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"Hmm peculiar, I am not so sure about them being ethereal though, I believe the trail you see left behind them to indicate they are more likely to be moving through the Astral realm. It is most peculiar though, I wonder what they are searching for. Carrion Hill is built upon an old graveyard if I recall correctly, perhaps an old artifact or other treasure is entombed and they search for it."
Stepping back from the lens and taking in the room more fully
"Not to change the subject, but Master Gormut what do you know of the Blackspears Bandits?"
When Hugh doesn't seem to be forthcoming with conversation, Martaug shrugs and goes back and makes sure everything is set on the wagon (making sure to walk wide around the contenious horse). When Valdisara says time is wasting, he nods, takes the reigns, and clicks the team into action. They head toward the barn with the blue doors.
Grumblenaught, Yalka
The boy listens to Yalka, wide-eyed and carefully. He looks around for an instant when the constable is mentioned, but you get the impression that that's just the natural reaction of a child active in the streets.
"I can appreciate that, ma'am. But I've started to tell stories and perform songs in the Crypt Markets, and I've been learning from some of the storytellers 'round town how to do it right.
"And there's always a difference when stories are told by someone who's really been there, who's seen things with his own eyes. I can tell what the constable's seen, but sure as toads are green, he could tell it better.
"And I'm ready. I know how to use a sword --well, mostly-- and I own my own shield. I wouldn't even ask for a share of the treasure.
"How old were you when 'the thrill of adventure seized you by the heart and took you in its dark embrace'?"
Deserach, Zosimus
"Astral? That suggests some poss-i-beel-eet-ies. Thank you."
He's startled by your question. "No-theeng. There are always highway robbers, of course. But they yoo-soo-al-ly do not go to the trouble of naming themselves.
"But it seems that you came for more than a cas-u-al visit. I have been shown to be a wretched host. Come, let us dis-cuss your matters furr-ther as men of com-fort." He returns down the spiral staircase.
Martaug
"I would appreciate if you didn't speak of the home country, you un'derstand. Thing might have changed there, but probably not. And it's safer for me an' Frieda if we kept our noses clear of any old feuds."
Kara, Martaug, Orisalv, Valdisara
The rest of your preparations in town are uneventful. You head out along the north road. towards the hideous blue rendezvous point. As you go, would it be accurate to say that a healthy caution keeps you on the look-out for trouble?
About a quarter mile north of the city, a raven begins circling slowly overhead, about 100' or so.
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DM Chris:
I will of course follow Gormut downstairs, once things have settled in downstairs I will inquire about the caves in the area.
"My friend and I", nodding to Zosimus "are interested in areas in the immediate region, mines or caves that would be substantial enough for a group of bandits to possibly hide away in, particularly any that might be infested with...well...giant spiders. Now I know that there are many such caves in the region, but Zosimus though that you might be able to direct us to some that might be of some relevance."
GM Chris
GM Chris
Valdisara has no skill with driving a team of horses, so she chooses instead to sit in the back of the wagon and keep an eye to the party's rear. Her blade casually rests across her knees, ready should she need it.
Chris & Grumble:
"Story-Chanters are popular with Yalka's people also. They seem to tell whatever is most popular, if truth or not. Many people like. Yalka likes to know truth. But Yalka is not biggest Story-Chanter of tribe."
When he asks when I first dreamt of adventuring, I add:
"Yalka always curious, to know amazing truth of past, of parents. But maybe will never know. I leave tribe when it was time. Friend of Yalka leave with me, and we hunt and laugh together, but then we meet bandits and now Yalka's friend is dead from bandits. Deputy Win buried her."
As we walk back up the hill towards the Inn, I ask him if Settled-Town people wrestle like Yalka's people, and the biggest opponent he has beaten, as well as what his family is like. I he's inclined, I'll see if he can try his best move on me, and when it fails, I'll grab him and spin him around, 'helicopter' style, for a bit. After that, I'll get him to tell some "rhyme" songs: Hallit sentences don't rhyme well, but Yalka enjoys it alot.
Coming to the Cold Comfort Inn, I hold the door open for the kid and Grumble to enter, first saying:
"Please be humble. Deputy in much pain now. He has faced terrible beasts, ones Yalka would not want to fight. Like Story-Chanters tell, even biggest warrior will fall one day. We hope this not the day for Deputy Win."
GM, Kara, Martaug, and Valdisara
Seeing the black armored figure skulking has left me spooked. To calm myself and inspire my companions, I recite the seventh canticle of 'Hymns to the Wind and Waves' which instructs us that the storms which shape our lives are destined to nurture the strong and winnow the weak, allowing the forest to grow and survive.
GM Chris, Kara, Valdisara, and Orislav
He shrugs his big shoulders "Dere's other comparisons ta nature, but I know bees pretty good."
Gm Chris, Yalka
He stumps alongside Yalka and her tall horse for quite some time, letting her carry the conversation with the youngster until, with the Cold Comfort finally in sight, he speaks.
"Laddie. Stooch, was't?" absentmindedly, he chews one of his dark braids before continuing. "Stooch." He stops, and plants his stumpy arms on his hips. His voice is a low rumble. "Adventure, well.... it ain't all swords an' shields an' treasures an' glory. Sometimes it's naught but pissin' yer britches scared, watching someone - someone ya knows, and who has stood beside ya through it all afore - watchin' that someone get their face et off by summat what moves too fast fer you ta do anythin' about, an' ain't just hungry, but hateful an' wicked. Sometimes, it don't pay ta go lookin' fer adventure... Adventure has a mind of it's own, an' might be it'll come lookin' of it's own accord."
Bowing his head briefly, Grumble meets the lad's eyes, fixing him with a stare that owes much of its weight to sadness. "Lad, I buried a brother who weren't much older'n you, who happened ta have the misfortune of bein' inna way of Adventure. I'll be damned if I am gonna bury you."
Grumblenaught & Yalka
Stooch listens to everything Talka says, smiling at times.
"Truth is good, an' all. But it's a rare person who pays for truth, an' not for entertainment.
"All right. I'll talk to the Constable. If he's as bad off as you say, he'll probably not be up to runnin' after me for awhile anyways.
"But when I get old enough, when it's 'my time', I'm goin' out exploring. And I want to go with you, and do amazing things, and get rich, and then I can buy my own cheese!"
When you reach the Cold Comfort Inn, he sighs. "I'm ... I'm sory to hear about your brother. I'll , I --" He turns and pushes his way through the front doors.
May I presume that the two of you continue on your way, on Yalka's warhorse?
Deserach & Zosimus
"Caves?" Gormut asks, back in the comfort of his reception room.
He shrugs. "The county is leet-ered with caves, but mines ... hmmm." Your question seems to have started Gormut along a chain of thoughts. "Un-fore-tune-ate-ly, that map's locked in...
He looks at Zosimus, and then at Deserach, taking his time. Then, he sighs again and sits straight up. "I have dee-ci-ded to trust you. There is an old iron mine nearby, atop a river bluff. Years before either of you were born, the owners broke through a wall into an Ar-teer-ee-al well, flooding most of the mines and chambers. At first, the owners constructed a windmill to drain the caves, but that became impractical, and the mines were allowed to fill back up.
"It has come to my notice, that the windmill began operating again, last week. I do not know if any bandits could be living there, but it is as yet unknown who is attempting to drain the mine. If, in the midst of your air-rands, you could find out for me, I would wel-come the information.
"Would the two of you con-see-der pair-for-ming a small favor for me, so that I might tell you the loe-cae-tion of the mine?"
Kara, Martaug, Orislav, & Valdisara
Martaug, there's only a single raven up there.
Valdisara, you see a single puff of dirt in the distance behind you, and then nothing else.
A minute later, you hear the sound of horses, galloping hard, ahead of you and off to the left, behind a gentle rise.
Orislav, it strikes you that it's a lovely day for a combat.
GM Chris, Yalka
Chris & Grumble:
Not realizing the target of his frustrated mutterings and cursings at first, Yalka eventually gets the idea, and leans over to help the stout Dwarf haul himself up behind her on Lightening. Knowing the Dwarf doesn't like this sort of thing, I don't comment except to say in her own quaint way:
"Both bandits & spiders are bad news. But we must help family, to honor Deputy Win."
Yalka, Grumblenaught
Just as Yalka tries to draw Grumblenaught out of his reverie, Lightning's whinney draws her attention back to the rolling hills around you.
You hear a disturbance, including the fluttering of wings, ahead of you and to the left, beyond a hill 20' away. The road travels on ahead, clear for at least 100'. Shrubs and underbrush lightly cover the fields around you, including a large patch of buckthorn bushes to the right.
Chris & Grumble:
Along the way, I jab the drowsy Dwarf with an elbow, hissing "Wake up Dwarf! Do you have your crossbow!?"
GM Chris
The paladin hastily draws and loads her crossbow, holding it ready in the event the approaching riders are bent on mischief.
GM Chris, Yalka
GM Chris and the Wagon Crew
GM and teamsters
I take a place behind my companions, ready to support them. I look over my shoulder, checking that our driver is in cover.
"Once they are close, I intend to share one of the small bursts that the Father of Winds has given me. It's not very powerful, but it may hinder its target for a bit. Shout out if one target seems better than another."
GM Chris and the Wagoneers
Kara, Martaug, Orislav, Valdisara
At Valdisara's urging, Martaug stops the wagon and applies the brake. The raven continues to circle overhead.
You all start seeing the world through the lens of whatever tactics you were taught. Orislav, the wagon has pulled up close to a grove of elm trees, off to the left (west) of the road about 30 feet. The trees can provide either cover or total cover (if you duck behind them; your choice), and there's enough underbrush there to hide from casual view.
A half-minute later, two mounted figures come up over a rise to the west. Their armor is the familiar black leather with metalic trim. One of them is Brach, the man who'd drawn his longsword earlier. With him is a hobgoblin, in similar array. You don't recognize either of their horses, but Brach is mounted directly on the horse's back, without a saddle. Both mounts are out of breath.
Imagine a square grid, running in columns A, B, .. M and in rows 1, 2, ... 15. Your team of horses is in squares (Lacob) G3, G4, H3, H4; (Pasha) I2, I3, J2, J3; (Corb, the biter) K3, K4, L3, L4. Tepetta's wagon is in cells I6, I7, I8, J6, J7, J8. The grove of trees is in cells B7, B8, B9, C9.
You have a round of full movement to position yourselves or to move and ready an action.
Deserach, Zosimus
"The map you seek is in my ... my library." Gormut's tone turns low and simmers with anger. "Unfortunately, that room is currently in-fes-tahd with a minor spirit, which guards its new-found home against any in-troo-dahrs. Including me.
He takes a deep breath and relaxes a little. "I would dismiss it myself, you know, except that my Spellbook is also among its erstwhile horde.
"If you would be so kind as to allow me to use your Spellbooks to prepare my spells, I could clear the room and show you the maps."
Zosimus looks at Deserach skeptically.
Grumblenaught, Yalka
Grumblenaught, you slide off the horse, but not as acrobatically as you would have hoped. You land with a thud, fall prone on your hands and knees, and take 3 points of damage..
Yalka, Lightening reachs the peak of the hill a couple seconds before you're met by two grey wolves, panicked, racing for their lives, and stained red from several wounds. Pursuing them is a clatch of stirges. They have 4 wings each and they're coming upon you fast; it's hard to say how many; perhaps a dozen, maybe less. And they're on you.
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GM Chris
Chris & Grumble:
Once I see them approaching, my instinct is to spur Lightening on ,
avoiding the swarm by angling to the side as much as possible.
I attack the nearest ones, trying to clear a safe path for the horse: Main Hand: 23 to hit, 6 dmg, Off Hand: 24 to hit, 6 dmg BINGO!
Deserach
As you begin the pleasantries the civilized arcane society requires, Zosimus places his right hand on your shoulder.
"Actually, my friend, why do you go on ahead without me? I'll see what I can do here, and I'll rejoin you as I can."
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I will nod at Zosimus in aggeement. "Well then I better make haste I don't want our new friends to leave without me. Zosimus I look forward to discussing your findings when I return." Turning to Gormut I give a shallow bow and then turn away towards the door pausing slightly before turning back towards our host. Reaching below my robes I will withdraw a small black leather pouch and hand it towards Gormut. "Where are my manners" I will mutter to myself. "In return for you gracious hospitality a gift of Osirions finest black salt, I look forward to future discussions Magister Gormut."
Once I have left the tower I will retrieve my pony and head to the rendezvous.
GM Chris and Wagon Crew
GM Chris and the Wagon Crew
"Oh, look!" the half-orc rumbles "Bracht an' his knob-goblin catamount were able ta find some horses ta steal after all. Did we rough up'a crippled greybeard for 'em, or did ya decide dat would be too steep'a challenge an' steal some unattended horseflesh?"
Chris:
...The demonic buzzing engulfing me, I spur Lightening forward, whipping out my deadly spear:
First giving it a half spin away from the swarm, before swivelling back and unleashing 360* of death...
Grumblenaught & Yalka
Hang on, Yalka. The encounter begins a second after Lightening crests the hill. Neither side is surprised.
Initiative:
Stirges -- 19+4 = 23
Grumblenaught -- 16+3 = 19
Lightening -- 17+1 = 18
Yalka -- 5+2 = 7
Wolves -- 1+2 = 3
Round 1.
The wolves are racing past you, not stopping, with the stirge swarm in hot pursuit.
As the stirges sweep past you, you skewer two of them on your spear. They fall to the ground, twitching in death.
Grumblenaught, as you get up onto one knee, armed as you see fit, you see two large, wounded grey wolves come charging over the hilltop, one on each side of Lightening, and plunge into the bucktorn bramble. That's gotta hurt.
Round 2.
And two seconds later, the stirges crest the hill. Several of them pursue the wolves into the bushes, and most of those get stuck amidst the tight branches and thorns.
A half dozen catch themselves before they plough into the brambles. They awkwardly wheel around to attack. Three of them can attack this round, and another three will be able to maneuver around and join the fight next round.
Two of them spin towards Yalka and Lightening, and one of them decides to see what a dwarf tastes like.
Yalka, you take your Attack of Opportunity against the two fluttering towards you, and you miss.
Lightening reares up and attacks one of the stirges as they approach, kicking one in the body.
The sitrges attempt to grapple. Two of them attempt to attach themselves to Lightening, and he manages to shake one of them off.
The one going after Grumblenaught dodges and weaves, fluttering around the ranger's back. (Grumblenaught, see what you can do against a grapple check of 29.)
Grumblenaught, you're up, then Lightening and Yalka. (Quandary, if the horse chooses to attack, please roll those results, too.)
GM Chris & Yalka (edited to reflect GM's post)
"Gaaaah!" Spitting out a mouthful of turf as he rises, Grumble shakes his shaggy head to clear it and favoring a gimpy right ankle. "I'd not mind horses so much, if they was a bit shorter, or came with ladders" the Dwarf mumbles, as he watches the mobile melee crash into a bramble thicket. "Not every day that I find meself rootin' fer the wolfs ta get away..."
His inattention proves costly, and the rapidly closing stirge elicits another shout amid a large amount of ineffectual flapping of arms. Grapple Check to avoid Stirge attack, CMB of 2 (1d20 2=14)
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GM Chris & Yalka ** Just out of curiosity, a weapon with 10' reach can NOT be used to attack a target that is 5' away, correct? Meaning my longspear or Yalka's double-great-long-thingy-spear is great for stopping a charge, or poking at a distance, but should be dropped for a personal weapon once the opponent closes, (hopefully taking an AoO on the way in)correct?**
Without a feat to allow you to choke up on the weapon, correct. Either that, or back up 5'.
GM and Wagoneers
if Kara has time to get to trees before being seen
"Go and take this." hand her my sling and bag of stones
take my place behind Martaug and Valdisara
after seeing the approaching riders
"Either they're escaping with the horses or they're running away from something. Or it's a distraction to send a second party behind us to steal our horses. Tepetta, keep an eye on the road. There could be more of them. There was a second human when we saw them in town."
"If they're running, we need to know what panicked them. Valdisara, should I get their attention with a 'storm burst' in front of them, so you can try talking?"
Wagon Crew
(And Orislav, Tepetta loaned you her team, but did not come with you.)
The two riders come charging up from behind you and to the left, looking like they're going to try over-running you or riding by with swords drawn. As they get closer, they see you're prepared for combat, and Martaug's spear is set against charges, and they reconsider and slow down. They begin this round in squares (Brach) A10, B10, A11, B11; and (hobgoblin) B13, C13, B14, C14.
Brach hears Martaug's taunt and growls inarticulately. The hobgoblin cuts in immediately, addressing Orislav.
"You be harboring a fugitive, an escaped slave, and a murderer. We be taking him back with us. If you be resistant, we will kill you, under the authority of the Order of the Night Vipers and our divine lord."
Initiative
Orislav: 19+2 = 21
Valdisara: 15+6 = 21
Kara: 18+2 = 20
Brach: 19
Hobgoblin: 18
Martaug: 11+1 = 12
When you take your turn, begin with your character in any space within 30' of the wagon. (Kara, you can begin behind the grove if you wish.)
If it's not yet your turn, feel free to post provisional actions. ("If the giant owlfish is still alive on my action, I'll circle around behind and attempt to harpoon it.")
Seeing that I don't have quite enough time to get to the grove unseen, I will decline Orislav's offer, and take up my sword. "Unfortunately, it seems they are upon us too soon for ambush. Let us be ready then."
Rumble on the Mountain:
Realizing the mass of the swarm has headed over the hill towards the Dwarven Mountain-Man, Yalka spurs Lightening back around, heading for the Dwarf, and as far down the road as they can make it. Once Lightening's headed in the right direction, Yalka tries to do something about the cat sized mosquito-monster attached to Lightening's neck:
"Grumble, we need get far now! Grab on!", I call out as Lightening barrels back down the small hill.
Wagon Team, GM:
The paladin stands tall in the bed of the wagon, her voice ringing cold in the still afternoon air as she stares at the churlish hobgoblin. "I assure you, you are mistaken. Leave now, for you shall take none unwilling who claim the protection of Iomedae..."
She raises her blade, unwavering, to point at the rider. "...or stay and dance the blades with us, and the depth of your folly will be proven on your carcass."
Grumblenaught, Yalka
Yes, Grumblenaught, if you have your longspear out, you can make an Attack of Opportunity against the stirge as it approaches you. If you have your handaxe, you can't make an AoO (because the stirge isn't initiating an action that provokes an AoO, nor is it leaving a space the handaxe threatens) but you would be able to attack it normally on your turn.
(And if you started out with the longspear, you could make your AoO with it, and then, after it attaches to your left shoulderblade, drop the spear to the ground, draw your axe, and attack on your turn. )
((But if you draw a weapon --move action-- and attack -- standard action-- this round, you won't be able to climb on board a horse till next round.))
So, Grumblenaught, what do you do?
Yalka, there's a feat that allows you to choke up on your weapon and use your greatspear against opponents who are right next to you. You don't have that feat right now, and the stirge really isn't "unmoving" (it's skittering about in a grapple with a Large creature.) If you wanted to use your spear, you could dismount, and then it would be in range for a double strike.
You could try an unarmed attack against it, but that would draw an Attack of Opportunity from it, since you don't have Improved Unarmed Combat. Drawing your dagger might be safer. And you never get an off-hand unarmed attack, unless you're a monk.
So, Yalka, what are you doing?
Chris & Grumble:
EDIT: Lightening is probably lucky I didn't go for 2 daggers with that Nat. 1 on the first 2WF roll...
GM Chris
Yalka
Grumblenaught, Yalka
Martaug
GM and Yalka
His crossbow thudding to the turf of the hillside next to the previously dropped boar-spear that generally sees most duty as a walking-stick, Grumblenaught takes a few short steps sideways, drawing a heavy hatchet from his belt and swinging overhand at the fluttering stirge that menaces him.
Chris & G-Man:
And two seconds later, the stirges crest the hill. Several of them pursue the wolves into the bushes, and most of those get stuck amidst the tight branches and thorns.
A half dozen catch themselves before they plough into the brambles. They awkwardly wheel around to attack. Three of them can attack this round, and another three will be able to maneuver around and join the fight next round.
There's three more completely free by the bushes, and stuck can always become un-stuck.
One more is on the hill, and probably would like to join the party.
And then your dance partner, if you didn't finish it off.
Lightening can probably outrun them, so we can take pot-shots at range if you don't leave your X-bow behind...
I'd just rather not get stung in the first place, if they're poisonous or something... Y'know...
Grumblenaught & Yalka
Just so you make your decision wisely:
Le jeu sont fait.
A stirge attaches itself to Grumblenaught, who whips a hatchet out from his belt and kills it with one blow before it can do damage.
This is when Yalka squeezes her stirge. It makes an outraged meeping sound.
Then Yalka reins in her horse, wheels him around to Grumblenaught, and moves down beside him. Right now, both of you are too busy dealing with the stirges to get the dwarf back on the horse.
The wolves continue to flee.
Round 3.
The stirge attached to Lightening drains blood, causing 2 points of Constitution damage , reducing it from 15 down to 13. This causes a loss of 3 hit points, from 19 down to 16.
The stirge that failed to latch onto Lightening last round tries again.
Three more of the little abominations squeal, flap their foul leathery wings, and descend upon you.
Yalka, if you let go of the stirge that's currently drilling into your horse, you can use your double spear to take a single Attack of Opportunity against any one of the four incoming opponents (the one on you, the new one descending on Lightening's flank, or either of the two swirling around Grumblenaught).
Lightening attempts to bite the new stirge fluttering about his head, but it crazily zig-zags around him, making itself almost impossible to hit.
Chris & Grumble:
The vile creature squirming and buzzing under my hands, I roughly shove it away.
...Whipping my Spear up & around, I let out a inhuman cry: "!!!NARAUL KAA!!!"
GM and the Warriors of the Wagon