face. Svetlana pokes her head out, looking a little pale at the bodies, but she also looks to be relieved.
What are you doing now?
GM_DBH |
Information drop.
While Oleg worries that the remaining bandits might eventually come for revenge, he also suspects that they’re cowards at heart and won’t
try anything against the trading post for some time, hopefully before then, the promised guards sent from Restov will have arrived to bolster the post’s defenses.
Oleg lets you take any bits of gear you want from the bandits, anything left over he’ll claim as new stock.
If you wish to claim the gear and then propose selling it to Oleg, he’ll gladly purchase the gear from them at full price (as long as he’s got the money and stock to carry out the transaction).
In any event, since you have protected the trading post, Oleg offers the group a reward consisting of 50 gp and all three potions in his stockroom. Further, he tells you that you’re welcome to stay free of charge in his guest house as long as they want. He and his wife will even
provide meals for them for free.
Richard Harmon |
I'm sure various people will try talking to/getting information from the surviving bandits. Anything of note?
Once Richard confirms that they are all accounted for he nods. He turns over the piece of stag jewelry in his hand examining it. "Thank you Oleg, you're very generous. I'm glad we could account for them all, it might take them a little while to realize what happened here. I hope we can reduce their numbers before that happens. If all goes well by the time they grasp the situation they'l be far too worried about us to worry about you."
Colwyn the Toad |
"Well, the first step would be learning where these bandits are camped."
Once the surviving bandits are restrained, Colwyn will try to persuade them to provide information on their camp, how many of their comrades are still out there, and other details on their operations.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 25
Yay, I get to use the +1 bonus to interactions with bandits that the Brigand trait gives me!
Colwyn hunkers down, close to the captives, and speaks reassuringly to them.
"Now, this may surprise you, but I've been in your precise spot. I used to lurk around these parts, too, waylaying travelers. It was a good run, up until my own mates betrayed me and turned me over to Rostland. I got lucky - they didn't give me the sword or the noose and put me to work instead. You, I'm not so sure about. I wouldn't count on your so-called 'friends' out in the woods since they'll probably be as loyal to you as mine were to me, and the Rostlanders are probably all out of mercy for our kind. My new band and I, we might be the only ones in the world who won't immediately put you to the gallows. Help us out, and maybe we'll put you to work instead of putting you into the ground."
Niadroub Kliip |
Niadroub Kliip takes a professional interest in the offered potions (What are they?), but gets very excited when he sees the flasks of alchemist's fire, and will insist on carrying at least one flask or both if nobody else wants the other one.
GM_DBH |
Colwyn. One man is hostile to you. That's Purple, who has just woken up from being put into time out by Niadroub. The other is indifferent. That's Yellow, who was wounded and surrendered. That he's still a live shifted his attitude up. So your Diplomacy check turned Yellow helpful, and he's happy to give you any information you want. Purple shifted to unfriendly and isn't talking.
Yellow, whose name is Yuri Roskrin tells you the main camp is a day away on the Thorn river, just inside the forest. There are another six bandits there, lead by the woman named Kressle.
Haps Brydon was her second in command. Yuri is scared of Kressle, they all are. Since she took command of the Staglords operations in this area she's killed off all the independents that used to be in the north of the stolen lands. You either work for her or die is Kressle's law.
She's the one who threatened to have Svetlana taken as entertainment for the bandits, and threatened to cut Oleg's hand off for not obeying her instantly.
The other man Piotr Lem, switches between looking at the ground in depression, and glaring at Yuri when he talks.
Aside from robbery and the extortion of Oleg's trading post, neither have done anything large enough to make them known enough to have a wanted poster out for them.
Both seem reasonably sincere about changing their ways and becoming respectable citizens if you let them live.
Oleg would be happy to hang them both, but grudgingly admits neither did anything more than follow orders. Besides the death of Haps Brydon has put Oleg into what passes for a cheerful mood, so he's willing to be lenient.
Anything else you wish to ask them?
Richard Harmon |
"Where were you going to go after here? Is there a base of operations. Do you know where this Kressle is? Or anything more about the staglord. I think til those troops arrive from Restov the cages might keep any bad ideas creeping back in."
Richard turns to Oleg "Once the soldiers arrive here perhaps you could direct these men towards parts of the fort here that need working on, I'm sure you could use a hand."
Niadroub Kliip |
"Seldieers will joost keel them," Niadroub Kliip states, matter of factly. "We hef noo reason to spare thees oone ( purple), boot we cen't let thees oone (yellow) go until efter we deal weeth the next bendit cemp, wheech we need to do befoore the seldiers get here.
"Or we jest hang them noow."
Serafina "Switch" Koenig |
"I'd rather we not kill them. I..." Switch pauses for a moment. "I just don't think it's the right thing to do without giving them a chance. If we can keep them locked up until we're sure they're okay, wouldn't that be enough?"
She turns around. [b]"I'll get to work calming down their horses. Those could have some value to us."[/b
Wild Empathy: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Or not...
Richard Harmon |
"We're outside the borders of Brevoy and our charter gives us some room for bandits who are repentant. I believe the soldiers will abide by what we decide. Though Yuri is showing a bit more promise than the other I admit, still I think the other might still prove his worth." Richard looks at the sulking man.
GM_DBH said they both seemed sincere... just purple isn't co operating as much.
Colwyn the Toad |
"Since I've hopefully already proven my worth," Colwyn says with a half-sly, half-nervous smile, "There's something to be said for reforming ex-ruffians by putting them to work, eh? Even though, I may need to have a further word with Mr. Lem, here."
Colwyn punctuates the last sentiment with a wary, cautioning eye at the uncooperative purple bandit.
Elena Voritzova |
Elena smiles.
"I'm glad you feel that they need not be killed right out of hand. But Oleg and Svetlana here are the ones that will face the wrath of their friends if they find out what has happened here."
"So how do we ensure that they don't sneak off in the night to warn their brethren? Without inflicting unnecessary cruelty? I admit I have no experience in such things. In the village I grew up, the more serious offenders against the community were exiled, and that was enough punishment for us. But we didn't have any murders or robberies there. Everyone knew everyone else."
After sealing to the others, she goes to help Serafina with the animals.
"Easy now... it's all right."
handle animal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
One by one she leads the horses to the stable.
Colwyn the Toad |
"Perhaps it's time to get a start on putting these lads to work."
"Oleg, my good sir, would you happen to have some spades we could borrow? I want to give the other men a proper burial to send them on their way to the Gray Lady, and Yuri and Piotr are going to lend me a hand.”
Colwyn turns an encouraging eye towards the two men.
Xantria Aldori |
"I'll give you a hand with that," Xan offered, though internally thinking it was as much to deal with the corpses as to make sure the two "workers" didn't try to flee.
Sorry for not posting more, writer's block hit me like a ton of bricks and I'm still trying to get back into Xantria's head. Been that long since I've played as her that I've forgotten a lot of how she thinks.
GM_DBH |
Richard. He has already told you where Kressle is based.
Those things at the back of Oleg's aren't cages, they're middens.
Both men react poorly to the idea of being executed, digging under the watchful eye of Colwyn & Xantria. The fact that this is their probable ending is being made very obvious to them.
Yuri keeps nudging Piotr and pointing out that they either work to clear themselves, or get killed. Either by Kressle when she comes to Oleg's. Or by the party when they show they can't be trusted.
Pointing out Kressle's reaction to their failure seems to work on Piotr, he starts nodding in agreement.
Once they have finished and their former comrades are buried Yuri offers a deal. They'll give you the layout of the bandit camp, lead you there and agree to be tied up while you deal with Kressle and the others. In exchange once you've finished they can leave the area.
What is the party's response?
Richard Harmon |
Richard says a prayer for the departed men to Pharasma to judge them swiftly and fairly.
"Reasonable, it would go some way to showing your sincerity and I think ye understand how deception will play out. There's many hours of light left in the day, I think we should get a head start so as not to arouse their suspicion." Richard gestures to the gate clearly happy to leave briefly if the others agree.
Colwyn the Toad |
Once the bodies are interred, Colwyn takes Yuri and Piotr aside.
"I wasn't lying about being in your place once upon a time. Back when I was skulking about these wilds, I was known as the Toad - and no, it did not refer to my face,” he adds with a scowl that quickly dissipates.
”When I asked you to dig graves for your comrades, you probably thought we’d be tossing you in, too, eh? No, not this time, at least. Rostland wants the Stolen Lands cleaned up, that’s why we’re here, and that’s why you shouldn’t go back to the old ways. If you go back to robbing folks, even if your boss - Kressle was her name, right? - yeah, even if she doesn’t kill you for failure, the next time we meet, my friends and I won’t be able to spare you again.”
“Yes, yes, I know honest work ain’t all that appealing, but that’s the way the wind’s blowing now. I didn’t want to swing from a rope or rot in a cell, so I had to change. Take a lesson, boys.”
Colwyn steps away, leaving both men with a slap on the back.
Niadroub Kliip |
To Richard, Niadrob Kliip recommends that the party and their two prisoners take the horses out to near the bandit camp, hobble the horses, approach close on foot, secure the prisoners when the party was satisfied with the information given, and then approach the camp to engage.
Richard Harmon |
Niadroub's version on the plan works for me. Leaving now is what I was thinking.
Colwyn the Toad |
As long as we won't be pushing ourselves to fatigue by traveling again so soon, let us be off!
Elena Voritzova |
"As long as they cannot give warning to their friends. We must assume they still have some loyalty to them."
Colwyn the Toad |
Before saddling up, Colwyn secures his pack and tops off his quiver with arrows.
"You can handle this, Col," he thinks to himself, approaching the horse he judges least intimidating.
"You've ridden a horse before. Nevermind that it was more than twenty years ago and back when old da' was trying to raise me to be a marshal like him. Those riding lessons lasted about as long as his tenure in the River Kingdoms did," he muses bitterly.
With some welcome assistance from Svetlana, Colwyn manages to awkwardly swing himself onto his mount.
He barely manages to restrain himself from throwing his arms up in victory.
He does, however, wear a satisfied grin and sits tall in the saddle.
GM_DBH |
It's a days ride south to where Yuri and Piotr tell you the camp is set up. Even if they weren't telling you the trail is easy to follow. Even easier as you draw close to the woods, the soft soil on the river bank clearly marks the passing of horses.
Yuri as agreed gives you a rough sketch of the camps layout, they both warn you that Kressle will not surrender, the others will fight as long as she's alive.
Neither are happy about being bound, but submit to it without resistance.
New link up top - Thorn river camp.
What are you doing now?
Colwyn the Toad |
It seemed to me that we rode out immediately after defeating Haps' band of bandits in the morning.
"The sun is setting. We should tether the horses here and approach carefully on foot. With the cover of dusk, we could take them by surprise. Perhaps we'd even catch them as they're bedding down for the night."
Colwyn grabs his pack and, with a momentary glare to Yuri and Piotr, stows his gear in a hiding place out of sight, slightly off the trail.
While he trusts the men to abandon banditry, he does not trust them outright.
Giving his comrades time to mull their options, Colwyn selects pieces from his gear for the job at hand.
First, he ensures his bow is strung and his sword does not stick in its sheath.
He then tucks his thieves' tools and protection potion into his belt pouch, hooks his alchemist's fire flask onto his belt, and - after a quick deliberation - also ties his pouch of caltrops onto his belt.
Niadroub Kliip |
"Perhaps we'd even catch them as they're bedding down for the night."
"'Less they're expeecting the oother bendits to be beck, by theen."
Niadroub Kliip dismounts, quietly curses his horse, and loads his crossbow. He's ready.
Richard Harmon |
"I suggest the more stealthy elements scout ahead the rest of the group by thirty feet as we approach. Close enough to maintain visual contact and if one group gets attacked the other can lead a counter attack."
He looks off towards the direction of the bandit hide out. "If we can take out their leader here we might be able to break their morale by the sounds of it."
Colwyn the Toad |
"Well, let's see what we can see," Colwyn says softly.
With bow drawn and arrow nocked, he creeps forward.
I'm assuming we approach from the north on the trail?
He moves to where the trail crosses the forking narrow in the river, and makes for the shade of the large tree looming on the eastern side of the trail.
His eyes dart first to the gap in the trees to his left and then to the right, further down the trail.
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
GM_DBH |
perception: 1d20 ⇒ 12
perception: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Stealth (Richard): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Perception (Richard): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Stealth (Serafina): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Stealth (Serafina): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Thorn river map updated, now with the bandits on it. Kressle is the woman outlined with red. You are coming in from the north.
The bandits obviously feel the area has been tamed and are confident. They are gathered around a small fire while one of them cooks a small deer. Aside from the two on watch in the trees (Yellow & Green) no one else is very alert, and even they are more relaxed than on guard.
What are you doing now?
Elena Voritzova |
I assume the rest of us are waiting for the scouts to return?
Guys: I can throw entangle in the middle of the big group, and then we can just shoot until some of them get out and into melee. But we have to watch out for yellow. If there are other bandits around it will be easy for yellow to break off and warn them.
Richard Harmon |
Richard moves back to the rest of the group. "There's a bunch of them around a fire cooking a small deer, a woman matching Kressle's description is there. There are two on look out up in trees. I doubt we can sneak the whole group up but I think everyone is pretty handy with a ranged weapon. If we can fire from the cover of some of the trees it'll force them to spend the first bit closing or hoping they are good shots at range."
That would be wonderful especially if we are all in the cover of trees. Those entangled would be taking a total of -4 penalty to ranged attacks with us getting a cover bonus to AC. I think it's a good plan for an attack. Richard will happily go with it.
Niadroub Kliip |
DBH, what can you tell us about those watchtowers? Specifically, are they freestanding structures or attached to the trees? If freestanding, I'm wondering if my last 1st level spell could help topple it?
Colwyn the Toad |
Should we copy/paste our tokens from the trading post map to the river camp map?
"That lookout on the far side, opposite the camp, could be a thorn in our sides. Miss Switch and I could try to take him out quietly so everyone else has a better chance to close the distance without raising an alarm."
Colwyn wipes another bead of sweat from his forehead with his arm. It's a cool night, but the long ride and the promise of a tense battle leave him feeling flush.
GM_DBH |
Perception Green: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Perception Yellow: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Init Richard: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Init Niadroub: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Init Elena: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Init Colwyn: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Init Serafina: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Init Xantria: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Init Kressle: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Init Bandits: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
I've placed your icons on the map, ready for you to set them where you wish to start. Due to the thickness of the undergrowth you can get to within 30' feet before you would need to start rolling for stealth.
So place yourselves on the map and give me your actions. You have one round of surprise, then we move to initiative order.
Richard & Niadroub.
Bandits.
Serafina, xantria & Elana.
Kressle.
Colwyn.
Elena and Kressle have the same initiative, but Elena goes first due to having a higher initiative score.
Niadroub Kliip |
Doing his best to keep the trees between himself and the larger group of bandits, Niadroub Kliip trains his crossbow on the lookout further away (yellow bandit). When everybody seems to be in position, he fires...
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
...and curses as his bolt crashes through the branches to the side of the bandit.
Colwyn the Toad |
After the scouting foray, Colwyn had reported back to the party, waiting upriver with the horses.
Having discussed the enemy’s positioning, Colwyn slithers down the western side of the river this time.
Slowly moving through the brush, he creeps close enough to the bandit by his lonesome that Colwyn can hear him muttering about “needing a drink.”
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
In the shadow of a stunted tree standing apart from the others, he silently raises his bow and slowly pulls back on the string, aiming the nocked arrow for the bandit’s throat.
Shortbow: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 1 = 19
Damage w/ Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + (5) = 11
Elena Voritzova |
Elena murmurs a prayer to Erastil.
"Father Erastil, let the plants themselves take arms against the enemies of my new home."
She touches her right hand to her heart, and then places her palm face up in front of her and blows. Green sparks seem to blow off her hand, and drift on the wind, settling in an area around the bandits. Suddenly, wherever the sparks take root, plants begin to grow and twine around the bandits.
Elena then steps to one side.
Casting entangle. Reflex DC 14 or entangled (-2 to hit and -4 DEX). I'll aim the burst behind the group (it's a big AoE). The green circle represents the AoE (I used the pie feature so I could see where the middle was). I don't know if green will be affected up on the platform.
Then a 5' step hopefully to hide behind some foliage.
GM_DBH |
Reflex Orange: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Reflex Black: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Reflex Grey: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Reflex Purple: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Reflex Teal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Reflex Green: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Reflex Kressle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Everyone but the Grey bandit is now entangled. This is marked by the green star symbol on their icon.
Richard Harmon |
Richard silently looses an arrow toward the second bandit sentry Green hoping to deal with the bandit quickly. He quickly readied another arrow.
Longbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5
Xantria Aldori |
Xan never really considered herself much of an archer, but she wasn't exactly terrible either, loosing an arrow at another target.
Bow Attack at Black: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4
Serafina "Switch" Koenig |
Switch pulls back on her new bow, releasing a pair of arrows down range at a pair of the bandits.
Longbow (teal): 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 - 2 = 17
Damage?: 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 = 10
Longbow (gold): 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 - 2 = 14
Damage?: 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 2 = 11