If she can move as indicated then she will do so. She assumes that Rhaegal will make it back to Sanglamore for help, while she and Jorquimo can go for this guy.
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Yes, that sounds like a very sensible thing for Guðrún to do! Is there just one look-out on the nearer platform? And is it possible to see if there's a look-out on the second platform on the other side of the river, or is that obscured from where I am? And how likely is it that the nearest watchman can be taken out silently? I'm unlikely to repeat the lucky sling shot from the last combat.
"Agreed, but we should clear the dam quickly. I'd like to reach the bandit camp and attack once it gets dark."
If Rhaegal describes the creatures to Guðrún, does she think they could be mites? She saw tracks of mites just before they started work on the dam. And if they are mites, what at the chances of such creatures working with the bandits? Knowledge Nature:
Guðrún pauses in her shovelling to give the matter some thought. Mental arithmetic is not her forté. "According to Valin there are fourteen at their camp. We killed four at Oleg and Svetlana's house, subdued Valin and Kreg, and now killed these two. That leaves.." <embarrassing pause> "... six bandits at their camp including Kressle." "If we wait here then we may draw out some more. I doubt that all six would come... but the longer we leave it to assault their camp, the more paranoid and prepared they become. I say that now is the time be bold. There are six of them and five of us including Rhaegal. We can prevail against those odds."
Guðrún makes her way to her two companions to check that they're uninjured. Upon seeing Jorquimo she can't help but give him a small grin. "You should wash that off before it dries," she says, gesturing to the stream. Guðrún suggests searching the bodies for any further intelligence about Kressle. She'll treat the bodies of the dead with respect, considering them honest enemies and fairly vanquished. As the group seems to have the time, she'll want to bury them both - somewhere out of the way, probably where Rhodeus is currently hiding. She assumes that the cleric will want to help, and possibly say a few words. She'll say a brief something over the graves - something suitably Desna-esque, such as going off on their final journey or something. As for looting... Guðrún's got no moral objections to that. The dead have no use of their earthly trappings.
Guðrún clocks the bandit nearest to her with a bullet from her sling (or at least she tries to). If she can remain partially in cover after the attach so much the better.
Guðrún understands the plan is to wait until Sanglamore's summoned celestial dog appears and attacks. So she will hold her action. 1) As soon as the dog appears, she'll attack the bandit that the dog is *not* attacking with her sling. 2) If either of these bandits start shooting at her companions before the dog appears, then she'll let loose with a sling stone at the nearest bandit.
Guðrún moves to take up a position concealed behind a tree at the very edge of the marshy area. She watches the track that
Perception:
Initiative:
I don't think we can absorb the backed up water with anything, we'll have to make do. Suggest we take up ambush positions and wait for the bad guys. The mule and our prisoner should be concealed beyond the dam, so there's no chance of the other bandits stumbling on them first. I suggest that the first act of combat should be the attack of Sanglamore's summoned creature, and then it's a free-for-all. Do we need a map?
If possible, Guðrún will use her woodsy skills to make the dam look as though it could have been caused naturally - such as the fallen tree than Jorquimo suggests, or the work of a beaver. We don't want the bandits to be too much on their guard before we attack.
Survival: Add another +2 to that result if she can use her favoured enemy bonus, another +2 if someone uses the Aid Another action, and another +1 if Sanglamore casts Guidance. So the result for making the dam look natural could be as high as 27! Yay!
Let's make a point of backing away into a more private locale before asking these questions.
”You actually care what happens to these lands?" Sanglamore says looking a little surprised. Guðrún shrugs. "I do. I think we have to." "So are we ready? Let's make Kreg safe and Valin ready to travel. We have some miles to cover and a hard fight at the end of it. Rhaegal and I will take point, if that's acceptable to you?" she nods politely at the cat.
"Rhaegal, please do not think I am attacking your beliefs. It's the perception of those beliefs that concern me. You say Jorquimo is unenlightened, well so am I and so is everyone else we're likely to meet. We can't afford to become known as the group that eats the dead, or we'll never achieve real change in these lands."
"I agree, Sanglamore, we can't keep having this conversation. The truth, as I see it, is that our commission is to do more than simply pacify these lands. We have to make them ready for civilisation, we have to make them want to give up their barbarous ways. I came from a tribe where force and power ruled over reason and justice. That is no way to command a country and no way for us to behave either. We need to strive to be better than that. I have no qualms in killing in the heat of battle, but survivors are different. We need to treat them fairly. Our remit dictates that we put to death only those that are beyond redemption, we must make those decisions wisely. We may achieve more through compassion tempered with steel than force of arms alone. That is one of the reasons I am so concerned with Rhaegal's predatory calling. Eating the hearts of the fallen will not be perceived as "honouring" them. It will do us no favours in the long term."
Can't outdo that even with daft luck. But my contribution: Knowledge (Local):
"And what does that exactly mean, Rhaegal?" Guðrún asks. "Our charter gives us leave to execute unrepentant bandits. We should take that responsibility seriously. Killing in the heat of battle is one thing, but judging a wounded man after the event takes more thought. We can't judge Kreg at the moment." She then turns to Rhodeus and says: "What is Kreg's condition? Could we safely leave him here while we take care of things at the camp, and then return for him later? Is he likely to wake up and escape within the next day? Can we restrain him? Should we, with the wounds he has?" "I suggest that we follow Jorquimo's suggestions regarding Valin, and give him a chance of redemption. It will be his only opportunity to prove himself to us. As for Kreg... we leave him here if Rhodeus thinks it wise, and come back for him later." "When we reach the camp we will be outnumbered eight to five. If we can attack from surprise then we have a chance to even those odds. We should move out soon. Beyond all of that, have any of us heard for the "Stag Lord" or the "King of Pitax". Guðrún almost certainly hasn't, but I can roll on any knowledge if either of these characters are human.
"Very well. But what of Kreg?"
Guðrún is not present for this conversation. If Jorquimo seeks her out she'll say the following. "As they are both confessed bandits the logical thing to do would be to kill Kreg, and imprison Valin until after we have acted on the information he provides. I would be extremely nervous about sending him to Oleg and Svetlana. We don't know how he would act without the threat of Rhaegal upon him." "However, I have been thinking about what you said, about pacifying this land by replacing one form of barbarism with another ... perhaps we have a responsibility to be better... I am not a deep thinker, but I do not believe we can persuade the people of this land to civilise by violence and bloodshed. We must be strong, but we must also be just and know when to be merciful. "So in all honesty I am not sure what to advise. If we kill Kreg while he is helpless, we simply prove to Valin that we are no different to the mistress he serves. If we are to put him on the road to a better life the we have to show him that there is a better way."
Are they the same as the kobold tracks we saw earlier? Knowledge Nature:
Guðrún throws her arms in the air. "Jorquimo..." She then heads off to patrol the immediate vicinity. She's looking for tracks that don't belong to either Vince or Kreg, and to make sure there isn't a gang of bandits creeping up on the party. This at least, she thinks, is something she can do without making matters worse. She'll make a point of physically distancing herself from any further conversation with Valin. If required: Perception:
Guðrún will try diplomacy, although it is far from her forté. Perhaps Jorquimo will quickly salvage this situation. Diplomacy: "My name is Guðrún, Valin. We have come to these lands to rid them of brigands. Four of their number are already dead by our hands, and now we hunt their leader. We know she is a woman who favours a hatchet, and that her camp is near here. You also know these things, I think. We did not want this battle with you, and we have the power to restore Kreg to health... but we need information. Will you help us? You cannot want this banditry to continue."
"What is your name?" Guðrún asks in a slightly more kindly voice.
"Rhodeus is favoured by Erastil. He is in good hands." Let's throw Guðrún's good sense at this. Is the boy telling the truth, are they just hunters in the wrong place at the wrong time? Sense Motive:
"Do not lie to me. You set the ambush. Your companion took the first shot. You are young, but not too young to die here. Now, answer my question."
Guðrún walks up to the younger man. If she can pick the sling bullet out of the crater in his forehead for effect, then she will. "You will tell us the location of your camp."
Okay. A 5 foot step to get line of sight. Ranged attack as a standard action, and then she'll use the move action to head back into cover. Guðrún won't attempt a stealth check, there's no point... she just wants to put some cover between her and the ranged attackers (something to improve her AC!). Happy to move back to her starting point if that provides cover. Ranged Attack - Sling - Bludgeoning - (20/×2)
Okay: question time! Now they've both fired, they've given away their position (unless they can immediately make another Stealth check at -20, which I'm guessing they can't). Now that Guðrún knows exactly where they are, does she have line of sight to attack the lower bandit (the one Rhaegal isn't attacking) with a ranged weapon? If she has line of sight then she will attack on her turn. If she doesn't have line of sight, she's going to try and move up stealthily through cover until she gets into mêlée range. I know this will take a few rounds, but she doesn't fancy charging a bowman. She'll be moving 30 ft. each round - that's two move actions through difficult terrain, each move action covering 15 feet. That will allow her to make Stealth checks without penalty to remain hidden while moving. Of course, Sanglamore goes first... so her actual actions could depend on what he does.
If we're moving into next round, then Guðrún uses a move action to draw her weapon, and another to make a second perception check:
Edit: So I guess I spot one of them?
Guðrún is holding her action. Does the fact that Rhaegal has run over to the pair give her any insight into where they are now?
Perception check: Okay, Guðrún's still doesn't see them, so she really can't do anything until the bad guys give themselves away. She therefore holds her action, and will act depending on what the hiterto unseen enemies do. 1) If they head to engage Rhodeus (or come toward her) then she'll stay where she is and wait for them to come within her mêlée range. It seems likely that with her previous stealth check they won't see her until it's too late. 2) If, on their action, the bad guys flee then Guðrún will pursue them.
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