Treshiell stays on her horse and watches Erdukk and Orin disappear into the trees. A moment passes until she dismounts from her horse and strides forth to get a look at the stand off.
Once in position he will clear his throat and say " Well what have we here? You boys tree a bear or something?"
"Bears can't talk, Orin", Treshiell says helpfully. The witch appearently doesn't understand sarcasm.
As Orin and Edrukk approach the group of leather armor-clad strangers, a snapping twig beneath the dwarf's foot announces your arrival. Though not everyone seems to notice, two of the group spin around at your approach.
One of the two who noticed you, a woman with a rough voice, reponds with a sneer: "Yeah, you could say that. But we'll take care of this bear, so I suggest you move along. We wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, now."
Three of her fellows also turn toward you, arrows knocked to longbow strings, though none of the bows have been pulled. It's clear they're ready for a fight if you choose to present one. Two continue to look back over their shoulders at you, but mostly keep their eye on the cave ahead.
Rupert dismounts from his horse, quietly pulling his own longbow and an arrow from the quiver but for the moment staying out of any possible sword range.
Perception:
You continue to wait for their inevitable approach, but you hear no response to your taunt from the bandits.
"Are you bandits? You look like bandits", Treshiell calls out to the raspy voiced woman.
"Didn't you hear? We're hunters. And you look like something for the pigs to roll in!" she says, bringing guttural laughs from two of the other bandits facing you and looks over the shoulder from the two still facing the cave. The final member of the hunting party smiles cruelly at the jape.
"You didn't say you were hunters", Treshiell replies ignoring the mockery. She takes a few steps forward. Thaal begins to stirr on her shoulder as the witch buries her gaze deep in the eyes of the leader.
"Tell me, what are you hunting?", Treshiell says softly.
Orin flexes his muscles, tightening and loosening his grip on his greatsword, as he responds "And I could say you look like something that comes out of the rear end of a pig, but that would be insulting to a group of people I just met."
As Treshiell steps forward with that far away look in her eye and begins to question the bandits, Orin prepares to step in front of the young woman should the bandits catch wise to her hex.
"I don't know that I would insult a pig like that, Orin. Whatever produced this lot is clearly a lower grade than a pig. Even Kressle looked better than these fools." Edrukk baits the people in front of them, seeing if they react to Kressle's name, as he holds his crossbow in a defensive manner, loaded and ready to fire at a moment's notice.
The woman's face flushes crimson at Orin and Edrukk's taunts, but before the dwarf can decide if she's reacting at the general insults or the reference to Kressle, the woman lashes out.
"We hunt whatever we choose, but it looks like we have new prey now! Kill them all!"
She snaps her bow up and quickly fires an arrow at Edrukk as the other "hunters" scramble to react. The shaft slams into his shoulder, bringing an immediate sickening pain that threatens momentarily to overwhelm him.
Agnar, the silence is suddenly broken as you hear one of the bandits scream: "We hunt whatever we choose, but it looks like we have new prey now! Kill them all!"
Attack Roll:
Damage:
"More cowardly than Kressle as well, I see. She at least had the guts to admit what she was. But if you want to do things the hard way, so be it." Edrukk comments quietly as he looses his bolt at the same time she fires her arrow.
Letting his crossbow drop to the ground, he draws his warhammer, and starts chanting another dwarven warsong.
Round 1, initiative 12
A look of curiousity befalls Treshiell as she looks on the ground she's standing on. The witchs starts to sway and move her arms in a slow hypnotic pattern. She starts a low humming and Thaal slithers down her left arm hissing with his mouth open. As she reaches the cresendo Treshiell swirls around grabbing some loose dirt from the ground that she then blows towards the hunting party.
Initiative:
Orin will charge the group of bandits moving diagonally to the pirate/bandit and swing his greatsword.
Attack roll:
Damage (if applicable):
Armor class: 14
Furious at the unprovoked attack on his companions. Draelen looses an arrow at the woman that shot Edrukk and yells for Ivory to attack her as well.
Initiative: 1d20+3
Orin will charge the group of bandits moving diagonally to the pirate/bandit and swing his greatsword.
Attack roll: 1d20+5+2
Damage (if applicable): 2d6+6Armor class: 14
Round 1
The clearing erupts into chaos as arrows begin to fly. Draelen's shaft slams into the woman who shot Edrukk, spinning her around, as he begins to run toward the other group. At his command, the hound charges forward, closing the gap between herself and the woman in a moment, leaping on her and tearing out her throat in a flash of her jaws.
At that moment, a large Ulfen man emerges from the cave the hunters were circled around. Quickly surveying the scene, he pulls back his bowstring and fires an arrow at the closest bandit, but his aim is poor and it sails wildly into the woods.
Agnar, in front of you is a scene devolving into violence. A large white wolf has ripped out the throat of one of the bandits pursuing you. In front of her, a dirt-coated woman starts to sway and move her arms in a hypnotic pattern, apparently casting a spell of some sort.
Another of her companions, a stout dwarf, fires a bolt at one of the bandit. Dropping his crossbow, he pulls a warhammer from his back and begins to chant in dwarven.
The bandits, seeing one of their members fall, react quickly.
The two facing the cave fire arrows at the blond man who emerged, but both fly wide. As the newcomers close in, the pair sling their bows over their backs and pull their swords to defend themselves.
The man who was standing closest to the woman Ivory kills lets out a cry -- perhaps of denial, perhaps of fear -- and lets loose a shaft at the blood-spattered hound. It flies true, slamming into the dog, which lets loose a howl of pain. He slings his bow over his shoulder and prepares to draw his short sword.
"Not so fast, girl! yells the man who merely smiled at the now-dead woman's joke. "We don't need magic making this worse." He launches his arrow at the young witch, smiling as it slams into her chest with devastating effect and she crumples bonelessly to the ground.
The remaining woman's arrow flies toward Orin, seemingly sliding right through his armor as only the motion of his running form kept it from scoring a perfect hit on his heart. Still, a red haze briefly covers his vision as he races toward the man who shot down Treshiell.
His blade connects, gashing into the hapless man and sending blood spraying through the clearing. Still, the human's somehow standing at the end of the attack, though clearly he's badly hurt. He drops his bow, giving a smile showing teeth covered in his own blood, and draws his longsword.
Rupert, seeing his strange friend fall, cries out "Treshiell!" Firing his arrow toward one of the bandits, he doesn't even watch as it flies harmlessly into the woods, rushing to the young woman's side to try to save her life. She may be dead anyway if his companions can't overcome their injuries to win the battle, but he's has faith that if he takes care of her they'll hold up their end of the situation.
Pair attacking Agnar:
Bandit attacking Ivory:
Damage:
Bandit attacking Treshiell:
Damage:
Bandit attacking Orin:
To confirm crit:
Damage:
Rupert's attack:
Edrukk simply gives the pirate bandit an evil eye as he charges, still chanting, at the man.
Round 2, initiative 12
Thaal curls up on the motionless witch's chest and hisses angerly at the bandit who shot her down. Underneath him blood starts to gather.
Round 2 Initiative 22
Draelen HP 11/11, AC 17 (15 if charging)
Ivory HP 7/14, AC 16
Seeing the arrow protruding from the side of his treasured hound and her blood spattering on the ground, Draelen flies into a rage, charging at the man that shot her. He yells "For Silverhall!" as he swings his vicious polearm in a wide arc at the man. Ivory moves in to the man's side, looking for an opportunity to attack.
Seeing the arrow strike Treshiell, Orin is torn between two actions. Rushing to aid the fallen Witch or strike down the man who wounded her. Seeing Rupert rush to her side Orin rushes the bandit who fired the arrow.
"You will die for that, scum"
Attack roll:
Damage:
Round 2, Initiative 16
Agnar takes a five foot step diagonally up to the left and fires another shot at the bandit to his left.
Attack:
Damage:
Round 2
Draelen's hammer slams into the wide-eyed bandit, sending him flying into a crumpled heap five feet away where his vacant eyes stare up into the sky. Ivory gamely limps over to the body, but quickly realizes that the man is no longer alive and stops worrying her prey.
Edrukk charges the wounded man fighting Orin and swings his massive hammer, but can't find an opening to connect as the half-elf and human clash. The bandit, apparently undaunted by his own injury, drops his bow and quickly pulls his sword, slashing at the enraged ranger. His vicious chop slips below a massive swing of the half-elf's greatsword, cutting into Orin's ribs and sending him into the dark oblivion of unconsciousness.
Seeing her companion cut down one of the attackers, the remaining female bandit launches an arrow at the dwarf, but shoots wide, sending the quarrel harmlessly into the woods.
Agnar's arrow flies well over the head of one of the bandits, who starts retreating into the trees to the south, after sending a shaft arcing toward the Ulfen. His arrow flies true, hitting the exhausted man squarely in the chest. The second bandit who was exchanging bowfire with Agnar fires again, but doesn't even come close to hitting the wounded man.
Rupert, wincing at the sight of blood dribbling out of the strange witch's mouth, quickly grabs a cloth. Gingerly trying to avoid the snake -- "Shoo, Thaal, let me fix your mistress so she can keep gettin' you mice. Don't bite me and Ah might find you a juicy little mouse myself!" -- he quickly pulls the arrow and begins slapping bandages over the wound.
Bandits attacking Agnar:
Rupert heal:
"Pirate" bandit attacking Orin:
Damage:
Female bandit attacking Edrukk:
Stabilization check (DC:12):
Still chanting, Edrukk swings the bandit again, the blood in his eyes quite apparent.
Round 3
Rupert, seeing that he's done for Treshiell all that he can for the moment, draws his sword and rushes to Edrukk's side to help protect Orin who has now dropped to the ground.
Seeing Orin fall to the loud-mouthed brigand, Draelen knows that they have to end this fight quickly. Seeking to take out their leader, he circles the man, hoping to encircle him with foes. "Lucky blow! But now your luck runs out!" He yells, striking with his hammer and directing Ivory to try to seize the man's leg.
"Urgh!"
Agnar staggers from the hit and drops his bow. He raises a hand to his wound and mutters a quick prayer.
[ooc]Spontaneous Casting (Bless to Cure Light Wounds):
As the arrow falls free and the wound heals, the Ulfen raises his buckler against any further missile fire and draws the dagger from his belt rather than retreating into the cave for his spear.
Round 3, Init 16
"Urgh!"
Agnar staggers from the hit and drops his bow. He raises a hand to his wound and mutters a quick prayer.
As the arrow falls free and the wound heals slightly, the Ulfen raises his buckler against any further missile fire and draws the dagger from his belt rather than retreating into the cave for his spear.
Round 3
Rupert, seeing that he's done for Treshiell all that he can for the moment, draws his sword and rushes to Edrukk's side to help protect Orin who has now dropped to the ground.
Round 3
Draelen and Ivory rush toward the man who struck down Orin, but he manages to knock aside the vicious polearm. The parry leads him open for a massive strike by Edrukk, however, who staves in his head like it was a ripe melon!
Seeing the man collapse, the remaining female bandit screams "Keldar! No!" and charges Edrukk, dropping her bow and pulling her shortsword. "Die, dwarf!" she snarls as she jabs at him, but her rage seems to have clouded her vision and Edrukk is easily able to knock the blade aside.
Rupert rushes in, leaving the three men and hound surrounding the enraged woman.
The other two bandits, who were firing at Agnar, seeing the carnage in the clearing, begin to flee, though the one to the east takes the opportunity to send one last arrow toward the group, though it falls harmlessly into the turf.
As Agnar begins healing himself, Orin appears to have stopped bleeding, but like Treshiell remains unconscious.
Attack on Edrukk:
Arrow attack:
Rupert steps lightly to one side so that he can flank the bandit and throws himself at the only bandit left that didn't flee or drop, swinging his sword viciously.
Attack (-2 if not actually flanking)
Damage
Sneak Attack damage (if applicable)
Rupert cries to Draelen "Can Ivory run one down? I'll go after the other!" and takes off into the wilderness after one of the fleeing bandits. He yells "Someone bring a horse, I'll keep on their tail for now!" over his shoulder as he goes.
Round 4 Initiative 22
Draelen HP 11/11, AC 17
Ivory HP 7/14, AC 16
Knowing that there is no rage like that of one who has lost a lover, Draelen moves to dispatch the woman before she wounds any more of his companions. He swings his hammer high while Ivory tries to slip under the woman's guard.
Draelen slams his hammer down on the woman, dropping her suddenly lifeless body onto the corpse of her lover.
The sound of the two remaining live bandits running through the underbrush sounds over the noise of blood pulsing in your ears as Rupert runs off in pursuit of one.
Agnar, though it felt longer, in mere seconds the group of bandits who nearly cost you your life are gone, most of their lives snuffed in the blood-soaked clearing. Ahead of you are a half-orc and dwarf covered in blood, though none of it appears to be theirs, while a human brandishing an Aldori dueling sword races south after the bandit who shot you. A half-elven man lies unconcious on the ground, as does a human woman a short ways away.
Edrukk stops chanting and says, "Draelen, see what you can do to help Rupert. I'll take care of this mess here," as he wipes the man's brains off of his warhammer. Turning to Agnar, "I don't know what you did, sir, to get these folks on your tail, but I would not recommend doing it again."
Rupert speeds off south, and quickly catches up to the bandit, who was making some effort to hide his tracks. Apparently hearing the swashbuckler approach, the bandit turns and pulls his sword, ready for a fight. "It don't got to happen like this," he says, as he warily holds his blade up.
Ivory, ignoring her own wound, races off in pursuit of the other man at her master's command. After a few minutes, she returns to the camp, head and tail low and favoring her right foreleg.
Rupert:
Bandit:
Ivory survival (to track):
Bandit perception:
Bandit initiative:
Rupert approaches the man, sword held at the ready but not attacking quite yet. "Ah' could say the same thing t'you, friend," Rupert says with a smile, "How about yeh drop that shiv an' we'll go back to mah' friends and discuss things over like a bunch of decent folk? 'Cause ah' can't let you go free, an' as much as ah' don't want t'kill you, if yeh keep runnin' you'll leave me no choice."
Initiative
EDIT: Forgot to roll diplomacy... oops.
Diplomacy
The arrow having taken what little fight was left out of him, Agnar moves across the field to the woman from his group of rescuers that fell during the fight. As he does, he calls out to the fleeing bandits.
"That's right, run you curs!"
"I don't think so," the man responds. "I'd say I got a good chance of killing you, so why take the risk. You go back to your friends, I'll go back to mine and we'll both live to see another day. I got no desire to hurt you. You won that fight, go get your spoils."
2nd diplomacy check to see if you could get him to go along:
"Erastil, bestow thy blessings on this brave soul, fallen to protect your faithful."
Healing for Treshiell:
Seeing that Ivory has sustained more wounds from his orders, Draelen feels a strong pang of remorse. "Sorry girl, I thought I could keep up, but you're a lot faster than you were when you were a pup." They make their way back to the clearing.
Seeing the man they rescued bending over Treshiell, Draelen says loudly "Well, I hope that you have a bag packed with bandages, it looks like we're going to need enough for a regiment!" Once he notices that he is actually healing his fallen companions, Draelen shuts his mouth and lets the man work. Once he is done, he introduces himself.
"Greetings, I'm Draelen of Silverhall and the royal Order of the Lion, and it appears you're a good man to know after a tough battle."
Seeing that his patient is not in danger of dying, Agnar stands and offers a hand to Draelen.
"Well met, Draelen. I'm Agnar Hrolfson, servant of Erastil. Seems I owe you and your companions my life. If they'd come in after me, I'd likely be dead and all my worldly possessions carried off by those brigands."
Agnar looks haggard, and sports dark circles under his eyes. He wavers a bit, then sits down on a nearby rock.
"Excuse me. It's been a long night and day and it's about to catch up on me. I think I'll rest a moment."
"You are either very brave or very stupid for traveling alone in these wilds, if I may be so blunt, Agnar." Edrukk comments as he watches Agrar heal his friend.
Agnar chuckles. "A bit of both, I suspect. I can take care of myself well enough, and have faith enough in Old Deadeye to survive the wilds. I had not expected bandits, nor that they would be so tenacious. I've been sitting in that cave for a good day while they waited me out. I'd known bandits to lair in the wilds, but not to be patrolling in such force. You'd think they'd forge north where there are actually roads and travelers carrying things worth stealing."