Kern gives Buddara a puzzled look before shrugging and turning towards Brok, "I'd prefer you here and in the thick of it, Brok. We can chase if they run, but I think it more efficient to make sure they can't run in the first place."
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Kern gives Buddara a puzzled look before shrugging and turning towards Brok, "I'd prefer you here and in the thick of it, Brok. We can chase if they run, but I think it more efficient to make sure they can't run in the first place."
Buddara looks at Kern, then looks at the ground and shakes her head.
"Oh child, only proof that intelligence is no replacement for wisdom. Who is to say that they notice the fortifications and suspect."
"I am not your child. You need not agree with my opinion, but spare me the condescension."
"I see potential concerns, but no more than with any plan. I would be surprised if these bandits noticed that a sliding gate, currently stuck in the open position, was repaired to be a working gate, currently left in the open position."
"Even if we can repair the ballistae, I wouldn't waste our efforts to do so this evening, so there are no changes there, and we are making no further alterations to the defenses."
"To me, our biggest concern is keeping the animals quiet until they enter the walls, so that we can then close the gate behind them. At that point, there will be a fair amount of close quarters fighting, for which I think it would best to be at full strength."
"Is there something I've missed?"
"I can think of none," Pon offers.
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It takes Grimjaw most of the afternoon to return and the rest of the party most of the afternoon to stop quibbling over the plan.
Ser Nikolai tables the party as Svetlana takes the choicest cuts of the elk to prepare a great roast for the evening meal.
The evening meal is incredible. Reminiscent of feasts of legends, Grimjaw's elk was young and tender. And the ranger found some wild herbs and vegetables that made an aromatic side when roasted with the elk. There was no ale, as Oleg said, however he did find a small cask of wine, kept over from when he and Svetlana were married. Not enough for the 8 of you to get drunk on, but enough to eat, drink and be merry.
Brok and Kern discuss the gate. It would need to be removed from it's hinges, cleaned and then greased to operate again. With a little luck and the party working together the gate could be completed in a few hours in the morning.
After the meal, Nikolai thanks Oleg and Svetlana for their hospitality and then excuses himself and the party to the bunkhouse. There he has a great table set up with a rough map of the Greenlands, clearly needing your surveys to complete.
"I will not presume to command you yet, I've neither proven myself to you nor have you sworn any fealty to me. But the matter of tomorrow's meeting with the bandits looms large and we have no plan. I have heard you all present your thoughts. And believe you have three ideas with merit. The ambush here at Oleg's. The feigned cooperation, scouting their base and assaulting it. And poisoning the bandits. I'm uncertain if any of you have any abilities in poisoning, so that idea may be null. As such, I propose that the five of you vote now on your favored plan and agree to acquiesce to the majority. So what say you: Ambush or Assault?"
"Repair the gate, leave it cosmetically in the same position and trap them inside. In short, I vote Ambush."
"Spent the day with the surrounding land," Grimjaw begins, "I don't think chasing them down will be too hard if they get clear, even if the horses're weary. Been thinkin' about a place to picket them that wouldn't be too far, instead, but there's risk without a minder. Th'lands pretty wild hereabouts."
He pauses, running his mind back along his hunt.
"There was some wolfsbane I saw. Could probably find it at first light. It'd do for them, but the trick'd be to get it into'em. It's got a strong taste. Don't know much about making it into a poison like you lot are thinking. Takes time to cook it down, though. That much I know."
He looks around the table, trying to size up this disparate group of strangers.
"I'm thinkin' ambush. Should be able to backtrail them, even if we kill them all, which is what I think we should do. In my mind, no point in fighting a double handful or more when you can take care of five or six first. Trick'll be to get them all inside b'fore the fighting starts. Were me, I'd be worrying about ambush every time I come up here. but in my experience, bandits are none too smart.
Might try a broken wagon wheel ruse. 'You lot want this, then git yer arses in here and help lift the blasted wagon.'
Oleg seems rankled enough to make that work."
"I vote Ambush as well. I'd rather deal with a known problem."
Grimjaw stares at the ceiling, seeing the outpost's layout in his mind's eye. After a while, he says, "We put archers up high; one in one of the towers - they can run the walkway from tower to tower for coverage - and one on the balcony. Put someone in the barracks, lurking just inside the door to the courtyard. Put one in the stables. Could throw a compost heap somewhere wi' easy access to th'gate, if we can get that workin' - and hide someone in the pile. Not likely that they'll pay much attention to a heap of horse dung and old corncobs."
He pauses, sucking his teeth noisily, before continuing, Gettin' the gate closed - that's gotta happen for this to go smooth. Get as many inside as'll come, slam the gate. Any left outside belong to the archer in the wall - but best case is they all put their heads in the sack.
We'll have to backtrail'em right out. No way of knowin' how long 'til they get missed.
He shrugs.
"Just my thoughts."
He starts to sit back, thinks better of it, and says, "I see you lot wrinklin' up yer noses at the thought of hunkerin' down in a pile of dung. I'll do it, assuming any of you can shoot straight. Otherwise, I figure I'm on th'wall."
"Switch out the compost heap for a stack of hay or a junkheap and I'd be fine with gate duty"
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Night falls and the watch begins. Svetlana and Oleg also take turns keeping the horses up and provide a bit of coffee for those on watch. The party is able to get a full eight hours and prepare any spells they can the next morning.
Brok and Kern take a barrel of grease that Svetlana had saved from the cooking of the Elk meat. They disassemble the gate and grease the hinges and then reassemble the gate. It's not perfect, but it's functional and with a DC 15 STR check can be closed as a full round action. Otherwise it will take two rounds.
The party prepares for the ambush with the wagon. Taking the wheel off the wagon and letting it sit off kilter close enough to the gate that Kern can reach it from the back of the wagon.
At noon, Oleg gives Svetlana a single horse and sends her out two miles due north with instructions to ride for Brevoy if no one comes for her by nightfall.
Brok, makes a slight change to the plan and mounts his horse inside the stables. His handle animal skill allows him to keep the animal silent. Ser Nikolai stands ready to swing the door wide open for Brok to charge into the courtyard, allowing the Dragoon the opportunity for one powerful mounted charge, before the close quarters of the outpost will leave his Horse without maneuverability, to bring the force of a charge to bare on any other opponent.
Grimjaw prepares in the balcony, his bow drawn. While the rest of the party prepares for battle.
[spoiler=Map]Map is up at top of page. You'll have the ability to manipulate your characters. I'm using your image as your tokens. Position yourself.[/map]
At about an hour after noon, you see 8 riders appear on the southern horizon. More than Nikolai expected, but not too many to abandon the plan.
As they get close, Oleg steps into the gateway.
"Yer going to have to come into the outpost t'day. Wagon's broke and I can't get the wheel on without some help! He shouts.
"Then it's going to cost you fer our labor, you weakling," The lead rider shouts back, to laughs and howls of his companions.
"Maybe we can take some time with his pretty wife for our trouble, eh boss?" A thug responds which elicits more howls.
"Not a bad idea, where is that sweetling of a wife of yers Oleg. I'd rather look at her than yer ugly mug." The leader shouts back.
"Left me," Oleg lies.
"That's a shame, well we'll figure out some other payment then I guess."
All 8 riders enter the tradepost and dismount.
"Jimmy, go water the horses. The rest of ya, help me lift the wagon."
I need Stealth Rolls from anyone not in a building.
Pon waits in the storehouse, staying out of sight. His grip tightens on his greatsword when he hears their words.
As soon as the bandits dismount Kern will step out of hiding and begin closing the gate (going to be rough, since that's where they are going, but no guts, no glory).
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Fortunately, I just use a Take 10 rule for bad guys perception. So you get a surprise Kern. I'll count surprise round as 1 round for the close.
Initiatives - The thugs will go in three groups. The two taking the horses to well, the 6 helping the Leader lift the wagon and the Leader.
Thugs watering horses
Thugs Lifting Wagon
Leader
Party
The party gets the surprise round then the thugs and their leader will act. Remember you get a move or a Standard. You can make a partial charge in the Surprise round. Up to 1 movement action and an attack.
Ser Nikolai swings open the door and Brok rides out at the thugs holding the reigns.
Hit. I'm going to Retconn Brok having a lance, because I don't think he realized you have to roll a ride check to swing a bardiche from horseback.
The mighty charge pierces the bandit holding the reigns of the horse through the chest, killing him instantly. The other thug in shock lets go of the reigns of the horses he was holding and the 8 horses rush away from Brok toward the North west corner.
"An ambush. Oleg, you're a dead man!" The Leader shouts.
The rest of the party is up. 7 total bandits remaining.
Taking a shot at the bandit closest to the gate.
Ponderosa charges out of the house with a feral snarl, swinging his greatsword to cut one of the bandits in half.
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"Warn Kessel!" The leader shouts, drawing his bow. He takes a shot at Brok on his horse.
Hits
Brok takes 5 damage and the leader moves away from his thugs.
The thugs lifting the wagon all draw swords.
Two of the thugs charge Brok and attack him wtih Short Swords.
Hit
One thug moves to cut off Buddra and attacks.
Threatens
does not confirm.
While another thug attacks Kern.
hit
And the last thug runs for his life squeezing out the rapidly closing gate. Grim recognizes him as the thug who took his first arrow.
Party up.
Kern continues to close the gate. If he can reposition himself so he is on the *outside* of the gate, he will do so.
Grimjaw growls, and moves to the outer wall of his tower. He draws a breath, blows it out and draws another, letting half of it out as he pulls the bowstring to his ear, takes aim on the fleeing bandit, and releases.
forgot favored enemy and PB damage bonuses the first time
If Kern sees the bandit fall before he finishes closing the gate, he won't bother trying to be on the outside.
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Ser Nikolai rushes out toward the closest bandit attacking Brok. His ornate Aldori dueling sword whistles through the air.
And slices cleanly through the bandits throat. Blood sprays as the bandit grabs at his neck and falls to the ground.
The Bandit nearest Brok and Ser Nikolai attacks .
Missing the wounded Dragoon.
Another Bandit rushes toward Ser Nikolai
But just misses the nimble Knight.
The leader draws another arrow and fires at Kern.
But the arrow sails wide.
The thug battling with Buddra attacks back.
But the monk is too swift and ducks the swing.
Party up.
Grimjaw leans over and fires directly down on the bandit (leader?) below him.
adding PB, favored enemy, and attacking from above bonuses
Pond steps to the left to further trap the bandit and then swings his greatsword.
Kern casts Magic Missile (Toppling) at the leader.
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Brok misses with his attack, but Kern's magic missile drops the leader, who lies on the ground bleeding out.
The remaining thugs drop their weapons at the realization they're outnumbered and surrender.
Combat over.
Ser Nikolai signals to Oleg who brings rope to bind the remaining villains, then turns to the party.
"How should we deal with them?"
Kern shrugs, pitching his voice so the bound bandits can hear him, "8 men on horses...even someone with little skill could likely track them back to their origin, and we know Grimjaw is a skilled hunter."
"We don't need any of them. If we're feeling merciful, I'd say we give them the chance to talk, and the once that gives us the best verifiable information gets exile West, while the rest get hung as an example."
"Are we justicars, then?" growls Grimjaw.
He looks at Ser Nikolai. "Per'aps you are?
He looks at the rest of the group, nodding toward the prisoners.
"'m no fan of brigands. Not keen on setting any of this lot loose, on their parole t'not come back. Nor 'm I keen on killing prisoners. If Ser Nikolai is the law here, then he can say, "hang 'em," but us? Brigands were squeezin' this outpost 'n we volunteered to help. We beat 'em. We killed some in the fight. The rest go to the law. That's right."
Now calmed from his bloodrage, Ponderosa starts cleaning his blade with an old cloth. He eyes the remaining thugs to make sure they don't try anything.
"Hmm. I would have advised handing them to the proper authorities, but since we are the proper authorities then that's not much of an advice. I don't think we're in shape to keep prisoners either. I have no strong opinion save that we get information from them. Perhaps ask Oleg for his thoughts."
He gives a small smile as he imagines what the man would say.
"Huh..." Grimjaw says, honest surprise in his voice, "We're the law. Okay, then. You lot get what you need from them. I'll find some rope after I make sure of the wounded."
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Seeing that the battle is over, Brok moves over to the leader.
"This on is dying."
Examining the leader and attempting to bind his/her wounds.
"That's nice to know about the law then. What to the rest of you think we should do with them once we have spoken with them?" Posing the last as a question. Glancing at Ser Nicolai to assure that he included him as well in his broad question.