Aishe, Cervin and Yagello set out to circle the lodge, keeping their distance as they examine the lodge from all sides.
The lodge has two main entrances. To the east, where their trail ends, a small porch leads up to a pair of doors. Beneath the porch sits a large supply of chopped firewood, and fresh footprints go between the door and the outhouse. On the west side, a much grander porch affords a grand view of the bride over the ravine and the stables.
The lodge itself is two stories tall, made of solid logs. There are a few glass windows, but the majority of them have been obscured with curtains. The windows on the north and south sides of the house are motionless, but occasional shadows dance across the east and west windows, especially near the doors.
While watching the west porch, the three spot a man come outside briefly. He only takes a step away from the door, still on the porch, before going through the motions of scanning the ravine, bridge, and stables for any movement. The snow continues to fall, though, and the man fails to spot the three hiding in the banks. The man turns to go back inside, and the three make their way back to the others to discuss options.
After scouting the lodge and its surroundings, Yagello turns to the others, "A frontal assault will be difficult but not impossible. We know a number of our enemy are suffering from fever, but their numbers are still probably greater than our own. How about we create a diversion to try to divide their forces?"
He grabs a twig and starts drawing in the snow, "See that building here, it looks like stables of some sort. If we can get there undetected, maybe we can release their horses out of their pens. The bandits might come out to investigate or better yet chase their mounts out into the woods."
He pauses, waiting to hear everyone else's opinions.
"Anyone trying to reach those stables will have to be very careful to avoid being seen from the main building. Although if that fellow is what they have passing for a sentry, they don't seem to be expecting trouble." says Aishe in response to Yagello's suggestion. "It's a reasonable plan. Do you propose to try and ambush anyone who tries to give chase to the escaping horses? Or do you want to let them run off into the woods in pursuit, then attack their remaining brethren?"
Yagello's eyes brighten at the discussion of battle tactics and finally taking the fight to their enemies. "I was thinking of attacking the lodge after the bandits run off after the horses. The building should be much more defensible, and if we move quickly, we can secure all the entrances before they return. Maybe even use those logs to bar the doors from the inside."
He also motions towards Cervin, "We can put Cervin at one of the windows, and he can pick off the enemy at long range using his longbow if they start returning."
Cervin nods thoughtfully.
"It depends on what remains inside the building and how many people they send out after the horses. That said, getting inside the building should be our first goal and the horses will be an excellent distraction to do just that. If they send out a few people I can shoot down, even better."
Arkady nods at the plan. "I fear I will not have much to contribute, but I will keep a watch and hopefully be able to warn you of any surprises before they spring."
"As defensible as the building may be, what happens if the fey converge on us? Could we hold out against such a siege? I do not see how we could make good our escape in such conditions and against such numbers. You dismiss my fears, Yagello, but if we end up trapped in that place there will be no escape."
Daegan sighs.
"I will not leave you to storm this place alone. My blade is yours in this, but I beg you to be wary and keep a clear head. We are rescuers, not a war party."
"I'm not clear on the distinction," sighs Cervin. "Unless we have some way of getting in and out without anyone knowing, we are going to have a battle on our hands. My hope is that we distract or disable those guarding the building, get in, and move room to room until we find the Lady. The horse idea works for that. Get that guard out of the way, move in, and start exploring. We are not stealthy enough, and nor do we have enough information to get in and out without a fuss."
"It sounds to me like we have a course of action to follow. I suggest we wait until just before sunset to try and distract the bandits by freeing their horses" says Aishe, but then she blinks and adds "Of course it would probably be wise to make sure the outlying building is a stable, and that there are actually horses in it, before making that a pivotal part of our plan..."
Yagello nods his his gravely at Aishe, "You are so right my friend! This entire plan relies on a pretty big assumption, but I think we should wait till sunset to make our move in any case."
Unless anyone has any further comments or objections, Yagello will head out to the outlying building at sunset, being careful to give the lodge as a wide a berth as possible.
As the party waits for sunset, they pace and move around as much as possible to stay warm.
Finally figuring it must be dark enough, Yagello carefully skirts his way through the forest to the stables. Shivering in the cold, he waits for the sentry to retreat into the warmth of the lodge before moving to the entrance of the stable. Twin doors open into the low structure, 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.
I'm starting to feel a bit out of place—I have no mind for strategy. But my new friends are counting on me, and I will help them as I am able.
"Friends, I am in support of this plan. While my strengths are few, I will use them to the best of my ability. Please show me how I may be helpful."
Cervin anxiously watches Yagello move to the stables.
"Daegan, if Gorum is up to granting some healing Aishe may need some. She's blue in the lips. And we will all be tested here, Igmar. I have faith that Old Deadeye is watching us and our strikes will be true."
If there is a pattern to the sentry's patrols, Yagello tries to time his actions just right. He doesn't want to make his comrades nervous needlessly but stays in the stables as long as necessary to decipher the sequence of patrols. At about 5 minutes prior to the guard's reappearance, he opens the 3 stalls and gently leads the horses to the inner area just outside the double doors. He then moves as quickly as possible in his shivering state to rejoin the others.
As Yagello makes his way down toward the stable, Arkady loads his crossbow and holds it at the ready. I may be out of useful spells, but if I can feel an attack before it happens, maybe I can avoid being completely useless this time...
Yagello leads the horses out near the bridge, then quickly retreats back into the cover of the thick forest. While his tracks are obvious to a trained eye, there are enough other trails in every direction that it is not immediately noticeable someone had recently walked by.
A few minutes later, the sentry comes out onto the porch, and does a double-take as he sees the horses out in the open. He looks around for any signs of activity, but Yagello is hidden well away in the trees and snowbanks.
"Hey! Who's out there?" the bandit shouts out into the darkness, rather stupidly. He steps inside briefly and says something inaudible, and comes out with a companion, with both of their swords drawn cautiously. Looking around carefully and slowly, they make their way towards the horses. Yagello sees one of the curtains on the upper floor rustle, where he thinks he saw a face peeking out.
Daegan nods at Cervin's suggestion, and holds a gloved hand over Aishe's shoulder. The palm glows slightly, the light muffled by the glove. Aishe can feel some of her pains fading, but the most far-reaching affects of the cold remain. After doing so, he readies his greatsword, tensed in anticipation.
"Th-th-thanks, D-d-daegan..." Aishe is so cold that she can't stop her teeth chattering if she tries to speak. However the warmth of the divine power of the cleric's healing prayer soon has her blood circulating again. She is still stiff and lethargic from nearly freezing, but some color has returned to her face. "That's considerably better, although I don't really want to go fight bandits right now. A camp-fire and a few hours in my bedroll with Growler laying alongside for warmth, now that I could agree with."
Cervin gets ready to move.
"Alright, they're distracted. Move fast for the back door once Yagello is in sight. We don't want to delay too long. If we can get in without alerting the guards that may be one less fight on our hands."
Arkady keeps his crossbow ready, and waits for the signal to move.
Satisfied that the bandits have taken the bait, Yagello moves carefully through the trees and snowbanks to rejoin the rest of his party. Once he reaches visual range, he gives Cervin the signal that it's time to move!
Drawing his elven curve blade, he says a silent prayer. Mother, guide my sword arm for the battle I face will be the greatest of my life. If I fall, let me be brave in my final hour, and protect my comrades as best I can.
Yagello regains the party and they move towards the rear entrance. The party moves carefully and slowly together, when Yagello curses under his breath as he feels a taut string underneath his foot go slack.
A large bolt shoots out from a rigged crossbow near the back porch, hitting Yagello squarely in the shoulder. The bow wasn't noticeable from the approach, piled among other junk. As the bow fires, it falls from its perch, dragging a string of pots and pans that loudly clatter as they are dragged along the porch and into a heap at the foot of the back porch. Everyone winces at the noise, and shouts can be heard inside the lodge.
Growler
Bandits
Arkady
Cervin
Aishe
Igmar
Yagello
Daegan
"Of course, a trap. Who -wouldn't- put a trap or warning signal there?"
Wincing at the sudden noise Cervin snaps an arrow into his bow, watching the door closely.
Aishe copies Cervin and readies her crossbow, prepared to loose the bolt at the first bandit to show him or herself at the door of the lodge...
When will our bad luck end?! Stay confident, Igmar, stay confident. You've gotten out of messes with this group already, you'll do so again.
Igmar steadies his head and his body, and reaching over his shoulder, he grabs his bow and readies an arrow.
It seems we are truly cursed. This weather is surely just a manifestation of a curse on the whole land.
Arkady raises his crossbow and joins his friends in preparing to pepper whoever comes out of the lodge.
Standing right by Yagello as the bolt hits, Daegan starts at the noise of the crossbow releasing. The following thunk of the bolt hitting Yagello and the clattering only serves to worsen his mood. He grasps his holy symbol, muttering indistinctly. A brief light shines from it before fading, and the party can feel a brief warmth, though the lack of wounds on most mean that they don't feel the full effects of the healing.
Yagello, however, can feel some of his cold aches recede and his punctured flesh stitch back together. The bolt sticking out of him manages to work its way out and falls to the ground, leaving only smooth flesh behind. It's about as pleasant as anything like that could feel.
Everything happens at a whirlwind pace. First the sound of the crossbow recoiling in the cold air, then searing pain in his battered shoulder, and a finally a feeling of warmth and relief that spreads out over his entire body. Yagello nods at Daegan respectfully, signalling that all past ills are forgotten.
He curses as the alarm goes off, frustrated that another plan has gone awry. He would have preferred to use his elven curve blade in close quarters but now has to switch to missile weapons. He draws his short bow and readies to fire at anyone who emerges from the door.
Healing Nonlethal Damage: You heal nonlethal damage at the rate of 1 hit point per hour per character level. When a spell or ability cures hit point damage, it also removes an equal amount of nonlethal damage.
Some movement can be heard, the sounds of footsteps on wooden planks rushing around inside the lodge. The door flings open, and two men peek out and draw their strings towards Cervin and Yagello, who are nearest. In nearby windows, more men peek out from the curtains to take stock of the party.
As the bandits open the door, Yagello and Igmar miss their target, who in turn misses Yagello. Cervin manages to take out the other bandit in the doorway, but another one quickly takes his place and fires a shot back, which misses Cervin by a wide margin. Arkady manages to hit the bandit in retaliation, with a well timed retaliatory shot.
As the door to the lodge opens Growler lunges forward to interpose herself between her mistress and the bandits. Even as the two-legs behind yell and shoot over her, the she-wolf leaps up the wooden steps and launches herself at the bandits, snarling and snapping her jaws...
Growler bites into the bandits leg, and he yelps in pain as the wolf's teeth sink in.
Yagello curses to himself as Growler rushes past him and engages the bandits. Aishe's wolf has effectively cut off my path to the enemies and also limited my firing lane!
Squinting his eyes in concentration, he pulls back on his bow and fires at the bandit farthest from Growler.
;
His feet planted as the bandits react to the sudden ambush, Cervin begins nocking and firing arrows as fast as he can.
Yagello's shot digs into the wood of the lodge, but Cervin manages to fell another man in the doorway.
Well done, Cervin! He's quite a handy companion to have, isn't he?
Bolstered by the recent bout of success, Igmar bursts into song, a new and more energetic dwarven song echoing around the battlefield. He reattaches his bow to his back as his song continues.
Well, something finally went right! How about that?
Smiling at having actually made a useful contribution, Arkady steps past Aishe and reaches a hand out to touch Daegun's shoulder, then reloads his crossbow.
Yagello curses to himself as Growler rushes past him and engages the bandits. Aishe's wolf has effectively cut off my path to the enemies and also limited my firing lane!
"Growler, back girl, back!" yells Aishe realising that while the wolf is trying to prevent the bandits getting out of the doorway, she is also blocking Cervin and Yagello's efforts to shoot them full of arrows.
The sorceress steps off to one side of the trail, trying to stay out of the way of the bandit's missiles and avoid getting in the way of the rest of the party. She holds off loosing her own crossbow until there is a clear shot, not trusting her megre marksmanship to avoid hitting her animal companion.