"I can scout the way. We'd be fools to think that because we do not see the ambush that there isn't one waiting. Give me ten minutes. I will either reach the fortress having discovered nothing or I will return with the enemy's position."
Valeria was glad to see the souls released from the spell and found the new situation to be an intriguing turn, one that might work out very nicely. She had no objection to the plan and followed along when they were on their way to their next destination.
As they discussed their plans on how to go after the Taldan Horse Valeria nodded her agreement at a stealth approach and said, "That makes the most sense to me." She looked at the valley thoughtfully and asked, "How far down do you think it is from the top of the ridge to the buildings? I might be able to create a means to quickly get us back out of there if we get caught."
Lope nods silently and sees Triphylla turn invisible and then does not see her leaving. He leans on a rock and observes with tension the field, trying to determine where the bold halfling might be located, and paying attention to any indication things have gone wrong "Little valiant thing, she is going to see her head chopped one day, but I expect it would be after some grand deeds written in the annals of Taldor"
Triphylla downs her extract and seems to vanish although you notice the grass moving slightly where she passes.
Satisfied you zoom towards the distant Caravanserai. About a quarter of the way towards the Caravanserai, you notice a group of five possibly six men lurking in grasses. So far you're 100' away and at this distance they look like bandits to you. They are slowly headed towards your companions, it looks like they are intending to fan out presumably to surround them.
This is bad! Triphylla had not expected to find the enemy so soon and not only that, but they clearly have spotted her group and are advancing under cover to surround and ambush. She thought, maybe, she might spot a group of bandits laying low, that they could turn the tables on or simply avoid, but this aggressive tactic limited her options.
She drops a Smokestick to alert her comrades of the enemy position, then quickly moves through the line to get behind the ambushers, still invisible. She then changes direction to attempt to outflank the perimeter of the bandit advance.
So the rest of you from your hilltop notice a cloud of smoke appear about a quarter of a mile away in the grassy valley between you and the Caravanserai.
St. John sees the smokes and says "I wonder if that is our little friend trying to send us a message."
A minute passes...
Triphylla moves quietly to ambush her ambushers. She drinks her mutagen and a Shield Extract for good measure.
Her goal is to get within pouncing distance of one of the bandits before she strikes.
St. John shrugs and says "I doesn't look like a fire only smoke. Anybody get a better look?"
Esinti freezes when his eyes spot some of the tall grass shaking. Instinctively, he reaches for a potion on his bandoleer, one of invisibility. "We've been compromised and they're coming for us, but I only have two potions of invisibility."
S#$%, S!@@, S@++, S$#!, S!%#!
Bandits were one thing. Triphylla had total confidence that when properly hulked up she could easily murder a company of common bandits. But a lion was a completely different animal. Her father had fought a lion once in the Oppara Arena. A halfling verses an adult male lion, what a show! Of course mother aided him with her alchemy, and he bested the beast, but bore scars on his chest and back for the remainder of his days. And anyway, it was only one lion and no bandits. With its claws and ability to grab on to prey, the lion made the bandits much more dangerous.
And it would smell her. She did a quick finger test to the wind, then maneuvered to be downwind of the lion.
1|2|3
4|T|5
6|7|8
It was coming straight out of the west, which was extremely lucky given her current position. Taking a wad of Barbarian Chew into her mouth, she then pulled from her bandolier a Cytillesh Stun Vial. She could only hope her companions had seen the smoke and spotted the approaching group. The time to attack was now, before the lion was on her scent.
Triphylla strikes the instant the lead bandit moves within spitting distance. With a tick of her head she channels her inner rage, infernal horns twisting out from her scalp, claws and teeth sharpening; time slows for a heartbeat before she springs into action.
Lobbing the Stun Vial at the lion, she then takes a step and unleashes into the nearest bandit thug.
5' step toward green
"Yeah, the smoke is strange John. But I have no idea what might it mean, maybe we should move forward, she might be in danger" Lope says forcing his eyes to see in the distance.
Only when Esinti raises her alarm, the Aldori reacts "Where?! Where is the enemy?"
Without further info, Lope resorts to casting a long lasting defensive spell, ablative barrier, and ready Gloria at his hand.
John says "We should move left. I'm no good at sneaking so one of those potions would do me good. If they are coming toward us they don't know where she is. We get out of sight and then move left."
Valeria stayed back with Lope and John while Tryphilla and Estini snuck forward. She kept her eyes opened and saw when the smoke appeared.
She didn't think much of the smoke at first, there was a camp they were sneaking up on after, but the something still seemed worrisome about it.
The smoke continued to appear but she thought nothing further of it, probably just some very green wood being burned or some idiot set something on fire. Nothing to be concerned about. She didn't somment as the suggestion was made to move to the left, she simply prepared to do exactly that while she had her crossbow at the ready.
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Everyone except Triphylla hears a loud crac-THWUMP as a stun vial detonates. This is followed by a gasp of shock from a man foreshortened by a blood curdling scream.
<--- FAIL
<--- FAIL
After disemboweling one bandit and darn near ripping him in half, Triphylla binks the blood away from her face as the huge lion in front towers above her. It seems momentarially phased by this sudden turn of events!
Environment: Normal.
Buffs and Debuffs:
Lope
Triphylla All the buffs
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
Lope
Triphylla All the buffs
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
COMBAT ORDER:
Lope <----- WE ARE HERE
Triphylla
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
Lope and Triphylla are up.
The spray of blood and gore fuels Triphylla's infernal honey badger rage. Now she bares her fangs and leaps at the stunned lion!
"What the...?? Is Triphylla! Fighting those men!" Lope quickly reacts cutting the space between himself and the men while casting shield on himself and making Gloria burst into flames.
Lope rushes towards Triphylla who descended upon the stunned lion like the goddess of death. Lope witnessed bits of lion flying in multiple directions in front of the terrified bandit who having wet himself ran away from the blood and gore splattered halfling.
On the other side of the battlefield the other bandits along with their lion rushed to surround Lope!
St. John moves forward to support Lope and tries to give him an opening to fall back. He shouts out to Lope "I'm here!"
Triphylla spits out a chunk of the lion's heart ventricle, looks up and sees the bandit fleeing from her in terror. She knows she can easily run him down, and so she does. There can be no survivors to reform with the militia to continue the fight against her comrades later on.
2x move
"Good then, here we are!" Lope maneuvers, stepping back, closer to St. John, and trying to keep himself out of being flanked, while testing the defenses of the leading bandit.
Esinti focuses his efforts on the man in front of St John. While his technique is right, his heart isn't in it. Are these men really the ones they ought to be fighting? It's only when the clash of weapons starts filling the air with their song of death that Esinti 'wakes' up.
With the fight on Valeria made her way a little closer, pulling her crossbow as she did, and cast a spell on the big, furry, cat that was attacking them. She pressed a compulsion into it's mind that generated a murderous rage towards one of the nearby bandits.
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Lope's sword Gloriana bursts into flame, cauterizing flesh as it cuts deeply into the lead bandit. The man gives a surprised yelp.
With frightening speed, a gore soaked Triphylla chases down the fleeing bandit who is trembling with fear.
The bandit Lope struck attempts to counter attack, but he just can't sneak past the Aldori's defences.
<--- MISS
<--- MISS
Another bandit suddenly vaults over a rock, and tumbles just under Lope's blade before landing behind in a perfect flank. His blade lashed out with a perfect cut, which burned a line of fire into Lope's back.
<--- YES
<--- CRIT?
<--- NO
A pair of bandits take on St John, who blocks and parries the one in front.
<--- MISS
<--- MISS
He also manages to duck the horizontal cut from the one who snuck behind.
<--- MISS
The lion roars as it runs around and takes a swipe at Diana, leaving deep parallel scratches across her stomach.
<--- HIT
St John's Falcata opens up a deep wound in the bandit in front of him, the man screeches in pain.
Estinti's weapons blur as he lashes out, but somehow the bandit he was fighting manages to dodge and parry his attacks.
Valeria's magic makes the Lion pause momentarially, it looks confused before it snorts, shaking it head and continuing to menace Diana!
<--- PASS
Environment: Normal.
Buffs and Debuffs:
Lope
Triphylla All the buffs
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
Lope
Triphylla All the buffs
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
Damage Log:Round: 1
Purple was hit by Lope for 19 (total damage taken 19)
Lope was hit by Yellow for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Diana was hit by Lion for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Red was hit by St John for 15 (total damage taken 15)Totals:
Purple: 19 damage
Lope: 12 damage
Diana: 12 damage
Red: 15 damage
COMBAT ORDER:
Lope <----- WE ARE HERE
Triphylla
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
Lope and Triphylla are up.
Lope's ablative barrier takes part of the lethality of the hit, while he maneuvers with a quick slash of his blade, trying to finish off the purple bandit while stepping back to avoid the flank.
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Lope runs the guard through, the man dies choking on his own blood.
Meanwhile Triphylla straight up rips the fleeing bandit's head off.
One of the bandits curses Lope, "Oi! He killed Vors, come on, get him!" The bandit who had been fighting St John spat in fury, tumbling away from him to face Lope. The pair team up circling him, the man behind sweeps at Lope's feet forcing him to jump while fury lends the man in front to land two telling blows and soon Lope is bleeding freely.
<--- CRIT?
<--- YES
<--- CRIT?
<--- NO
<--- SUCCESS
<--- MISS
The other bandit sneaks past St John's guard.
<--- HIT
<--- MISS
With a bloodcurdling roar, the Lion pounces on Estinti. He manages to flinch away from the bite, but the Lion’s claws make a mess of his arms.
<--- MISS
<--- HIT
<--- HIT
Environment: Normal.
Buffs and Debuffs:
Lope
Triphylla All the buffs
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
Lope
Triphylla All the buffs
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
Damage Log:Round: 1
Purple was hit by Lope for 19 (total damage taken 19)
Lope was hit by Yellow for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Diana was hit by Lion for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Red was hit by St John for 15 (total damage taken 15)
Purple was hit by Lope for 21 (total damage taken 40)Round: 2
Lope was hit by Yellow for 19 (total damage taken 31)
Lope was hit by Yellow for 9 (total damage taken 40)
St John was hit by Blue for 8 (total damage taken 8)
Estinti was hit by Lion for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Estinti was hit by Lion for 9 (total damage taken 21)Totals:
Purple: 40 damage
Lope: 40 damage
Diana: 12 damage
Red: 15 damage
St John: 8 damage
Estinti: 21 damage
COMBAT ORDER:
Lope
Triphylla
The enemy
St John <----- WE ARE HERE
Estini
Valeria
St John, Estini, Valeria, Lope and Triphylla are up.
St. John returns the attack from the man and yells to Lope "I'll be with you in a moment. Bring them this way."
Valeria shifted to a defensive stance with one of the bandits so close to her and cast a spell defensively calling on negative energy to use against her foe. She managed to complete the spell without giving him the chance to attack and reached out to touch him with the energy of anti-life before stepping back from him.
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St John gets a couple of good hits in, smashing into the bandit with sword and buckler. The man reels back and St John's follow ups go wide. However the man had blundered towards Valeria who invoked the wrath of Nocticula which manifested itself as if he'd tripped into a blender. Already badly wounded, this was too much and he slumps to the floor, twitching occasionally.
Triphylla keeps moving, rushing to give one of the bandits flanking Lope something else to swing at.
2x Move.
Lope endures the terrible slices as best he can, and survives just because of his protection magics. Stepping back, closer to St. John, he finds Trip's flanking "You are no Qadirans', I smell your treason to Taldor at meters distance!"
Triphylla rushes towards her companions, and Lope's sword flicks out at the false bandit, scoring a red line along the man's side!
Estinti's weapon darts towards the snarling lion again and again! He manages to land two solid blows.
<--- HIT
<--- MISS
<--- HIT
The two remaining bandits, or rather traitors snarl at Lope's words and they continue to circle him. They clearly have been trained to work together and one of them gets ever so close to breaking through Lope's guard, but he's Aldori trained duelist and in the end neither lands a blow.
<--- MISS
<--- MISS
<--- MISS
<--- MISS
Meanwhile the Lion roars as it absolutely mauls poor Estinti.
Environment: Normal.
Buffs and Debuffs:
Lope
Triphylla All the buffs
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
Lope
Triphylla All the buffs
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
Damage Log:Round: 1
Purple was hit by Lope for 19 (total damage taken 19)
Lope was hit by Yellow for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Diana was hit by Lion for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Red was hit by St John for 15 (total damage taken 15)
Purple was hit by Lope for 21 (total damage taken 40)Round: 2
Lope was hit by Yellow for 19 (total damage taken 31)
Lope was hit by Yellow for 9 (total damage taken 40)
St John was hit by Blue for 8 (total damage taken 8)
Estinti was hit by Lion for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Estinti was hit by Lion for 9 (total damage taken 21)Round: 3
Lope was hit by Red for 19 (total damage taken 59)
Lion was hit by Estinti for 24 (total damage taken 24)Round: 2
Estinti was hit by Lion for 31 (total damage taken 52)Totals:
Purple: 40 damage
Lope: 59 damage
Diana: 12 damage
Red: 15 damage
St John: 8 damage
Estinti: 52 damage
Lion: 24 damage
COMBAT ORDER:
Lope
Triphylla
The enemy
St John <----- WE ARE HERE
Estini
Valeria
St John, Estini, Valeria, Lope and Triphylla are up.
Seeing a more even battle with the remaining bandits St. John moves to help with the lion. He yells out "I'm on my way Estini."
Triphylla rages again, this time at the nearest bandit (red), intent on taking his face off.
5' step
The Stack: Shield+Dex Mutagen+Dex Rage+Power Attack+Combat Expertise: Attack +11, Damage +5, AC +10
Giving internal thanks to his previsions on protective spells casting, Lope switches again his position, looking to give Triphylla a flank and help himself as he slashes at the traitor!
St John's Falcata blow was wild and hurried yet the lion wasn't armoured so it bit in deeply, causing the animal to snarl and roar in response.
Meanwhile Triphylla tears into one of the bandits. Lope moves to circle the bandit Triphylla was fighting. The other one thought he saw an opening an he lunged at Lope's back, but the Aldori was ready and he brought Gloriana up in a neat parry.
<--- MISS
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Badly hurt, desperation lent Estinti focus. He stepped back and flicked his weapon out repeatedly, hitting the lion multiple times.
<--- HIT
<--- HIT
<--- HIT
Valeria invoked Nocticula's wrath once more, her hand becoming a nimbus of darkness. She reached out and touched the already wounded lion and a multitude of deep cuts and abrasions appeared. The big cat whimpered before it fell twitching horribly as it died.
<--- HIT
The remaining two bandits or rather Taldan traitors continue to circle Lope, but they seem to be tiring, none of their attacks come come to hitting.
<--- MISS
<--- MISS
<--- MISS
<--- MISS
Environment: Normal.
Buffs and Debuffs:
Lope
Triphylla All the buffs
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
Lope
Triphylla All the buffs
The enemy
St John
Estini
Valeria
Damage Log:Round: 1
Purple was hit by Lope for 19 (total damage taken 19)
Lope was hit by Yellow for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Diana was hit by Lion for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Red was hit by St John for 15 (total damage taken 15)
Purple was hit by Lope for 21 (total damage taken 40)Round: 2
Lope was hit by Yellow for 19 (total damage taken 31)
Lope was hit by Yellow for 9 (total damage taken 40)
St John was hit by Blue for 8 (total damage taken 8)
Estinti was hit by Lion for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Estinti was hit by Lion for 9 (total damage taken 21)Round: 3
Lope was hit by Red for 19 (total damage taken 59)
Lion was hit by Estinti for 24 (total damage taken 24)
Estinti was hit by Lion for 31 (total damage taken 52)
Lion was hit by St John for 15 (total damage taken 39)
Red was hit by Triphylla for 22 (total damage taken 37)Totals:
Purple: 40 damage
Lope: 59 damage
Diana: 12 damage
Red: 37 damage
St John: 8 damage
Estinti: 52 damage
Lion: 39 damage
COMBAT ORDER:
Lope
Triphylla
The enemy
St John <----- WE ARE HERE
Estini
Valeria
St John, Estini, Valeria, Lope and Triphylla are up.
Seeing the lion fall, St. John moves to flank one of the traitors with Lope and attacks him.
Despite his strong bleeding, Lope tries to keep his position, trying to finish the yellow bandit with St. John, but if he already dealt with him, he focuses in the other one with Triphylla.
With his blade slipping out of his hand, Lope performs a quick movement just to avoid losing al balance, and catches the sword in the air with the other hand "Aha! Distracted eh!"
With the flanking assist offered by Lope, Triphylla snarls at the bandit, whose life she is about to end in the most violent way possible.
The Stack: Shield+Dex Mutagen+Power Attack+Combat Expertise: Attack +9, Damage +5, AC +8
St John moves to flank with Lope and his Falcata flashes out and landing a nasty cut on the traitor's back. Estinti moved to attack the same bandit, but the man moved suddenly when St John hit him ruining his attack.
<--- MISS
Valeria invokes the wrath of Nocriculla once more. She stepped in to attack and again numerous small wounds appear all over his body making him contort in pain.
<--- HIT
Triphylla only managed to hit the other bandit once, but that was all she needed to rip his head clean off and send it bounding away.
The last man dropped his weapon and put his hands up crying, "PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!"
Triphylla rushes at the last wounded bandit, making for all the world like she's about to jump down his throat and rip his guts out from inside. But at the last moment she stops. Soaked in blood and gore, she jabs at him lightly with one of her claws.
"You better have something useful to tell us if you're bartering for your life. What of the defenses of the fortress? How many guards? Any spellcasters? Any secret entrances or weaknesses? Is there a password or code to enter freely? Leave no detail unsaid and you shall walk away from this."
Lope swiftly moves his blade in the air menacing the bandit with a clean death "You better answer or I do not respond for my bloody friend here"
The Aldori negates with the head "Why all this treason to Taldor, you are Commander Staubel men, isn't it?"
The man sullenly nods to Lope, before muttering "We followed commander Staubel's orders. We've always followed commander Staubel's orders, even if they were unusual."
He seems very scared of Triphylla and she suggests he might go free the man shakes his head, "As much as I'd prefer if I could walk away, I don't think that's likely. Why should I believe you?"