Here is the encounter map. Place Bathos as you will; I essentially put you in an arbitrary place, representing when you first noticed the men in the forest. You discern four of them.
Matthias looks entirely natural as he approaches the nearest guard, who nods and makes his way slowly, yet purposefully, over to another group. The original guard nods to you, two others standing discreetly at attention.
The men in the forest shout and begin to charge. ROLL INITIATIVE.
Matthias lets out a growl of frustration has he fails to conceal his intent and sees the men charging from the forest.
Matthias attempts to make his signal with subtlety, but the sharp-eyed men in the forest have discerned his intent. They arise from their ambush. Two begin to produce bows; a third howls, the sound more bestial than human, and runs, screaming and nude, toward the caravan. The fourth, a robed halfling, mutters to himself.
Matthias and the halfling are quickest to action. Though slight of stature, the halfling's dark eyes and maundering lips bespeak depravity. He is swift, but Matthias's senses are insuperably keen. Matthias's turn.
HP:64 (18 nonlethal) Saves:12,12,9
Perception:12, SM:9
Matthias' mind races as the wild man charges and the others ready arrow and spell. Too many enemies for him to stop all at once. He let's out a curse under his breath, "Torag's balls!"
Not even a moment passes before Mathias leaps into action.
"Bathos! The halfling! Quickly now."
Matthias himself has trouble finding a good target. He delays a moment if he has to in order to have a clean shot at the raging man.
x1.5 = 44 damage.
Matthias let's out a powerful, but human, yell has he punches the ground. The earth breaks in a tiny crack to the wildman's feet, where it erupts in a powerful stalagmite smash.
HP:63, Saves:9,6,3
Perception:13
Bathos darts into range of the halfing, if he can (50ft move). If possible he will attack, otherwise he will try to remain threatening to the halfling.
If he hits - Trip
If he hits and the halfing has a magical aura upon himself - Dispel
(vs caster level of spell)
Despite the interference of foliage, Matthias strikes true. The air cracks as masses of stone and loam screech toward the blithering madman. He is immediately battered into submission and lies unconscious.
The halfling narrows his eyes, cruelly smirking, and imbibes a potion. He disappears from view.
Bathos should roll a retroactive perception (using scent and everything) to determine his new position; if he is able to find the man, I'll use those rolls for his to-hit and such this turn.
Halfling Druid:
Halfling's new position: G10
The Beast:
The man whom Matthias buried in stone seems to be in no danger of dying.
The archers concentrate their shots on Matthias, who has now proven himself a fearsome threat.
One archer's arrows fall wide, but the other manages to catch Matthias's torso. However, they practically glance off his powerful hide, leaving mere scratches where they might have sunk into the tender flesh of a lesser warrior.
The caravan guard draws a hefty kukri and, shouting, starts to run into the forest toward the nearest archer. The foliage prevents him from achieving a proper charge, but he makes it to within striking distance.
Bathos uses his arcane sight to track the invisible enemy as he moves. This leads him unerringly to his opponent.
However, the magical aura is not perfectly distinct, shifting and shimmering over the forest floor. Bathos does he best to strike true.
Bathos' bite digs into part of the shimmering aura only he can see, but finds no halfling flesh beneath it.
HP:59 (18 nonlethal) Saves:12,12,9
Perception:12, SM:9
Although Matthias is nearly unharmed, he is surprised to see the arrows enter his flesh at all.
Those are skilled archers.
Matthias shouts to the caravan guards as one begins to charge.
"Sons of fire! Their arrows strike true. Summon your smoke to cloud their sight! Then we will route them from the forest!"
Matthias leads the way by lightning one of his smoke sticks and throwing it midst of the archers. He silently prays there is some mage or priest who can do better.
Halfling begins casting extended SNA II.
Bathos hears the halfling's whispers near his keen ear. Bathos's turn!
The halfling shouts for aid before casting his spell. The archers turn from Matthias toward the massive hound threatening their leader.
Archers:
One archer moves to a better position, but the commotion and the intervening branches spoil his aim. The other aims well, plunging a brace of arrows into Bathos's proud flank. 24 damage.
Caravan Guard:
The cruel blade rakes expertly across a gap in the archer's armor, scoring a nasty hit.
Near Archer: 35 HP
The bandits are subdued, Matthias and Bathos having pummeled and savaged them unconscious. Their feet now shackled in rock and sucking mud, their hands also bound with unmovable earth, they stir. The guards of the caravan bind them in strong silk rope; Matthias wills the earthen tendrils to withdraw wherever the limbs are made fast in rope.
The halfling, face filthy, spits a viscous clot at Matthias. It stretches yellow from between his yellow teeth. The spittle streaks mud down his small chin and nests in his tangled beard as he is dragged to a penal wagon. The nude brute, bereft of his club, tears at the silk ropes with his teeth until his gums bleed.
The guards clap Matthias on the back as all return to the caravan.
Matthias is now known throughout the caravan, welcome in nearly every tent . The roads from here are quite safe; as the caravan begins to encounter other traders on the road, guard discipline is permitted to relax. Some members of the caravan now favor open litters; others, the wealthiest, ride smooth porcelain disks, covered in exquisite tapestries and comfortable cushions, which proceed at such level height and speed as to seem like stable earth.
Mobile cafes, too, spring up slightly overhead, with luminous ropes hanging down day and night to allow otherwise unoccupied travelers a place for rest and social gathering. All are welcome here, with little attention paid to decorum or wealth--indeed, the continuous tea and conversation are proffered freely, as though they arose in infinite plenty.
Matthias lets out a long sigh after the battle is won. He proudly slaps the other guardsman on the back, congratulating them on their victory.
We emerged unharmed. The Strategist himself would be proud.
The next day, as the caravan enters safer land, Matthias marvels at the magnificent displays of opulence of the wealthier merchants. Although Matthias appreciates the beauty, and enjoys a short ride on one of the mobile cafes, he ultimately is made a little uncomfortable by the lavish accoutrements.
Matthias rests a hand on Bathos' thick fur, and talks to him contemplatively. "I'm not sure we're needed anymore Bathos. The roads are safe enough that haste might be preferable to company."
Matthias approaches whatever exotic means of comfortable locomotion that Moltenen has adopted. He makes a friendly greeting.
"Premier! Once again your people astonish me with their customs. The beautiful discs your followers use for trade are unlike anything I have seen. But I fear they also indicate you no longer have need of my guard. I have greatly enjoyed the comfort and safety your caravan has offered me, but my quest calls me to hasten. The gifts you and yours have offered me far exceed anything I might consider asking for. I believe we can part ways knowing the earth is level between us."
Matthias will listen and consider Moltenen's reply, but is fairly determined to leave the caravan and travel at a rapid pace.