"Aye," Mittens agrees concisely.

The teleportation circle takes the group to a border fort from which they can ride further out toward the frontier.  By nightfall they come upon a town purported to be under the protection of the Light of the Sun, but no one bearing it's crest can be found.

What was once a grassy common in the center of town has
become a field of makeshift tents. The number of refugees
is hard to count, more arriving each day to replace those
picking up to head east for civilized lands. The exiles are a
mix of races and cultures, but they share a common purpose
according to the villagers you overhear discussing them—all
are fleeing the predation of some frontier cult.

While making their way to their inn,
the heroes note a disturbance that turns ugly.
The rain started that morning and shows no sign of letting
up; the track through the center of town has turned to mire.
As you approach the common, a shout rings out through
the downpour. Sunrods light the refugee camp where a tent
is pulled down. Five figures storm through the adjacent
shelters as people scatter before them. You hear a child
scream as a mace is raised.

(( The PCs get a surprise round and may put their tokens on the scene anywhere that isn't already adjacent to the cultists.))

  There are two things different about Matt's gear recently.  The first is he cleaned off the Halo on his helmet that a running joke placed there.  The second is having finally decided to try out that whole 'heavy shield' thing.  As for what is the same?

  Matt still has that Dwarven style warhammer (who knew Dwarves were masters of blunt object aerodynamics?),  bounced off the back of the Cultist's head who decided brandishing a mace was a good idea.  "Normally I make some kind of token gesture of 'stop or I'll hit you', but it's been a long walk"... Well, okay it wasn't as long as it COULD have been, thanks to teleportation.  But still.

---

Surprise Action: Ranged Basic Vs Cult Bandit 2.  Hits (20 AC). 8 DMG.  Rolled a Three.
Initiative:  8.  Also Rolled a Three.  At least I still edged in a hit.
Effect: Matt Marks Cult Bandit 2.

Special Request:  If you didn't want to use an Encounter power on a more important target, seeing if we could down Cult Bandit 2 with just Surprise At-Wills would be kind of funny. (surprise Round CA, enjoy Maverick and Angel!)

Cult Bandit 2 HP: 37-8 = 29/37

Matt HP: 52/52 S 10, V 13, AP 1.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:50, Sun 24 Mar 2013.

Angel wastes no time backing Matt up. "Pick on someone your own size, cowards." Angel sneers as she fires two arrows. One of the arrows narrowly misses the dodgy bandit, only for him to dodge into the other arrow.

---

Initiative: 3+9=12

Angel surprise action attack: Probing Strike v Bandit2. Hit(17)!
 dmg: 15

Cult Bandit2 HP: 29 - 15 = 14
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

Carla says nothing, but her actions speak for her. She points and a beam of radiant light shoots through the bandit, burning him!

---

Initiative: 2+2=4

Carla surprise action attack: Sun Strike v Bandit2. Hit(26)!
 dmg: 10

Cult Bandit2 HP: 14 - 10 = 4
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

Maverick throws a stone at the bandit, but the sling gets stuck on his finger at the last moment, sending the stone straight to the ground in front of Maverick. These things happen.

However, he looks QUICK to recuperate from that and reloads.

---

Initiative: 18+7=25

Maverick surprise action attack: rolled a 1

"Grizella, I summon thee!" Mittens calls as she stretches out her hand!

A ghostly bear appears and menaces the bandit!  Good thing Mits already showed her allies this power.

Maverick hurries up to the near-done bandit and slashes him with his rapier, felling the bandit. Then he rushes to the next bandit and swings wildly! The bandit manages to defend himself, but when he looks again, the little boy is gone, seemingly having disappeared.

---

Move: To Bandit 2
Standard: Piercing Strike v Bandit 2. Hit(20)!
 dmg: 9
ACTION POINT!
Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike v Bandit 1. Crit fail.
 Shifted up to Bandit 1 before attack.
 Shifted 3 to hide behind tent after attack.
Stealth check: 34

Bandit 2 HP: 4 - 9 = KO

The first cult guard attacks Grizella and stabs the bear with his halberd!  ...doing no apparent damage.

"Wait... ghosts are supposed to take half damage, not zero, right?"

Mits rushes forward, and as she does so, the ghost bear skirts around behind the enemy.  She transforms into a huge toad and belches out a swarm of locusts that harass the cultists!

---

Bandit 1 HP: 37-25=12