"When they come, are they on foot, or horseback?" A plan was starting to form in Cale's mind...
Garyn listens to the plan as it is formed, suggesting that he take a place up along the wall somewhere to rain shots from above. He mentions that he is adept at hitting his target, even if they are engaged in combat, so he can place shots anywhere on the battlefield that they are most needed.
The nearest place with cover outside the gate is the tree-line, which is some 100' away.
Lana clarifies that two come in house, two at gate, and one of the thugs also walks around the post looking for a hidden cache, making sure they're not short-changing them on gold or furs.
"When they come, are they on foot, or horseback?" A plan was starting to form in Cale's mind...
Lana responds, "They come on horseback and they bring an extra horse for the furs. When they come around, they show up around sunrise. They say there's no better way to start the day than collecting bandit taxes. Lousy scum!"
Garyn listens to the plan as it is formed, suggesting that he take a place up along the wall somewhere to rain shots from above. He mentions that he is adept at hitting his target, even if they are engaged in combat, so he can place shots anywhere on the battlefield that they are most needed.
Oleg goes to the window and points up to the towers and says to Garyn, "You could try hiding up in one of 'em. Found those when I came here, some catapults I've no idea how to fix, but they would give you a good view of the post, if ye don't mind heights!"
Cale starts sketching out a plan on the table, using utensils to outline buildings and coins to represent individuals. "Garyn, it's a good idea for you to stay up high and rain arrows down upon our foes. Silstaren and I can greet the collectors at the door. That leaves Strovan and Greehr to either shut the gate or ambush the patrolman. If we shut the gate, we will either separate or trap our foes, depending on if they stay in or out. If we separate them, they'll gather reinforcements. We have to stop all of them. Perhaps we can caltrop the ground somehow."
"If I lie flat up on the ramparts and wait for a signal, they won't have any idea I'm up there until the first arrow finds its mark. Excellent idea! Now ye all will have to tell me how best I can help prepare the ambush."
Garyn nods in agreement as he listens to the young noble's ideas.
Oleg goes to the window and points up to the towers and says to Garyn, "You could try hiding up in one of 'em. Found those when I came here, some catapults I've no idea how to fix, but they would give you a good view of the post, if ye don't mind heights!"
Greehr looks up from his stew. A mixture of "Actually, I've studied plans for military fortifications before. A fascinating subject, really. It helps pass the time. I can't fix the catapults myself, but I might be able to tell you how to fix them."
Listening to the young noble's plan, Greehr had to be impressed. "An interesting plan, but I'd point out that I am not a proficient fighter, and I doubt Strovan is as well. It might be better to split us between you and Garyn." He reaches over and moves a few coins to emphasize his point. "It might be better to trap them all inside, or at least keep them from escaping. There's no need for other bandits to know so soon of the trap."
Silstaren jumps in on Greehr's comment, "So you know mechanisms? Can you rig something to force the doors closed and hold them shut? Even a short time would be enough. Then we wouldn't need anyone on the doors. Just someone to start them closing.
"You, Garyn and Strovan could bring down the men outside if we can't entice them in and then join us in the courtyard. You say you're not much of a fighter, but maybe Oleg has a spare crossbow? "
"Yes, I'll try to be more precise." Greehr replied. "I've only studied the theory behind military fortifications. I can try what you ask, but it's certainly out of my area of expertise. You may want to keep the crossbow. I said I wasn't a proficient fighter, but I can fight nonetheless."
"With that in mind," Greehr turns to Oleg and Lana. "Do you have an alchemy laboratory here? I don't recall that question being answered before."
"You say you're not much of a fighter, but maybe Oleg has a spare crossbow? "[/b]
"Aye, that we be havin', especially if it's for bandit killin."
"With that in mind," Greehr turns to Oleg and Lana. "Do you have an alchemy laboratory here? I don't recall that question being answered before."
Lana and Oleg both look at Greehr with bewilderment, and Lana replies:"We heard ye before young man, but we had no idea whay ye be talking about, so we ignored you. An alkamy lab?? What in Erastil's name would that be? And if we're askin', then we most definitely don't have one!"
Greehr blinked, mouth left agape for the briefest moment. "I see." He manages, his mind racing. This place was more backwater than he imagined. He'll have to work with what little he has at the moment.
"Well I twill say this, if the plan involves me hiding ye may want to rethink it. I tend to stick out like a sore thumb. Also how are we ta protect these two when we spring the surprise? I expect the bandits will think something is awry if they don't see both of them, or if they see any of us. I would be guessing they wouldn't be afraid of using these two folk as a hostage. Tis a shame I have no magic that will really help in the situation. I suppose I have a spell that will command one person to do something for a couple of seconds that could be useful."
Strovan peers at Greehr thoughtfully for a few moments. "I don't suppose you could make some of those super sticky bags of glue can you? I could see where those could be useful in preventing bandits from fleeing, or controlling where they go."
"Well I twill say this, if the plan involves me hiding ye may want to rethink it. I tend to stick out like a sore thumb. Also how are we ta protect these two when we spring the surprise? I expect the bandits will think something is awry if they don't see both of them, or if they see any of us. I would be guessing they wouldn't be afraid of using these two folk as a hostage. Tis a shame I have no magic that will really help in the situation. I suppose I have a spell that will command one person to do something for a couple of seconds that could be useful."
...
"I was thinking about that too. Lana should probably be away when it happens. If we fail the consequences will be worse for her. If you won't leave" ~he turns to speak to the woman~ "you should at least be out of sight. I expect Oleg will want to defend his home."
Addressing Oleg and Lana, he asks, "How will they take it if we are here? Will our presence spook them? Has anyone else been here when they've come?"
"If it's tanglefoot bags you're talking about, I'm quite capable of making them. But not without the right equipment and ample time. Right now, I doubt I have either."
"Well, if we greet them at the door to the house, they'd have to get through us to get to Oleg and Lana. They'd be safe behind me, in the house. You wouldn't need much skill at hiding to stay in the alley between the house and the wall and jump out when you hear swordplay." He leans back and frowns in thought, disappointed that there was no perfect option. More likely, there is, and I don't see it. "The main risk is that the bandits will flee and warn their compatriots of our resistance. I doubt the bandits will be able to put the fort to any sort of siege, but they can make life for us all hell with forest warfare. Strovan, if you can, save that trick of yours for the bandits that would flee. It may be a lifesaver. So. We have Garyn on the tower. If we should reallocate teams, then Strovan and I will be in the house. Greehr and Silstaren can either rush from the guest house or the stable. A pity we're not trained assassins that can slice throats in the dark or wizards that can rain fire from the heavens. This will be gritty."
"Then gritty will have to do, Master Cale," Garyn says with another quick grin.
Garyn will spend the time until the bandits arrive helping Oleg with day-to-day chores, riding Barley in the areas just around the trading post in a mini-recon mission, and scouting the best spot on the ramparts both to hide and to see the common yard, soon to be relegated to a battlefield.
"Well I think the most likely way for them to be able to escape would be on horseback. If the bags of glue won't work, what about an explosion? Is it in yer power to make something that might panic their horses so they canna escape that way? Besides I may not look it but there is a good chance I can outrun them if we are both on foot, though I admit I may cheat a bit."
Strovan grins, wiggles his fingers and winks. "Tis a shame that it only works on me otherwise this would be a lot easier. Yes, I do think it would be good if I was near the thick of the fighting, if only because it is easier to heal ya if need be."
"I was thinking about that too. Lana should probably be away when it happens. If we fail the consequences will be worse for her. If you won't leave" ~he turns to speak to the woman~ "you should at least be out of sight. I expect Oleg will want to defend his home." Addressing Oleg and Lana, he asks, "How will they take it if we are here? Will our presence spook them? Has anyone else been here when they've come?"
Oleg speaks, holding his wife's hand, "No harm must ever come to Lana. In fact, that is the only reason why I have.....given in to these bastards. If not for Lana, I would gladly have killed 3 of the bastards myself and gone into the next life, with honor...Well, enough bout me, Lana will stay upstairs, nice and safe. I can tell 'em she's sick. Now, I don't know, how they will take it if they see you, probably not well. Since they come so early, at sunrise, there's never been anyone here but me and Lana when they have come."
Lana looks at the party and asks: "Do you want us to leave the gate doors open or closed the day they come? The first couple of times, they were closed, but since now we know what time and day they come, we leave them open to avoid the hassle."
"Well I think the most likely way for them to be able to escape would be on horseback. If the bags of glue won't work, what about an explosion? Is it in yer power to make something that might panic their horses so they canna escape that way? Besides I may not look it but there is a good chance I can outrun them if we are both on foot, though I admit I may cheat a bit."
"An explosion, that I can do. But with what materials I have, it's bound to be small. Not enough to cause a growing flame. If we have some fuel, say a barrel of oil or even a bottle of wine, I might be able to cover the entrance." Greehr blinked, lost in his train of thought. "But if you only want to panic the horses, I suppose I can do that."
"Ahhh I don't want ye creating bonfires, no need to burn the trading post down, just scare the horses so the bandits can't escape on them. As far as the doors, Oleg, I think we want them open so the bandits come in fat and stupid. Oleg, I know ye be willing to fight, but I would rather we be the ones in the line of fire. Just stand in the door as usual while we hide inside the trading post then when the bandits are mayhap 10 feet away you fall back, and we burst out of the doors."
Silstaren takes a deep drink. "If Greehr is to spook the horses with some sort of explosion, it might be well to locate him on the ramparts with Garyn. Then he can throw his bomb down on the horsemen at the gate. And provide crossbow fire if it is needed. "
Garyn suggests that if Greehr is capable of doing some damage to the bandits at range, that the alchemist should remain by the ranger's side. Garyn is not bad in a stand up fight, and could keep the alchemist from getting seriously injured.
"Oleg, you and Lana will remain in the house. The gates will be open. The bandits will ride in and come to the house looking for you. Then we will begin our work."
"Fine, I'll stay with Garyn." Greehr grumbled, miffed about his perceived weakness.
"Hey, mate," Garyn says to the sullen alchemist, "let's stick together. Ye watch me back, and I'll watch yers. We'll be death from above!" Garyn laughs as he slaps Greehr on the back and mounts the ladder leading to their hiding spot.
"So to be clear. I will wait behind the open door. Push it closed and deal with the roving brigand?"
1st day of Kuthona, Year 4709, around sunrise...
The cold winter air chills Garyn and Greehr's bones, as they wait outside on the ramparts waiting for the bandits. A mist has formed at the tree-line due to the cold weather. Luckily, they do not wait long, as several minutes later, in the distance out of the mist appear six horses with 5 riders headed toward the trading post. Garyn and Greehr duck their heads to avoid discovery. A few minutes later, 5 horsemen enter the open gates of the trading post and station their horses there. Three men dismount and give the reins of their horses to the two remaining men, who are still mounted. The three men on the ground consist of a male about 6' in height with red hair with a short sword in hand, a bald man about 5'6" in height with a dagger, and the leader, a cloaked figure with a bow in hand, who looks something like this: Cloaked Leader.
As they near the house, the cloaked leader screams out, "Oleg, you and your sweet-lookin' wife better be up, and you'd better have our money or there's going to be consequences!" Cale and Strovan inside hear a knock on the door. "Open up in 10 seconds or there'll be hell to pay!", as there is another knock on the door. Silstaren can clearly see the cloaked figure and the red-haired man standing right outside the door to Oleg's house, with their back to him.
"Bottoms up." Greehr mutters. He pulls a small vial from his belt and drinks up.
As soon as he hears the knock Strovan will nod at Cale, and then push through the door and stab the man in the cloak with his rapier.
"Oh there will be hell to pay." Now he shouts, "Have at them gentlemen!"
"Like hell they'll make him a man," Garyn growls nearly under his breath. At Strovan's shout, the ranger rises to an easy crouch and looses an arrow at the nearest bandit, most likely the short male with the dagger heading to the stables. "For Mum..." he whispers.
Summary of suprise round so far:
Greehr - Drank mutagen
Garyn - Shoots one of the bandits on horseback, catching him in the neck with the arrow. The bandit gasps, his eyes wide in terror, as he clutches his hands in vain to his neck to stop the flow of blood, but after a few seconds, his eyes close and he falls off the horse backwards, blood spraying everywhere.
Strovan - Swarms out of the house and attacks Happs (the bandit leader) by surprise, leaving him with a WTF look on his face, but fortunately for the bandit, Strovan's rapier does not penetrate his leather armor.
Perception
Initiative
Cale stands ready, his heart pounding in his chest. Strovan gives him a nod, indicating that he's about to open the door. Cale tries to shake his head, wanting a few more seconds to prepare, but the dwarf is already in action. With a wild yell, Cale follows suit, throwing open the door and slashing toward the same figure that Strovan went after. His blade draws blood, and Cale looks just as shocked as the bandit. That's... a lot of blood...
Perception
From the bunkhouse Silstaren stares at the bandits approaching the doorway. His keen ears hear the bandit's shout, informing him of the bandit's location. The blade. Then Strovan's shout cues him to action.
Drawing his long curved sword, he quickly steps through the doorway and quietly approaches the two bandits at Oleg's door.
Summary of suprise round:
Greehr - Drank mutagen
Garyn - Shoots one of the bandits on horseback, catching him in the neck with the arrow. The bandit gasps, his eyes wide in terror, as he clutches his hands in vain to his neck to stop the flow of blood, but after a few seconds, his eyes close and he falls off the horse backwards, blood spraying everywhere.
Strovan - Swarms out of the house and attacks Happs (the bandit leader) by surprise, leaving him with a WTF look on his face, but fortunately for the bandit, Strovan's rapier does not penetrate his leather armor.
Cale - Follows Cale and embeds his bastard sword in Happs' chest, causing the bandit to scream in pain, as blood freely flows out of the wound.
Silstaren - Tries to stealthily get behind Happs and the red-haired bandit, but the red-haired one notices him and screams, "Help, thieves are upon us!"
Round 1
24 Greehr
19 Garyn
12 Bandits
11 Happs
10 Strovan
9 Cale (due to delay)
? Silstaren