Better light a torch just in case.
He hustles along....
All perceptions
The group bravely rushes headlong into danger!
Hearing heavy footsteps hustling down the path, the ruffian holding the young woman turns to see the group coming, "Oy! We've got company!" he shouts to his companions.
He holds on to the young woman, ◆draws a dagger up to her throat.
"Come any closer and the girl gets it!" he shouts at Ascaede.
Ascaede feels herself hesitate, fearful for the young woman's life.
Waedin stops coming forward and puts away her hammer. We heard someone gettin' hurt so we came to see what's up. Don't want any trouble...
One act put away hammer, rest of the turn trying to deescalate and trying to figure out if the ruffian means it.
Weadin can see by the young man who's been beaten to the brink of consciousness, and by the terror in the young woman's eyes that this man has no compunctions about slitting her throat.
But, in response to Weadin's disarming approach, he lowers the dagger, although keeps a tight grip around her, "If you don't want trouble, best you just ignore what you've seen here. We're gonna leave and take the girl with us. Official business, understood?"
Not needing any pretense, Ascaede throws her hands out in front of her, almost as if to ward off danger.
”I hear you. No-one need be harmed here…” she says shakily, though a part of her training keeps her noticing as much as she can about the ruffians…
Ascaede stands haughtily, trying to master her jitters.
”We had to hurry - Boss Kreed says this one is ours. Redrock business. Hand her over.”
Sébastien attempts to look tough....
The head ruffian laughs, "Redrock Gang, are ya? Haha! Gee, why didn't I see you at the mixer last night? Haha!" The other two ruffians join in the laughter. "C'mon boys, I think everyone's learned their lesson. Let's get this strumpet back where she belongs."
The other two ruffians throw the beaten young man down to the ground, give him a final kick to the ribs for good measure, then stand in the path, interposing themselves between their boss and the party.
"No please! No! Help!" the young woman cries out.
Ustemir gives Kolek a subtle command and runs out of the treeline , screaming bloody murder.
"Bear! Run away! There's a friggin bear here!" he charges towards north, feinting panic, and turning around every few steps to check his distance from the "pursuing" animal.
In the meantime, Kolek plays his part by letting out a furious roar and chasing after Ustemir.
◆ Stride
◆ Stride
◆ Raise sheild
Stepnik steps forward ready to throw whatever is needed should the situation escalate.
He looks warily at the bear to make sure it's doing what it's supposed to.
In a sudden change of tactics, Ustemir causes a commotion, and with Kolek chasing him, one of the ruffians doubts his life choices.
Stepnik follows in the chaos. Hey, nice shield!
Taking advantage of the sudden commotion, the young woman tries to free herself from the ruffian's grip.
Her struggles are in vain, and being so grabbed, there is little else she can do other than crying out for "HELP!"
Shemar, catching onto the ruse, gives a startled yell "Ahh!" and heads off into the woods.
and takes cover behind a tree.
Okay, if I hit that main bad guy with the girl with a [i]Grease spell, I could trip them up in the commotion without them knowing it was me. Timing will be close. We can't let him take the girl, but I don't want to start something with this Kreed guy either.[/i]
Sébastien seems both perplexed and pouty.
A rapid animal thatcould cause us all harm!
The halfling runs away!
Sébastien decides to do some stuff!
Firstly, the Bard begins explaining--loudly--how best to Escape ones bonds.
Secondly, the Bard casts a spell!
Liberating Command
Thirdly, he points to a flock of seagulls singing.
Shemar follows Ustemir's lead and runs and hides in the bushes. He can feel pretty confident the ruffians have lost sight of him.
Sebastien details the fine art of escapism to the frantic young woman.
His words fail to inspire.
But his spell does grant her the motivation to try again.
She feels weak in his grasp.
What are seagulls doing this far north in the mountains?
With all the sudden commotion and the young woman trying to wrest away from his hold, the head ruffian tightens his grip.
He maintains his hold, then tries to drag the young woman away from the fray.
He is able to pull back 15 feet!
Ascaede moves forward, zigging and zagging just a little until she ends up on the other side of one of the toughs Ustemir flanks.
"That bear is coming for you!" she yells in the gangster's face...
Waedin draws her warhammer again and tromps slightly around the chaos aiming to get to the hostage.
Ascaede’s threats fall flat. Perhaps the ruffian is too concerned with the presence of bears and seagulls to be paying attention. But, once they realize the forest path is getting a little crowded, both goons ◆ brandish their clubs, and in panic, start bashing.
The second ruffian swings away at Ascaede.
The third ruffian takes off after his biggest concern, the bear!
Ustemir feints once more as the man strikes Shae. "Hey! You leave my squad alone!"
He whistles, and Kolek charges at the man that struck Ascaede.
Support Benefit Your bear mauls your enemies when you create an opening. Until the start of your next turn, each time you hit a creature in the bear’s reach with a Strike, the creature takes 1d8 slashing damage from the bear. If your bear is nimble or savage, the slashing damage increases to 2d8.
When Kolek is in position, he swipes at the man, once with each hand.
As Kolek runs past the ruffian, he takes another swing with his club.
Noticing the ruffian that chose to attack him Stepnik decides he needs to even the score somehow.
"Hey! Why pick on me? I'm no threat".
He makes to turn and run... then suddenly lunges back to an attack.
◆ Feint (Deception vs. Perceptions DC)
Deception
◆ Draw Dagger
◆ Strike:
Dagger
blade
To the ruffian's (maybe) surprise, the bear seems to take sides with our heroes! Ustemir calls for aid, and Kolek answers. In a flash of steel and fang, Ustemir stabs and Kolek bites. The ruffian looks roughed up, but remains on his feet.
Stepnik deceives his foe with a feint. Although the ruffian is caught off guard, Stepnik's dagger misses.
The young woman continues to wrest away from the leader's grasp.
No dice.
We have to get that woman free before we can really move forward. What's her looking to do with... No, nevermind.
◆◆Grease
"Langivar! Assail that main bag guy!". Shemar will tell his familiar.
◆command familiar
Langivar "It seems that I might need to teach you some lessons. This is certainly not funny."
If you cast this spell on a worn object, the wearer gains a +2 circumstance bonus to Fortitude saves against attempts to grapple them.
A creature wearing greased armor or clothing gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks and combat maneuver checks made to escape a grapple, and to their CMD to avoid being grappled.
The sounds of cursing comes from the bard!
The confidence shining off the Maestro, Sébastien calls upon a nice round stone to toss at the asshat grappy hands!
Shemar coats the young woman's blouse in grease. That stain will never come out. At least she's a bit more difficult to hold onto.
Langivar pesters the lead ruffian, buzzing about his head, but not close enough to incur an attack of opportunity.
Sebastien inspires everyone with his shouted obscenities. He really makes a show of it! With all the distractions, the ruffian doesn't see the rock flying through the air, and gets nailed.
"Time to get out of here," the lead ruffian mumbles. "Hold them off, you nimwits!" he shouts to his two lessers. He's a professional, and he has a job to do, so he continues in his efforts to abduct the young woman.
He maintains his grip.
Emboldened and greased, the young woman resists the ruffian, and the dancing couple stays put.
Ascaede mumbles something incoherent under her breath as she tries to get her balance back. As part of her wobble, she brings forth a piece of blue cloth, and waves it in the ruffian's face. Then, weaving her curved blade in a complex pattern slashes at him twice...
"You. Hit. Me! Now. I. Hit. You! With Blue!" she snarls.
◆ Exploit Vulnerability ◆ Strike ◆ Strike
Waedin marches up to the lead ruffian, and smacks him one.
Ascaede weakens her foe with his least favorite color, blue!
Her first strike knocks him down!
Waedin moves in to the young woman's rescue. She gives her tormentor a good whack with the old warhammer!
Sébastien struggles not to laugh....
Sébastien struggles not to laugh....
Sébastien concentrates harder!
If only it was Bless!