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Yuki looks to Zanian,"I don't think spliting us up would be a good idea. The work for the second group consists of directly dealing with the Hellknights, while the first, if it goes according to plan, shouldn't have to." She turns her head towards Nesswen,"Do you think each of us has the strength to throw them over the bridge with all that armor? If any of us has a chance of doing that, it's Prevara and Savidus."
Janiven nods to Yuki. "The group that lures off the mounted guards will not be staying to fight. My advice would be for it to consist of a few of the older members, volunteers most likely, led by myself. As soon as the distraction is complete and they are un-horsed, we will flee back here. My advice is that you five take on the carriage."
"Using the bridge as a bottle-neck is certainly a good idea, and if you can manage to dump any into the river, that's obviously a bonus. I wouldn't count on it though. Even with surprise that might be difficult. But some combination of that and fighting is probably going to be your best bet." She nods to Prevara, "Dropping on them from above is also a good idea, and yes there are trees, especially in this area, not near the bridge."
Janiven shrugs again and leans back a bit, letting the questions and planning flow. So far it seems that they all have the same idea, ambush the wagon, probably at the bridge, all that's being discussed is the exact method of the ambush. "Might I suggest... she adds, leaning back in, "that each person spring the ambush in a way best suited to their own skills? For Prevara that may be leaping from a tree, while for Yuki that might mean sneaking from behind once their attention is held elsewhere... For Savidus..." She grins, "Well he might just walk into the road and stop the carriage with his hand."
Savidus smiles back and nods. "I would be more than willing to present myself obviously to draw attention from the rest of you."
"Ohhh.. It would be so convenient if they just thought Savidus was one of them," Prevara muses. "Or we could just take out the bridge, light some trees on fire... Is there any food left? All this thinking is making me hungry."
"I did not mean permanently, just to block it.." Prevara shoots back defensively. Pouting, she stands up and starts to wander in the direction of the kitchen. "I will be in the kitchen since there are so many great strategists already mulling the situation over. Please let me know when a decision has been made. I will do my part as needed." The Tiefling adds over her shoulder, "I eat when I can. The belly rules the mind."
"So we all agree that ambushing them on the bridge is best. Just a matter of who is where when they arrive at the bridge. Savidus up near the front of the bridge, will jump out after the mounted soldiers pass by. The rest of us will haul some sort of logs across the road behind the carriage and approach as necessary. Hopefully, Savidus can hold their attention until we get close enough for a surprise attack." Nesswen paused a moment to think.
"Wait, won't these Hellknight's in training be wearing something similar as Savidus? How will we be able to know which one is Savidus, minus the ones trying to kill us of course."
"I will make it obvious which I am," Savidus offers. "However I think I should wait before stepping out, until after the outriders have been un-horsed. Else they may be called back. I do agree that the bridge is an excellent location, but I also think it will be impossible to time it perfectly enough to catch them ON the bridge. There is a series of events to consider. Janiven's group jumping out, the mounted guards spurring forward, the time it takes for them to reach the caltrops, and then them dropping. I would advise waiting at least until they are almost on the caltrops before launching our own attack." He pauses and shrugs. "I just don't see how we can count on catching them on the bridge. I think we should attempt to trap them on one side or the other. Perhaps on the far side opposite the un-mounted guards to give us more time before reinforcements arrive."
"Whatever we do, we need to decide quickly. Time is passing and from what Janiven has said, I don't think we have much of it. Certainly not enough to gather any more complicated trap materials than the caltrops we have."
A few other ideas are tossed around the table but in the end it is decided that the ambush will take place at the bridge. Janiven urges haste since there is not much time before the prison shipment is scheduled to take place and they must arrive ahead of it with enough time to lay their trap. She leaves immediately with six others who happen to be at the shrine at that moment, including a well dressed but silent man she addresses as Sclavo. Before leaving she asks Gorvio to acquire all of you some horses but ensures that you understand this is just a loan and the horses must be returned intact.
A few minutes to gather your things and get into armor, and you are heading out to Gorvio’s uncle’s stable. A short time after that finds all five riding hard for the ambush site by a roundabout route.
Having already gathered her things and dressed Nesswen gets a quick glass of water while waiting for everyone else. She polishes the glass off as everyone seems to be ready to leave and follows everyone out the door as they leave.
Prevara gathers up the rest of her things, toast in mouth. Once her cloak is firmly in place and goggles adjusted she follows everyone out.
Savidus is the last person to make it out, mostly because it takes him the longest to get armored. When he does come out, he is fully armored, helmed, and gauntleted with his greatsword slung across his back under a makeshift white cape. That should be enough to separate him from the other hellknights.
It takes a bit to find a horse sturdy enough to carry his weight at speed, but he is outfitted just like the rest and within the hour they are nearing the ambush site.
It doesn't take long once you reach the bridge to find an out of sight but still nearby spot to tie off the horses. Then it's just a matter of finding a good hiding spot.
Zanian looks around quickly, and seems to stare off into space. It doesn't seem to inhibit his awareness however, as he manages to grab some mosquitoes out of the air before he gets bitten. His hood pulled low over his face he waits quietly.
Nesswen climbs into the tree and does her best to hide amongst its foliage keeping an eye out for their intended target, hoping that their plan will work.
With weapon at the ready, Prevara leans against the bridge as she waits. What was the plan again?
It doesn’t take long before the sound of horses plodding and carriage wheels creaking can be heard coming from down the road. In fact everything seems to go quite except for those noises as the retinue comes rounding the bend and fully into view. It seems that Janiven’s sources were correct. Four mounted Armigers are stationed around the carriage while another six guard the carriage itself. Two stand on each side’s running boards, one stands atop manning a large mounted crossbow, and another sits in the front driving the team of two horses. Also sitting in the front is a lone full Hellknight, word is this is the Armiger’s sponsor a young a gifted but low-ranking Hellknight named Shanwen.
The carriage rolls ever so slowly forward and it seems an eternity of just waiting for the inevitable alarm as one of the ambushers is sighted, but that alarm never comes. Instead it is the yells and shouts of Janiven’s crew that shatters the built tension. The carriage immediately stops and the sounds of mocking laughter can be heard from the arrogant knights, most especially from Shanwen. The four mounted guards rush off at a gallop after the insolent peasants that think to stand in their way, leaving the carriage stopped just shy of the bridge.
There are a few seconds of gripping weapons and deep breaths… And then the sound of pained horses toppling and the grunts and groans of men thrown to the ground atop a field strewn with caltrops.
Shanwen is quick to see his danger and immediately orders the man next to him to turn the carriage about and make haste back to Westcrown.
Yuki jumps down from the tree and uses her staff to help land.
Acrobatics:18 + 2 = 20
OOC: I would use acrobatics for jumping out of a tree right? Also, jumping down is a standard action right?
Noticing that the carriage does not appear to be moving toward them anymore, Prevara leaps out from her hiding spot. Chain in hand she attempts to sprint across the bridge toward the carriage.
Zanian draws his bow, but stays in his cover. He fires an arrow at the drivers hand, muttering, "Turn back to Westcrown with an arrow in your palm."
To hit 1d20+3=23
Damage 1d8+crit=12
Nesswen leaps from the tree she is hiding in aiming for the soldier on the top of the carriage with her shoulder. Hoping that both her sudden appearance and force knocks him off the carriage.
Nesswen leaps from the tree she is hiding in aiming for the soldier on the top of the carriage with her shoulder. Hoping that both her sudden appearance and force knocks him off the carriage.
No, I didn't see the map before I posted. I just looked at that and saw that. Ok, so hows dropping to the ground and Bull Rushing the forward Guard in hopes he causes the horses to sidestep. In hopes it rocks the carriage from their movement enough to cause the guard on top to lose his balance.
Nesswen leaps from the tree rushing towards the forward guardsman on her side of the carriage. A tantalizingly beautiful evil smile on her face as she readies her sword to strike.
Savidus comes around the opposite corner of the bridge from Prevara, his heavier armor slowing him down. He sets his grim gaze upon Shanwen, determined to capture and hold the Hellknight's attention so the others can devote their full attention to the less experianced Armigers.
As the ambush starts in earnest the Armigers look about in a bit of confusion, obviously not having expected a two wave attack. On Yuki’s side both of them immediately spot her as she hops out of the tree and while one just narrows his eyes with malice, the other relaxes visibly. In fact he can’t seem to take his eyes off the smooth graceful motions of the Tian as she dances. Wow… That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen…
This captivation isn’t even disturbed when the driver cries out in agony as Zanian’s arrow pierces through his wrist, pinning his arm to the bench he sits on. This might be because the pain of the wound seems to be too much for him and he quickly passes out.
On Nesswen’s side the guards barely have time to turn as she silently alights to the ground and runs up. In fact they are just beginning to turn as she is right atop them, ready to strike.
Nesswen flashes her sword from side to side before striking at her opponent. Slashing at the Armiger's sword arm, hoping that he drops his weapon.
Nesswen's sword finds a wide open chick in the Armiger's chainmail, piercing through his shoulder seevering muscle and tendons before passing back out the back. The man falls back away from the deadly woman, sliding off the blade and leaving a trail of blood down the door of the carraige as he falls slowly to the ground.
Seeing the driver mollified, Zanian turns his attention to the next most critical target in sight, the Armiger manning the large crossbow on the roof of the carriage.
The arrow flies true, striking the man in the thigh and causing him to buckle down to one knee in pain.
With the Armigers seemingly in hand, Prevara turns her sights on the arrogant, laughing fool. She moves up to the carriage and attempts to trip him with her weapon.
Trip Attempt (CMB):
Prevara runs up between the stopped horses, chain swinging in her hand. Shanwen spots her and a smile spreads across his face as he brings his heavy mace down to crush the impertinent Tiefling’s skull. That smile lasts about as long as it takes for Prevara to easily sidestep the blow, wrap her chain around his foot, and drop him to the floor of the driver’s seat. It is only through quick thinking that he avoids rolling clean off the carriage to the ground.
In no time he is back on his feet, laughing out loud as a follow up swing from Prevara gets tied up in the reins of the horses. Unconcerned with her for the moment he focuses on the charging Savidus, reaching out a hand to lash him with a gout of fire. The flames lick through the man’s armor, burning his chest, yet still he comes on.
Savidus continues his charge but the attack must have slowed him more than he believed as his sword imbeds itself harmlessly into the wood of the driver’s seat.
Continuing her dance, Yuki makes her way slowly over to the second guard on her side, the enamored guard's eyes following her every move. Her target barely has time to react before, without missing a beat, she pulls out her staff and swings it at the second guard in one smooth motion that seems no less a part of the dance than anything else.
To Hit:
Damage:
She manages a hit against his upraised arm that sends him back against the carriage, but he quickly recovers.
The ring of steel echoes as the last two, un enraptured Armigers draw their longswords and move onto the offensive against their attackers.
The remaining guard facing Nesswen furrows his brow and takes a determined stance as he swings in a simple shoulder to groin strike that Nesswen easily sidesteps.
Yuki’s target, however, has better luck as he steps forward and into his swing drawing a deep gash across her stomach, the red of blood seeping quickly out. A wide smile comes to his face at her cry of pain and he brings his guard back. Ready to remove this threat to perfect order.
The remaining Armiger, atop the carriage with Zanian’s arrow through his leg, decides that discretion is the better part of valor and, snapping the haft of the arrow off, slides down the back of the carriage and begins making a slow and painful retreat. While Yuki's admirer just continues to wonder how such a beautiful thing could exist. He doesn't even seem to notice her near fatal wounding.
Nesswen licks her lips and dances her sword in circles. "Look at your friend. I'll give you a chance right now, to take your friend and get him help. If you don't I'mma cut off your arm and then you'll have to drag your friend back with only one arm." Silently she watches the guard to make his move.
The Armiger looks from Nesswen to his companion, and back to the elf who struck him down so easily. He can already see two more enemies engaging with Shanwen, and he's heard the Armiger from the roof make his own escape. Things do seem to be heading against them...
He takes one step back... then another... And then he's in full retreat... er.... Advancing to the rear. That's it. After all... Hellknights of the Order of the Rack do not retreat.
Looking around for another target, Zanian quickly focuses on the Armiger that nearly disemboweled Yuki. A third arrow heads his way.
The arrows speeds past between the two. It fails to connect solidly, but does carve a long gash through the chainmail on his sword arm shoulder before thudding into the carriage.
Everyone but Zanian can hear someone inside the carriage yelling for help every once in a while. Not frantic, but definitely trying to get the attention of any would-be rescuers.
She tugs at the chain, attempting to free it from the reins and bring it back for another attack.
To Hit:
Damage:
Prevara’s chain whips around and over the edge of the carriage smacking it across the man’s face, tearing off his helmet and leaving a trail of torn flesh along one side that that freely flows with blood down his neck. Shanwen staggers back from the force of the blow, trying to get out of reach, his hands moving in the casting of another spell.
The pain seems to be just too much for him, however, and he collapses back against the carriage, his eyes closing as he falls into unconsciousness.
Seeing Shanwen fall Savidus makes his way around the carriage towards Yuki, bringing his sword around at the first of the Armigers he comes across. The one enamored of Yuki.
To Hit:
Damage:
The blade slices cleanly through the man's side, carving out a wound from which the man is unlikely to recover without magical aid. SAvidus barely misses a beat as the man falls, his sights already set on the last remaining Armiger.
Yuki staggers back from her opponent, one hand held against the gash across her stomach, blood leaking through her fingers, as her other hand whirls her staff in front of her in an attempt to keep the man at bay long enough for one of her friends to help her.
The last Armiger, seemingly oblivious to the fact that all of his friends have either been dropped to the dirt or run off, continues to come at Yuki. His steps slow as he works his longsword about, looking for an angle through her defenses.
Unfortunately the attempt he finally makes is easily batted aside by Yuki’s staff, not coming close to hitting home.
Nesswen watches as her attacker makes a swift and intelligent retreat. Once she's convinced he's not about to come back, she bends down and starts shredding her unconscious Armiger's shirt and begins to apply what little first aid she knows, trying to keep the man alive.