"'Brief times?'" She winces mockingly. "Not exactly bolstering your case there, foofy."
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"Not that you were considering it, Rauno, but don't be heartbroken. All men are inadequate for Freya. Not enough legs."
He turns to Freya. "Actually, I was figuring that we'd deck them out as Asmodean nuns. Do you still remember the patterns of the clothing well enough to sew them?" He smiles sweetly.
"Janiven, I'll be up at dawn to help roust these folk. Are there people we need to concern ourselves with, in terms of friendlies in the area? We're not going to have a lot of time to discuss and coordinate plans."
Sarien rolls his eyes at all the banter. "If I didn't know better, I'd think the lot of you were street urchins of my acquaintance, talking a great deal of what you know nothing about."
Then he eyes the cleric. "Then again, perhaps that's pretty much true. All theory and no practice for you priestly folk eh? That'd explain the lack of imagination in your jokes."
Finally, he turned to Janiven. "As far as I can tell, the most we've accomplished today is seeing that more gold fell into the filthy paws of goblins. Arael's plan sounds a lot more useful. Sign me up for one of those remaining hidden in the wagon."
That's a roundabout way of propositioning a girl
At this, Janiven snorts in open laughter.
Good one, dear, good one.
Are there people we need to concern ourselves with, in terms of friendlies in the area?
Not particularly. A driver who is...loyal to the cause has been enlisted - Jacovo, actually, I nearly forgot that you met him the other night. He'll be driving a team of four horses which will be pulling three wagons. Tarvi has co-opted some gaudy glass beads from her father's warehouse which will sparkle in the sun and surely draw notice. You'll drive out for 10 miles or so, and drive back if nothing happens. With any luck, when you hit an open stretch of road with no one in sight, you'll be ambushed. We hope. It feels sort of odd to be saying that, I have to admit.
"Gods, I feel like we're taking part in the opening farce before an opera: parading up and down the road draped in glass beads, shouting, 'Oh, I am a defenseless merchant! I hope no evil bandits attempt to steal my priceless cargo!'" She shakes her head. "If the bandits are any smarter than the ones in the theater, at least I can sleep through the whole thing."
Janiven smirks sidelong.
Bandits are hardly known for being geniuses. We have that going in our favor. Although, if it's any consolation, I sometiimes wonder if we're in the pre-opera farce as well.
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Hardin arches a brow at Sarien, who wears his insecurity and loneliness like a cloak.
"Speaking of people who know nothing. Where do the strictures of Iomedae say that priests must be celibate? Morale is important to troops in the field, and Iomedae is more than aware of the stuff soldiers are made of. Camp followers are as much a part of warfare as soldiers b%#&$ing about what they're doing."
He pauses, making a show of racking his memory. "I'm afraid I seem to have missed this in my novitiate days. Concern for justice, stand by your comrades, defend others, better the community, judge after actions, not before... Nope. Not remembering anything about a vow of chastity. Chastity? Not so much."
"I am, of course, willing to listen to your interpretations of the Deeds. Perhaps on the ride home. It'll keep Freya entertained no end."
He just shakes his head, laughing, as he walks up the stairs. "See you two in the morning."
Freya smiles at Sarien as Hardin disappears up the stairs. "Next time we're at the temple, you and I will go around back and try to find the crowds of whores that randy group of holy he-men must tear through every night."
Sarien laughs at Hardin's departing words then nods at Freya's. "I wasn't blaming the church for his lack of experience. I guess there isn't much need for words when money is involved. That certainly explains why he's so free with his gold."
The day dawns warmer, but still slightly chilly. A cold rain falls softly on the dusty streets of Westcrown, creating shallow puddles that in turn run off into the sewers.
The party filters through the alley one at a time so as not to attract attention, and meets outside the city walls, where Jacovo waits with a team of four horses hitched to three wagons.
Helluva day, eh? he says, gesturing to the sky. So much for our baubles drawing attention by glistening in the sun. Seems we'll have to settle for seeming lightly guarded. Hop in.
"I don't know. I prefer days like this for a spot of work."
Sarien's wearing his green cloak and has the scarf that Rauno had handed out. He hops into one of the covered wagons (not the one with the tarp), carrying a crossbow with a bolt already loaded into place. Once concealed within he lifts the scarf into place to conceal his features and settles in, keeping the crossbow aimed for the opening.
Bleary-eyed, Freya grunts crankily. She climbs into the other covered wagon, crumples her 'Liberator' cloak into a makeshift pillow, and flops back down into a prone position.
"Janiven, do we have any information on the bandit's tactics? Do we know if they are more likely to attack from the side, front, or rear?
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Hardin will be laying in the wagon under the tarp. His crossbow will be loaded beside him, and he'll be armored. He'll have his shield with him and be under cloak and scarf. He'll also prop up a corner of the tarp with some kindling so he can see out as he lays on his back.
It would be restful, but wagons on cobblestone roads are to sleeping what kidney punches are to friendship.
"Janiven, do we have any information on the bandit's tactics? Do we know if they are more likely to attack from the side, front, or rear?
No, we don't know any of that. The attacks are maddeningly inconsistent in frequency, severity, location - everything. We have no reliable data on the methods that the attackers use, other than that they may use fire, as they do not appear to be as concerned with commandeering the cargo as they are with scuttling it.
The wagon train trundles along for some time without incident. Even Freya is awaake of her own volition by the time Jacovo and Tao spot two small figures standing by a slight bend in the road ahead. As the wagons approach - but still well out of earshot of whoever or whatever is ahead - Jacovo turns his head toward Tao and exclaims, We need to turn around in about an hour if we want to get back to Westcrown before dark. These don't look like bandits...more like children. Stay sharp, I'm going to see if they need help. The figures ahead begin to come more clearly into view, and indeed do appear to be children. They begin jumping up and down and waving their arms madly, clearly trying to get Jacovo's attention. As Jacovo pulls the wagons to a halt, the oldest one - a girl - rushes to speak, her voice quavering.
'Ay, sir - please help us! Our Da's caravan was attacked a ways up the road, and me an' Pip 'ere managed to run and escape in the battle for it. Will you help? Will you?
Sarien moves from where he'd been sitting in a relaxed postion to a more alert one on his knees, hands on his loaded crossbow.
Tao steps down from the side of the wagon and moves around to the front, drawing his sword in the process.
Looking directly at Jacovo, in a a loud enough voice that everyone in the wagons can hear, "Be ready. Sounds like we are going to have some trouble. Why don't you secure the children in the last cart. They should be safe there."
He turns to the children and again in a voice loud enough to be heard, "You two better not give Jacovo any trouble. He'll make sure you are taken care of while I figure out what's going on."
Tao then casts Expeditious Retreat on himself
"Wonderful," Freya remarks as she hears the children being directed to her wagon. "Am I the governess now?" She surveys the children flatly, as they peer into the wagon, surprised, no doubt, to find it empty except for what appears to be some kind of squatter. "Tell me," she asks them, "what was your 'da' carrying in this caravan? And were you leaving Westcrown or about to arrive?"
c(p):
Jacovo nods at Tao, and dismounts from atop the lead wagon. He looks sternly at the children, gesturing to the back of the second cart.
The children make their way back to the wagon, and the oldest peeks over the back, her eyes growing wide when she sees Freya and Rauno positioned in the back. She raises her voice to an unreasonably loud, shrill shriek and exclaims:
Fire of the Prince of Darkness!
>>>Map, Round 1, Bandit Attack!<<<
Several flaming arrows suddenly thunk into the side of Sarien's wagon, just as Iomedae's blessing begins to course through the party. A few more sail overhead harmlessly, and one skids under the wagon, sputtering out in the dirt at Tao's feet.
Initiative Rolls
Initiative Order:
Freya - 21
Rauno - 13
Tao - 5
Sarian - 4
Bandits - 4a
Hardin - 3
"Oh, is that the plan?" Freya asks, her eyes on the girl. "Send in a diversion to stop the wagons and then attack? Clever little girl." She utters arcane syllables and tumbles out of the wagon on the north side, hoping to use it for cover from the arrows. "How worried are they about not harming you, do you think?" she smiles at the two children.
"How worried are they about not harming you, do you think?"
Even as these words are coming out of your mouth, you observe the answer - dirt is smeared on the girl's face in part to convince an observer that she is a refugee, but moreso to mask several large bruises on her face. She has obviously been beaten within the last several days.
As Rauno grabs at the girl, she almost falls into his arms, and begins crying uncontrollably.
Tao advances, enlarges (P19-20 & Q19-20), and take a swing at the nearest bandit (Q22 w/power attack).
Tao rushes forward aided by his magically-enhanced speed, and calls upon Erastil to grant him the power of growth. His head just below the lowest eaves of the trees the bandits were hiding behind, he delivers a powerful blow to the lone bandit not holding a bow. The man's shield manages to save his life, as it deflects the worst part of a potentially lethal blow at the last second. A large amount of trauma is still inflicted upon the man, though, and he is obviously grieviously wounded.
Sarien curses under his breath and hops out of the wagon, moving to take shelter by one of the trees.
He keeps his crossbow raised but holds his shot until he has a clear view of a bandit.
The Bandit in L-23 sneers at Tao's bravado.
Take him, men!
The five bandits with bows all draw down on Tao, hoping to end the threat he poses before it is too late.
I count 3 hits there, with your AC being 20 (18-2(enlarged)+4(cover)).
The injured bandit, armed with a longsword, five foot steps into Q-21 and presses the attack.
This is a hit, as you lack cover against this attack.
The bandits in O23 and O24 drop their bows and five-foot-step forward, drawing a rapier (to O22) and a sap (to O23) respectively.
"Oh, very well done," Freya commends Rauno. "You've managed to subdue a little girl. If you hadn't taken charge, we could all have had our hair braided by now. Frees up the rest of us to deal with the little matter of the people firing flaming arrows at us." She inhales and closes her eyes, letting out her breath in a series of whispered syllables that seem to take shape in the air around her. Within a few seconds the whole caravan is enshrouded in mist. "They can't shoot at what they can't see," she remarks with satisfaction. "Now let's do something about this burning wagon before the horses go up with it." She squeezes between the first and second wagon to the side where the arrow struck.
Tao swings at the adjacent, injured bandit.
He then activates his healing judgement and attempts to move to Y15-16, Z15-16.
Keeping low, Sarien moves to the next tree where he pauses, eyes one of the bandits further back and lowers his crossbow to take aim.
Rauno will check to see if the girl has any tell tale signs of concealed weapons or spell components.Perception 1d20+9
Fire of the Prince of Darkness? You tipped your hand too far, little one. Clearly your not the innocent you portrayed earlier. So what are you? Street rat? Halfling? Magically reduced?
It's the phrase meant to signal the ambush, mister. Our da' is the leader of the men who are attackin' yer caravan right now. If we don't help 'im, he beats us right bad. We don' have a choice, mister. But you do - if 'ee don't stop fiddlin' with my sister and get t' defendin yerselves, we'll be doin' this again tomorrow, and you'll be in a ditch somewhere.
Tao [...] attempts to move to Y15-16, Z15-16.
The longsword-weilding bandit will take this opportunity to attempt to eliminate the big man, sending a deft thrust at Tao's kidney.
His thrust does not bite home, however.
Catching a glimpse of Rauno patting down the little girl from between the wagons, Freya calls out with annoyance, "Aroden's corpse, elf! If you're that hard up to cop a feel, I'll buy you a quickie in an alleyway from the teeming mobs of whores at Hardin's temple. Either help put out this fire or go do something about the bandits!" Seeing the growing flames surrounding the arrow in the wagon's side, she begins to beat at the blackened spot with her green 'Liberator' cloak. "Finally, some use for this," she mutters.
Does Rauno believe the girl's tears and the boy's statement?
Perception check to see if he can identify the leader.
Don't know if I need some kind of roll to combat the fire.
Heartened by Tao's expeditious retreat (no pun intended) into the mist, the bandits raise a coarse cheer and press their onslaught.
The bandit leader in L-23 moves forward out of the trees to L-17, and fires his shortbow at Sarien.
The two longbow lackeys also advance, and, seeing no other target of opportunity, train their bows on the shify rogue.
Ouch. Confirm?
Oh my. Damage:
Two arrows sink into Sarien almost simultaneously, one burying itself in his shoulder, perilously close to his jugular. As he grits through the pain, the remaining three armed thugs descend on him.
Sarien is struck with a rapier, and drops like a stone.
>>>Map, Mid-Round 2, Bandit SLAUGHTER!!!(?)<<<
Initiative Order:
Freya - 21
Rauno - 13
Tao - 5
Sarian - 4
Bandits - 4a
>>Hardin - 3