Pemsworth watches the two men incredulously. "Just what sort of history have the two of you, anyway! I say, I have never seen two men bicker so! It's like watching two birds nip at one another." Pemsworth hitches his belt up and begins to tramp after the bickering tracker and priest.
Zeno gives Pemsworth a swift peck to the side of the head,
Malavarius chuckles as Zeno plucks up and defends the honor of avians everywhere. "Ha ha! You tell him, Zeno!"
-----
"Do you lads and lass think that other lass who I saved from lying in the snow was right about how many men are in there? Speaking of that, do any of you recall how many men she said were in there? I seem to have forgotten that particular figure along with what day it is. It's utterly befuddingly how when one thing goes missing another follows suit. It's very inconvenient, don't you know."
Hektir spits and gives the stinkeye to Tsin and Pems.
"I didn't ask him to come along. Now, we'll see this through and do what we came to do...you'll do fine to mind your own business," Hektir gives a spit to punctuate his words.
Hektir surveys the lodge again.
"Don't you think we should concentrate on this here lodge now? Pems, you want to sneaky sneaky up there and take a look around? It's getting on dark soon, so maybe we wait a bit. The others were human, maybe those inside are human too. Might be they can't see in the dark."
Hektir points to the southwest doors.
"Maybe we try to go in that way? Pems, maybe check out the stable(?) first?"
"Oh, I can sneak, I suppose. Dark is better for dark deeds, as my old dad used to say."
Pemsworth settles down to wait until dark. Once things are dark enough, he moves slowly and cautiously forward.
As you wait, you notice a bandit comes out on to the porch a couple times an hour and looks around, though he never leaves the porch.
Timing it shortly after one of the guard's excursions, Pems creeps forward around the eastern side of the southern building as the rest of the group huddles in the dark woods to the south. Twin doors open into this low stable, where five stalls hold three horses and a mix of loose straw. A rack of riding gear hangs on the east wall, and a cast-iron tub sits empty in the corner.
Pemsworth will slowly creep into the stable, keeping an eye out for bandits and an easy way into the building for his less stealthy friends.
Meanwhile, Zeno flits up to a tree branch near to one of the windows to take a look inside.
Tsin watches the lookout wander onto the porch, then back. Then out again, then back. He doesn't know how close he is to a painful end. She pictures a cuckoo clock.
In hushed tones, Tsin consults with the others. "If we slay him on the stoop, we might be able to create enough distraction for a two-front attack." She winces as something plays out in her mind.
"Aaaand we wait."
Hektir waits for Pems and the bird to return, afraid to move much lest he make too much noise.
He does, however, chance a whisper.
"What we should do is have Pems lie in wait for the next time the guard comes out. Tsin and the rest of us take a shot at him, THEN Pems tries to finish him off from sight unseen. Maybe we'll get lucky and take him down before he alerts others."
It'll be just like hunting deer.
"A fine plan, a fine plan indeed. I can catch him unawares with one of my lovely exploding Zeno sparkers! Ha ha! Imagine the look on his face... Hee hee!"
Pems, the stable appears to be a standard stable.
Quinn, you see only faint light coming from the window to the east of the porch, as if there were a source in the room but not near the window.
Of the two windows on the porch, the southern one remains dark, while the northern one is lit, with a shadow occasionally moving around inside.
You can also see light coming from the first and second floor windows of the protrusion to the south.
Pemsworth slowly and quietly opens the doors to the stables and moves back in, slapping the rear of each horse to get it to bolt. If no one else comes out of the house, he'll quickly move to under the windows to the south, to peer in after a few moments.
Tsin continues to coil. Her ears try to take in the smallest sound, from the smallest people.
Pem's been gone longer than is comfortable. The light, it's quite inviting. They must be enjoying Mal's tea right now, in fact. All the proper gentlemen, to be sure. I wonder if they care enough about Sarla and her crew to send someone out to look for them should they not return.
Tsin sheathes her falchion, and in turn pulls her longbow free, and nocks an arrow. She contents herself by tracing the doorway's frame from her right eye.
Hektir waits, thinking about catching one of them horses.
What happens next, I wonder.
Malavarius sits quietly in the snow with the others, though after a time he angrily pokes the brim of his hat with his staff. He angrily whispers, "Zeno! I say, Zeno! Blasted bird, where have you gone to? Moreover, why did you leave me behind with these people? Do you have any idea how smelly this one's breath is?"
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Quinn gives Mal a curious look, but says nothing. We'll have to remind Malavarius to wash his mustache. Is that ham and bean soup that's congealed in there?"
Crossbow at the ready, Quinn waits for Hektir's signal to start the attack.
As the horses bolt, Zeno comes flapping back with a sudden surge of panic and you hear a cry come from inside the lodge.
"Do we let them chase the horses then?? Thin their numbers?" Tsin looks ready to shoot anything walking out the eastern doors. She keeps an eye on Hektir and Quinn.
Hektir moves forward, scimitar drawn. He moves to the side of stable, hiding in the shadows.
Stealth
"Less is better, and the leader won't pursue the horses, let a few run away and then we'll make our move."
As Zeno comes plummeting from the sky to hide behind Malavarius, the wizard quietly chastises the bird, "Oh come now, Zeno. It's certainly not going to be safe here! Go hide in a tree or something if you know what's good for you, you daft dodo!" A bright sparkle steals its way into Malavarius' blue eyes as he quietly intones a pair of wards. He watches his familiar scurry off to safety as he does so and chuckles to himself, "Ho ho, not willing to bet your tail feathers now are we, Zeno? Ha ha!"
Cantrips Prepared (3): light, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (3+2+1): endure elements [X], protection from evil [X], shield* [X], snapdragon fireworks [X] [ ] [ ]
Protective Ward used: 2/8
Zeno detect magic used: 0/1
Tsin nods at Quinn. "Smart."
Tsin will delay, but only for a short while as the noise signals horse chasing. Should the lookout appear once more on the eastern porch, Tsin will fire once, then advance with into melee.
If Pems sees or hears anyone running toward the stable, he will dive behind the cauldron and hide until they're gone. Once they sound like they're gone, Pemsworth will move to the edge of the stable door and peer out, looking for anyone who stayed behind.
"Gah. It smells like feet. Like... like baked feet! Zeno? Zeno! You're very lucky you're a tiny bird and not my nose! Don't you forget it! Hmm? Oh! Hush, Zeno! It seems I'm about to be very busy. Ha ha!"
As someone comes onto the porch, Tsin lets a bolt fly, just grazing the man's arm and drawing a cry of surprise and pain. "Hey! Attack! We're under attack!" he yells!
Hektir:
Malavarius:
Pemsworth:
Quinn:
Tsin:
Antagonist:
Round 1, Init 20
AC = 16
HP = 14/14
Weapon Equipped = Composite Longbow, +1 Str
Condition(s) = None
Tsin fires a second time at the rooster rousting the chicken coop.
Pemsworth, still hidden, loads his sling and remains where he is, for now!
Pemsworth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Tsin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Pemsworth loads his sling as Tsin's second arrow hits the man in the chest, sending him crumpling to the porch crowd.
Two more men spill out of the doorway, see their slain comrade and duck back inside, slamming the door shut.
If Pemsworth is relatively sure he can do so without being spotted, he will double move to the barrels by the window of the Lodge and hide there.
"Well, let us hope nine just became eight. Sorry more didn't make themselves available." Tsin's eyebrows lower as does her longbow.
Round 1, Init 12
Hektir both cheers and cusses as the quick events occur.
The first cheer is for Tsin's arrow, taking down the guard.
The second cheer is for the slamming of doors and the coward's flight.
Hektir delays, unwilling to assault the lodge alone.
Round 1, Initiative 11
Malavarius peeks his head around the corner of the stables. "What's this? They've shut the door in our very faces! Don't they know how cold it is out here and that I'm a very old man? Harumpf and bother! I'm going to give them a piece of my mind!"
Malavarius begins to stomp through the snow and gets as far as the bush Hektir is lurking behind. He stalls for a moment, idly scratches the back of his head, then begins muttering softly, "I'm almost sure I'm forgetting something...". The old man in the crumpled pointy hat then shakes head as if in disagreement with someone before raising his staff as a shimmering curtain blooms once more from the head.
HP: 10/10
AC: 15 (15 T / 14 FF) (+2 more vs evil things)
Fort: +0 // Ref: +1 // Will: +4 (+1 vs spells, SLAs, & Su abilities of evil arcane spellcasters) (+2 more vs evil things)
Resist 5: Cold
Cantrips Prepared (3): light, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (3+2+1): endure elements [X], protection from evil [X], shield* [X], snapdragon fireworks [X] [ ] [ ]
Protective Ward used: 3/8
Zeno detect magic used: 0/1
Ongoing Effects
protection from evil: 3/10 rounds
shield: 2/10 rounds
protective ward: 1/5 rounds
Quinn casts Bless on those around him and readies to assault the lodge.
Hektir
Malavarius
Quinn
Pemsworth
Tsin
Antagonist
Mal moves forward toward Hektir and activates his magic as Quinn calls down his god's blessing on his allies.
Pems creeps forward to the lodge as his companions huddle in the snow next to the stable.
No bandits present themselves as targets...
Round 2, Init 17
Hektir looks at the retreating men and the slammed door.
"I say we burn the place down. I never did like the place anyhow. We block the doors and torch the place."
Hektir spits to confirm what he said.
"Um, Hektir, aren't we trying to rescue a lady that may be inside?" wow, he is still really angry about that lodge thing, maybe I do owe him a sincere apology for that mess? "In the interest of said lady, maybe we should stop spitting in the snow and get to action?"
"People leave burning buildings. They always do. That's when we get the lady," Hektir replies as if that was obvious.
Reminds me of Mr. Mastodon's farm, this does.
"So, the plan is to start the building burning, shoot the bandits as they flee, enter the burning building to save the lady, then exit the burning building while the remaining bandits shoot us like we were trying to do to them? Tsin, do you have any better ideas?"
this is going to be just like that farm, the fire spread and burned the entire apple orchard beside it and hard cider was twice the price that year, you'd think a nature lover would have more concern
Pemsworth pauses, then stands on tiptoe to look inside quickly!
Round 2, Initiative 11
Malavarius continues to stomp through the snow up to the lodge, getting just as far as the stairs and grumbling the whole way.
HP: 10/10
AC: 15 (15 T / 14 FF) (+2 more vs evil things)
Fort: +0 // Ref: +1 // Will: +4 (+1 vs spells, SLAs, & Su abilities of evil arcane spellcasters) (+2 more vs evil things)
Resist 5: Cold
Cantrips Prepared (3): light, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (3+2+1): endure elements [X], protection from evil [X], shield* [X], snapdragon fireworks [X] [ ] [ ]
Protective Ward used: 3/8
Zeno detect magic used: 0/1
Ongoing Effects
protection from evil: 4/10 rounds
shield: 3/10 rounds
protective ward: 2/5 rounds
Quinn advances with Mal after arguing with Hektir. "Looks like the old man decided it, let's get those bandits."
Round 2, Init 5-
Hektir grits his teeth and double moves to follow Quinn.
Round 2, Init 20
Upon watching Malavarius continue to move forward, Tsin moves to keep up as best she can. She pictures Mal lying in the snow, clinging to life, and doesn't care to see it again so soon.
Moving towards the porch, Tsin tucks the bow away, and readies the falchion, should any of the bandits feel emboldened by an old man approaching their doors.
As you move closer, Pems sneaks a peak into the lodge.
You see someone walking down the stairs, catching the attention of the other half-dozen men in the room, whom he sends to both sides, out of your vision.
He's followed downstairs by two walking skeletons!
Pems' head shoots down. He looks back toward the party, but is shocked to see Malavarius boldly walking up the steps. Pemsworth hisses in a low voice, "There are six men, plus a leader and two skeletons! Beware, Wizard!" He moves to the edge of the porch, still hiding and draws his short sword slowly from its sheath.
Round 3, Init 5-
Hektir curses silently and moves up to the north side of the southeast doors and readies to strike any badguy coming out.
We should burn this place. Only way to restore it to nature.
Also, kill the bad guys.
Also, keep us warm for the night.
Round 3, Initiative 11
Malavarius' eyebrows arch in surprise at Pemsworth's warning. He glances over to Quinn, "You're a wizard?! Marvelous! So very pleased to make your acquaintance. Now what can you do about getting us out of this nasty cold, hmmm?" Frowning, he then turns back to the building and marches up the steps. "I don't think you look like a wizard at all. I'll just have to do it myself, I suppose." He then tries to open the door(s).
HP: 10/10
AC: 15 (15 T / 14 FF) (+2 more vs evil things)
Fort: +0 // Ref: +1 // Will: +4 (+1 vs spells, SLAs, & Su abilities of evil arcane spellcasters) (+2 more vs evil things)
Resist 5: Cold
Cantrips Prepared (3): light, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (3+2+1): endure elements [X], protection from evil [X], shield* [X], snapdragon fireworks [X] [ ] [ ]
Protective Ward used: 3/8
Zeno detect magic used: 0/1
Ongoing Effects
protection from evil: 5/10 rounds
shield: 4/10 rounds
protective ward: 3/5 rounds
bless: 3/10 rounds
Round 3, Init 20
Tsin tries to take in the forward scouting report from Pems. "Did they have bows? Are they readying a strike from distance?" She tries as best she can to keep up with Malavarius.
"Stay behind the door when you open it, mage. There are gentlemen who aren't going to be pleased when you let in the cold." She doesn't expect that they will be foolish enough to stick their heads out again, but she'll try to cleave a head should it show.