Gaelin unleashes another stone at the oncoming bandits.
1d20+3
1d4+4[dice=Confirm]1d20+3
Gaelin's stone drops the second bandit.
Initiatives (Winter is Coming)
Ecaterina: 23
Tama 21
Athromar: 21
Tristan: 19
Gaelin 19
Jeydavu: 19
Tama nocks an arrow and lets fly
Tristan hides behind a tree as the bandits approach, bursting out to strike at the approaching bandits; but the heavy snow slows his attack and he misses his opening.
Standard attack d20+2
Unarmed damage 1d6+2
Standard attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Unarmed damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4Bumping over
Ecaterina scoops up a handful of snow. It coalesces into a blue-glowing snowball in her petite hands. She tosses it at the bandits
The snowball skews awry when it his a snow-clad branch, bursting in a flash of blue light
Initiatives (Winter is Coming) Into the trees!
Ecaterina: 23 Snowball-hit
Tama 21 Arrow-miss
Athromar: 21
Sahsara: 21
Tristan: 19 Attack-miss
Gaelin 19
Jeydavu: 19
Bandits: 3
Bandits:
Tristan's attack comes up slow as the bandits near
As the remaining two bandits near Tama lets fly another arrow
The arrow finds a tree rather than a bandit.
Ecaterina tries another snowball
This time the blue-glowing orb finds a bandit's head. It explodes against him and..
..he looks hurt but still ready to fight
Gaelin releases another sling stone.
Gaelin releases another sling stone.
1d20+3
1d4+4
Sahsara puts away her bow and pulls out her rapier.
Gaelin releases another sling stone.
1d20+3
1d4+4
In that case...
To hit is 20.
One bandit falls hard, cloven almost in twain. The final bandit whirls, seeing the shapes of the party loom up.
He raises his gloved hands and lets the spear he carried clatter to the ground.
"Peace! Mercy!"
Athromar snarls back, "Peace will come when we can trust your words, how many are you? Lie to us and we will cut you down before any more of your marauders can arrive to assist you!"
Gaelin approaches the bandit as if flanking him, his oversized sword at his side, dripping with the blood of the bandit's fallen comrade. He looks suitably intimidating while awaiting the bandit's answer.
Sahsara switches back to her bow and stops the wind. "And I didn't even have to use the sword, my luck is significantly improving". She finds a spot with good viewing and watches for any more bandits while the others deal with the surrendered one.
The bandit spreads his hands, looking thoroughly cowed. His face is haggard and there are dark patches on his skin where the cold has bitten deep.
"There's just my boss Rokhar, the man from the lookout camp, and the Orc b~~@@ left inside." He says, lowering his voice . "There's some others down with snow sickness, but they won't put up a fight. "
He shivers violently
" Rokhars got his two pet skeletons too. And somewhere out in the wood is that winter minion. Some fairy name of Izoze"
He looks pleadingly at the group
"I didn't ask for none of this. Rokhar threw us in with these unnatural creatures. We're all getting sick and dying. Rokhar just sits by. Now he's engaging in necromancy. I don't want none of it. I just want out of this accursed place and to find someplace warm"
"Our fight is not with you".
Athromar turns to his new allies, "We know our quarry by name, shall we face this villain?"
"It is what we came here to do," Gaelin says with fierce determination. "If this Rhokar is practicing vile magic and consorting with the winter creatures, perhaps he is behind this blight, or knows who is."
"Agreed", Tristan says, quiet but firm. "We must not allow this blight to spread any farther."
The bandit backs slowly away
"I'll be on my way then. Good luck and ware those skellis and Izoze. They're winter-touched and unnatural."
With that he fades into the trees, moving slowly so as not to trigger the party.
Gaelin picks up a handful of snow and wipes down his blood soaked greatword. He calls out to the retreating bandit, "If you know what is good for you, you will leave these woods and never return. Gods help you if I see you here again."
Gaelin turns back to his companions. "This will not be a simple matter. What resources do we have against the undead? Are we ready for this?"
"I have resources enough to combat the Undead. I am ready to face them if the rest of you are.
I agree this will not be an easy battle but it is one we must face if we are to get answers as to what is going on, we cannot rest here, outside. That cabin is a strategic spot for us to gather information and renew our resources".
"I don't have holy water or anything like that, but I have a sword and a strong desire to be in a warm cabin. Was anyone actually hurt in that last fight?"
"I was nearly slain by an arrow to the chest, but I believe I shall recover," Gaelin says with a grin.
"Is anyone else injured?"
Once everyone who needs it is patched up, Gaelin leads the way back to the bandit stronghold.
The group ghosts through the snow slowly, approaching the large building. It is a solid affair of timber and native stone. Plumes of smoke rise from several chimneys.
There is a large covered porch sitting about a meter above the snowy ground. Wooden steps lead up to it on three sides. Within its shadowy interior sits a pair of stout double doors. A small glass window sits on either side of the double doors. There is no sign of activity on the porch. There are no pieces of furniture either.
Athromar considers his current powers and decides to heal the entire group.
Channel Energy
Athromar then reloads his crossbow.
Athromar approaches the door and casts Protection from Evil upon himself and whispers to his companions, "No doubt they know we are here, shall we simply force our way in?" he states as he approaches the double doors intending to try and open them.
"I don't see a better option," Gaelin responds. "They sent a band to pursue us, so they are probably on alert." In a smooth motion, his greatsword is freed from its place on his back and he holds the giant blade at the ready.
Sahsara draws her sword as well "better to attack than be attacked".
Arthromar tests the doors. They seem unlocked
"There could be traps," Gaelin whispers. "Are any of you skilled at finding that sort of thing?"
"I have some idea of what to look for." Sahsara answers and creeps up to the door to look.
The door looks clear of traps. Sahsara does hear a distant murmur from inside as she inspects the door, but can't make out words
"No traps, ready when you folks are"
Gaelin swiftly throws open the door, his sword at the ready for whatever is beyond.
Jeydavu commands his moose to stay and prepares to follow Gaelin in through the door.
The door opens easily enough. Inside is a foyer with a huge bearskin rug on a timber floor. The entire inside is done in a rustic timbered fashion, as befits a ranger's headquarters. The walls are hung with hunting trophies, some natural animals, some more exotic fare such as a griffon. There is a door to the north and one to the south. Two short hallways lie shadowed to the east, and seem to lead into a larger room beyond where a fire's light can dimly be seen.
Before stepping inside Sahsara takes a moment to look and listen for things which may not be immediately obvious.
add one for traps
Sashara:
"It seems that rug has been moved, there might be something under it," Sahsara whispers back to the group. "I can't hear anyone in the house it could be that they retreated through a concealed trap door."
Jeydavu steps into the doorway and moves close enough to the rug that he can reach it with his quarterstaff. He takes the tip of the quarterstaff and attempts to move the rug away.
The party enjoys the relative warmth of the room as Jeydavu examines the rug. The snow covering them starts to melt and feeling begins to seep back into their extremities.
Jeydavu pulls the rug to the side revealing a trap door set in the floor. It is padlocked with a large iron lock, and a handle that lies flush in the cover.
[b]"We should secure the rest of this pace first no?"[/b Athromar whispers to the group his Crossbow at the ready.
"Agreed. I don't like that the place has gone silent. Lets not get distracted and leave our flank open to an ambush." Gaelin carefully goes to the north door and tries it to see if it is locked.
The door is unlocked, in fact it is a bat-wing style door split in two and hinged on both sides to allow easy entry.
Gaelin looks around the kitchen for any information about the keep's occupants and to verify whether there are other exits off this room.
Jeydavu moves to the south door and waits for Gaelin to complete his investigation of the north door. He listens at the south door to determine if anything is behind it.