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"Thunderstone, eh? That will certainly announce trouble has arrived. You sure that's how you want to go? Alright, I'll see what I can do." She takes the thunderstone and slips into the shadows, soon disappearing from view. She slunk around to the northern side of the camp and tried to look for where they might be keeping the young nobleman. 'Hmm, what's in the barrels, I wonder?' She thought to herself as she peered around the camp.
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As Kishara and Tackle move to the North the rest of the squad take up positions to the west side of the camp and prepare to assault through the encampment. "Fast and hard. Spell casters first.", Block says as he lowers his smooth faced helm into place and prepares himself for the signal to go from Kishara.
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Grim likes the plan - distraction, disruption, then heavy and hard. He takes position on the south-eastern side of camp, draws his bow and nocks an arrow. Shoot, move, shoot, switch weapons, engage... he mumbles under his breath as he visualizes his attack, possible enemy actions, and counters for various things that could happen.
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Kishara moves through the darkness as the others fall into position on opposite sides of the camp. The two guards on watch continue roasting their dinner over the fire, standing to turn the meat and resume a conversation in quiet tones... occasional stifled laughter at some anecdote being shared. This is all the cover she needs to move on over and inspect the barrels and finds that it is simply supplies for the campsite, food and water.
Slipping back, she readies for the assault.
Surprise Round
Standard Action only.
Grimaldus
Kishara
Magnusson
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There is a loud bang as the Thunderstone goes off, the man furtherst from Kishara seems really phased and disoriented, the other surprised but he quickly gathers his wits.
An arrow flies from the darkness, striking the disoriented man, making his night somewhat worse.
Kishara lands in the middle of the mess with weapons drawn...
Magnusson maintains watching down his sights for any interlopers.
Grim
Kishara
Magnuson
KYRA
STRANGERS
R1
Kishara
Magnusson
STRANGERS
Grim
Kyra
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The dog gets in and looks quite aggressive, but doesn't manage to get a hold of the fellow. That being said, the dog provides a good distraction...
...so Kishara takes the opportunity to knife the guy - which he takes, but looks very unwell.
R1
Kishara (Stab stab!)
Magnusson (Pufff puff!)
Grim
STRANGER
DEAF stranger
Kyra
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Grims arrow manages to pierce a tent.
The man in the middle sees his lot is a sorry one, but tries hanging in his attempt at Kishara yielding nothing.
That said, you are all a bit on edge when a red furred wolf-woman in dirty chainmail steps through the tent flap, arriving behind Kishara! The woman strikes in with a shortsword
Attack
Damage
that immediately yields a result...
...before lurching in with a maw full of canine teeth that simply ooze and drip saliva...
Attack
Damage
Trip v CMD
The bite locks clean onto Kisharas shoulder, tearing leather and flesh, and there is a collective gasp of shock as the werewolf bites into her! The force of the attack also knocks Kishara prone!
The disoriented fellow sees his bowyer-assailant and steps over to take revenge on Grim!
Attack
Convert
Damage
Kyra comes running in, weaponin one hand, Wand of Cure Light wounds in the other!
R2
Kishara
Magnusson
Grim
STRANGER
DEAF stranger
Kyra
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R2
Kishara (Stands)
Magnusson (Attacks)
Grim (Slays one, moves up)
STRANGER Attacks
Kyra (heals}
Kishara goes to stand and the Wolf woman lashes out...
Attack - however the shot goes wide.
The other bandit likewise tries his luck, striking the slippery rogue.
Attack
Damage
Then the man subsequently falls over from the cumulative effect of his injuries.
The wolf woman stabs at Grimaldus...
Attack
Then bites at him!
...but misses!
Kyra runs over planting a heal on Kishara
CLW
R3
Kishara
Magnusson
Grim
STRANGER
Kyra
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Kishara gets her dagger into play - but it fails to find flesh.
Magnuson has a better result with his axe, but that just seems to wound her and peeve her off.
But Grims sword hits juuuuuust right - ending the battle right then and there.
The werewolf falls to the ground in a heap, and befor your very eyes she reverts to her human form - she s a stout, red-haired Taldan woman with eyebrows that meet in the middle and a nose that has been broken and reset incorrectly.
Silence descends once more on the camp and nothing stirs...until you hear a thumping sound from inside the main tent.
Kyra gets to work healing the party (all healed)
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Calling up Tackle with a whistle, Block directs the dog sweep the area for threats. "Remove her head and his too. Kyra take a look at Kishara's wound and see if you can tell how bad it is. Grim let's clear that tent." Setting up on one side of the flap with his blunderbuss readied, Block gives the big man the signal to open the flap.
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Kyra checks Kisharas' wounds, the visible physical damage pretty much gone through the ministration of the curative magics... who knows how 'the curse' may work though. There only remain worried looks.
***
Looking within the tent, it appears to be empty of occupants and any sign of what might be causing the banging - then you notice the banging is coming from the chest. You can now make out the muffled yelling from within.
The chest contains a handsome, though very battered, tall young man. One of his eyes is swollen, and his unruly hair is mussed. He's wearing an expensive outfit, stained with mud and blood, which he calls his 'adventuring outfit'. "Do you have a mirror for me he asks, I want to see what they did to me".
The large tent contains a pile of what must be Lander's equipment, and the body of Aldona contains a particular note that is of interest (Lander/Note #2). There's also a table that contains feather, splintered bones of small birds and the remnants of a cage. All of the bandit's weapons again contains the mark of the weapon smith. In one of the smaller tents, the adventurers find two Aldori duelling swords.
"Curse these bandits! We must clear the woods of this fell infestation. I must finish my quest for the purge of evil from this land!" he seems to care more for the glory than the results. Moreover, his attitude towards you all is quite unfriendly - a mix of haughtiness and embarrassment at being rescued.
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Block shakes his head at this fop and his empty words. Nodding to Grim they take him down and bind him searching his body for bite marks or any sign of further danger to the squad.
"Now let's get something straight, kid. We just got real banged up and one of us got hurt pretty bad just a couple moments ago. Before we let ye go we need some information. First, who are and why did they have stashed in the trunk. Second, what do you know of these folks who done what they done to you?"
Looking to Grim he says, "Set up a perimeter with Kyra and Tackle. Don't need any reinforcments catching us unaware. Kishara and I will take care business in here and move out as soon as possible." With that he makes a low whistle setting Tackle off to patrol the area.
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Kishara enters the tent, re-sheathing her shortswords and grumbling softly in Elvish as she fusses with her leather vest, seeming more concerned about the ragged hole and bite-marks in the garment than when they were in her flesh. She cocked an eyebrow at the rough handling of the young nobleman, but then hadn't she said herself that letting this adventuring business speak for itself was the surest way to spoil his taste for it?
But since they meant to keep the fellow alive, she decided to try a friendlier approach and play 'good' interrogator to Magnuson's 'bad'. She made a mildly derisive "Tsk" sound as she moved to look the young man over for wounds as the dwarf directed.
"Don't worry, we're here to help. But if we don't follow procedure, the dwarf gets grumpy...er, I should say. I don't carry a mirror but you are a fair bit roughed up there, eh? How about I look you over for bites so we can let you back up, yes?" She searched his skin carefully for any bites.
"You mentioned you're on a quest? Why don't you tell me more about that?"
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Upon discovering the lad in the chest, and following Block's lead, Grim picks him and deposits him in a chair, quickly binding him. On the way out of the tent to stand watch, he sees Kishara coming in. He stops her, gently looks at her neck and shoulder where the beast bit her, and looks her in the eye. "Are you ok? Is there anything I can do for you?" he asks quietly, but earnestly.
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He visibly reddens and fumes at the rough handling, muttering about 'brigands' and 'ruffians', "I am Lander Lebeda, and I am certain even a commoner such as yourself knows that name!" he snaps at Magnusson, "They kept me in there because they knew they had to find a way to stop me getting to my sword and finding a way of fighting them one on one, where my Aldori style would have simply bested and outmatched them - they didn't fight fair, not unexpected of that lot of primates! I assume you have now bested them? How will the bards sing about me NOW!?" he continues to fume "That dog-woman, she seemed to be the boss around here, and I can't wait 'til mother has her HANGED!"
He seems to pay a lot of attention to Magnussons tactics and suggestions for setting sentries.
"Aha!" he changes his tune "I see you are all sell-swords and men-at-arms, I assume you are the leader of this band of warriors? You can check me over for the significant wounds I endured whilst single handedly fighting the overwhelming number, nay, small army of bandits - you will find all of those wounds the typical sort that would be expected of a warrior in battle"
"Yes, my quest, to rid our ancestral homelands of vagabonds and knaves, and make the Lebeda name known as a house of battle and warfare, the name synonymous with swordplay and skill at arms!"
His tone seems to have calmed a little with Kish's matter of fact but polite tone.
"Now free me of my bonds so I may prepare for any more battle"
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Happy to let Kishara ply her practiced trade, Magnuson blows off the whelp's howling. "I appreciate your enthusiasm for battle, young manling, but you must temper it with better judgement of your foes' deceitful ways. This a lesson hard learned by my people in there crusades against the foul beast of the deep earth."
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"Hmmm, you raise a good point. You shall be my squire. I could use a dependable man at arms around with a bit of nous, though you look a bit untidy... but suitable enough. I assume your leader will transfer your services to me, we'll compensate her for her time finding a new man at arms, but for you its a rise in station and a great honour no doubt"
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Upon discovering the lad in the chest, and following Block's lead, Grim picks him and deposits him in a chair, quickly binding him. On the way out of the tent to stand watch, he sees Kishara coming in. He stops her, gently looks at her neck and shoulder where the beast bit her, and looks her in the eye. "Are you ok? Is there anything I can do for you?" he asks quietly, but earnestly.
"Right as rain!" She quips, reaching up to rap on the breastplate of Grim's armor. The pointed worry in his stare made her serious for a moment and she spoke in a low tone back to him. "You can promise you'll take me down if things get a bit hairy, eh?" she said with a wink. "Don't hesitate, no? You might be the only one that can." She wasn't certain what the curse might do to her, but she wasn't willing to risk her team regardless.
"Hmmm, you raise a good point. You shall be my squire. I could use a dependable man at arms around with a bit of nous, though you look a bit untidy... but suitable enough. I assume your leader will transfer your services to me, we'll compensate her for her time finding a new man at arms, but for you its a rise in station and a great honour no doubt."
Kishara could not help but chuckle over the thought of Magnuson as the youngling's squire. "Oh yes, a great honour, even to be asked!" She gives the dwarf a wink, "But I'm afraid you mistake our occupation, though not by much, I'll grant. I suppose I am the senior field agent, but not a leader like your Lordship. We're Pathfinders, you see. My name is Kishara, m'lord." She released his bonds and dipped in an odd attempt at a curtsy, which just looked strange in her breeches with a sword on each hip.
"You're trained in the Aldori art of swordplay, then? I thought most Issian looked down upon the style? I've always wanted to see a skilled practitioner in action! What say we find the rest of these mangy louts and beat them like the curs they are! They'll be singing the praises of Lord Lander Lebeda all the way to Absalom when they read my report of this mission, eh?" She grinned, enthusiastic as ever.
She looks over the note, musing aloud. "Hmm, looks like they meant to ransom you, m'lord. Now who might this "M" character be that she's writing to? Someone with a shop, it seems." She hands over the note to the young lord if he wants to see it, watching to see if the fellow has some wits about him to puzzle out that his blacksmith friend might not be such a friend at all.
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[b}"well that's odd, what is a bunch of Pathfinders doing out here in bandit country?"[/b] he enquires, almost demandingly.
"Aldori swordplay is the stuff of legend, people try look down on an independent warrior showing up the stuffy types and their precious status quo, and look at his legacy! Indeed, following in his footsteps I have no doubt more chroniclers from Absalom will be follwing me around. Shame about the dwarf, he looks strong and sturdy. Good shoulders for carrying my equipment. What about that big brutish one? Is he available? He didn't say much but he looks reliable"
At the mention of "M" he closes up immediately - "I don't know what you are possibly talking about", he eyes you with suspicion obviously waiting to see which way you are taking that line of inquiry...
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Kishara was careful in her wording, not wanting to lie outright but still suspecting that the lordling would respond better if he didn't know his mummy had sent them. "Oh those secretive Decemvirate bosses of ours are always sending us out into the boonies looking into one disturbance or another. Often it's bandits, or something a bit more nefarious. My specialty is tracking down missing folk, I suspect this band of weres have been infecting people to increase their numbers. Nasty business, taking people from their families. We're eager to put a stop to it and glad to have the aid of a skilled swordsman like yourself. But we ought to see about getting you healed up a bit, eh? Kyra! Can you come take a look at Lord Lebeda?" She called out through the tent flap. "She should be able to help."
Kish worked to keep her face smooth as the young nobleman continued to speak about her friends as if they were property to be negotiated. "Heh... Whatcha need with Grim there? Need an apple picker or maybe a cart you want him to pull? Naw, I'm afraid he's more than just a side of beef. He's an agent as well and he can cleave through most anything with that gigantic sword of his. You'll see a piece of his handiwork when you find your late captor outside."
She hands the note back to Magnuson, cracked her knuckles and set to looking about for Lander's equipment and sword and returns it to him, assuming she finds it. Once that was done she makes a show of searching the bodies in front of the nobleman and finds one of the blades with the eagle holding tongs maker's mark. She pulls her new dagger and compares them openly. "Hmm, looks like this group may have bought weapons from that nice smithy in town. Perhaps we should pay him another visit, or maybe head back for that one we tied up near that stream and see if we can squeeze him for more info?"