Well then we get to with a mile or so and the start to proceed quietly. If we can find any tracks that indicate we have others away from camp we set up an ambush for them and wait. If not we do a modified recon in force. I'll lead the way attempting to be stealthy with everyone else within charging distance should the whole stealth attempt be just another way to get myself killed.
Looks around to see if anyone wants to add anything while he tightens the saddle girth and settles the saddlebags on his horse.
Only question left is when to start the recon? It is a lot easier to be stealthy at night but we do have a number of us that don't see as well at night. The bandits being human have that same problem and they will probably be back lit by some fires so it might not be as big an issue as some think.
As he mounts up he says,
"Hey Red, what kind of range does that communication spell you used back at the trading post have? Could be a really good way of me letting you all know what is happening if it has a long enough range. even out a couple hundred yards in front of the rest can get dicey if I get spotted and you all don't know what you are running in too."
He heads out on the bandits path as well as keeping an eye out for things to add to tonight's dinner as the conversation continues.
+2 if human +1 ranger tracking bonus =
Cain nods his agreement to Cael, then makes a side comment to Adriana. "A spell that mike make Cael smaller and less visible would be handy."
"I'm sure that it would, and I would love to learn it, but unfortunetly the spell that I have cannot be reversed so easily. Contrary to what one might think, doubling the size of someone is very different than halving it." Adriana walks over to her things and gets everything situated on her horse. She even places a few small items on the pack horse, something she had not had time to do yesterday.
Mounting up, she brushes her dress off again and waits for everyone to be ready.
Once everyone is heading off again she takes up a position beside Red. "So how did you come by this ability? Something you said that you don't understand how exactly you do it?"
In response to Adriana, "Well I can tell you my power is arcane, and that I have never once studied spellcraft. Quite to the contrary, the Clerics of Erastil who guided my upbringing, taught me to fear and avoid arcanists. It was much to their chagrin that I developed my abilities, and I was rejected by my mentor when I did."
He pauses as though he just remembered who he was talking to. "How all that came to be is quite a story. I'll just leave it at this, that Edi here was drawn to me and I to him when my abilities became manifest, and he has served as my guide to the arcane. Specifically I don't know why or how I summon creatures, it just comes naturally to me, and as I spend time 'feeling' the power within me, I find new things I can do."
"So what about you? Did you have a natural talent for this, or did it come through the course of much study? Or perhaps a bit of both?"
Drifting back closer to the group he turns towards Adriana.
"Even more important at the moment what kind of help can we expect from you should we get into a confrontation here? Acalon is the man in armor, i try to hit at range, Red here summons his friends, and Cain of course patches up Acalon.... along with some surprises. So what can we expect from your corner fireballs, flying weapons, invisible attackers, creeping mist of death?" laughs "just trying to be creative but an idea of your abilities would be useful."
Adriana seems very interested in what red has to say. "Your guide?" she asks with a smile. "Well knowledge can come from many sources they say. I've been told I do have a potent natural affinity for the art, but it has taken study and teaching."
She pauses for a long while, her eyes watching Edi. "As you know, there are many kinds of guides on our paths," she murmurs. "But a good student learns more than just how to work the loom," her voices comes back from it's brooding as she looks back to Red. "My studies have included many subjects. Not only the practice of magic but the theory as well, not to mention history, the natural world, foreign planes, and even engineering." She gives another wide smile, "After all, knowledge is power."
Turning to Cael she keeps that same smile. "I'm afraid that my help may not be as... Overt as all of that. I'm not sure how much you know about magic but not all of it is fireballs and mists of death. But what I can tell you for certain is that you'll get my full effort."
The travel for the day goes well. Good time is made and before you know it, the forest of the Narlmarches surrounds you. It is a cheerful enough forest, of mostly pines and other evergreens with an occasional flowering tree here and there that is just starting to sprout the first leaves of Spring. Birds sing and flit and with the warm sun of the day rising higher in the sky, it is easy to drowse.
This drowsiness is broken quite suddenly by the sound of something crashing through the undergrowth directly towards you. Getting louder and louder as it comes closer, ready to run right into you.
Before all the chaos begins, one response to Adriana: Red smiles back at Adriana's statement, "Well Edi has been a good source of information about my summoned creatures and general anecdotal information about the Celestial plane. However, I feel like a wild horse, with no discipline, no training. I kick wildly, and mostly it is successful in self-defense, but I long for a guiding hand. I am a student of Erastil, and will remain so, but Old Dead Eye is of little help to the adventuring arcanist. I much figure he'd rather me settle down and start farming. Of course finding a woman who would be comfortable with Edi hanging around much of the time would be quite the feat." To which Red chuckles and Edi rolls his eyes.
Okay, now on to the random encounter. Given enough time before this thing emerges from the underbrush, Edi dismounts and positions himself between Red and the incoming object, Red stays mounted but back pedals away from the thing as he readies his crossbow, and prepares to drop an eagle on whatever it is.
Grabs his Longbow and dismounts, if there is a handy branch or sapling will wrap the reins around it if not will just let them fall in front of the horse.
"AMBUSH, grab some cover and look for targets" he yells. Putting action to his words he tries to find the closest tree with a decent girth while he searches the woods for possible target arrow nocked in his bow"
+2 if human =
"Stay close all!"
A half smile smirk comes to Cain's lips as he looks over at Red and raises an eyebrow. "Are you saying your more like a wild stallion Red?" Cain laughs, "If you keep drooling over the mares, I might just have to agree with 'Old Dead Eye'."
At the first sound of the charging, Cain stands up in his stirrups and looks in its direction. A moment later though, a puzzled frown appears on his face. He takes the key around his neck, kisses it once, then touches the round part to each of his eyes.
Hearing commotion, Acalon swings his lance down and raises his shield, ready to spur Shade to attack what comes from the forest.
Adriana also pulls her horse up short, peering intently in the direction of the noise and then all about around her apparently unconcerned with anything that might be coming. But then she does have plenty of strapping young men to protect her.
Of course, nothing comes out of the forest. The sound crashes right up to the path and then just... stops. Replaced by the regular twittering of birds that you had heard before.
Still scanning the forest about him.
"So all ye magical types any idea what just happened? That noise will certainly be heard for quite a ways off. If we don't find out what it was in the next couple of minutes I would bet on it being some type of warning system for the bandits. Although That is a LOT more sophisticated than one would expect around a bandit camp!"
"Beats me, but I think we need to be sure." Red starts carefully walking his up the path, being sure to keep a distance from where he last heard the noise. Edi take a more direct line towards the sound.
Cain frowns, "Well, it was definitely magical, and now it's gone. I'm guessing either a ward, or perhaps fae playing tricks on us, or we are being stalked by an sadistic arcane hunter. None of which we can do much about at the moment besides just be more cautious and alert." He shrugs his shoulders as that's about all he can think of at the moment. Cain pats Able and whispers softly in his hear. "Well, if there aren't any other ideas, lets keep going. But keep an eye out for traps."
Glares at the surrounding forest.
"well we know the sound came from straight ahead lets see if we can find a point of origin. maybe footprints there or something that will tell you magical types a bit more."
"If you could spread out just a bit to watch the flanks i'll head straight up the middle and see what can be seen."
+2 if human + 1 ranger tracking bonus =
As the group begins heading out again Acalon falls to the back of the group, to better line up an attack on something pouncing on Cael. Or to act as bait....
Adriana nods at Cain's assessment. "My guess would be an illusion of some kind, though a ward is possible. The simplest spell to use for that, however would not make the same kind of sound. I mean, why crashing noises towards us? Why not just an alert noise?" She shrugs and walks her horse along behind Cael. "It sounded to me more like someone wanted us to run."
A cautious look around the source of the sound, or what Cain and Adriana can guess to be the source, yields no tracks or signs. Or any evidence of anything crashing through the underbrush.
After a complete search of the area that the sound came from he rides up closer to rest of group.
"So what do we do? go on as if nothing has happened, just being more vigilant for possible ambushes? We are getting pretty close to where we need to be to initiate a scout in force in the evening. personally I would like to find the path our x-bandits told us about and maybe monitor for activity or possible ambush of our own for the rest of the day."
Red and Edi look equally puzzled by this. "So it WAS magic, but not anymore? So it was some kind of spell that is now fizzled?" Red looks between Adriana and Cain for any sense of understanding.
He looks over at Cael, "Well I have no idea what's going on, but I agree we need to keep moving, and should be on our guard. Either the camp is now alert, or we may have awakened something in the woods, neither bodes well for us."
Red puts away his crossbow and Edi jumps back up on the horse, curling up behind Red like some extra large cat.
"It was magic, but spells do not last forever. And most illusions will only last as long as they are maintained. I wouldn't say that it fizzled, so much as it was allowed to expire." Adriana looks about absently, tucking hair behind her ear in a rather bored way.
To the group, "We going or staying here to see what shows? If the bandit camp is now alert, or if whatever cast that spell comes looking, we either need to be absent or prepared. Which is it going to be?"
"Might as well keep moving forward. If that was an alarm, we'll meet them on the way. If not, we got startled over nothing."
"I agree with Adriana, the spell was designed to make people or things run. My guess would be that it was a ward designed to keep things from finding the start of the path to the camp, or perhaps something else in that direction. It may not have been an alarm so much as a deterrent meant to keep anyone from stumbling upon their hideout. Why fight when you can just frighten off. It's possible they know it has been triggered, it's possible that they do not. Either way, lets keep moving. Just be alert for more such surprises and traps."
Nods at the others comments,
"Ok we continue, I'll ride out a bit farther at point hopefully I can catch a glimpse of something before we walk into it."
Putting his words into action he mounts back up and moves out to a point position looking for the beginnings of the game trail described by the bandits. Once he finds it will study to see if can determine any recent travel and then confer with the group.
The rest of the morning passes without any further incident and it isn’t long before Cael finds the game trail that the bandits had talked about. Taking a good look at it reveals a lot of traffic over it, but nothing more recent that the bandits that came out to Oleg’s yesterday. Lunchtime approaches and everyone takes a bit of time to sit and have a bite to eat while the horses relax and graze off the plentiful undergrowth.
As the repast ends everyone starts to pick up their things and get ready to go, eager to get some scouting done and perhaps develop a plan to be ready to attack this evening.
"Okay, how do we proceed. It's mid-day, it's going to be easy to spot any of us. Just riding in probably wouldn't go so hot, so what suggestions on how to proceed?"
"Ok guess it's about time for me to see how sneaky I can be. I can try to scout up the path and get a glimpse at the camp. Unless someone has come up with a better idea while we have been riding?"
He looks around at each of his companions,
"Don't suppose there is any magical communication that will work over half a mile or so? *sigh* Well if you hear a great big yell come a running! if possible i'll be running right back down this track, if i do get noticed, if not i'll be back fairly soon with what information i can gain."
Waits for any comments or ideas.
Cain starts rubbing the back of his head while looking at the ground at his feet. He then glances towards Cael, frowns, and mumbles something about elves before saying aloud. "Sure, sounds good Cael."
Glances at Cain with a quizzically raised eyebrow and when no one else comments takes off on foot to do his investigation, besides his weapons he takes only a small bag from his saddlebags, this he also ties to his belt.
Everyone tries to make themselves comfortable around their makeshift camp while Cael strikes out on his scouting mission. Adriana sits primly atop a stone, drawing in the dirt absently with a stick for a bit, then stands with a languid stretch. "If you all will excuse me, I think I'm going to prepare a spell for outr attack. The growth spell I had refered to earlier might be quite effective placed on Acalon, or perhaps even your friend Edi." She motions to the creature as she walks over to pick up her satchel.
Cael:
After a couple hours of travel you come upon the camp. The camp is about 60 feet from the Thorn river’s north bank along a narrow stream that winds to the north. The path runs right along this stream to the camp itself.
The camp is comprised primarily of a central clearing and two watchposts built 20’ up into the trees, one on the west side of the creek and the other on the east. The eastern watchpost is almost directly in the camp and is notable for the supplies that are stored under it. Each of the posts is camouflaged but you can spot a bandit in each keeping watch. Rope ladders provide access to the watchposts but it would probably be possible, if slower and more dangerous, to climb up the tree to access them as well.
A wagon lies to the south-west of the camp, just on the other side of the two logs that the bandits had spoke of which sit beside the path. Both could provide cover from the camp, though the western watchpost sits beyond them.
All in all, the bandits you captured provided a good map of the camp. Beside the two bandits on watch you spot three more lazing about. The leader isn’t hard to spot, as it’s obvious with just a short time of observation that the others defer to her. A large woman with a pair of axes on her belt.
a stream and path going north to south bisecting camp beside the stream. the path goes in on west side of camp. just north of camp there are logs beside and parallel to the path. the path continues into camp where a wagon is parked on the far south west of circular area. on the west side there is not much activity but one tree with watch platform basically on the outside west edge of camp. On the east side of stream is another watch tower that is just about center of the "active" portion of the camp with storage under it. The leader and other 3 bandits are in area directly under/around east watch tree.
QUESTIONS:
How big is the diameter of the clearing? How deep and how wide is the stream, how are the bandits getting across it. Where is a fire pit or cooking fire or whatever is being used for that purpose. Are there any buildings or tents set up or any bed rolls on ground so would know where peoples are sleeping? any horses in camp and how are they secured? where are outhouse facilities just in case we can get an easy kill there or have to hunt down someone that had to use facilities at night.
Settles in and observes camp for maybe half an hour before returning quietly to his companions for a report. Once out of the area close to bandits will pick up pace to get back as quickly as can.
You pretty much have the description right. I'll load up the map of the camp when I get home, I thought I had already. As for the other questions. The stream is more of a creek, or a crik. It's only inches deep and about six feet wide. Counts as difficult terrain (coarse most of the camp site does). The fire pit is in the cleared out area that is the main camp. As are the sleeping bags. No tents in view. No mention of horses but since we know they have them, I'd say they're off to the west by that watchtower. We'll say there's another horse for each bandit. Outhouse is probably whatever tree you want on any given day.
Heads back into camp calling out a greeting to whoever may be watching for his return or the bandits.
"Hey all gather round got a good view of the camp. Seems like our friends from the first fight were quite accurate in the description of camp." Pulls out the map copy that bandits made. " this west side isn't used much except one bandit up the watch tree. On the east side they have another bandit up the tree and a pile of supplies at the trees base. I watched for a bit and there are only 5 more thugs and the leader that Oleg told us about. She looks like a mean one, even carried her twin axes with her about camp but she looks almost as big as you Acalon!
the fire beside the tree and it looks like they just roll out bedrolls at night to sleep. All in all a scrubby camp they don't even have the discipline to have a set outhouse in a semi perm camp! I think it's perfect for a nighttime attack. Just wondering any of you magic peoples have a way to take out at least the bandit in the western tree quietly? Like slice his neck with an invisible floating blade, or dis ingrate his hart or make him sleep or something?
Looks around at others as he finally winds down his description.
"So three bandits plus the leader in the camp, with two more up in watch platforms. If we had some way of dealing with the lookouts, I suspect that riding into the camp in the middle of the night would create a good bit of confusion. Lacking magical help, perhaps you could simply shoot them down, Cael?"
Adriana returns long before Cael does and once more busies herself with drawing in the dirt until he shows. She listens as intently as everyone else to his report and his request for aid in taking out the watchers. "I'm afraid I know no spells which would be of use in that. I believe the best use of my power would be in strengthening someone headed into the thick of the fighting, and then supporting that fighting."
"Well, I can certainly aid in the confusion. Perhaps a little fear might be in order if we concentrate on the leader chick. Beyond that, I have the command spell that you all saw earlier, might get the lookouts out of the towers if it takes. But you'd have to subdue them afterwords. I think a fog might harm us as much as help us though, unless someone comes up with a use for it that I haven't."
Beside the two bandits on watch you spot three more lazing about. The leader isn’t hard to spot, as it’s obvious with just a short time of observation that the others defer to her. A large woman with a pair of axes on her belt.
"Hmmm I can certainly try to take out at least one of the bandits on watch. would think i should hit the one on the west. I should be able to at least wound him before they even know what is happening. Cain do you think your spell could get them to jump out of the tree? if so that 20 foot drop might take care of them being able to do anything! guess i can launch the attack with a bow shot at the west guard, and if he still active see if Cain can get him to jump, or possibly have Cain try that first, then turn around run to the main fight and try to do same on second guard. Meantime have Red keep in contact with me and attack when I take on the first guard. I can't imagine what it would be like to wake up to Acalon charging into camp on that great big hoarse of yours.
we can infiltate from the north just allong the path. there is a pretty good opening to charge into the camp from the north west and i'll hit the guard with Cain and then come in from the west between the logs."
"Any suggestions?"
"Sorry Cael, the spell isn't that specific. He'd probably climb down."
Nods
"To bad, but if he is climbing down a 20 foot tree he isn't putting an arrow in us or or good friend Acalon" he says with a grin. "Or we both could take bow shots at him. Guess it depends on where you think you can help out the most, was a nice thought bandits raining from the trees" laughs Cael.
"So more suggestions,changes or holes to be poked in the attack plan?"
"Charging into camp on a horse from any direction might be a bit difficult I would think," Adriana chimes in. "I don't know how skilled Acalon is, but I've never heard of charging cavalry being very effective in forests. However, if he would like to dismount, I can make him more powerful and intimidating, certainly gathering the attention of every bandit in the area immediately. That would leave the flanks open for you and the others." She ponders for a moment, "Perhaps you and Cael coming in from the west as you suggested, and Red and Edi coming from the east?"