"Mithril armor is hard enough to get. A mithril weapon is going to be damn near impossible to get. I had an aunt that always complained about how hard it was to get the dwarves to sell her a few ingots to work, or some ore to smelt."
"I might be able to make some silver bullets though Raseri." says Ninivic with a sly smile. "I think we'd better get the bandit back to town. No need to drag him all over the dungeon."
"Aye, so do we carry him, drag him, or make him walk?"
"I think he's capable of walking. He doesn't appear to be significantly injured. If he tries to run, Kasuri will stop him. Won't you?"
He gives the white panther a loving pat, to which she purrs loudly in response.
"Let's get back to Zelkor's Ferry."
"I'd gag him at least until we're well clear of the entrance, but I don't see any problem with making him walk."
"Well then. I guess it's settled."
Raseri unbinds the bandit's feet and gags him before pulling him to his feet.
"Flee, and your life is forfeit."
The bandit doesn't respond, but he doesn't try to fight his sentence. Judging by the mess you made of his companions and the kobolds, he must figure there's no point in fleeing. In the end, it's a rather uneventful trip back to town. Night has well and truly fallen by the time you return, and the hoot of owls and the distant howl of wolves haunts your footsteps when you finally catch sight of the twinkling lights from the hamlet over the hills. It takes you some time to be let into the village, with the single night-shift guard coming down personally to investigate what was going on. Getting the gist of the situation, he suggests you immediately head over to the barracks, and teaches you a pattern of knocks so the guards over there will know to let you in.
A pair of guards takes the captured bandit from you, leading him downstairs to where the holding cells are. Eventually you're given an audience with Captain Skorma, a bronze-skinned Keleshite man wearing a white turban and flowing robes.
"Thank you for getting rid of some of those bandits," he says, his Taldane harshly accented. "Please do try and find their leader. It's not that we're in any danger here - but it affects the already limited trade between here and Egede."
After some conversation, filling in the blanks and handing over the cloaks from the slain bandits, he grants you a small stack of coinage: 7 platinum and 5 cold coins.
Later, you return to Bristleback's Inn and fill in Odo and Amelia about the unfortunate loss of Bryce and Reginald. Odo isn't shocked at all - "Par for the course 'round here I'm 'fraid," he says brusquely in response - although Amelie is somewhat saddened by the news. About an hour or so later she serves the group up an extra large dinner, with lots of steamed veggies and deer meat. You do, however, notice that it's only Amelie and Tallie serving up tonight - the other server, Ysbel, is missing. "She had a thing for Bryce," Tallie mentions in passing to any who ask with a sad smile. "So we let her take the night off. It's only you guys staying here anyway..."
"Captain - as far as you know, how many bandits are there? Do you know of any other dangers we might be able to help with? We have heard rumor of a werewolf...."
"Huh? A werewolf?" The captain chuckles. "He's not a werewolf..." He then pauses, realising from the blank looks on your faces that you clearly mean something else. "Oh, er... heheh. Nevermind."
"But, hrm... I think I know what you mean. I've heard from some of the adventurers that come through here about some crazy hermit lady that lives out in the Estrovian Forest. She always has a big pack of something like thirty wolves with her. She's certainly dangerous by the sound of things, and doesn't seem to like company, but she's not a threat provided you leave her alone."
"As for the bandits, eh, it's hard to tell. I think this local group is only small - they seem to leave the bigger caravans alone for the most part. There's plenty of parasites out there in the wilderness, looking to prey on adventurers like yourselves rather than try their luck inside."
"Zelkor's Ferry stays safe for the most part. Between Bristleback and my troops, we tend to be fine enough around town. Patrols from the 'Wound do sometimes come through along the Lake Road and the other trails that dot the area, too. It's mostly just what's beyond civilisation that's the problem!"
"All I can say is to keep yourselves safe out there."
"Imagine you're right then, probably just someone to stay away from unless we come upon a reason to go see her. I'd imagine our surviving bandit might know how many of them are left."
"It looked like they were trying to grow their numbers. We stumbled in on them in the middle of them negotiating with Kobolds. It might be worthwhile to see if we can get their assistance."
She looks at the others and sighs.
"I come from the Land of the Linnorm Kings. Our clan's home is just north of the Grungir Forest. We learned long ago that you take what help you can get. The fey, norns, and druids that call the forest home are not what most would consider allies, but they are sometimes all you have. If we can convince the Kobolds that acting as scouts and lookouts for the town's trade routes can benefit them, they might give us what we need to catch these bandits and prevent future groups from arising."
"Raseri - do you propose we try to find this wolf-lady?" Olo pauses for a moment and looks a bit embarassed before he continues,"From my, um, readings, druids are often aligned against malicious creatures and those that disturb nature's laws. If we respect her beliefs she could be an ally and a valuable source of information."
"Might be more trouble than it's worth. She's not bothering anyone, and she's not likely to be recruited by Tall-Jack and his gang. We know that he's tried to deal with Kobolds, and we've made it clear that we are not to be crossed to those two we released. We might be able to convince them that joining us will be a boon to them and to us. We'd have to work out what is acceptable to the mayor and the people in town and around it before we even pursue that option."
"Raseri, I think the kobolds are more trouble than they're worth too. They said their home was 'many, many days' travel away. It was only this small group that had left the main nest that was trying to ally with Tall Jack We killed most of them and sent the last couple home. I'd say its pretty unlikely they ever make it. I wouldn't mind help with the bandits, but I don't think they are the answer. A little more time for us to get used to working together and I bet we'll have little trouble with Tall Jack ourselves."
"You're right, Ninivic. You're right. Must still be a little addled from that blast."
Raseri runs her fingers through her hair, then looks puzzled for a moment.
"This is still weird."
While in town, Molasbar wants to check on the availability of a scroll of Detect Secret Doors, and if it is available the ink necessary to scribe it into his spell book.
"The kobolds may yet prove to be valuable allies. Though it is too early to judge; individually they were cooperative, but hostile when under the command of their firebreathing leader. I think we made a decent inroad by sparing the two and sending them off with some silver, but for now I would suggest we focus on bringing down Tall Jack."
"Agreed. How best to prepare for them? Corporal - you are quite skilled with discovering traps, can you also set them?"
Asking the captured bandit about the numbers reveals that you've actually seen the vast majority of the group: there was only about 12 members, excluding the kobolds that they had been trying to recruit recently (to little success). He mentions that they sometimes have run-ins with some gnolls who seem to have a den on a lower floor and emerge to poach on people on the surface, but Tall Jack wasn't successful at getting them to work with him.
Molasbar speaks with Rasmus Pye about the spell, and the merchant indeed has it available. "Wrote this one myself," he says with a smirk. "Just ask me if you need any more copies." He also has a wide stock of arcane inks and reagents needed for wizarding purposes.
"Heh, I know what you mean Raseri. I'm forgetting things all the time with my booms going around." When talk turns to setting traps, he chimes in, "Fraid I'm not as good at setting them Olo. Always relied on our sappers a bit more for that, you know, engineers and such. Always willing to give it a try though. Could see if we could rig something outside their door that blows when they show up, then riddle them with arrows and shot."
To Rasmus, Molasbar counts out the 35 gp for the scroll and ink and says "Thank you. I am actually a wizard of modest ability myself and, if it is not beyond my ability, I was considering adding it to my own repertoire. But I am certain that I will be needing to revisit you for other needs. I look forward to doing more business with you."
He starts to turn away, but turns back and says "My friends and I stay at the Bristleback when we are in town, which is about half the time. Maybe we can meet there some evenings. As engaging as my friends are, it would be nice to converse from time to time with someone who is more... more of a peer."
Rasmus blinks at Molasbar, then smiles knowingly and nods his head. He shakes Molasbar's hand before the half-orc leaves the store "Certainly, friend. It would be my pleasure."
For a moment, Olo feels wounded by Molasbar's comment. They are friends, and are they not both practioners of magic - peers? No. He is a true wizard, bringing forth his magic from study of the arcane arts. My magic come from.... Whatever I am, I am not his peer.
The adventurers form a plan; with the aid of some of Captain Skorma's guards, they'll take on the final few bandits sooner rather than later. After resting overnight at Bristleback's Inn, the group is up bright and early to meet with their new employees and outfit them with some better (albeit slightly damaged by jaguar claws) armor and bows. The three guards introduce themselves as Valeria, Belther and Lyte, and over the course of the journey to the Mouth of Doom you learn a little about them. Turns out the guards of Zelkor's Ferry are all ex-adventurers, bandits, and mercenaries put on by Odo Bristleback to guard the town, and they are all fiercely loyal to him for one reason or another--for some, it's being given a reason to live after losing your companions in the dungeon or wilds or being caught by the law; for others, it's simply because he apparently pays well, treats them good, and the town itself is one of the least dangerous places around thanks to Odo's presence.
The group carefully makes their way down the winding corridor leading to the one known entrance of the bandits' den. The door is locked again, but Ninivic is able to make quick and quiet work of it. Listening at the door, it seems that the bandits are rowdily yet nervously discussing with one another, with their leader trying to get some order out of them to little avail.
"Considering you sent Sarsha out to deal with them kobolds yesterday and they ain't back yet, I reckon it's a fair chance they ran into some trouble..."
"Should we be ready to defend?"
"Why are we bothering staying around here?"
"No, we've got too much invested in this place..."
"Durrok no think good to leave."
Nodding to one another, you fling open the door and charge inside, weapons ready for battle! The brigands spin around in surprise, cursing and reaching for their weapons - but you're too fast for them!
Initiative: Olofire | Molasbar | Zeltor | Zahar & Kasuri | Raseri | Ninivic | Guards | Bandits
Room is well-lit in terms of lighting.
OOC
I'm going to move right into this scene to save time. If there's anything else you want to do in the interim, feel free.
"Oh, please do stay. We have a few things we'd like to discuss."
Raseri's sword is out, and her teeth a bared in a smile that holds no hint of friendliness. She moves in closer, daring the bandits to come test their mettle.
Molasbar takes advantage of their element of surprise and bolts forward next to Raseri, bringing the bandit leader within range of his reliable force bolts. He lets the first one go at Tall Jack, ensuring he won't escape the fight unscathed.
Move to I5 and launch a Force Missile at Tall Jack, damage .
Zeltor takes a single step to the side and fires at the brigand in sight.
As soon as Zeltor's arrows are away, Ninivic takes a quick step in front of him and fires at the foremost bandit.
Initiative: Olofire | Molasbar | Zeltor | Zahar & Kasuri | Raseri | Ninivic | Guards | Bandits
Status
Bandit (Yellow) - Misfortune (1 round).Orc (Red) - 8 damage.
Orc (Orange) - 16 damage.Tall Jack - 2 damage.
Valeria - 3 damage.
Olo moves forward, whispers of nightmares dancing at his fingertips. He wishes to send the imp of misfortune upon Tall Jack, but to do so would put himself in danger; so instead he stands back and sics it upon a nearby human, who gasps in shock as something impregnates itself into his mind. Molasbar moves up beside his friend, axe in hand as he fires a force missile over the heads of most of the back like a weak punch into Jack's shoulder.
Zeltor sidesteps the tent and fires a pair of arrows at an orcish warrior; both penetrate its scrappy hide armor one after the other. The orc turns a pale green like stale vomit, but roars loudly and continues to fight on. Zahar gently lays his hands upon his companion, and Kasuri's fangs grow long and large . The jaguar snarls as she pounces forward to sink her newly-enlarged teeth into the nearest orc and tears a chunk out of his side, but the pain doesn't seem to stop him just yet. Raseri moves forward, taunting the bandits to come after her.
Ninivic raises his pistol to fire, and is incredibly unhappy to hear the unmistakable click of his weapon locking up. Two of your hired guards try to fire at the bandits from afar with their much less advanced weaponry; one arrow flies completely wide and another gets caught in the tent, but Lyte manages to sink an arrow into the orc that Kasuri bit. The orc is looking incredibly worse for the wear but still manages to keep himself standing through sheer force of will alone.
The bandits draw their weapons and approach! The one with two of Zeltor's arrows sticking out of him tries to counter-attack, but the nimble tiefling deftly avoids the orc's falchion. The half-dead orc tries to slice off Kasuri's head; thankfully for her, her master has outfitted her with incredibly protective chain armor that deflects the blow entirely. Two other orcs and a human bandit move in to engage the party with their own blades, but none of them can land an attack to save their lives. A few bandits pepper the back line with arrows, although only one goes anywhere near to hurting anyone--Valeria has to drop to the floor quite quickly to avoid being shot through the head. Jack also draws a shortbow, although his attack is aimed at Raseri; the arrow zooms way above her head, and he scowls profusely.
Ninivic takes a quick step back and clears his misfire. He takes aim again at the orc now trying to get to him and Zeltor and fires his pistol.
After avoiding the brigand attack, Zeltor takes a step back and unleashes two more arrows at the orc .
As he fires, he whispers to the companion at his side - "Lets try to finish him quickly friend Ninivic, we need to clear a path to their leader"
"Is poor Jack scared? Is he frightened that we go the drop on him?"
Raseri taunts Tall Jack, trying to wound his pride as she sword sweeping down and across, trying to sever the bandit's head from his shoulders.
The smile on her face is like that of a wolf, and her eyes are as cold as the frozen north she is from.
[ooc]If that downs him, she 5-foots into I-6[/dice]
Zahar brings his wooden club down hard towards the head of the orc Raseri has just wounded (if it's dead, I'll use that attack/damage roll for his next one and he'll just defend this round instead). Kasuri's assault on the orcs in front of her continues!
*
Madness begins to creep into Olo's actions as he feels his curse take effect. He softly giggles to himself, unheard by any except for those closest to him. He looks through those in front of him at the human shooting arrows at his companions. For a moment their eyes lock and the human feels a pressure as if Olo's eyes were trying to force themselves into his own.
Cast Defensively DC 17.
Molasbar casts color spray, targeting the bandits in H6, H7 and H8. The rest of the spray falls ineffectively in F6, G6 and G7.
DC 16 will save for effects here.
Initiative: Olofire | Molasbar | Zeltor | Zahar & Kasuri | Raseri | Ninivic | Guards | Bandits
Current Map - Obsidian Portal is currently down for me so I uploaded the combat map here temporarily.
Status
Bandit (Yellow) - Misfortune (1 round); unconscious, blinded, stunned (5 rounds); blinded, stunned (4 rounds); stunned (1 round).
Bandit (Pink) - 5 damage; misfortune (1 round).
Bandit (Cyan) - 3 damage.Orc (Red) - DEAD!
Orc (Orange) - 17 damage; unconscious, blinded, stunned (5 rounds); blinded, stunned (4 rounds); stunned (1 round).
Orc (Green) - Unconscious, blinded, stunned (5 rounds); blinded, stunned (4 rounds); stunned (1 round).
Orc (Blue) - DEAD!Tall Jack - 2 damage.
Raseri - 4 strain.
Kasuri - 2 strain.
Valeria - 3 strain.OOC
Hurried post while I take a break from studying. Not much flavour text this round. Just wanted to not hold things up for too long.Zahar, I changed Kasuri to attacking the blue orc, since Molasbar downed her previous target (and this allows the blue orc to die).
p.s. my bad on the positioning for Ninivic and Zeltor, I'll ret-con it so that Ninivic can step back to L-9 and repair without AoO, and the orc will move forward on his turn.
A second bandit falls prey to Olo's misfortune hex, and Molasbar casts a very effective colour spray that knocks down three of the bandits in an instant. One of the orcs (orange) seems to be bleeding out from his numerous injuries now that he is downed. Zeltor fires another couple of arrows into the angry orc in his face, but nothing seems to stop its fury, although blood drips profusely from its many puncture wounds. Ninivic finally finishes the raging brute off with a bullet through the brain. Zahar, Kasuri, and Raseri make short orcer of the orc (blue) in front of them, with Raseri finishing it off before it can even ferociously continue on. Your hired muscle moves forward and fires another volley of arrows, straining two of the bandits as they weave and dodge to avoid being pierced through the heart (pink and cyan).
The bandits fire a wave of arrows at the front line of the adventurers; Kasuri snarls as one scrapes by her front leg while Raseri's armor catches the projectile shot by Jack himself . The half-orc snaps an order to his underlings - "Get your swords out, lads! This is gonna get bloody!" - and they all throw their bows to the ground and converge around Tall Jack. The humans draw shortswords, while Jack has a keenly twisted falchion at his disposal.
Olofire's eyes nearly blaze with excitement in the chaos of the battle. He sees his companions effectively taking down the bandits they previously ran from. As they continue to move forward, he follows behind. Screaming out "hoots" he literally rolls on the ground to move forward and pops back up to his feet with uncharacteristic agility. Surely the madness gives him this otherwise inhuman strength.