"I agrree vif ya, Lorrd Lebeda. Ve should indeed exterrminate those pest... hoveverr, even if the Forrgefatherr teaches us to firrst defend our kind and just then to destrroy ourr enemies, in this case ve might have to strrike vifout delay! If therre is someone in that hut, it is ourr duty to defend it." Kazmuk says, looking for concordance among his new companions.
He then moves his horse a bit ahead, trying to figure out the distance and if it would be possible for them to reach the hut before the mites do the same. At Gyrd's suggestion, Kazmuk continues. "If ve can rreach the hut beforre the mites, I believe it is a saferr strrategy. If not, I'll gladly send a bolt o' mine alon' vif yarr arrrow, Lorrd Medvyed."
Andreas leans forward in the seat of the wagon, looking all around them. The terrain is giving the Mites and advantage but it is also giving them an advantage. He looks at the distance from them to their target and then from them to the hut.
He listens to each person as the give their thoughts. He nods approvingly to each.
They all have good ideas on how best to approach the mites. Do we try to parlay...it did not go so well last time. Then again we did invade their territory...The Kobolds tell a different story about these things. They are about to raid a hut for whatever reason the may have, we can not let that happen. I just hope we are not stepping into something we should not.
We have options as to how we deal with the mites. The main goal is we need to protect that hut and whomever resides within.
He steps down and starts to unhook his horse from the wagon.
Daisey is ready to go but the wagon could get damaged in a charge. We either punch a hole straight through their lines and meet at the hut or we simple charge and attack from behind and hope we are able to keep them occupied enough to forget about the hut. My mount is combat trained and I will take point on a charge. When we get close enough I will explain how best to charge the enemy. This should help us to combat any creature that survives the initial charge.
He looks back at the others as he very quickly unhitches his horse and mounts up.
I personally think the best action is to hit them from behind in a charge with a range attack to hit just before we do. Anyone that has the ability to launch range attacks can do so from a safe distance.Once we enter combat with the mites...range attacks will be difficult. Work with each other to take these things down. They are much tougher than they appear.
He pauses and looks at each of the group
Keep yourselves safe and good luck to all of you.
Thoughts, ideas, questions?
"I can provide some ranged support that will get their attention, but I can time it such that is doesn't disrupt your charge." Roke rubs his fingers together and little sparks of light cascade from them. "Just give the word, and I'll get their attention."
Oh goody, our best plan is to throw stuff and then run up to the mites. No wonder the tall folk are always getting hurt. Rillka sighs as she gathers her sling bullets. She then moves to the rear of the wagon and ties Chetak there.
Scratching Lucca behind the ears, Be ready old friend, time to take care of each other. Rillka readies herself.
Zade unslings his bow and readies an arrow, eagerly.
"I'm happy to help with the opening salvo, as well. Did you notice anything special about these mites when you fought them before?"
We do not know how many there are but that will become apparent very quickly. Work together and we will get through this. Watch your back side and keep an eye on each other. Everyone ready?
He looks at the group as a whole
If we can hit them on the outside of their flanks with range attacks on one side and magic on the other...that may forced them in towards the center. Crowding themselves together where those that are charging will hit them. It should make it much harder for them to set up a defense.
I hope by "magic" you don't mean me. I don't cast anything that affects groups. I'll be back here throwing rocks. And don't die, I am not strong enough to load your dead body on the wagon to drag you back to Oleg's. Unlike her normal flighty self, Rillka seems totally focused on the task ahead, perhaps at a loss of her usual sense of etiquette, she is not being sarcastic, just totally honest and pragmatic.
Nodding at Rilka...
Very well
Rillka nods at Andreas, focused only on the battle to come.
"Verry vell, ve attack then!" Kazmuk readies his crossbow to shot it between the charge, intending to switch to his hammer and shield when they are close enough.
:: Pharast 22 - Early Afternoon - Somewhere in the Stolen Lands ::
Trying not to lose the element of surprise taken, the group approaches the mite from behind and attacks. Unfortunately, just as the group prepares to strike the mites seem to take notice.
"Let's get them!"
Zade draws back his bow and lets fly at one of the mites.
for
Andreas realizes that that have been seen.
Well that was a possibility...Hit them hard. Pick your targets and be safe.
With that, he kicks his mount into motion. The ground seems to fade as he speeds off towards the middle of the lines. As his mount eats up the distance in a quick burst, he lowers his lance into the crook of his elbow. Resting along his forearm with the point aiming at the mite.
You and I little one...Prepare yourself...
As Andreas charges, Kazmuk takes aim with his crossbow. He was never really good at it, but at this distance, it was worth a try. He watched the bolt fly towards one of the mites.
Since Magda was not trained for combat, Kazmuk had no choice but to dismount. "Stay herre, Magda, stay... stay herre!"
Rillka targets a mite with her halfling sling staff.
With a whistle, a bullet soars outwards.
Hey, I might have hit him, I'm getting better!
Rillka then realizes moving forward would be a good idea, and taps the signal to Lucca to advance.
"Blast these mites for being so spread out. Hope this gets the attention of whomever is in that hut"
With concentration, Roke causes an explosion of light to erupt around the blue and light mites (and the swarm next to them).
Rillka perks up as Roke's spell goes off, oooooh, spark-ellllyyyy she adds in an awe filled appreciative tone.
:: Pharast 22 - Early Afternoon - Somewhere in the Stolen Lands ::
As the battle begins, Zade's arrow falls short of its target. Andrea's makes up for it by skewering his target. As the mite falls dead, Gird finds himself without anyone too attack.
Kazmuk and Rillka find their targets, both of whom look bloodied after the impacts. Roke quickly casts his spell, and finds it very effective against the two mites in its range as they fall over, dead or unconscious.
One of the mites moves in and throws a dart at Rillka. The dart finds its mark, much to the mites surprise.
The other mites circle Gird and Andreas while the spider swarms move in.
The mites toss their darts at the riders after moving around them. One dart finds a chink in Gird's armor, while the other two miss.
Zade will attack the pink mite again.
for
Heeeey... that hurts!
Rillka launches another bullet at the mite.
Andres urges his horse to move back out and away form the spiders and in doing so, he sees Rillka close to the combat. He notices Gird engaging the enemy on the other side and the others attacking from range.
Looking back at the Roke, Kazmuk and Zade..
Help Gird with those mites. My attacks do not seem to do anything to the spiders. Any ideas on how to deal with them?
Getting some space between him and his target, Andreas charges the mite on the far side.
Nice shot Rillka
Roke! What can we do about the swarms of spiders?
"We need to use attacks that spray or cover a big enough area to get many of the spiders! Use alchemist's fire or acid if you have it!"
Roke dismounts, not wanting to put his horse in danger, and pulls a flask of alchemist's fire from his backpack.
At Andreas's and Rillka's requests, Kazmuk drops the crossbow at his feet and moves forward, drawing his hammer in the process.
"The blessin's o' the Fatherr arre alvays the ansverr..." Saying this, he reaches for the miniature iron hammer around his neck and prays to Torag. "Luojan isä, täällä minun sanani tänä tarpeessa. Tee vasara polttaa kuin Väärentääsydän ikivihkoiset valeet!" With this, his hammer becomes red hot as if he just had removed it from a forge and then erupts in flames.
_________________________________________
:: Pharast 22 - Early Afternoon - Somewhere in the Stolen Lands ::
Zade lets fly an arrow that takes a mite through the skull, killing it out right. Rillka will follow suit, her sling stone caving in a mite skull.
With the immediate targets dead in front of them, Gird and Andreas move onto different targets. Both of them ride down the remaining two mites.
As the last of the mites dies, the spiders swarms seem to shiver, and then they collapse, with spiders scattering everywhere.
With no clear threats remaining, the plains again return to being a large expanse with nothing but a light monotonous drizzle happening.
Sky Father, you have blessed the aim of a little halfling, thank you. she says softly as she looks around and realizes that their group is victorious.
She pulls the dart out and tucks it away. I lived. You lost. she says to the dead mite.
Then in a louder voice, to the group, We killed them lets take their stuff and check out that hut!
Rillka literally skips over to the mite she felled and begins checking the corpse as she dismounts Lucca, stepping on a spider that was too slow in dispersing.
Zade will search the mites for any thing of value, and for any indication of why they would have been out during the daytime or heading for that building.
"I wonder what could have drawn the creatures here? Perhaps we should go meet the inhabitants and find out."
Kazmuk looks at the fleeing spiders with a mixture of happiness and annoyance. Happy that the bugs dispersed before they could hurt him or his new allies but annoyed that he had called the Forgefather's aid without need. He would pray and ask for forgiving later.
"Verry vell. Therre is no need to count who help the most an' who helped the least, Lorrd Medvyed. Ve defeated ourr enemy and can now see who lives in this hut. Ve have done ourr job and this is the only thin' that matterrs." Kazmuk sais while he waits for the blessing he conjured to disperse before approaching his pony.
"To the hut then..."
Roke stows the flask of liquid fire back in his pack, remounts his horse, and heads towards the cabin at a trot.
To Zade: "Find anything worth keeping?"
To all: "Let's see who owes us their lives."
He watches as the swarms scatter and then his the tension in his shoulders relaxes. Turning to check in on the others, Andreas is relieved to see all his companions moving about.
Well done indeed. Anyone injured?
As Rillka talks of retrieving the spoils of war...
Take what is there but treat the dead with some dignity. They may have been our enemy but we should show them some respect at least.
He looks at the group
I will head back to grab the wagon. Gather what we can from the mites and then we can make for the hut. I will catch up soon enough.
Probably just me... they always go for the halflings first, you know. Rillka responds to Andreas' inquiring regarding wounds.
Always treat the dead with respect, friend or foe, got it... just wanted to see if there were any clues to what they were doing here.
Rillka collects anything of interest and provides an accounting to whoever is closest.
:: Pharast 22 - Early Afternoon - Somewhere in the Stolen Lands ::
Looking through the mites, there doesn't seem like much to take. Rillka comes up with 7 small sized daggers, 35 small sized darts, and 5 small blue stones that look like quartz.
After looting, the group moves to the hut. As you approach, you can see a small garden behind it with a man tending it. When you near the hut, he hears you and turns around.
"Hello." The man says, dusting himself off. "I am Bokken, but I do not know you. Who are you?"
"Hello." The man says, dusting himself off. "I am Bokken, but I do not know you. Who are you?"
In a rapid flow, Roke greets the man.
"Bokken, eh? I'm Roke, and I don't mind telling you we just saved your life from a horde of mites and spiders. Must have made 'em mad. Ha! Is it too early for some ale and cheese? "
:: Pharast 22 - Early Afternoon - Somewhere in the Stolen Lands ::
Bokken looks on as Gird speaks, but doesn't seem over interested in replying. When Roke introduces himself, Bokken listens intently.
"Good meeting you Roke. Mites and spides are unpleasant, so thank you.They generally just come to scare me away and steal my potions." Bokken says, his sentences clipped at the ends and spoken abruptly. "I would say its not too early."
Bokken looks out at the rest of the group, appearing calm and not the least worried. "Might I know who the rest of you are? I don't like speaking with people I don't know. And I don't mean that I want to know what you're doing out here!" Bokken does look a bit agitated as he says this last bit. It seems names are important to him.
Rillka Cloudhopper! she says with a quick wave and smile from behind the legs of one of the tall folk, then she remains quiet letting the others talk.
"I'm Kazmuk of the Doorrtsgarrf clan, masterr forrgerr and prriest o' Torrag, the Forrgefatherr." Kazmuk says as he dismounts. He then looks around, a bit suspicious. To a dwarf, the community and the clan are so important that someone living completely alone in the middle of nothing is something highly unusual.
"Zade Lebeda. A pleasure to meet you. Not to pry, but what keeps you out here?"
Zade seems fascinated by Bokken's frontier lifestyle, but he doesn't want to pry. (At least not too much!)
Once back with the wagon and it is secured, he looks over his horse to make sure her wounds are not too severe. Patting her down helps to calm the old mare a bit as he talks to her.
We have been together for a very long time now. I only hope soon I give you the rest you deserve for all these years of service.
Andreas comes riding up on the wagon as the others started to talk to the person that lives at the hut. As the wagon comes to a stop, he dismounts and give her a good scratching along the mane and looks at the group.
I think everyone is acquainted now...I am Sir Andreas Eisfalke von Ulm.
He seems to be about to add more but stops as he notices that the man seems a bit agitated at the moment. He looks to the others and then back at the man.
Are you hurt good sir. Do you need any assistance?