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Waynir, keeping a tight hold on the reins, smacks them down hard on the ponies rear, shouting "Get on". Quickly glancing over his shoulder to see where the riders are situated but still intent on reaching the copse of trees.
Waynir sets off, and the trap picks up speed heading for that copse down the slope.
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Armand deftly closes with the advancing rider. He takes note of the rider's partner, who having slipped in a patch of slick grass, lost his mount and barreled head first towards the cold earth. Armand smirks.
His blade flashes, and he knows as it comes down the rider will be able to block the misplaced blow.
Armand notices the slick grass and carefully avoids it, but his sword arm slices just as the second rider takes his jump. The man ducks under the blow and pulls tight. The horse leaps.
Waynir hopes he can control the pony and trap on the bumpy track, and keeps such a tight hold on the reins his knuckles go white.
Ride Check
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Waynir manages to get the pony and trap cantering along and the animal and him seem to have an understanding. The gap back to the cart and Talfen widens quickly so that they are soon over 90 feet apart. But the track down the slope is noticeably rutted from the hill's run off of water. Ahead the track looks to be the same, showing that some heavy goods cart had recently churned up the way.
Lazarus has beads of sweat popping out of his forehead but the vigorous motion of the trap doesn't stop him from his somantic gestures. Slowly a patch of sandy coloured lights are growing between his hands. The flecks of sand begin to light and sparkle with magic.
At the back of the party, Armand misses her rider, but the man misjudges where the grease began and his horse loses both forelegs as it takes off, the creature and rider barrel into the other horse, knocking the man into the saddle where he stays slumped. His sword spins into the ground next to the other fallen rider.
Meanwhile Vincent runs down one of the right horsemen, with a yell, his lance flings the man like a rag doll into the path of Roland who kicks his neck for good measure. There is an audible crack. And Vincent comes to a stop about 30 feet from the main track on the right.
But the three remaining riders all speed up to a gallop and charge in, arrowing straight for the pony and trap. They cover the 100 feet or so in mere seconds and the one from the right carries on past to the pony's head. The two on the right move in close to the trap, slowing slightly to match speeds on either side of Lazarus and Waynir.
Waynir, seeing the riders closing on the pony and trap, shouts;"FASTER BOY, FASTER", giving the pony another whack with the reins.Then turns to Lazarus and says;"Hold on tight".
Waynir uses all his strength and skill to control the pony and trap, down the rutted track towards the copse of trees.
Ride Check -
Whoever these riders are, they clearly do not want the group to succeed in their mission for the Marquis. Talfen begins jogging down the path towards the pony trap, then stops. Reaching into his shirt and grasping the amulet that hangs about his neck, he calls on his arcane band, allowing him to cast a spell that he had not previously prepared. Hastily intoning the words and pulling a length of horse hair from his belt-pouch, the young wizard begins a summoning…
As the words of the lullaby finish, Lazarus releases the sleep spell at a point just behind the man bearing down on him. The cloud of enchanted particles drape over the man and his horse like a warm blanket on a cold winters eve, inviting slumber and rest.
With the spell completed, Lazarus snatches up his crossbow and begins to sing again, this one a stirring battle hym the dwarves of the north sang in times of strife. The little gnome had always found this tune very uplifting and hoped his companions would also.
Vincent spares a brief second to glance at the fallen bandit before spurring Roland down the trail after the rest of his comrades. Vincent spurs his mount to a gallop and barrels down upon another rider.
Thinking it best to take one alive and wounded Vincent lowers his lance aiming for the brigand's weapon and commanding Roland to kick the rider. Vincent puts his back into the strike hoping to leave his foe weaponless in one pass.
Ride check to let Roland kick 1d20+2=17
Armand turns from the fallen men and charges back towards Lazarus and the others. They seem fairly intent on Waynir... he thinks as his horse gallops forward, sword leveled at a new opponent.
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End of Round Two
Talfen 22
Vincent 20
Waynir 15
Lazarus 12
Brunt 11
Armand 10
Riders 9
Talfen moves down the slope 30ft exposing himself between the cart and pony and trap. His body resounds as magical armour appear and disappear into his body making him briefly seem covered in chains of armour before it all is gone and he returns to normal.
Then Vincent charges down the slope after the pony and trap. His lance knocks the man's longsword into a cartwheel over the moving the mumbling gnome. Then the horse clips the rider in the shoulder sending him head over heels onto the ground.
As this all happens Waynir snaps the reins and the canter becomes a gallop with no real effort, the pony and trap takes off into a full run down the slope travelling about 120 feet, but Lazarus was ready and retains his spell.
Brunt gets down from the cart and moves towards the two downed riders. One squashes between the two flailing horses.
He looks around and the two remaining riders speed up. They outdistance their fallen rider and soon catch up with the pony and trap. As they near Lazarus unleashes his cloud of sandy magic and one falls asleep. The rider slumps over the neck of his horse. The animal, by some sixth sense, seems to realise what has happens and it naturally veers away from the track, slowing as it goes. The second rider keeps going past the trap and veers in on the pony's side again.
Brunt's eyes widen as the first rider gets to his feet and pulls the close longsword out of the ground, shaking dirt from its tip. Then the warrior steps forwards in a defensive stance.
Armand charges back past Talfen, to just behind Vincent but she started in front of the cart and so could not quite reach the pony and trap 90 feet behind it.
Perception DC15 Waynir/Lazarus
Waynir feels the presence of a rider closing fast.
Perception -
Lazarus continues to sing encouragement for he and Waynir, loading his crossbow as he does so. He looks around for more enemies, but doesn't see any immediate threat.
"I'll help our new found friend behind us go help the the ones on the cart sir." With those words Vincent rears Roland and heads back to help Brunt.
Talfen concludes his spell, and, with no fanfare, a brown riding horse, complete with saddle, bit and bridle appears, standing calmly on the trail beside him. It waits patiently whilst the young wizard climbs awkwardly into the saddle, then canters forward towards Waynir and Lazerus.
Armand continues forward looking to close with the man and level a blow to his striking arm. He continues to try and put himself between his less armored allies and the bandits bearing down on the group.
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End of Round Three
Talfen 22
Vincent 20
Waynir 15
Lazarus 12
Brunt 11
Armand 10
Riders 9
Talfen's horse appears and as he mounts, the horse peels down the slope after the pony and trap, his feet barely able to find the stirrups as he tries to take control. The half-elven eyes widen as the knight, Vincent, rides straight past him, going in the opposite direction back up to Brunt and the cart.
Waynir undaunted by the way ahead, keeps the pony and trap racing down towards the copse. While Lazarus calls on everyone to greater effort and skill.
Then Brunt steps in and slices the unhorsed rider, cutting his longsword across the torso and nicking the man's arm.
Armand rides after Waynir and Lazarus but the speed and distance involved is too large, he does close the gap a little and ahead sees the trap almost tip over as it reaches a large rutted hole in the track. Lazarus bounces up and down but the song continues.
The rider facing Brunt steps across a little so that Vincent has no clear run at the man and he slashes two handed at the soldier's throat and he barely escapes with a bloody gash.
The second rider concentrating on his target, the reins of the pony, gallops closer and closer to the pony and trap, not noticing the hole ahead. As the pony jumps smoothly passed the rutted danger, the horse stumbles and the man falls under the left wheel, causing Lazarus to bounce again. A sickening crack is heard from the ground.
Talfen concentrates on guiding the horse, staying in the saddle, getting to the pony trap. He thinks he sees the rider that was chasing the trap go down, but he’s not clear on the entire picture.
Lazarus is jostled and bounced in the rear of the trap as it races down the road. He calls out to the dwarf driving the machine to slow down while he desperately looks for more enemies.
"WAYNIR! I think you can stop now my friend, let us regroup" under his breath he also states "And hopefully not break our necks on this thing!"
Waynir concentrating on keeping the trap on the rutted track, pulls back hard on the reins to slow the pony down.
Perception
Ride
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Vincent prepares to deal with the rider facing Brunt and the man shrugs as he sees the way the rest have fared done the slope, his hand opens and the longsword slides out onto the ground.
Meanwhile as Talfen gives chase, Waynir attempts to slow the pony and trap, this proves very difficult and although the pony complies the slope is against him, and the trap begin to weave and wobble across the track.
Waynir fights with the pony and trap trying to slow it and keep it on the rutted track.
Dex 17(+3)
"Brunt if you'd be so kind pick up the man's sword."
Vincent holsters his lance and sidles up alongside the surrendering swordsman.
"I'm glad you've the common sense to surrender too many men throw away their lives for no reason. Come along I'm sure milord would like to hear why you and your comrades set upon us."
Vincent will escort the brigand down to the rest of the group at the cart. Vincent is unconcerned that the man may run, after all he's unmounted if he tries to make a break for it the futility of his feeble attempt to escape would dishearten stronger men.
Watching in horror as Waynir is flung from the pony trap, Lazarus desperately moves to drag on teh reins and stop the vehicle.
"Whoa there!" he calls.
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Waynir catapults out and tumbles across the grass, stopping in a thicket of thistles and the odd dried cowpat.
The swordsman shrugs at Vincent and looks about for this Lord. He carries himself slightly askew thanks to the wound Brunt gave him.
Meanwhile Lazarus goes for the reins as the pony feels them go slack. . Luckily he manages to haul the pony back just as its about to cut loose. Instead the pony merely stops.
With the pony and cart stopped finally, Lazarus whoops for joy. The excitement of the moment catching up with the little gnome.
He jumps down from the wagon and rushes across to Waynir, checking to see if teh dwarf is ok. As ghe gets close enough to seee the dwarf stirring, he stops short. The smell freshly disturbed cowpat reminding him he's wearing a good set of clothes and limiting his assistance to a called "Are you ok my crazy dwarven friend? WHOOOOBOOOY, can you drive! Do you sail as crazy as you stear a pony trap." Man, I'm looking forwards to this trip more and more".
Realising there was still danger and some loose attackers t be taken care of, the hyped up little bard calls to teh others "Is everyone ok?. Someone needs to round up the one I put to sleep before the spell wears off" He gestures with a vague wave of his hand at the horse milling about on the moor while the rider is slumped in the saddle.
As Lazarus gets near to where Waynir has landed the Dwarf is getting to his feet and brushing himself down, narrowly missing a fresh steaming cow pat by a couple of inches. "I'm fine, I'm fine", he shouts, though he is feeling a little stupid allowing himself to be thrown, but tries to put a brave face on it.
Your right Lazarus we had better regroup in case of a further attack, plus we need to find out where these riders have come from. I'll check the pony and trap for any damage, we don't want to loose a wheel.
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Waynir takes a minute to go round the pony and trap. They do not seem hurt or damaged, although the pony is blowing a bit from its mad race down the slope.
Lazarus and Waynir can see the rider closest to them, is the one that fell under the trap. His neck is twisted and broken, his arm is also at an odd angle. The horse is nearby, grazing on the moorland grass with its rein dangling down.
Seeing no one else is moving to do so, Lazarus quickly hirries over to the horse with the unconcious rider. He quietly grabs the reigns of the beast before leading it back to the pony trap where the others have gathered.
As he moves he calls to the big warrior on the horse to come and guard the sleeping man, and possibly disarm him.
"I'd do that myself you see, but I just can't seem to reach that high. Damnabl beasts are built too tall I say. What's wrong with riding a pony?! Really, its very inconsiderate of these boys."
There is a glint in his eye and a spring in his step, the addrenaline still wearing down from the fight. He was glad they hadn't died, and even more glad that they had managed to keep some of their attackers alive. He was not in the business of indiscriminate killing. Plus they should prove useful when it came to finding out why they were atacked.
"A moment Brunt let me take a look at that cut. You took it in service to our cause and fought alongside us, we'd be poor companions to let you wander about bleeding everywhere."
Vincent stretches down to lay a hand upon the wound. As he rests his hand upon the open gash he seeks inside himself for the source of warmth and peace that is taught to those who are Dovesmen and pushes the warm energy up from his hidden well of power and out through his hand into the still bleeding cut.
"I hope that helps Brunt."
Vincent turns then rides over to the sleeping soldier and sidles Roland up alongside.
"Glad to help Master Quint. You may be of better service helping Sir Armand in questioning our still conscious prisoner, I've heard that bards can be quite persuasive."
Vincent proceeds to strip the sleeping man of his weapons and shield. He moves to bind his arms when a thought takes him.
"Does anyone have any rope?"
Armand had dismounted and was contemplating his next move. He stabs his sword into the dark earth and leans nonchalantly against it, a smile playing at his lips.
The man in front of him was conscious and basically unharmed in the scuff. It was near impossible to tell which one of the brigands was their appointed leader, and at this juncture it mattered little.
"I'm sure that wasn't quite the result you were aiming for when this began hmm?" His smile broadens. Armand retrieves a waterskin from his pack and tosses it to the guarded man.
"So, shall we go through the whole song and dance of information gathering? Or can we just go straight to it?"
Armand waves the gnome over, feeling as though the water and the exhaustion from the battle may have swayed the man for now, but a more golden tongue would certainly be needed, and soon.
"Did you enjoy your carriage ride through the country side Lazarus?"
In response to Vincents question, Lazarus responds by waving his hand towards the trailing wagon. "I have a coil of silken rope in yonder wagon my large friend. Good stuff, for climbng and such. A Little heavy for me to carry around without need, but I thnk you will find it useful."
The little gnome then moves over to the young lord and lets loose with a beaming smile. The type of smile that would blind a man if they were in a brighlty lit area. Luckily for everyone they were in the Isles, though.
"Well my Lord, the ride was proving to be rather dull I must say. Nothing but moorlands and heath grass as far as the eye could see. However the arrival of these boys certainly livened things up no end."
He turns then to the prisoner, and looks him in the eye (the bard being about head height now the brigand was seated and dazed). "Tell me sir, whatever posessed you and your friends to try and attack us? I'm sure you have a perfectly good reason for it."
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The wounded man watches as Vincent heals the neck wound of Brunt. Then he goes towards where Armand and Lazarus are holding court over the once sleeping but now awake other survivor.
The silk rope makes each rider start a little as they realise that their lives are still in the balance. The wounded one leaves all the talking to his more confident mate.
Eventually the rider shakes his head, "not right. No. We was told the dwarf was evil an' we came to stop him and his plans. Tolorn hired us from the Fat Angus last night and offered good gold for that. He said he was in league with witches an' warlocks with him but told us they wouldn't be aroun'. Not no guards. No. He said the dwarf was going to start stealing children soon an' take them away on his ship, you know baby-stealing like all them dwarves do."
When asked the rider points back up the slope to the rider that slipped and was squashed between two horses. The pile of bodies is just beyond the cart.
"He couldn't ride at all. We was fools to listen but then he did buy us Black brew, lots of brew. It was him. Tolorn."