Daegan, not wanting to get in the line of fire, attempts to move forward but finds his progress slowed considerably by the blanketing of snow on the ground. He struggles onward, but takes a momentary break to bless his greatsword. If Daegan ever manages to get to the fight despite this damned snow, he intends to make it quite the reckoning for the Raiders.
The two bandits in the doorway draw their blades and try to cut back at Growler.
The party figures the distracted bandits will be coming around the side of the lodge soon. Meanwhile, inside, it looks like more bandits are coming towards the door to shoot out.
The bandit gets a lucky shot that hits Yagello.
"Move up! Move up!" shouts Cervin. "There's plenty for all and more coming from the south. Old Deadeye is with us and we shall win the day!"
Cervin's bow thrums, spurred on by Igmar's glorious song.
Trying to dodge the bandit's sword strokes and failing, Growler takes a nasty wound from a cut across her flank, but runs back to her mistress when Aishe calls for the she-wolf to do so...
Grunting as the arrow pierces his skin, Yagello sees Growler retreat back to her mistress. He forces the pain out of his mind, knowing the doorway must be blocked before their enemies overwhelm them. He strides through the thick snow, moving as fast as he can. During his move, he drops the short bow and draws his elven curve blade.
Sensing the presence of more bandits coming around the corner, Igmar moves that way, hoping to cut them off. All the while, he continues his song to bolster his companions.
Cervin lets another volley of arrows go, and another bandit falls in an increasingly growing heap of bodies just inside the door.
With Yagello now in the doorway instead of Growler, Aishe still doesn't have a clear shot at the ruffians there, so instead she moves to the side of the lodge to stand next to Cervin, readying her crossbow to shoot at the first bandit to show his or her face around the side of the building.
Seeing the others taking positions to fire at the bandits appearing around the side of the lodge, Daegan moves to join Yagello on the porch.
As Daegan and Yagello reach the porch, they can see a bit more of the main room behind the doors. A large table and two benches run the length of this hall, and a twenty-foot-high vaulted ceiling rises into the rafters overhead. To the west, a roaring fireplace provides a welcome heat and light, with two hallways going past the fireplace on either side towards the front entrance. To the south, a flight of stairs ascends to a wooden balcony overlooking the room. Underneath those stairs, a stream of more bandits are rushing to join their companions.
As the group moves in, Arkady follows along on the road, stepping into the snow to get a clear shot past Cervin. He takes aim along the road, ready to shoot at anyone coming around the corner.
The bandits that had been dealing with the horses finally come around the corner. Arkaday and Aishe each take shots, but Arkady's shot goes wide, into the forest beyond, and Aishe's sinks into the thick wooden walls of the lodge. The bandits stop short along the same wall, and the one in front returns fire, aiming for Igmar as the closest target.
Meanwhile, the two bandits at the door step to the side, slashing their blades at Yagello and Daegan out of range of Cervin's bow. They motion to the men coming out of the door to stay to one side, who draw their bows. Yagello and Daegan are able to note that these reinforcements from the southern room appear less prepared for battle, as if they were woken by the alarm just a few moments ago.
The bandits arrow lands harmlessly short at Igmar's feet. Yagello and Daegan are able to hold back the blows at the door. Sensing an opening, they move to attack.
"Ten. There's still ten and we're only six. Still, four down in a few moments. We can do this, I have faith."
Cervin moves through the snow to get a better shot before loosing an arrow.
Angered by both the sword swipe and the blatant firing range being set up, Daegan takes his own attack at the bandit that swung at him. He barks back towards the others; "We might have a slight problem here!"
Seeing the firing squad to his left, Yagello returns Daegan's worried glance before trying to encourage his friend. "Not if we have Cervin at our backs! He's making mincemeat of these scum!" He grasps the elven curve blade tightly to stop his shivering and swings mightily at the nearest bandit.
I did *not* see this in the cards today. Either I'm losing my touch, or something seriously foul is at work. I just hope I survive to ask Grandmother about all of this.
Arkady reloads and moves around to try to get a clear shot at the oncoming bandits.
Growler goes to dash forwards at the bandits now preparing to snipe at her mistress, but then Aishe waves her to the other side of the lodge, out of the line of fire. The wolf hesitates, then decides to broadly interpret the command as an instruction to run around the far side of the building to get behind the prey...
Igmar continues his song, but he (mystically, it seems) weaves in a slower tune along with his battle cry, almost a lullaby coupled with a war chant.
Suprisngly, Cervin's target remains standing after taking an arrow. Meanwhile, Daegan and Yagello each take out the bandits guarding the doorway, and they both fall to the ground in a heap.
Igmar's song lulls one of the bandits outside to sleep, and he falls into the soft snow.
As Igmar's spell drops one of the bandits, Arkady takes aim at the other, waiting for a clear shot.
The bandits inside the lodge position themselves in two lines and begin to fire freely and Daegan and Yagello. Yagello notices that these bandits that came from the room appear to be somewhat distracted. They are all sweating profusely and they do not appear to be holding their bows steady enough.
The bandits all miss horribly, but a half-orc bandit jumps out from behind the fireplace. Carefully staying close to the fireplace, she fires her crossbow at Daegan.
Her shot goes too high, and she curses and stays next to the fireplace for cover.
Outside, the bandit that fought off Igmar's spell curses his companion as he falls into the snow. He bends down to wake him up, avoiding Arkady's bolt, and starts slapping his friend on the ground.
Cervin has not showed the slighted hint of fear thus far, but the expression on his face as the volley of arrows fly for Yagello and Daegan is unmistakable. However, as the arrow go wild, slamming into wood or thunking harmlessly into snow, Cervin lets out a delighted laugh.
"The Gods protect us!" he shouts excitedly before nocking another arrow."Deadeye guide my bow and purge these evils that plague our land!"
Arrow after arrow flies from Cervin's bow, flying past his companions towards the bandits.
Seeing the enemy fall left and right before Cervin's volley of arrows, Yagello pumps his fist in triumph and moves to intercept the final bandit firing on him.
Igmar lumbers forward, his pick drawn and ready to strike. Though his singing has stopped, the inspiring sounds still echo around the battlefield.
Arkady curses again as his bolt flies wide against the bandit waking his companion. He moves down to get cover beside the outhouse and reloads one more time.
Cervin lets a volley of arrows fly, and two bandits go down. Yagello moves into the room and takes down another one.
Yagello gets a brief glimpse of the room to the south. Four beds, two large chests, and a single table with four chairs occupy this room. A few rugs are arranged on the floor as two more beds. Three windows look out to the east, west, and south, providing a grand view of the snowy gorge outside the lodge.
Outside, Arkady reaches the outhouse for cover. The door appears to be frozen shut, and a small hammer hangs from a rope. The stench is nearly overpowering.
Daegan steps farther in and swings at the nearest bandit. He regrets taking advantage of the obvious illness afflicting them, but they are firing at him.
"Should we try and take the rest of these ones indoors alive, Yagello?"
Daegan connects with the sickened bandit, and he falls to the ground as well.
Right! The illness... these people are sick! They can't fight us and have a hope.
Cervin calls out over the din of combat and groans of the dying bandits.
"Throw down your arms! Do not force us to end any more lives; you will be spared if you surrender!"
Aishe sees the dwarf bard advance, and not wanting to leave him to face any opponents alone, she advances just behind him with her loaded crossbow ready to shoot any bandit she sees.
Yagello and Daegan see the bandits inside exchange glances at Cervin's suggestion. After a momentariy pause, the two sickly human bandits nod together then raise their bows and fire at Daegan.
One of the arrows grazes Daegan, which only stings slightly. Meanwhile, the half-orc bandit takes stock of the situation and moves behind the fireplace, out of sight.
Outside, the bandit that had fallen asleep previously gets up, drawing his sword to fight the approaching dwarf about to menace him. His companion takes a step to the outside. Aishe's bolt hits him, and he lets an arrow loose in retaliation. They do not appear to be listening to Cervin's suggestion to stand down.
Cervin sighs miserably.
This is ridiculous. I just saw the haft of an arrow bounce off of Daegan's forehead! Hardly a fair fight. Of course there -are- what, ten? Twelve of them?
"On your head be it then!"
Cervin takes quick stock of the situation. He looks at the building and none of the bandits are in sight. Need a better angle. Scanning south, he sees an arrow wing Aishe and two bandits advancing on Igmar, who holds a pick up menacingly. Cervin takes a moment to aim before letting an arrow fly at each bandit.
Round 4
Aishe yelps more with shock than pain as the bandit's arrow grazes her arm. Quickly cocking and reloading her crossbow, she aims and looses the bolt at him in retaliation.
Cervin misses the bandit staying close to the lodge, but both Cervin and Aishe both fire simultaneously at the bandit that has moved a bit out, and he falls from the combined blows.
Seeing the bolt fly past him toward Aishe, Igmar finds himself enraged, and rushes toward the bandits. As he sees one fall, he swings his pick at the remaining bandit.
Arkady moves around and calls out to the remaining bandit outside, "You don't have to die! Stand down!"
Leaving the two sickly bandits to Daegan, Yagello rushes towards the fireplace to confront the half-orc. This might be the leader of this group, or at least someone in a leadership position. Chop off the head, and the rest may be more likely to negotiate...
Yagello confronts the half-orc, but she dodges his swing. Outside, the lone standing bandit's eyes dart between Igmar, Aishe and Arkady, but he holds his sword up, seemingly about to attack Igmar.
Yagello was too distracted to notice earlier, but his eyes widen as he comes around the fireplace and sees the half-orc is a woman! Perhaps subconsciously, he checks his swing, and the woman easily avoids his blade. He starts sweating a bit at his predicament, and the perspiration mixes with the now melting icicles on his garments.
He stammers, "Let's come to a peaceful solution here. These halls have seen enough bloodshed to last a man's lifetime. What is your name?"
Daegan flinches slightly as the arrow grazes his face, but finds himself more and more depressed by the fight. These people were in no condition to continue their resistance, and yet they fought on anyway. Valiant, perhaps, but ultimately it would mean their demise.
"This will be my last warning. Stand down. If you continue on as you are... well, I shall make my blows quick. Please, do not make me do this. I do not want to slay you."
Round 5 and 6
Growler continues her run around the far side of the building, moving up behind the bandits who were shooting at her mistress, however only one of them is still standing now. Subtlety not being part of the wolf's make-up, she finishes her dash by leaping at him, snarling and biting at his arms.
Seeing the bandit who shot at her fall as both her crossbow bolt and Cervin's arrow hit him simultaneously, and watching as the angry dwarf bard advances, Aishe tries to brow-beat the survivor into surrender. "Drop your bow and put your hands up, you fool! Death is your only alternative if you do otherwise."
Outside, the bandit has his sword drawn and appears ready for attack. It may be the magical slumber the man is still blinking from his eyes, but he appears overwhelmed by the Igmar menacing him, with Aishe and Arkady shouting at him as well, while Growler is biting at his sword arm. He lowers his hand, and drops his sword to the ground. "All right, just call your dog off me!"
Inside, the half-orc laughs defiantly at Yagello. Her under-bite sporting two protruding tusks, a pale green skin and her heavy build makes her orcish blood undeniable. The one thing that seems odd is a simple cooking apron she is still wearing, as if she was in the middle of cooking something. "You're just going to turn me over to the Taldans, why should I deal with the likes of you?"
Next to Daegan, the two sickly bandits once again stay silent in solidarity to their cause. They draw their swords and separate. One going for Daegan and the other crossing the room to attack Yagello. As soon as they act, Daegan moves swiftly and cuts one of them down.
The bandit misses badly, but the half-orc takes advantage of the distraction to attack Yagello at the same time, snarling as she swings, but still keeping he guard up.
Yagello barely leaps out of the way in time, her sword coming just short of his head.
Cervin mutters some choice words under his breath as he hears the conversation in the lodge.
I gave them their mercy and they turned it down. So be it.
Lifting his feet out of the wet snow he heads for the porch, relieved to find himself on clear ground. He continues to move in until he's alongside Daegan. He tries to stop and fire an arrow, but the melting snow everywhere causes him to skid out of control so that the arrow goes wide.
Yagello suddenly finds himself surrounded and fighting for his life! Chivalry will have to wait for another time if I plan to come out of here in one piece!
Hearing her mistress shout to stop biting at the bandit, Growler backs off a little, but continues to menace the man by snarling, and will attack if he twitches or goes for his sword.