Lain bows his head and nods softly, frowning.
Still out of breath from all the excitement and exertion Easop sits on a stump as the plans are made.
"These darkfriends are really starting to perturb me", he states. "I'm not much good with this sling, but I might get lucky". "They are larger than rabbits" , he jokes looking around the ground for suitable stones for his sling.
Jasmine looks around and says I leave the preparations in your suitable hands, gentlemen, Alantin. I must go rest while I can. Wake me the instant anyone is seen. Jasmine will then go and find the innkeep and rest for a bit with explicit instructions to start preparing bandages and boiling water for dressings. Also to let her know when anything occurs so that she can move quickly to help.
"I am sure you will handle yourself perfectly Treebrother. If you get in trouble, Jed, Graul or myself will be there toback you up..." Lain frowns softly, chewing on his lip as he looks around the village. "Perhaps I should slip in to hiding now Jed al'Raes. You will be more use to the people here, as a leader, where as I will be more use as a hit and run fighter. What think you?"
"Yes, I think you are right. I simply cannot match your skills when it comes to stealth. Easop, will you help me with the defenses?"
Jed then begins to help prepare the defenses, hoping to find some way to bring the coming battle into their favor.
"I will assist you Lain. Two (three?) Aiel shoulld be fairly effective against this force."
"Thank you Brother. That will help!" Lain nods, before turning to stare out in to the forest.
Hobbs thanks you all profusely for your help. He will gladly show Jasmine to a room to allow her to rest for as long she can.
As to your questions. We are a town of simple folk, we don't have defenses or militias or anything like that. We'll defend our homes as best we can but this is why we so desperately need your help.
A plan starts to formulate in Jed's mind. He's not sure if it's a good one, but at least it's something. Before Jasmine heads off and the Aielmen go into hiding, he pulls them together.
"I'm not sure how the Darkfriends will launch their assault, or how many they will send. Light, I don't even know if it'll be humans we're fighting against. But the best way to protect these villagers is to draw attention to ourselves and make the best stand we can." Jed looks a little worried about the prospects, but he continues on. "I volunteer myself. I will issue a challenge as the enemies approach, and hope that they target me. Our Aiel friends here can strike from the shadows as they enemy nears, catching them off guard. Easop, I know you are not a fighter, but can you bring yourself to use that sling against these Darkfriends? Hopefully you can stay out the way, attacking from range. And Jasmine, anything you can do to shut them down will be sure to turn the tide of battle in our favor."
Jed looks to the rest of the group to see if they agree or have a better plan. Light, please have a better plan...
"Maybe we should have the villagers who can not fight leave now?"
Frowning, Lain looks around slowly. "Jed al'Raes this is a big risk. I like it...!" Lain suddenly grins wildly. "We will be at your side my friend, trust that we will!"
There is a sense of heightened energy as the villagers scurry around, attempting to prepare themselves as best they can. A few of the older folks take the children and begin heading south, hoping to wait out the troubles at an outlying home. The able bodied villagers, men and women both set themselves up, carrying hoes and axes and other farming implements. Some take bows up on building roof to provide fire from above. There is maybe one sword for every ten villagers present. Others begin barracading themselves into their homes and shops, unable to fight but not willing to abandon their town either.
As dawn approaches the villagers gather in front of the Three Crowns Inn, all eyes on the northern road. Soon the thunder of hooves shakes the early morning air. Mounted figures appear on the horizon, cloaks blowing in the breaze as they ride hard toward town. As they approach you can see there are at least a dozen men if not more, some carrying drawn swords while others are brandishing lit torches. As they ride closer, they begin to break off into various clumps riding into various sections of the village. It isn't long before the sounds of fighting can be heard in the distance. The main force itself seems to still be heading directly towards you.
The Aiel pull up their veils and slip into the shadows of the trees and houses, moving into a position from which to launch their attack on the horsemen, possibly catching them between the group. Jed and Easop ready themselves on the road along with a group of villagers; Jasmine standing behind them, full of the Power.
The men are within bowshot now and you can see what appears to be one of the leaders begin to give orders. One of the men says something and he shakes his head. You see him grin and point straight to Jed with his sword in challenge. He then rasies his sword and bellows. Attack! With that the men begin to charge towards the group, the leader in front aiming his horse directly at Jed.
Stealth:
Graul watches the mounted men aproach his heart pounding in his ears.
Darkrunners! Light, I hope I don not burn down the village!
Stealth:1d20+7
Graul watches the mounted men aproach his heart pounding in his ears.
Darkrunners! Light, I hope I don not burn down the village!
Jasmine will not make any sudden moves but using flows of air will create a long low wall of hardened air in front of the charging riders. Since it is invisible their horses will not be able to avoid it and they should all be thrown violently as the horses legs are broken from the impact. It should be about 3 feet high and 15 feet wide and Jasmine will put it directly in the middle of the charging riders about 50' from us.
Initiative:
Jasmine will not make any sudden moves but using flows of air will create a long low wall of hardened air in front of the charging riders. Since it is invisible their horses will not be able to avoid it and they should all be thrown violently as the horses legs are broken from the impact. It should be about 3 feet high and 15 feet wide and Jasmine will put it directly in the middle of the charging riders about 50' from us.
Not a bad idea at all. I will probably start doing that for this game after this combat and will probably implement it in other games to. Cause once Initiative is set, lags in posts aren't nearly as show stopping as that first intial time.
Initiative
"Now stay down everyone". "Don't make yourself available for combat until and unless you absolutely have to".
Sling attack
Easop quickly rises up and releases a sling bullet without really taking the time to aim, and the stone hits the ground in front of the charging group, and rolls harmlessly through the horses legs.
The soldiers gallop forward, oblivious to the weave before them and the wall they're heading towards. Suddenly the horses crash to a halt in mid-stride and the sounds of broken bones and harsh whinnies fills the air.
The men all let out a startled yell as they're pitched over their pommels, crashing to the ground. One of the men doesn't move but the rest pull themselves up, some the worse for wear. The leader thrusts his sword at Jasmine. Kill the witch!
Jed moves in front of Jasmine and readies an action to attack the first soldier that comes within range.
Jed charges the nearest soldier, hoping to take him out of the fight before he gets a chance to do any damage.
The soldiers' charge was halted quite forcibly by Jasmine's weaving of Air. Easop's shot went wide unfortunately while Jed's advance was halted by a soldier's parry.
The Aiel remained hidden, veiled death waiting to be unleashed given the right moment.
Jasmine will smile at the men in her most disarming way before a ball of flame shoots out towards the group of men, exploding in their midst.
Only one of the soldiers manages to dodge out of the flames. Two more collapse, the smell of burning flesh hanging in the air. The rest seem charred but standing, pain and anger filling their faces.
The leader screams in rage and swings out at Jed while the three remaining charge towards Easop, Jasmine and the villagers.
Graul moves and throws a spear at one of the soldiers.
Attack:
Damage:
Jed takes a swing at one of the soldiers as he rushes by, not realizing he strayed too close. His strike is true.
Unfortunately, while his swing at the soldier running by was sucessful, it threw Jed off-balance and he was unable to find a good opening against the leader. His swing doesn't even come close to finding its mark.
Jasmine grunts in pain as the soldier strikes her a glancing blow. You will pay for that. She says through gritted teeth.
Waiting for the group to pass him, Lain slips silently out of the undergrowth, darting towards the Leader, sending his spear twirling towards the mans throat.
The soldiers erupt in flames yet not all of them drop as the smoke clears. Jed manages to hamstring the one charging at Easop but the others make their way towards Jasmine and the Ogier. Jasmine is cut across the thigh, a glancing blow but one that still draws blood.
Jed, Lain and Graul all attempt to halt the men's progress but their thrusts all go wide.
Graul moves to attack the soldier on Jasmine.
Burn them! Burn the shadowrunners!
Attack: +2 if flanking = 23
Damage:
Lain grins grimly behind his veil, as he lashes out again, sending his spear twirling towards the mans ribs.
Jasmine will grit her teeth and draw her dagger from the sheath at her belt. Attempting to keep her defenses up during the weaving, a blade of white fire erupts from the end of her dagger which she thrusts at the man who wounded her.
The leader, surrounded on both sides, lashes out at the Aiel.
The 2 soldiers still focus on Jasmine, trying to kill the witch before she unleashes any more of her dark powers. The one attacked manages to leap aside as the small beam of Fire cuts the air where he stood.
The leader manages to score a deep wound, slicing his blade deep across Lain's ribs. The soldier who dodged out of the way of the flame over-compensated to do so and missed however the other soldier manages to take advantage of the situaiton and strikes her hard across the back.
"LAIN!" Jed yells out as his Aiel partner takes a rather nasty gash across his ribs. He makes sure to stay within flanking position and makes an attempt at damaging the leader with his longsword.
Roaring in rage at the men attacking his compatriots, Easop lashes out with his tree trunk sized quarterstaff. (Targeting the one attacking me first).
Quarterstaff attack
In case of a miracle.
Lain stabs his spear into the man's side, eliciting a yell of pain. The leader in turn spins his blade about and cuts deep into Lain's side, blood flowing freely down his ribs.
Jasmine misses the solider with her ray of flame and Easop's quarterstaff proves equally ineffective but they're distracting enough to allow Graul to slip in behind him and punch his spear through the man's throat. However their focus was off of the other soldier who managed a nasty slice across Jasmine's back, nearly opening her up.