The arrogant man who had been well posturing and threatening you all went from an arrogant lout to lying on the ground in a pool of blood between Amed and Aurelain's swift strikes.
The woman moved to charge torwards Aurelain when she almost tripped over her shadow. She started to curse aggresively and fratically pulling at nothing trying to get free... then the bullet hit and she yelped.
"I'll gut you for that!"
She shrieked loudly.
Swen your arrow flew no where near a target, and despite them thinking you should be about, with the sudden charging of your comrades they arent really looking for you.
Tush quickly hurried forward darting behind Ramona and her roaring gun muttering dark words in gnomish before guesturing towards the human with the greatsword. At the last moment he seemed to notice the coruscating dark ray and dodged just enough to the side that it missed.
"Kulp! No!"
He began veering from what appeared to be a path that was going to lead him to clash with Amed and Aurelain to running for the woman tripping over her own shadow.
"Dont touch me you fool get them!
She screeched at him as he tried to help her up.
The elven fellow in the back began chanting and a glob of something dark and oily looking formed in his hands only to rush torwads Aurelain and Amed suddenly exploding and coating the ground in a dark slippery grease.
The halfling started to chuckle darkly as he darted forward pulling our a couple of darts and launching them at Nicenzia
PARTY UP
Tush moves up and casts Color Spray on the elven looking fellow.
2 HD or less: The creature is unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, then blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round. (Only living creatures are knocked unconscious.)
3 or 4 HD: The creature is blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, then stunned for 1 round.
5 or more HD: The creature is stunned for 1 round.
Sightless creatures are not affected by color spray.
Amed steadies himself as he steps out of the greased area.
Once out, the magus engages the greatsword wielder.
Aurelain manages to keep his feet as he considers the battlefield. Still raging he drops the pole arm as he 5' steps up to the large man and attacks him up close with tooth and claw.
Nicenzia seeing her spell works stands and relax a bit while the martial members of the party finishes the fight.
Seeing the halfling attacking Nicenza, Ramona turns her weapon on him, sending another shot roaring off.
The elven wizard clearly saw what was coming and started to turn away... though not in time. The colorful wave of magical energy burst over him leaving him reeling.
The man with the greatsword cries out from the deft move of Amed whose blade catches him just under the plating of his breastplate and the metal plates over his thighs leaving a very deep gash. Despite the pain from the cut he just manages to struggle with you Aurelain keeping your wicked teeth and claws from finding any real puchase, though you've still managed to draw blood.
Swen the halfling you fired at just barely caught motion out of the corner of his eye and your arrow just misses catching him in the neck my mere inches. Before he could gloat too much he roared out in a high pitched cry of pain as Ramona's bullet buried itself into his side.
The woman, free from the shadows grips dove and rolled taking a quick cut from Ameds blade. She ended up on her feet stabbing at the man hoping to return the favor.
Despite her desire for your blood You are able to slap away the rapiers thrust Amed.
The Brute of a man roared out after he just pushed you away Aurelain and he quickly brought his blade down trying to cut you in half.
But perhaps roaring out right before he brought his sword down only gave you a warning and you easily sidestepped the cut.
The halfling fellow gave a crazed cry out and charged forward torwards Ramona whom just shot him.
His dagger cut into your thigh a splash of the blood splattering on his face. He gave a very creepy chuckle.
"Im gonna cut right through that leg and beat you with it!"
He said far too gleefully for one so small.
PARTY UP
Beating back the blade of the woman who saught to backstab him, Amed chides her as his scimitar slashes at this new assailant.
"Tsk. Tsk. Good night, beauteous one."
The nick of the blade wasn't all that much, but the demented smile more than made up for it. In a single movement, she takes a step backwards, reloading at the same time, and levelling her gun at the halfling. "I don't think so you little freak."
The bloodranger 5' steps so as to flank with Amed and full attacks the enemy with the great sword. This one is a major thret. he manages to think through his rage as he dismantles the man.
"So are we going to bind the wizard and have a few choice words with him before deciding on his fate?" Nicenzia asks looking like she has some ideas to make him talk.
|
Swen jumps out of the bushes, ready to stab a halfling to death, but he's already full of bullet holes, so she just screams in frustration.
"Someone hired these goons to jump us," she responds to Nicenzia, "so we should find out who."
She fetches her rope and sets to tying the wizard up. Also she takes his spellbook.
"Hey I left mine alive. The rest of you are very effective." she looks at the carnage on the battlefield with awe.
Ramona flashes Tush a grin, holstering her weapon. "They clearly thought more o' themselves than they should've. Somebody told them how many people to expect though."
Teh bloodrager lets his rage fall from him like a wet cloak. Standing there fatigued he looks about the blood and gore with wonder and perhaps a touch of regret. I seem to have lost control there. he manages past heavy breathing. After a few moments he seems to recover and goes to retrieve his pole arm where he dropped it. Lets search them. Perhaps there are clues as to who hired them. And some of their gear might be of use.
"A tied wizard is no guarantee he will not be able to cast spells, so be alert!"
"Best gag him too." Ramona chimes in as she searches the halfling.
"And how are we supposed to get some answers from him if he is gagged?" Nicenzia says lifting an eyebrow.
"I meant after questioning him, so he doesn't cast an escape spell." Ramona replies with a chuckle.
"Swen search him for his spell component pouch also, that should make spell casting harder for him assuming his a wizard and not a sorcerer like me."
"Swen search him for his spell component pouch also, that should make spell casting harder for him assuming his a wizard and not a sorcerer like me."
"I've got it", Amed grunts as he double knots the rope in several places.
Tush looks through the bodies while the other's start to question the wizard.
Midway through the tying of the elven wizard you were aware that he was aware of what was going on, though he didnt seem to try and fight it.
His head jerked with the slap and he grunted.
"Its customary to lead with a question before you strike someone, I am awake. My name is Zanzibral how can i help you?"
He began calmly.... it was weird he almost sounded amused yet resigned.
Amed chuckles, "Swen, you see, is at the direct opposite side of the spectum from 'customary'."
Teh bloodrager lets his rage fall from him like a wet cloak. Standing there fatigued he looks about the blood and gore with wonder and perhaps a touch of regret. I seem to have lost control there. he manages past heavy breathing. After a few moments he seems to recover and goes to retrieve his pole arm where he dropped it. Lets search them. Perhaps there are clues as to who hired them. And some of their gear might be of use.
"I am afraid I can not answer you properly. Gretlon spoke with him, you ended him quite suddenly. Thank you for that by the way, I only wish he had suffered a bit more."
His face darkened with a mixture of rage and pain for a moment.
"Two weeks ago, My friend Ilyata and I sought to perhaps take our talents elsewhere. There was an argument. Before we could leave we were attacked by a band of hobgoblins. She fell in the fight. Since that day i have been badgered into following along with whatever fool plan that man came up with. The woman you ended loved him, the big oaf loved her, it would have been amusing if I wasnt unfortunate enough to join this ragged band a few moons back."
He added shrugging his shoulders a small amount.
So, you agree to willingly attacking travelers on the road with the intent to rob and kill? Aurelain accuses. It seems you only regret the decision when you are caught.
"I agreed to nothing, Unlike the other fools I was not given much of an option. A few days after Ilyata's passing I was given an option be useful or join her in a shallow grave. A few days ago Gretlon left us in camp in the evening and rode on with our only horse. Fool got it killed when it stepped in a hole in the dark. He came back and said he had a contract for us, He spoke with that fool Kulp who thought she was in love with him about it a day ago, he spoke to us about it last night. Had I wanted you hurt I would have used my offensive spells."
He said simply no malice in his tone at all...
"Using an offensive spell or a control the battlefield spell is rather the same. The first one you kill people yourself, the latter you set people up to be killed by your team. But ofcourse the last one doesn't get you messy so I can support that line of thought, but the end result is the same unless you are fighting alone. So what is this contract about exactly?"
Aurelain does calm some. He seems less likely to kill the wizard right then and there anyway. I concede you were in a tight spot wizard. Still you could have turned on your captors when we attacked. I note you did not take that opportunity.
"Had I been aware that those rapscallions would have fallen so quickly I certainly would have changed my plans. Despite how easily you handled them, they were a dangerous sort."
He paused as it was clear he took a moment to collect his thoughts.
"The contract I am entirely unsure of miss, He spoke of an elderly man, something of a scholerly look who had been staying at a bar near where we camped.. something about a gnomes place. Please realize the fool of a man thought he was keeping quiet and just speaking to Kulp fool that she was. He said he was looking for something in this area, but that someone else was sending a team of treasure hunters to find it. I dont know if the man asked Gretlon to kill you or just take what you found... but Gretlon was an ass and no doubt would have killed you even is asked not too."
He paused for a moment as if thinking some more.
"I believe his client was a wizard... an experienced one."
The bloodrager's features brighten just a little and he offer I have an idea. If my comrades will agree Zanzibral, then it might be that there is a path of redemption for you. Suppose our benefactor, Colewin Binderbook, were offer you employment? He sponsors a number of adventurers as mercenaries employed in more savory deeds than what you were about when you had the good fortune to meet us. Were that to be arranged then your spell book would be returned to you as an advance on payment for future work as it were. As it stands all your possession are forfeit and our property to dispose of as we wish. But you would be no good to Sir Binderbook without it. What do you think? Can you work for a paladin?
Tush perks up when she hears about a gnomes place. "We should be able to find the wizard no problem. I've got an in with the owner."
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"I'm sure he would like an in with you." Nicenzia remarks at tush with a devilish smile.
"But we should be able to make inqury as to whom the wizard is and what he is after." she adds more somber.
"If nothing else Colwin will damn sure be able to tell if this one can be trusted." Ramona chimes in.
That is true enough Ramomna. Its as generous an offer as you are gonna get Zanzibral, what say you? Colwin will have a way of knowing your heart so do not agree to this if you plan to betray him or us. That hafling just seems to know about things like that.
For a long moment there was a skeptical look on the elven man's face but then he inclined his head slightly.
"I would like to take you up on your offer, and would be in your debt."
He offered a smile.
"as a further show of good faith, somewhere about the campsite over there Gretlon buried a small cask that held our party funds in it. I've no clue where exactly it might be, but he was only gone for a dozen moments or so, I would imagine close by."