Veroca flails when she's awoken with a hand over her mouth, and the glossy black rat that had been nestled in the crook of her neck streaks out to bite Garren's offending hand. Luckily, Veroca who is quick on the draw, figures out what's going on and snags her familiar before it bites the ranger, and sits up with a confused mumble.
She huddles closer to the fire at the sound of the howls, not knowing a whole lot about wolves other than not wanting to meet any in a dark alley. She remains quiet, letting those more experienced with this kind of thing react.
As he is awoken in the middle of the night Giovanni´s clouded mind and numb muscles quickly remember his training, preparing themselves for the incoming action.
Moving instinctively, he slowly reaches both blades, always in close proximity to him, and gives a glance to his scale mail knowing he wont have time to arm himself properly.
As he realizes the situation he places his back to the fire, trying to place himself further from the fire in an attempt to draw the attention of whatever lurks in the night, ready to engage it.
Johnny, bow ready for anything, scans the area waiting for the attakc he is sure is going to happen.
Come on now whats ya be waitin fer anyways lets be gettin dis over whit.
Johnny says into the night knowing they don't understand but hopin that the soud of a voice will will cause the wolves to act, either attack or flee. He was hoping the later for sure.
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Like if Johnny's words dispel an illusion, the air seems to clear and the night seems to become clearer. The feeling of danger seems to lift, and silence, only broken for the sounds of thee campfire, returns to the group.
An uneventful night follows, and in the very early morning, after a quick breakfast, you are ready to continue following the bandits trail.
Roll Survival to find the trial again... Or aid another...
Me's thinkin somefin not right wit dem wolves last night
Johnny prepares his things but keep looking around to see if any wolves are near.
Scouting out around the campfire he finds a few wolf tracks, but farther than what they appeared to see last night.
Walking back into the site, Garion shakes his head. "I don't like this, not one bit." He walks over to Séreméla and begins to pack his things, making sure to feed her before they are off again.
May be we need to clear some wolves after we deal with the snakes we're trailing, eh? Garren seems is good spirits even given the events of the night.
Mind those branches there, Garion, looks like they were broken by a man ahorse.
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Garren trained eyes quickly finds the route the bandits came from, and together with Garrion they follow the tracks without much problem.
The bandits followed the north edge of the river, without crossing it. The softer ground here allows you to track them without any trouble, as it seems the bandits didn't concern themselves with caution or worries of someone tracking them back. After some 4 hours (at around 11 in the morning) you reach a small creek that goes north, and next to it a path. A well used path, that go north, and lose itself in the forest.
Garren will let Garion lead the group. He'll passively point out signs that Garion might miss if he spots them, but the ranger is their tracker and Garren isn't willing to steal his spotlight. Let the lad shine at what he does best.
Prehaps it's best to have Johnny range ahead from here?
If'n ya think it be good me's can do it
Johnny will go north trying to be quiet and observent at the same time.
Of course I have faith in you, lad. We all know what our callings are, and this is yours. He says laying a shoulder on Johnny's shoulder. He whispers a prayer to Erastil to guide his steps.
Garion keeps his eyes peeled and reigns Séreméla to the side to allow Johnny to pass and scout ahead. "Just make sure to come back at any sign of trouble, no need to be a hero." He'd begin to grow fond of his new friend, they had the same start in life but were set on completely different paths. Yet, here they both are. He wasn't about to lose anyone in this group, especially this early on.
Johnny continues to look
Be careful if something goes out of hand send us a signal...
Giovanni says breaking the silence that accompanied him all morning, his mind still thinking in the wolfs.
¿They were hunting them or just sharing the road?, many times he had seen wolf´s, sometimes fought them, sometimes stared at them, as proud hunters they were, he always tried to learn from them.
Now in a hunting pack of his own, he wondered if he and his new friends were hunting something just like wolfs do.
...After all even wolf´s hunt in packs
Say´s with a cheerful smile
Veroca, who is bad at all things related to tracking and the wilderness, lurks in the back, talking to her rat now and then quietly. She keeps as sharp an eye out as she can, but the rangers and others will always have a better chance of seeing anything than her... She keeps her crossbow ready and wonders, "Are we thinking the wolves have something to do with the bandits, or seperate issue?"
I doubt the wolves are serving the bandits, though stranger things have happened. I think the wolves were just happenstance. Perhaps Erastil sending us a message about the strength of numbers and family.
Garren certainly didn't plan for Johnny to go on alone. After Johnny is a few hundred feet ahead of them he sets out down the trail. Hopefully Johnny can spot them and remain unseen himself. Staying out of sight is a thing he excels at.
Turning to Garren and Garion Giovanni say´s politely
I have the impression that you guys have known each other for a time, ¿have you been on a quest together before?
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Johnny continues to look
Johnny advances some 50', and discovers an old broken-down wagon there (K5).
Using it as cover he peeks ahead, and sees that the trail crosses the stream at two points, with rocks making the passage easy.
Behind some logs (put there by the bandits - K4) he sees people (a couple of them) moving in a clearing (K1).
He also sees some supplies stored under a canvas between two tress and (K2).
He is unable to see anything else from where he stays hidden.
Johnny returns to the rest of the party and gives a report on what he sees.
me's thinking dis be where dey were to be meetin back up
Before Johnny returns, Garren answers Giovanni, I have known Garion, Salereon and Johnny for years, though all as individuals. This is Johnny's first real trip outside of the city where he grew up. He was a shade on the streets there, though.
To Johnny he says, What does the land look like? Did you see anyone present? He looks to the others to say something that he'd been meaning to bring up earlier. I would like to give these men a chance to repent. To toss down their weapons and come with us. I am but one voice among five, though, and understand if that is not what all wish.
Veroca keeps her own council about the repentance of bandits, trying her best not to step on anything crackly or crunchy and frowning at her success rate.
She says something under her breath to her rat, and tries to stay out of the way, multicolored eyes roaming the area they've found themselves in.
@Giovanni - "I know Garren from his trips to the orphanage I grew up in, I stuck around to help them out after I became of age. As far as adventuring, I helped guide him and taught a few of the orphans he brought down from Port Ice how to hunt, track, and take care of themselves in the woods, but this is the biggest adventure I've ever been on!"
Turning to Garren, he seems to want to disagree with him but cannot. "I don't really like what they've been doing to those people, but I'll submit to your wisdom on this one. If they want to repent, and that's a big if, we'll let them. But the first sign of trouble I'm letting an arrow fly."
Johnny nervously clears his throat,
Dem peoples be deservin a chance. Der be always a reason to be stealin wether it be survival or money. We’s not be knowin till we ask
Johnny shuffles his feet.
Me's go back over quiet like and check for traps along the way
Garren looks from one companion to another and speaks softly, as not to be heard. I am going to ride into the camp and address them. Feel free to camouflage yourselves or ride beside me. At the first sign of trouble, I’ll not be hesitant to loose an arrow.
After everyone is ready and has decided which way they are going…
Garren rides slowly past the wagon in plain sight keeping his eyes open for hidden bandits. He will stop whenever directed to, if directed to. His longbow sits in his lap and his quiver is easily reached. He calls out as soon as he is spotted. Before he addresses anyone, he sighs a small prayer to Erastil for guidance. I am Garren Kodlak, servant of Old Deadeye. My companions and I’ve been called upon to put an end to the banditry in the Greenbelt. We were hoping you could help out with that. He expects laughs and waits for them if they happen.
Any man here is free to turn himself in now. We are merciful and shall protect you from your companions when they strike. A community needs strong men that know woodcraft as much as anything else. We will welcome those willing to repent their ways.
If any of them are trying to get a read on him via sense motive or similar skills, he’s being honest. He will gladly take their help in building the Greenbelt into a respectable community.
I will accompany you. It may help them consider the prudence of listening. Looking troubled, Garren, I respect your judgement, but feel obliged to speak. Brigandage is a serious crime, punishable by death, and it is likely these men have also committed murder and worse. We know they have threatened the Levetons with such. It would not be just to let such go unpunished.
Salereon rides alongside Garren's right. Lance and shield ready in case they are attacked.
As Garren speaks, Salereon nods in agreement. Consider the offer carefully, for it is the only one you will receive, and the penalty for your crimes is death.
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While Garren approach the camp he detects a bandit on a platform, 20' off the ground, from where a bandit points a bow at him (K3). Garren just sees him and continues forward, and the bandit returns the look and keeps his arrow pointing at him, while screaming "KRESSLE, WE GOT COMPANY!".
6 bandits come out of the clearing (K1) towards the logs, stopping before them (using them as cover) (K4). The leader is a hardened young woman carrying a couple axes. She smiles at Garren and Salereon while saying: "Who goes there?"
Garren notices another sentry in a similar platform on top of the cache of items Johnny saw (K2).
Garren makes his speech, and seems to affect some of the bandits. Then Kressle start to laugh at him, and after a second the rest of the bandits start to laugh too.
Garren continues his passionate speech, and then Salereon finishes by trying to intimidate them. The laughing stops, and even Kressle get serious.
An awkward silence follows, which is broken some 10 seconds later when Kressle screams: KILL THEM!
Roll Initiative please. Also declare your actions for the first round.
Everyone except Garren roll Perception. Only Garren has seen the bandit in the platform K2. To see them you need to roll against Stealth .
Garren and Salereon are between the cart and the river.
The rest of the characters are hidden behind them in the bushes and trees 20' west of the platform at K3.
About the sense motive, is too hard to know.
Go to Interactive Battle Map
I'm sorry it has come to this i hoped we could solve thing in a peaceful manner, now we have no choice but to fight, if we take out their leader we might be able to intimidate them into surrendering.
Despite his attempt to scout the battlefield Giovanni remains unaware that the enemy has support from atop the sentry towers.
Because of the distance between his opponents and himself Giovanni runs trough the field towards Garren and Salereon while drawing both blades from his back preparing to charge at the enemy once he regains his strength
Salereon spurs Aithon towards the woman, Kressle, lance lowered to run her through. GAVRIIL!
Garren, while anticipating the attack, still hangs his head and gives it a shake. Many times in his life he's had to take the life of another, but he's never reveled in it.
Veroca comes crashing out of the bushes, less than stealthy. She tries to draw herself up threateningly, but there are some leaves in her hair. Still, she points at the leader-woman, and murmurs something soft and sibilant. Her green and purple eyes sort of glow, and she smiles at the woman bandit.
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In a second 2 bandits raise their longbows and start firing on the two mounted men.
The two men in the platforms also fire, but the characters are unable to see where the arrows come from (except from Garren).
The three bandits next to the log draw short swords and prepare to defend themselves, readying attacks if the mounted men come near.
All the arrows miss, except one that gets stuck in Garren's thigh, stopped by his armor.
Giovanni, Garion and Johnny then come out from hiding and stand next to the mounted men. The bandits are disconcerted to see there are more enemies than the ones they expected! Garion and Johnny let their arrows fly against the bandits with bows.
Maybe because of the hurry both arrows miss too!
Finally, Veroca comes out from hiding, and tries to hex Kressle. The bandit boss face changes to fear at seeing the change on Veroca's face, but Veroca's hex fails to affect her, as she is too far away!
Kressle draws her two hand axes and screams furiously!
Salereon then spurs his mount and charges... the GAVRIIL screams pierces the morning air while he incredibly jumps over the log attacking bandit that blocks Kressle... but the three bandits next to the log makes AoO:
Two of the bandits connect! A couple swords cut the knight as he makes his heroic leap, slashing his legs. They do 10 Damage to Salereon! (Salereon AC has a -2 for the charge). Even so, his lance pierces and impales the other bandit, who has a horrible death. The effect on the other bandits, and even Kressle, is evident.
Garren's turn!
Seeing his new companion surrounded and wounded brings memories of an old battle to Giovanni, a victory won by his decision, one that took a heavy toll.
Grabbing both swords tightly he rushes, avoiding his companions, as close as he can to the enemy, placing himself close to the log to gain some cover and prepares for the enemy counterattack, as he says to the bandits taunting them:
Come and face me!
Garren spurs his horse forward and lays a hand on Salereon.
Muttering to herself, annoyed, Veroca comes out of the bushes farther, shaking leaves free.She trots out to the edge of the stream, and without thinking about it, wades in the shallower water to be closer.
Then she tries to hex the leader again! She scowls, the finger she's pointed at the woman growing pointed. It isn't the nail that grows, its the entire point of it, becoming hard and sharp and greenish. Her features somehow more feral. There is a wildness to Veroca that she usually hides in her veils and makeup, and she's getting annoyed.
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The 2 bandits next to Kressle stand their ground, hardly. One of them fires on Salereon, and the other, scared, fires on Veroca:
They both hit their marks, and Salereon gets an arrow to the shoulder, and Veroca finds herself, for the first time in her life, hurt by an enemy arrow!
The man in the far platform fire on Garren.
He misses again!
Veroca presses on anyway and tries to Hex Kressle, showing a hideous transformation in the process:
Kressle kneels, and then falls to the ground, sleep!
Giovanni advances and covers Veroca, her friend.
Johnny fires an arrow to a bandit:
x 2 Crit
The bandit drops to the ground, dead, an arrow piercing his heart!
Seeing the leader fall, Salereon spurs Aithon on towards one of the fleeing brigands. As they charge forward, Salereon swings his lance out to impale the bandit who shot him. Coward! Meet the Lady with honor!
Upon reaching the fleeing man, Aithon lunges forward, trained to bite and trample his master's foes.
Garren quickly looses an arrow at one of the bandits still nearby Kressle.
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Salereon, as it is passing the bandit next to Kressle, kills him with his lance, opening a wide slash on his chest. Aithon follows his master example biting the fleeing bandit a minute later, just a second after Garren's arrow hits his back.
Both injuries makes the bandit fall down, almost dead, barely breathing.
You all hear some rustle leaves behind you, as the bandit in K3 jumps down the platform, unarmed.
Another bandits tries to make his escape by the north trail, running.
Salereon! Garren calls out pointing to the fellow fleeing to the North with an arrow. A moment later he looses that same arrow at the fleeing fellow.