Continued with new name so as not to confuse new people, or other squadrons who have had their head bashed in one too many times.
Dotting new thread....
Cort quickly sets down his pack, and after a few minutes laying about stands at Darkbiters comment. "Ugh, I guess that puts me on ditchdigging duty," he grimaces, "In heat that could kill a red drake. Oh well." Cort divests himself of his armor and shirt, showing off a very scarred torso, each obviously from a gentlemanly duel as none are below a certain point, or deep enough to be even serious. He then requisitions a shovel and gets a couple porters for help and digs a shallow trench outside the burgeoning pikeline.
Blaze laughs "You could do all those things, or you could just post a compenent guard and sleeply lightly." He looks to his fellow duelist "Have fun digging" Clearly he has no intention of helping.
Kaavel looks at the two swordsmen than says "If you have time to laugh you have time to help." He than goes to help dig.
Cort frowns, a bit annoyed at Blaze's attitude. "True, but this way our half competent guard won't be mauled by a jungle cat while we sleep, and even a large force would have trouble with us." He smiles as Kaavel as he jumps in the ditch. This one's quiet, but seems to take his share, and he's competent at least. "Good to see someone doesn't think the best defense is an offense, here" He throws Kaavel a shovel and tosses some dirt intentionally toward Blaze.
Cort puts a generous shovelful of dirt onto Blaze with a grin. "There, now you get dirty even if you don't help" He laughs, obviously enjoying knocking the man a bit off his high horse.
"Ye c'n run me a spool, lad." Doc says to Grusk. "Jus' keep the line tension tight between anchor points an' don't tromp the plant's ye'r 'bout t' hide yer line in. Handspan off th' ground's fine. I'll come behind'n fix the bells."
Doc eyes all the plant life as he works. "Wish ah'd payed more attention t' those books on greenery. 'Bet some o' these'd come in real handy in mah work."
"Good to see someone doesn't think the best defense is an offense, here"
When hearing this Kaavel looks up to say "In combat killing the enemy before they have a chance to strike is best. Here we will not be fighting but resting and sleeping so there need a good defense."
Grusk takes the line and uses his acrobatic skill to aid him in leaving the vegetation un-disturbed.
"Issa tha right tension?"
"Imma gonna run tha line out a bit."
Blaze glares at Cort "Ya know normally throwing dirt on me would cause me to demand a duel with you, but its agaisnt my moral fiber to take advantage of one so obviously unskilled." He brushes himself off, then grabs a shovel too. Instead of helping however, he lightly smacks Cort in the head when the other man isn't looking. "Tag, your're it" He says with a laugh and bounds away.
Darkbiter just sighs as he takes away the shovel from Blaze. "If you aren't going to be helpful, at least stay out of the way like our good corporal over yonder."
At the comment Cort balls his fist, anger evident on his face, then slowly calms. Just a jest. Calm yourself. Even if he was serious, he is correct, you couldn't win now. If a reckoning is needed it will come eventually. He repeats the swordlord's oath in his head, forcing his breathing to subside. His concentration, and foolish temper, are shattered by a shovel, lightly tapped against his head. "Avast dog. We shall duel with the only weapon available." He mockingly taps his shovel against Blaze's a few times before the tall man laughs at thier childish antics.
Giving up on the vain duelists, Darkbiter turns to those actually working. "Looks like our employers, and us, will have a reasonably secure place to rest their head tonight." After finishing up his portion of the defenses, he finds a comfortable spot to roll out his bedroll and gets some sleep before his watch comes after checking out the weather outlook for the night and following day.
Blaze blocks most of his sparring buddy's strikes, though one or two land. Being a bit more agile with his attacks, a handful of Blaze's blows land true, all just light taps. "Growing up back in my village in Qadira, this how the kids settled any arugements or disputes. We all heard the stories of the mighty, graceful Dervishes and we emulated them whenever possible. By the time I was eight, I had won more of these play duels than any other kid in our town. Even some of the grownups couldn't beat me. My dad saw it as a sign and made arrangements to have my sister take me to the nearest major temple of Sarenrae, where my training began. Sis stayed with me and eventually became a Priestess of the Dawnflower. Her and I were a great pair, both of us quite capable in combat and she added her divine might as well" As he says this last, he seems kinda sad and you realize that this is the most the young man has spoken of his past since he joined the squad.
Grusk imagines cleaving through those wooden shafts of the shovels and silencing those noises forever, though he reminds himself that stealth is for those who work alone, perhaps in groups noise is working to actually keeping threats away......
The flamboyant can be used as a distraction for his stealth....
Returns to finish the low trip wire....
Denny, who doesn't own a shovel, helps gather timber to be used as pikes for the defenses.
Doc turns a pudgy thumb upward at Grusk's query and goes back to attaching the hanging bells. After a few minutes of the clanging of shovels Doc rolls his eyes and brushes off his hands. "That aughtta do. You do good work lad. Time for a drink" he says offering the half-orc a flask.
"Kids in duels? Who thought that was a good idea? Oh right... Qadiran. Guess none of you could really hurt each other. We aren't allowed to duel in Brevoy until 16, I was unbeaten till 20. Four years and 21 duels. Only two I had to kill the other man too. Until Marten." Cort flashes his maimed hand. "That's why I'm here beating on helpless foreigners," a sharp hit to the arm calls the lie, "or perhaps not so helpless. Either way can't let my record be sullied." He laughed as they continued to spar a bit. "So where's the Sister now?" he asked with a grin, "If she looks as nice as you say Qadiran women do you may have a new brother." He laughs and blocks a quick blow. "Kidding Sunny, you know there's only one woman for me."
"Don't mind if I do..."
Takes the offered flask smelling the contents before taking a careful quaff of the fluid....
"Ahh not too shabby enough o tha an I might turn intah a bear!"
smiles at the man then thinks about how his smile looks.....
"Tha others seem restless..."
Indicating the shovel battle......
"Do we look like amatuers tah yerself? See tha limb on yon tree, go away afore I string yah from tha high limb an dangle yah worthless carcass over a pack o jackles all through tha night, yah will hear tha snarls an tha snappin jaws but yah won't see a thing, I will keep em away from yah till I gets drunk o my arms gets tired!"
Taking Robert up on his offer, Darkbiter sits quietly as he watches the others sing and play. When Musangi requests watch, "Pardon my companion, he isn't particularly known for own diplomatic tact. As for watch, he usually has us set up our own. Not sure how much our captain cares for that, but it works out in the end."
Blaze glares at Grusk "Not the brightest, are we? One shouldn't threaten he who helps employs us. I'll take first watch, Darkbiter can take second, Cort third. If we need a fourth, Grusk can take it"
Cort steps forward at Darkbiter's words, "Don't worry milady, I will, as always, take first watch, with whomever chooses to stay awake with me. Our half-orc brothers take second watch, during the darkest part of the night, and whomever is left takes the morning watch, to get us all along our way in the morning." He motions toward the sleeping Corporal, "We know how to deal with Icy and his orders. Ignorance is bliss, and the man is very, very ignorant. You will be protected during the night." He sweeps his hat from his head in a bow and moves to find a tree to sit through his watch.
Darkbiter can't help but respond to Ryuko's comments about the corporal."He must also be extraordinarily lucky, as ignorance in the jungle is a good way to get killed."
Grusk and Drannigan finish up the trip wire alarm.
Drannigan saying to Grusk
"Lad I bet yer an angery drunk, no more from tha flask fer yerself for awhile."
"Nah guy seemed scared an I thought Id ave a bit o fun with him, sure when something happens well find him in tha tent on top o tha corpral...."
"Mah job is tah get them there an back in one piece, not tah answer questions, tha is what tha officers err fer."
Kaavel looks at the others in his squad than says "I do not know much about this jungle but yes I would rather we take extra caution here. When would you like for me to take watch? "
Ryuko called first watch,
Dark but that Corporal Ulker was a bastard. I was barely able to catch up with my squad with his vague directions and even then not til well after dark. The Steel Wolves huh? Havent gotten to meet anyone yet but it was nice seeing Darkbiter again. Only got to share a few words with him before he said I should take last watch since it looks like no one else was up yet...
my thoughts trail off as I hear the rampaging bison's hoofbeats and the shouts of the porters. To Arms! To Arms! as I race to the source of the commotion pulling out my scimtar and considering my spell options.
Perception
Darkbiter rolls over at the noise, not using a tent or shelter with there being little chance of rain. He takes the first round to gather his weapons and stand up, thankful as always that his armor was light enough to sleep in. The second round he takes a shot with his shortbow at the buffalo in an attempt to redirect it as he moves to get between the charging animals and the tents.
Upon hearing the clatter, Blaze leaps to his feet and grabs his scimitar. "What in the Nine Hells is all that noise??"
Hearing the sound Kaavel jumps up ready for whatever is coming at the camp.
Perception
"Wha tha blue blazes?"
As the crashing begins Doc laughs and lifts his horn to his lips. "Never fails. Ts' like some higher power's enjoyin' watchin' us suffer."
The blast from Doc's signal horn kicks the sleep right from the other Soldier's weary heads. "Three o'tha clock, lads!" the dwarf yells with some amusement, orienting the squad towards the danger. "Let's try'n keep it from crashin' through th' camp.
Without moving from the collapsable chair he'd been sitting in to keep watch, he plants a squat metal tube on the ground, leans it across his thigh and drops a cylinder down it. A moment later with a hollow thump and a quick whistle, the mortar lobs a shell into the path of the beasts.
Darkbiter: 5th
Kaavel: 5th
Blaze: 3rd
Ryuko: 5th
Doc: 2nd
Grusk: 4th
Sentis: 1st
First Round Actions:
Sentis readies himself for action and calls the camp to alert.
Doc fires off a thunderstone in front of the buffalo that lands just in front of it's nose - startling the creature and causing it to skid to a temporary stop.
Blaze leaps to attention but takes no action.
Grusk nocks an arrow to his bow and takes aim.
Kaavel leaps to attention but takes no action.
Darkbiter comes out of his tent to notice the camp in alarm, and readies his bow for a shot
Ryuko - TBC
The buffalo lows in panic, obviously in distress from the thunderstone. The lion continues to approach the buffalo from behind. Unless the buffalo starts moving again, the lion will probably reach it next round.
The rest of the camp is in uproar, you hear the voice of Musangi rising above the hubbub trying to calm everyone down - but it's clear they won't be able to take any action this round. You can't see your beloved Corporal anywhere either.
"If you have another of those, Doc, try putting in beside the buffalo to see if you can get him to move along the rope line instead of towards it."
Noticing the lion preparing to pounce; I move closer and shout Flammae! as a brilliant burst of light blooms in front of the lion.
Lion Fort Save:
The flare bursts across the lion's face, but doesn't seem to faze the creature. However it does take it's eyes off the buffalo and look directly at the camp....
Cort, having taken a few moments after checking out of his tent to take off his embarassing sleep hat, (Blue... with a puffball on the end.) and sweep on his amazing scarlet hat with green feather, leaps out of his tent, shortbow drawn.
Looking around quickly, Cort sees the lion and buffalo. "Nice shot Greens, you made it mad." he said with a grin, sighting his bow and letting fly at the now angered lion.
Blaze gives himself plenty of room, then attempts to run and jump onto the back of the buffalo. If he lands, he'll then try to steer the beast away from camp.
Initiative Order: Sentis, Doc, Blaze, Grusk, Darkbiter, Ryuko, Kaavel, Animals, Camp
The magical light burst conjured by Sentis seems to have done little but attract the attention of the lion.
Doc - TBC...
Against what would seem to be common sense and strategy, Blaze bursts out from the camp vaulting easily over the trench and makes his way onto the buffalo's back with some difficulty.
Kaavel not having a any ranged weapons moves closer to the edge of the camp waiting to see if the beasts get inside the camp.