Lureene utters a vile curse that certainly startles Felmor, and also may startle the ladies. She thinks, That one is mine! She then motions to Felmor, and says, "Let me help you get this open!"
Unfortunately, her wings get snagged on Felmor's coat, which elicits a curse from the erstwhile sailor.
Felmor knows they have to get the door open, so he resolutely ignores the beautiful, if somewhat clumsy, succubus and heaves against the carriage door.
Trying his best to ignore the slippery succubus squirming beneath him and buffeting him with her wings, the taller sailor realizes that this would not look good at all if he desert rose found him in such a compromising position. Oy, is Lureene tryin' ta' pop the hatch or me britches?
Fighting back the sensation of lightheadedness as his blood-pressure changes. He strains with all his might bolstered perhaps by Princess Alis' cheering. Gotta get outta dis nest o' vixens!
With feet braced and shoulders tensed, Felmor gives one final push and manages to heave open the carriage door with a loud ripping noise from the oversized cobwebs. Somehow keeping his wits about him, he leaps out, crossbow still in hand. Lureene tumbles out after him with a gasp of surprise.
...and manages to leap clear of the webs!
"I'm comin' me desert rose!"
Looking back at Lureene, now laying spread-eagle in the webbing and twisting to get free, he shakes his head. Ach! Mebbe that not be tha best choice o' words...
, Golden Drakes, E: Anna; Yvonne, Priyya, Bajala, E: Lookouts, E: Gilban, Alis, Mal & Tal, Lureene & Grak, Felmor
By the tents, two guards rush forward and stab at Priyya with their spears, nervously eying the wounded panther their compatriots are fighting with...
The warrior priestess grits her teeth in pain as she is pierced by the coordinated attacks, blood covering her clothes and Saija's saddle.
Before her, the footman already engaging Talvyra takes a step back, and the two stab at her again.
"Kill it already before it rips our faces off!" one shouts.
Talvyra yowls in pain as the man before her opens another gash in her silky black coat.
Straining against the gummy substance binding him, Sarge shouts, "We're out-manned! Fall back and retreat, the gig's up!"
In a single concerted effort, the grizzled warrior manages to burst thru the resin binding him. He falls back towards Anna at the entrance to the bridge.
While the warrior's movements are none too graceful, the fact that he broke free of the tanglefoot bag so soon leaves Bajala ill prepared to capitalize on the opportunity and his blade whistles thru the air without striking the enemy leader.
The big blonde warrior grits his teeth and clutches at a primal looking medallion hanging about his neck. Stretching his hand forth, he calls out a single word.
Immediately, the grasses and tree roots to the north of the bridge break free of the surface attempting to entangle all those within!
Reflex Saves DC 13
From the back of the caravan, Yakhem charges spurs his horse forward, racing to the very edge of the cliff, firing a single shot as he rides...
The archer on the north east tower ducks the furious attack, although he looks quite frantic at how the situation below is unfolding.
The rearmost wagon (the only one not rooted in place), follows and the woman who had been riding in the back fires a shot of her own.
The arrow flies true and wounds the lookout, although not mortally so.
Atop the carriage, the couple there struggles to break free of the web...
Escape Artist Checks DC 17:
The woman manages to slip free and begins slicing away at the sticky strands with a long, curved knife freeing her mate. He in turn hops down attempting to pull Lureene free.
With a strong heave, he manages to help the distressed succubus back to her feet although she's fairly certain her wings are all askew now.
Muttering something under her breath, the woman on the western-most steed rises up in her saddle, bow in-hand and fires on the retreating mage, Gilban...
However her shot misses and impacts the tower instead.
The driver of the lead wagon takes a cue from the other drake and also fires on the mage.
Gilban cries out as much in surprise as in pain when he is struck. "Huh? We're retreating? But my bo–" he cries out.
"No argue Gill Ban!" Anna's growl interrupts him. "Get us down here NOW!"
Knowing the hot-headed woman's temper, the mage says, "Oh hell," as she whips free a large sword slung across her back and delays to cover her companions' retreat.
With the door of the carriage now cleared, Yvonne leaps out landing near Felmor. Instantly recognizing Talvyra's cries of pain, she makes a sweeping motion with her hand...
...and the spearman who twice injured the sleek cat is sliced cleanly in half at the waist. The bandit beside him screams in fear just barely retaining a white-knuckled grip on his spear.
, (E: Anna), Bajala, E: Lookouts, E: Gilban, Alis, Mal & Tal, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, E: Guards, E: Sarge, E: Paze, Golden Drakes; Yvonne
MAP: Round 2
Priyya quickly lays a hand on herself.
Priyya channels energy to her allies, trying to heal herself and Talvyra.
Then she spurs Saija into striking at the un-entangled opponent before trampling him and galloping into the camp.
Priyya's healing abilities pull herself and her hunt-sister back from the danger zone. She then urges Saija to overrun the spearman in front of them...
AoOs for leaving threatened square:
All three bandits concentrate their strikes on Priyya. Only one of them manages to connect, but it glances harmless off her skin thanks to the protection Mal cast upon her. At Priyya's order, Saija whinnies and bowls over the man in front of her and he quickly finds himself ensnared by the winding, binding roots. She then rides right into the center of the bandit's camp and out of the area of Paze's entangle spell.
Bajala gives a shout and spurs his mount forward. He slashes at Paze with his scimitar...
...and opens a gash on the man's shoulder.
Seeing the deadly mounted archer moving in on Gilban and not wanting to hit Paze, the lookout in the NE tower fires on Priyya...
The arrow whistles harmlessly past her and into the earth. The bearded mage takes advantage of the covering fire and hastens past Anna and to the middle of the stone bridge behind her. Anna falls back with him spreading caltrops on the hard stone floor of the bridge as she retreats .
The other lookout, fires on Yakhem...
...but his shot it so bad that it ends up bouncing off the cliff face and into the river below.
"Excuse me Lureene..." Alis says. With that, she leaps over her wings and out of the carriage landing near Felmor and Yvonne.
, E: Guards, E: Sarge, E: Paze, Golden Drakes; Yvonne, Priyya, Bajala, E: Lookouts, E: Gilban, E: Anna, Alis
MAP: Round 2b
Lureene struggles to keep her wings from becoming totally crumpled by the sticky strands of web. Ugh, this is a messy business! Seeing there was a small group of bandits grouped together, she knew a spell which would work wonders here against them. She starts chanting quickly.
Hearing cries of "They are getting away!" from Bajala, she thinks, Not if i can help it. She issues a mental command to Grak, who immediately heeds his mistress's command.
Grak hears his mistresses call, and realizing it was trapped in the area of entangling branches, immediately launches itself straight up in the air!
Unfortunately, the angle of takeoff is wrong, so he is able to gain only partiall altitude.
Felmor sees an opportunity to take a shot at one of the bandit leaders , after firing he moves quickly around the area of the entangle spell
Seeing his opponents flee brings out the predator in him, and he pursues through the unnatural undergrowth, drawing his battleaxe on the way.
Talvyra grins as she sees the long-tooth bearing two-leg struggle with the grasping plants, and takes advantage of it's weakness, risking another attack for a taste of it's blood.
Will saves DC 13:
Lureene's sleep spell goes off and puts the spearman closest to Talvyra to sleep. Sensing an easy meal, the large cat moves in for the kill...
...and easily evades the thrust of the next man's spear. She then begins tearing the man apart with her fangs. He awakens with a scream frantically trying to move while pinned by root and paw.
Felmor sees a possible, albeit difficult, shot on Sarge. Between trying to miss the lead horse while still making it around the tent that's in the way, he's unable to hit.
Bloodlust rising in his veins, Mal concentrates on getting close enough to the largest, most dangerous looking opponent that he can. While difficult, he just barely makes it past the boundaries of the entangle spell placing himself within striking distance of the man who cast it.
, Golden Drakes; Yvonne, Priyya, Bajala, E: Lookouts, E: Gilban, E: Anna, Alis, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Mal & Tal
CMB Checks:
The guard that Tal is snacking on rips free of the roots and attempts to get away...
Talvyra swipes at him tearing four parallel gashes across his flank as he runs. He looks about ready to fall but fear keeps him going. Yet no sooner does he make it out of the entangle spell and around the tents than does he come face to foot with the Surya-ka-Vahaak!
He manages to evade her boot and drops to his knees, his spear still on the ground ensnared by roots. "I give up! Please don't let that thing eat me!"
The eastern-most of the three guardsmen says, "We gotta get outta here, c'mon!" He takes off without waiting to see that his buddy is still stuck in place only to come around the horses to find he's behind Malandraenas. Eyes growing wide, he sets his jaw with determination and tries to make the best of this disastrous development...
While a valiant effort, his spear-tip glances off Mal's armor alerting the big man to his presence.
Swallowing hard, the remaining guard levels his spell at Talvyra and doesn't take his eyes off her. "Niiiice lion. Stay over there..."
"Paze!" Sarge unsheathes his bastard sword and squares off against Malandraenas, "Get your ass out of here and look after the others!"
With that, he steps forward, hand on the pommel of his bastard sword...
... and delivers a devastating thrust upwards underneath Mal's guard! Mal looks down to see the quillions of the big swordsman's blade practically touching his chest before darkness takes him to the ground.
Sarge turns his eyes to Bajala and calls out, "If you don't want your friend to die, you'd best stand your ground and leave my friends be on their way."
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Paze hightails it to the middle of the bridge while Bajala stays his blade.
, Priyya, (Golden Drakes), Bajala, E: Lookouts, E: Gilban, E: Anna, Alis, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Talvyra, E: Sarge, E: Paze
MAP: Round 3
Bajala grits his teeth. He raises his hand and calls out, "Stay your weapons! Malandraenas is down and has a sword to his throat!"
The Golden Drakes immediately halt their attacks and look about anxiously at news that one of their charges is down.
Yvonne moves forward just far enough to verify the situation with her own eyes.
She raises her hand as if to strike, but determines that she cannot be certain of a killing blow in one hit on the bandit leader. Stifling a curse, she calls out, "His life we cannot endanger. Make no attack!"
, (Golden Drakes), Bajala, E: Lookouts, E: Gilban, E: Anna, Alis, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Talvyra, E: Sarge, E: Paze; Yvonne
Alis' eyes go wide at the news that the towering ranger is down.
Priyya barks an order at the surrendering guard, "Stay here." She wheels Saija around and maneuvers her between the tent and wall, blocking the bridge. . She puts an arrow in her teeth and knocks another one, aiming down towards the fleeing Paze and Wizard. She yells to them, "STOP, right NOW! Move any further and you will catch my arrows in your skull."
She casts an eye at the guy with Mal. "I am Surya-ka-Vahaak, Paladin and Xerakai Archer. I can drive two arrows through the eye-sockets of either of your friends at this distance. They might live. But then again, I am very good with this bow. If they move, I'm sending these arrows down-range. You may kill my friend, but I will have yours in exchange and the rest of these people will have you. Are you willing to risk that?"
Sarge is not amused at Priyya's attempt to move past him and swings at her...
His hit very nearly knocks Priyya from the saddle and she sees motes of light swim before her eyes from the impact, blood pouring down her side from a wound just below her ribs.
With Sarge's attention momentarily taken, Bajala notes his client's decision and leaps from the saddle to attack even as Sarge's blade strikes home on the Surya-ka-Vahaak.
From the front wagon, the driver fires his bow...
As do the two Drakes from the eastern wagon...
And the woman mounted to the west...
Yvonne also makes the attack she was holding back...
Struck by a scimitar, 3 arrows, and Yvonne's attack, the swordsman staggers, but miraculously doesn't fall.
Hearing the calamity behind him, Yakhem turns his horse about, moves into view and fires...
When the fourth arrow strikes home, Sarge cries out barely keeping his legs below him. "RUN!" he yells.
, Alis, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Talvyra, E: Sarge, E: Paze; Yvonne, Priyya, (Golden Drakes), Bajala
From atop the tower overlooking the drama below, the injured lookout throws a rope over the edge of his tower and rappels down to the surface of the bridge. The one on the southern tower fires a shot at Priyya...
When it misses, he begins to retreat down the steps of his tower.
Gilban looks to the furious blonde woman beside him and shouts, "Anna! We need to go!"
She turns to glare at him and says, "I not leave Sarge! Run if you want!"
With shaking his head, the wizard goes to jump off the bridge drawing fire from Priyya
Both arrows strike home and the mage falls from the bridge with a cry.
Ignoring the cries of the pathetic magic user, Anna's eyes glaze over with battle lust and she charges Priyya.
"ANNA, NO!" shouts Paze.
Heedless of the caltrops she cast about on the ground, the berserker plows thru them and leaps at Priyya swinging her massive blade as she goes...
Seeing Priyya fall, Bajala shouts,
Hearing the screams of women, horses, and men, Alis looks at Lureene and cries out, "This sounds bad we need to get up there!"
With that, Alis takes off at a run, skirting the entagle spell. She makes it as far as the center of the bandit's camp spying that Mal and Priyya are both down and that a woman nearly twice her size is looming over Saija with a massive sword. Oh hell, a berserker!
Looking at the man who is still on his knees she says, "You be a good boy and stay right there. You do not want to end up on the wrong end of a cat fight..."
A puddle spreads out below the man and he nods emphatically.
, E: Sarge, E: Paze; Yvonne, (Golden Drakes), Bajala, E: Lookouts, E: E: Anna, Alis
MAP: Round 3b
Talvyra, seeing both Big Brother and Talvyra down, moves to put herself between the most obvious threat and their bodies.
Talvyra makes her way out of the entangle spell and takes up a position in front of her fallen brother, snarling a warning at the yellow-haired hunter before her.
Lureene feels a stab of fear for her friends, and mutely rushes after her friend Alis.
Grak continues his flight.
Felmor sees his Desert Rose go under, and his mind goes blank, refusing to accept the reality of the situation. No! Nooooooo! Crazily, he remembers their last dance together at the ballroom. Her voice rings out in his mind, Finish her off! Almost in a trance, his crossbow raises and sights in on the woman who laid the killing blow…
He moves slowly towards the scene of the ambush, only remembering to avoid the entangling plants at the last moment.
Felmor's attack flies true and he strikes the raging Æcsian woman in the thigh. In her rage she barely seems to register that she's been hit.
Lureene runs after Alis making it to just outside of the bandit's camp. Grak flies ever higher in the air, hovering quietly above the carnage below.
Paze moves up towards his lover. Paze shouts. He then casts another spell and a billowing cloud of dense fog forms at the end of the bridge obscuring your sight.
Sarge staggers towards the sound of his friend's voice provoking attacks from Bajala and Talvyra as he attempts to move past them in the fog.
While the fog is insufficient to confound either of their attacks, Sarge evades Bajala's scimitar only to fall victim to Talvyra's claws. With a cry of, "Idoits!" he falls to the ground.
Yvonne runs further around. Seeing the giant cloud of fog, you watch as she runs clear up the vertical wall of the tower, standing perpendicular to it as she reaches the end of her run!
Seeing no enemies around, Bajala grabs Mal's hands and pulls him clear of the fighting hoping that he's not too late to save him.
The driver of the eastern-most wagon retrieves a vial from under his seat and hands it to his wife. She jumps down and runs over to Malandraenas and pours a potion down his throat.
The westernmost Drake is able to get her mount to break free of entanglement. She is able to escape the area of the spell, ending up near Lureene.
Yakhem moves forward to a spot where he can keep an eye on the bridge, waiting for an opportunity to fire.
The driver of the first wagon fires his bow on the entangled enemy near him...
...just barely missing. The man immediately drops his spear and calls out, "I surrender, I surrender!"
The couple who had helped Lureene free come riding forward on Yvonne's horse ending up beside Alis.
, Alis, Lureene & Grak, Felmor, Talvyra, E: Sarge, E: Paze; Yvonne, Bajala, Golden Drakes
MAP: Round 4