After some discussion, the crew decides to pawn off the remnants of thieves gear. But mundane gear isn't especially rare in this town, especially for the kind of work that goes on here. However, with enough haggling, you are able to procure two potions of cure light wounds.
======================================================================
It's dark, and each footstep ends with a plop of mud and water. Following the route Saul gave you, the meeting site is within sight.
The night winds have died and a light mist rises from the marsh. Ahead is a flickering globe of light centered around a bit of ship's rigging protruding from the surface of the water. This can only be the Scar. Dangling from a rod is a single lantern providing the illumination for a group of dark-cloaked humanoids huddled together in the much beneath.
Disappearing Act (Su): A street performer can use performance to divert attention from an ally. All creatures within 30 feet that fail a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the bard’s level + the bard’s Cha modifier) treat one creature chosen by the bard as if it were invisible. This performance affects one additional creature at 5th level and every 6 levels thereafter. If the targets take any action that would cause them to become visible, they become visible to everyone. The bard cannot use this ability on himself. This ability is a mind-affecting effect that requires visual components.
This performance replaces inspire courage.
"We have the element of suprise. I would love to hear what they are saying. Maybe I could get close enough before we attack."
Turning to Taton, "Maybe we could go around and take them from behind while they are distracted."
Carson starts to move forward slowly trying to hear what they are saying.
Amboy, even with his keen ears, can't hear the sound of any talking as he draws near, the enemy seemingly standing there, waiting. Yet, he neither do they move to indicate they are aware of his presence.
As Amboy sneaks off to spy, Meghan slowly crouches, getting as low in the shallow water as she can, making herself small so she (hopefully) won't be seen as the rogue makes his approach.
Be careful! she thinks as her brave comrade creeps toward the gathered gang of Zincher thugs.
The group waits silently, and the light breeze rustles the lantern, the group of thieves on the wooden platform still do not disperse.
The dwarfen fighter is taking his time. He is careful not to be loudly!
Tural waits back with the others, preparing to strike when the time is right.
Taton similarly holds back. He might be slightly stealthy, but he didn't want to risk his luck and wind up alerting them to his presence.
Confident in his ability Amboy moves closer.
Amboy creeps ever closer, still no sign of being discovered. If there are voices to be heard, they are whispering too quietly. Each moment seems to grow in tension as he inches closer...and closer...and closer...
Amboy lies down on his belly and slides forward using the swamp bushes for cover.
I will never get all this muck off of me.
Amboy inches ever closer. Now, only a dozen feet or so in the brush from the group around the lantern, even as he wipes the muck from his eyes and sees-
Targets.
Wooden, unliving targets.
These have been propped up to huddle around the lantern, and have also had cloaks wrapped around their frames.
He also sees a large shape, just beyond the platform. Its form shifts slightly. But whatever it is, you cannot tell.
"Damn it's a trap!
Panic attempts to grab Amboy but he pulls himself together. He holding his breath he tries to identify the shape beyond the platform.
He moves back to the other hoping not to alert...whatever that was.
Thankfully, Amboy's warning yells alert the rest of the party, and as five large humanoid beasts emerge from the brush, they snarl. You can see their ratlike features, but it is unmistakable they are human-sized. Wererats.
Order: Unbeugsam, Meghan, Taton, Enemy, Amboy, Tural[/b]
Unbeugsam charges the blue rat, ready to lay mayhem to it.
Amboy freezes in his tracks and sinks a little deeper in the mud as Unbeugsam rush one of the creatures.
Meghan climbs up onto a hummock of solid ground, positions herself as close as possible to the two nearest wererats, and begins to berate the creatures.
"What the hell is this??!! You some o' Ziphras's boys? He gave yas a bum steer tellin' yas to ambush us--we're loaded with silver weapons!"
Like a bull, the dwarf charges through the shallow water and appears in front of the wererat suddenly. With a clean and powerful swing, its head comes clean off!
At first the wererat (moved to next nearest wererat) seems to focus on you, but before it starts to tunnel vision, it suddenly catches it's awares and remains alert.
Taton moves for turn 1, turn 2 he studies target on Red and attacks.
Looking at the next ratman Unbeugsam charges forward to introduce it to his axe.
Taton strikes at red, from his distracted vantage point.
Even that is to no avail, however.
Meghan digs some silver coins out of her coin purse and wades out into the water, trailing in the wakes of Taton and Unbeugsam.
"Watch out! you heara a yell and two arrows fly from the brush nearby.
An elf colored by the muck emerges from his hiding place, his sights set on the wererat.
Taton continues his assault, this time attempting to strike with both sides of the weapon.
He realizes his onslaught would be much more effective with an ally for flanking, but alas one is not currently present.
Unbeugsam takes a step aside and attacks the ratman again.
Meghan waits for an opening, wades a short distance north, and tries to fire one of her coins at the nearest wererat .
for
Taton hits hard with two well-placed blows, but it seems the rat's natural hide absorbs all the damage. Unbeugasm has the same problem and even Meghan's attack barely misses the terrible beast.
The mysterious archer ally takes two shots at green.
One arrow finds purchase, but the blow is light at best.
A second rat whirls to surround the mighty dwarf and draws a nasty looking dagger.
Not daring to enter potentially deeper water, Meghan again fires a coin into the main fray, again targeting the wererat between her two allies .
for
Feeling the sting of the daggers Unbeugsam spits out and attacks again.
Tural, slightly slower than his companions to react, spins planar energy into a shockingly machine-looking eagle, seeminly made of brass and with blue fire in its eyes. It appears just above and behind the green archer, ready to keep him from focusing. It cries a challenge and begins to tear into its foe.
Hearing the combat around him Amboy decides that it is better to hide at this point and see if he can jump one of the creatures after they pass him.
Taton keeps attacking, though if it continues to be as ineffective, he doesn't like their odds.
Meghan and Unbeugsam miss with their attacks, but Taton gets a solid attack in damaging the wererat further(red) and finally dropping him.
Tural summons a resolute eagle which quickly damages the elven archer who whirls around in surprise.
"What the-
Indeed, it is an odd tactic to attack the elf filling the wererat's with arrows, but better safe than sorry.
Amboy quickly hides his presence, all but disappearing into the foliage, and waiting for his moment.
Two wererats shoot crossbows at the elf ally now besieged by the summoned eagle.
The elven ally pales as two bolts find their way into his chest. He stumbles and falls face first onto the earth, bleeding out.
The wererat targeting Unbeagsam proceed to push their assault.
Meghan wades out of the water, slips between Unbeugsam and Taton, and scrabbles over the wrecked boat, looking for an opportunity to use her last silver coin on one of the beasts.
Taton calls out, "If someone wishes to aid me, this would be far easier." As he approaches the nearest enemy and strikes out.
Amboy continues to hide waiting for the creatures to pass him so he can jump them from behind.
Unbeugsam quickly attacks again.
Tural directs his hawk to attack the rat behind Unbeugsam, providing a flank as well.
Meghan scrambles to safety, and bides her time to for a more opportune shot.
Taton and Tural's hawk have trouble landing hits on the wererat's rough fur coats, but Uneugsam is able to dig his axe into one decisively, almost killing it. However, the wererat snarls as it remains standing.
The elf ally is still unconscious, the large bolt stuck a bit too close to where his heart lies.
Sensing the dwarf as the largest immediate threat, the group of two archers pull out their jagged daggers and split off, one heading to Tural, while the other heads to Unbeaugsam.
Total Damage: 16