Hamish runs ahead and around the bend until he can get a better look and sense of the situation.
Sprinting after Hamish and Jalros, Naomi blurts out, "Gubble is right, I can hear steal on steal so there must be a fight." As she runs she looks down at Thistle, the wolf is barely running keeping pace with her. 'Must be nice.' She thinks as she starts to break a sweat.
ROUND 1
Still not yet fully around the bend, Elgrin’s vision is partially obscured by the vegetation, but for him there is no doubt a fight is on.
For Hamish and Naomi, the scene is unfortunately as expected. A wagon lies overturned in the middle of the road, and several figures are fighting around it. It is not immediately apparent who is attacking who, but there is clearly a group with their backs to the wreck, while others seem to be pressing in on them.
From here you can see about four attackers and eight defenders, but a sudden volley of arrows from both sides of the road not only reduces the number of defenders to six, but also evidences there are more hidden assailants. A man and a woman fall down, pierced by several projectiles. The others try to retaliate without much success.
Guthlag runs around the bend, staying close to Elgrin. Cann lopes forward far faster than he can, but Guthlag calls her back, keeping her within ten feet of him for now.
”People! People kill people!” - Lem screeches as he returns to Gubble’s shoulder.
Elgrin rushes to the center of the battle looking to engage the swordsmen in close quarters
Somebody take out those archers!
Elgrin rushes to the center of the battle looking to engage the swordsmen in close quarters
Somebody take out those archers!
Taking in the scene, "I'm on it!" Jalros immediately takes off straight for the nearest archer.
"Matar!" Guthlag calls out, and Cann lopes forward at an inhuman pace, aiming for one of the archers in the trees. Guthlag follows behind, struggling to catch up.
The wagon is being attacked.' Taking the scene in quickly, Naomi tells the wolf "Thistle come." Moving forwards with the others she realizes Elgrin is running their direction saying something about the archers.
Hearing Jalros acknowledge that he was on it, Naomi chimed in. "We'll help." As they near the tree line, she points her walking stick at the nearest archer telling the wolf, "حمله خار"
Hamish continues to hurry forward tbe feather in his hat dancing wildly as he turns and shouts over his shoulder.
"We've got 'em Cap'n! Unfurl the colors and send squads three and five to the flanks. They've archers in the woods." He hollers as if a whole patrol company was coming around the bend. "The duke's bounty on this lot o'scoundrels will keep us in good whiskey and soft beds for a fortnight!"
"Best pray to your gods ye thievin' vermin, soon enougb you bones'll be feedin' thr crows." He adds waving his sword the catch the rays of the lowering sun as he charges forward.
Round 1 (now complete)
Round 2
Elgrin moves forward without hesitation!
Guthlag and Cann fearlessly dash ahead, the wolf passing right in front of one of the archers who is unable to stop him.
Naomi advances, sending Thistle on the offensive - the wolf viciously bites one of the archers, but is not able to trip him down.
Some of the attackers seem to hesitate at Hamish's words, looking around for further resistance, and the one wounded by Cann actually turns tail and runs away, but the others seem to be cowed by the words of their leader, and continue on fighting.
"Tis a lie you dogs!" - the man roars - "Stay and fight!"
Two of the archers attack Cann, and then retreat. One of the arrows flies wide, but the second one hits.
The leader scores another hit on the woman trying to fend him off with a quarterstaff, and the bandit with the red vest takes down another defender. The one across from him wounds another, and the archer shoots at Hamish, scoring a nasty wound.
The defenders do not even seem to try and retaliate, instead trying to avoid getting hit as much as possible. One of them runs screaming past Hamish - "Please help us!"
Round 2 (continued) into Round 3
Elgrin charges toward the nearest villian
Hamish staggers for just a moment as the arrow takes him in the thigh. Hissing and cursing the blasted cowardly archer, Hamish moves as quick as he can to close the distance with the bandit.
Gubbles thoughts are centered on his feet. Quickly, one after the other. Ignore the stitch in one's side. Avoid the rock. He spares a thought to the future, one that involves him buying a horse if this Running thing is going to be the norm.
With a deep breath, the halfling wizard shouts, his voice loud and confident, like he alone knows what the future will bring (the fight's future, not the one about the horse) "One by one the enemy will either run or fall. Their leader cannot hold them together." he might have tried to say more but breathing is hard.
Smiling as the bowman turns and flees, Naomi tells her pet, "دخترخوب" While she surveys the skirmish. Seeing the attacker directly south of her Naomi points her 'walking stick' at the man, calling Thistle, she twists the end of the stick in a 'J' shape telling the wolf, "خار کنار او می نشیند و حمله می کند" As the wolf runs around the man to get behind him, Naomi lifts her stick in both hands and charges the fellow, screaming loudly to get his attention. "Aaaaggghhhh!" As she nears him, she swings her walking stick, while Thistle attacks from the rear biting and trying to pull the man down.
Round 2 (continued) into Round 3
As Hamish wades in on the archer, Elgrin charges at the bandit with the red vest - bolstered by Gubble's foresight, his attack is a hit! His enemy still stands though.
And he is swift enough to react as Thistle flanks him, thrusting with his rapier and scoring a terrible wound, just as wolf and master shred and bludgeon him to the ground.
Guthlag feels his blood rise. He doesn't notice Cann who, on the other side of the battle, has just been stuck with an arrow. He loses track of his allies, who scramble in all directions. Gubble's words are lost on him, though the magic in them is not. Guthlag's own magical training fades away, until he's just a boy with a stick.
He charges.
On the other side of the cart, Cann slows. The scent of blood in the air makes her fur brustle. Wheeling around a log, she turns and leaps at a man from behind.
Jalros resolutely plods forward, until he comes face to face with one of the attackers.
Both Guthlag and Cann manage solid strikes and bites, though their foes still stand.
One of the archers decides to shoot, but his arrow goes wide. The other drops his bow, drawing a rapier and moving to flank Cann. His dangerous attack misses the nimble wolf however.
The flanked bandit recognizes the danger of his situation - he tries to attack Cann but misses, then steps to the side.
The bandit leader slices at the defender in front of him for good measure, then retreats! The woman tries to hit him as he runs, but misses also.
The one attacked by Guthlag, attempts to strike back, scoring a hit! He then steps back.
The one facing Hamish drops his bow, draws a dagger, swings, and misses.
The caravan defenders huddle together, hoping to be saved by the heroes.
Round 4
Jalros steps up to the nearest attacker, sets himself up in a better defensive position, and swings for the left side of his face.
The foe in front of him falling due to the Naomi/wolf tag team Elgrin scans about looking for another foe and rushes to H15
Seeing Thistle wounded, Naomi drops the stick and kneels beside her friend, "دختری که قرار نبود با تیغ او برخورد کنی." Petting the whining pup, she said a quick prayer. "زخم های سبک را درمان کنید" Feeling the healing rush pass over the wolf, she takes hold of the wolfs armor, not letting her rejoin the fight. "اینجا بمون دختر، من میخواهم مطمئن شوم که کاملا شفا یافتهای."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Okay, so maybe Maggie was right and I was hitting the River Bottom Dark a bit too much. Feels like I just ran all the way to bloody Freeport. Hamish thinks as tired legs don't move quick or far enough to actually put the tip of his sword through the bandit's chest. Instead the weak attack is simply batted aside by the grinning rascal. With his own lungs burning and his breath coming in gasps, the swordsman studies his foe waiting to try and take advantage of whatever move the scoundrel might make.
Guthlag stumbles backwards, watching blood pour from his numb wound. He stares for two long seconds, while battle rages all around him. Thankfully, Jalros steps in to occupy his foe and prevent Guthlag from being skewered a second time. Remembering the war scythe on the side of his pack, which he had forgotten to draw while they ran, the half-orc threw down his stick and drew the superior weapon. He fought on.
Cann snapped and barked at the two foes, one on either side of her. Seeing Thistle, she circled so that the two wolves were on opposite sides of one of the bandits. Cann paused to bare her teeth to the foe on her left, then lunged once again.
The moment is here, Gubble realizes. Heroes are born around you but few times in a lifetime, and here is one of those times. So the halfing quickly pulls on the ties holding the flag, no Their Flag, letting the black banner to unroll into the wind.
For one moment, he stares at it, basking in it, in truth. Then the moment is over cause there is blood and pain and NEED for these heroes.
Hustling forward he announces how this one will sidestep and that one will back track, each as quick as he could, letting the seconds of the future flash before him.
The flag though he lets speak for itself.
Bolstered by the presence of Their Flag just unfurled by Gubble, and the inspiring words of the Halfling, the group makes short work of the brigands.
Jalros steps in next to his adversary, and delivers a tremendous left hook which leaves him reeling... Until he is cut down by Guthlag, the Reaper!
Elgrin rushes ahead to engage another opponent, and with a tremendous slash leaves him down and bleeding to death.
As Naomi nurses Thistle back to health, Hamish engages in a fine display of swordsmanship, stabbing the man with a well aimed thrust, and then replying to his opponent's attack with a fatal parry and riposte combination. With a pierced lung, the bandit falls to the ground.
Cann attempts to bite the archer, but misses.
The remaining bandits run away for their lives.
The caravan defenders are left to cry for the dead, and tend the wounded.
'Sorry girl this was my fault. I was too busy trying to prove we could carry our own weight. I thought the swordsman was one of the fleeing archers.' Seeing Thistle wasn't totally healed; Naomi breathed another prayer. "زخم های سبک را درمان کنید." As Thistle started to heal more, Naomi noticed that the sound of combat had subsided. Looking around as the bandits fled, and the defenders began checking on their wounded. She realized the stress of the moment was passing. Clearing her throat, she patted the healed wolf on the head. "Good Girl."
Picking up her walking stick from where she dropped it, Naomi stood, straightening her deep blue cloak. Looking down at the wolf, almost as if nothing happened she told her, "Thistle heel." Giving a light woof, Thistle followed along as Naomi moved to speak with the man and woman south of her near the wagons. "Hi I'm Naomi," She looks around quickly seeing Elgrin over her shoulder. Gesturing his direction, "And that's Elgrin, How can we help?"
As she asks, she kneels beside he fallen man beside her, "تثبیت کردن". Saying a quick prayer in hopes to stabilize him. She then begins to use mundane methods to check to see if he is still alive or not.
Still huffing and puffing from the run, Hamish quickly masks his surprise as the bandit practically steps onto his blade and collapses at his feet. Spinning around to seek another target he slowly realizes all are down or have fled. Seeing no further immediate danger he cleans his blade with the bandit's tunic and then limps over to see what help he can offer the few survivors.
"Tykee's Grace upon you sir, madame." He says walking toward the two survivors near the back of the overturned wagon. "I'm sorry we didn't arrive soon enough to prevent this dastardly attack. But it seems the immediate threat is dealt with. May we help see to your people's injuries?"
Gubble pauses, turning slowly around to let his eyes try and make sure all the threats have truly all been dealt with and are running.
Then he hurries toward the people, his face grave. "Bandits. A desperate plague. Too common, leaving a wake of ruin behind them" he says sadly "I'm Gubble, this is Guthlag, Hamish and Jalros over there. As my companions have said, we will do all we can for you, you need just ask."
Ripping his scythe free of its bloody sheath, Guthlag looks around. Seeing that the bandits are fleeing, he chases after them. He makes it to the far end of the cart, reaching Cann's side. His wolf howls after them, but does not pursue. Guthlag slows to a stop, panting. Turning, he begins walking back to the cart, making it several steps before the pain of his wound hits him. He grimaces and almost drops to one knee, turning away so no one can see his face. It takes him a few moments to regain control of his breathing and relax.
Cann does not appear to have noticed the arrow in her side. Thankfully, it is not deep. The archer must not have had time to reach full draw in the panic of battle.
Surveying the scene, Guthlag retrieves his waterskin and takes a drink. He offers it to Naomi, to give to the man whose wounds she is treating. "How shall I help?"
As Guthlag finishes off the one bandit, Jalros looks around and sees the others retreating. Holding his position until he's sure none return, he makes his way over to the others. "Let us know what we can to do aid you all."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Gubble considers the options that might help, "Setting up a campsite for these good people, emptying out the wagon so we can return it to its proper position. Providing lookouts in case the bandits decide to come back. pausing the small man looks around then adds "Digging"
The caravan members are in disarray, running around and trying to understand if any of their fallen traveling companions still lives.
"Well met Miss and Mr" - the man replies to Naomi - "Cordell is me name. You have already helped much! They just came out of the woods..." - he seems in shock, plopping himself down on the floor.
"They attacked the guards first, the bastards!" - the black haired woman replies to Hamish - "And one of the horses ran off, taking the cart with him..." - she seems a bit disoriented, looking around for something, but then points to a southern copse of trees, where you see another caravan cart on its side, and a horse still attached to it, complaining and whining - "There!"
"Perhaps some of the fallen can be saved..." - another man replies to Gubble, looking around the scene of carnage.
"We should hire them for protection, or we may never live to reach Bard's Gate" - shouts another.
"You boys already done a lot" - an older woman adds to Guthlag and Jalros, her hands soaked in blood from trying to stop the bleeding from one of her own companions, whom she does not even know still lives or not - "We owe you our lives. I think they would have killed us all... Like they did with Harper here..."
'Pity' Standing up from the dead guard, Naomi turns towards the two who introduced themselves. "A pleasure to meet you." She gestures towards the dead guard, "A pity it's under these circumstances. Your guard is dead."
She pauses and looks towards the second woman. Nodding she turns and continues walking towards the fallen guard near Jalros. Without looking over her shoulder, she calls "Come Thistle."
As she kneels down beside the fallen guard. Breathing a prayer "تثبیت کردن" she hopes to stabilize him, then begins to inspect the wounds to see if he is dead or not.
Hamish nods to the woman and seeing the stranded horse, gathers up Snowbell. After making sure the mule is safely tethered to a nearby tree with sufficient patches of grass, he walks to the copse to calm and unhitch the poor beast from broken wagon. He also takes a few minutes to see if the wagon can be salvaged.
The former riverguard had seen more than a few wrecks and broken axles in his time and this one looked bad to him. It was certainly beyond his meager skills to repair.
"Not much left of the wagon I'm afraid." He says to the woman leading the horse back to the main road where those more skilled with animals can look it over for injuries.
Guthlag follows after Hamish. "Let me speak with the horse for a moment, before you untie him." He approaches slowly, touching the horse gently and making low soothing noises, hoping to make it so that the horse won't bolt as soon as it's able.
Cann watches from afar, an arrow still sticking from her side. Neither her nor Guthlag appear to have noticed it yet.
"My friends are helping yours in that way. You should sit down, here, drink this water, we'll work on the rest." he tugs at the man to have him sit on a convenient rock like it was perfectly placed for a weary man to sit on a moment ago even though it has rested there for decades if not centuries.
He will start looking around for a shovel.
Saddened by the tragedy before him Elgrin seeks to make himself useful by digging a grave so they can properly bury their dead.
She pauses and looks towards the second woman. Nodding she turns and continues walking towards the fallen guard near Jalros. Without looking over her shoulder, she calls "Come Thistle."
Thistle follows.
As she kneels down beside the fallen guard. Breathing a prayer "تثبیت کردن" she hopes to stabilize him, then begins to inspect the wounds to see if he is dead or not.
This guard is alive, and now stable.
Hamish nods to the woman and seeing the stranded horse, gathers up Snowbell. After making sure the mule is safely tethered to a nearby tree with sufficient patches of grass, he walks to the copse to calm and unhitch the poor beast from broken wagon. He also takes a few minutes to see if the wagon can be salvaged.
The former riverguard had seen more than a few wrecks and broken axles in his time and this one looked bad to him. It was certainly beyond his meager skills to repair.
Hamish is not sure if the wagon can be repaired, though he does notice two more men fallen down next to the wreck, wounded by arrows.
The horse is completely freaked out, so Handle Animal checks will be needed, from Hamish and/or Guthlag. Or Wild Empathy. Or some other strategy - anyone has an apple or a carrot? ;)
"My friends are helping yours in that way. You should sit down, here, drink this water, we'll work on the rest." he tugs at the man to have him sit on a convenient rock like it was perfectly placed for a weary man to sit on a moment ago even though it has rested there for decades if not centuries.
The man accepts the water with an empty look, and sits down. Gubble finds a shovel amidst the remains of the damaged wagon. Both him and Elgrin start digging up graves.
Two men from the caravan start pulling corpses away and throwing them to the side of the road.
The older woman starts directing the others, to try and retrieve whatever can be salvaged from the wagons - there is a mix of fabrics and foodstuffs, grains mostly.
The man named Cordell stares as Naomi moves over to aid a second victim, then he picks up the guard's shortsword, and starts swinging it left and right with a grim look on his face.
Letting the much more capable Guthlag deal with the horse, Hamish instead checks the bodies of the men found near the wagon.
Letting the much more capable Guthlag deal with the horse, Hamish instead checks the bodies of the men found near the wagon.
Looking at their gear and armor, these seem to be one driver and one guard. Hamish realizes they are both dead - one with a broken neck, and the other seems to have bled out from three arrow shots.
The horse is still very agitated, but after a while Guthlag manages to calm him down with an offer of a treat, and bring him back to the group.
----------
With the short sword in hand, Cordell goes over to Naomi - "I want to travel with you, learn how to fight" - he has anger in his eyes - "Will you take me?"
'Thank Narrah!' Kneeling beside the wounded man, Naomi realizes he's still alive. "Bless the moon, this one is still alive." Placing her hand on the unconscious man's chest, Naomi speaks a quick prayer over him. "تثبیت کردن" As the man begins to stir, she notices 'Cordell' looking at her then moving towards the sword picking it up. 'Oh what is he up to?' Placing her hand back on the wounded man, she says another prayer gesturing with her other hand. "تقویت دیپلماسی", this prayer, instead of asking for healing, is one asking for divine help talking to the upset man.
Raising an eyebrow as the man asks her about traveling with them and learning how to fight, She looks from the man to his family. 'Doesn't he have a wife and a child? What in Narrah's name am I going to tell him?' Standing up, she smiles at the man. "I understand your frustration, But we need to take care of the wounded and see what's salvageable for your companions." Gesturing towards the guard she was helping. "We can talk about who's going where once we make sure everyone is safe and able to travel." She lifts both hands to shoulder height, gesturing trying to calm him. "Please put the sword down and help us take care of these poor folks." She smiles looking back to the woman, 'And hope that cooler heads will prevail.'
After saying a quick prayer to Tykee over the two bodies, Hamish grabs an apple from the sack he got for Snowbell and passes the fruit off to Guthlag and the spooked horse. He then joins the others in either gathering up what can be salvaged or digging graves for the dead.
With the short sword in hand, Cordell goes over to Naomi - "I want to travel with you, learn how to fight" - he has anger in his eyes - "Will you take me?"
"Please put the sword down and help us take care of these poor folks." She smiles looking back to the woman, 'And hope that cooler heads will prevail.'
Jalros moves over to where Naomi is and notices the man with the sword. Just managing to catch the conversation, Jalros looks at him stoically a moment before, "No. You can't. Now do as Naomi says and put the sword down before you kill yourself, and help these people in any manner necessary. I won't tell you again," he says plainly to the wanna-be warrior, staring at him until he complies.
