With her warm blanket around her, the young lady had been reading from her holy texts when they'd come upon the barricade and the single guard armed with a crossbow on his shoulder. She quickly closed the book and put it back in her pack and listened to the man call out to the group. Her brow crinkled slightly at the mention of the toll - a gold mark - which was easily more than anyone could make in a year. She doubted that all of them could raise that sort of coin if they pooled their money together and even if they could, there was no way any of them would surrender such a sum in the first place.

   She moved to the back of the wagon, then eased herself off the end and her mud-stained boots 'splocked' on the wet road. Thin fingers went to her waist and undid the length of leather that had been cinched above the belt she wore. A moment later, the length of leather uncoiled into a whip that she drew up into three leather rings and made her way towards the front of the wagon - making sure that she wasn't seen by the 'Imperial' at the cheval de frise ...

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
14:12, Today: Odelia La Faelis rolled 10 using 3d6.  Stealth check to leave the wagon & keep out of sight.

---

Tensions rise as the group comes to a standstill, exposed in the road as the single visible guard demands a small fortune for their toll.  Odelia makes her way back to the front of the cart and towards the side of the road, he whip in hand while Ronald puts his shield to the ground to give himself cover.

"Now let's keep ourselves peaceable."  Rudyard offers to the man as he eyes maintain on the soldier's crossbow.  "There's no need to take things..."

"Treachery!"  The man shrieks as Ronald brings his crossbow to bear from behind his impromptu cover.  Twang!  The crossbow barks the bolt whizzing through the air directly at the cart.  Gustav twitches away as the bolt buzzes close by his left side and careens onward to Magnus.  Zizz, the bolt sizzles as it passes a fingernail's breath from the minotaur's ear.

"Shit!"  Rudyard shouts, grabbing hard on the reins although Sadie doesn't yet seem to recognize the danger afoot.

OOC:  Action is stopped immediately post the crossbow bolt being fired.  Luckily, it didn't hit anyone.  The guard now stands with an empty crossbow held it both hands.  Combat map is posted below sorry my skills at mapping technology are laughable, but at least you guys get the point.  Terri and Magnus both have partial cover (-2) and Ronald is ducked down behind his shield.  Everyone, if you haven't already stated what you have in your hands, please post it in your next response or I'll consider your hands empty.  As stated in the last post, the barrier is complete enough that you can't see through it.  Please post 3 seconds worth of action, though if anyone wants to attempt to talk the guards down you are welcome to try.  Don't forget to add your defenses, or I will assume a normal dodge for ranged attacks or a retreating dodge for melee.  Ronald does not yet have any aim bonus.

Battle Map

It all happened in an instant.

Magnus whipped his head to the side subconsciously as the crossbow released with a clack, it was not enough to have escaped the path of the bolt that blinked by in a blur had the man had been a better shot, but the beast mans fur rippled as the fletching passed and the thin barely audible hiss would haunt him in his dreams...provided he lived that long.

Every muscle tensed as he threw himself behind the cart and he cursed in a language that was not Anglish, only loud enough for Terri to hear. It was a deep, hoarse half bark made through clenched teeth that complimented the way his black on black eyes narrowed, full of rage and hate.

He shrugged out of his satchel and dumped the contents unceremoniously on the soft churned up soil of the road, little sacks, canvas, a hatchet all spilled out, a pan drum made a hollow sound as it rolled off to the roadside and settled, but among them the heavy jingling sound of a bunched up chain mail hauberk, and the dull clink of a mace hitting a half buried stone.

The mace was an ugly thing, shod with a steel head in the four sided "pyramid" design, the striking surface ran over the last eighth of the weapon and was spotted with light rust. The haft was maybe two feet of thick hardwood, nicked and gouged over the years.

He knelt and went for the hauberk first, his fingers grasping for the bottom hem as he pulled it wide and tried to shrug it on in his haste.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:48, Tue 02 Jan 2018.

Damn, had if I stand and had if I advance ... retreating offers little advantage ... guess it's all poor choices ... God hates a quitter.

Gustav froze for only a split second, then advanced (full move at the trot), spear balanced in his right hand as his left drew the main gauche to get as close to the chemin de frise as he could get ... it offered some cover for him too, if he lived that long. As he moved he yelled Avec Sauvon   He will throw the spear at the first man with a bow who rises up...
This message was last edited by the player at 02:04, Tue 02 Jan 2018.

In reply to Raddek (msg # 37):

Rondald crouches behind his shield, and with his crossbow braced on the shield he takes careful aim at the speakers head.

"Attack if you are asked for identification? You are no servant of the Emperor, or the Empire! Surrender now or die a thieves death! You will not be warned again!"

   Moving out from the cart, she kept the whip coiled in her right hand and her body low to avoid being seen as much as possible while moving to the right of the "Imperial". Green eyes kept moving, looking for any other places where the man's confederates might be hiding. If it were possible to either strike one of them or flank the man at the barricade, it was worth being exposed.

The small group of adventurers had not been traveling long, and even as such the conditions had been strained.  They had not expected to encounter a fight quite this early and thusly each person's response was markedly different.

Magnus and Terri stay huddled behind the wagon, Terri perhaps waiting for clarity though Magnus spews his belongings upon the ground in an effort to dawn his battle gear.

Ronald also plays a cautious route, attempting to end their encounter with words.  Odelia makes her way to the right, straying off the path in an effort to flank their opponents.

It is Gustav however, that takes matters into his own hands.  Gripping his spear in his right hand in a throwing grip he charges forward, directly at their sole assailant.

"Shit!"  The man screams as he turns on a foot and launches himself overtop of the gaps in the barricade sending himself head over heels as he tucks a single arm underneath him as he tumbles and disappears behind the obstruction.  It is only for a moment, however, that they stand there unopposed, as two more of the brutes stand up from behind the barrier, exposing their head and shoulders as well their ranged weapons.  There is a burly bearded man on the right holding a crossbow, and another hooded youth to the left holding a medium bow.  Each is pointing their weapons at Gustav.

Gustav does not hesitate but launches his spear at the one to his right, however without aiming his throw the dart whistles harmlessly wide, missing right by a mile.

"Stand fast!"  The man to the south shouts, his crossbow taking a bead on Gustav midstride.

Battle Map

OOC:  Battle map updated below.  Magnus has his mail shirt "ready" with both hands and can begin donning it next turn.  Gustav has thrown his spear and now stands empty handed.  You may attempt to leap over the barricade on this next turn, if so roll against Acrobatics (defaults to DX-6) to do a tumble like the man before you or you can roll against DX-2 to simply avoid the barricade and land prone.  Terri does not seem to be doing anything yet, and likewise, Rudyard seems to be waiting to make any action.  Odelia is hands empty and now standing off the road facing the barricade.  Ronald is crouching and has his crossbow in both hands, precariously balancing his shield in front of him as cover.  Please give me 3 more round of action.

Gustav isn’t thinking anymore, he is acting based on experience and training. To stop is to die or be captured, so it comes down to actions, the bowman is going to find it hard to track Gustav, and he can  make some efforts to evade , making it harder yet…  he wants one of the thugs between him and the bowman to further confuse the situation. Better a poor plan executed quickly than the best plan too late, already running he surges forward, somersaulting in front of the Chemin de Frise, and drawing his sword as he comes to his feet and tries to vault the barrier as had the Thug. He will come to his feet facing the back of the barrier with sword in hand, he hopes.

Unfortunately he fouls up the first summersault, barely manages to draw his sword and rises to his feet in front of the damned barricade. He’d screwed up and it wasn’t going to go well… but he swings at the man to his front, (assuming he is in range) and tries to prepare to go over the barrier.

Although only Terri could see him, Magnus was obviously in a fell state of mind as he slipped the mail hauberk over his head. As fast as he could manage he jammed his arms through the sleeves and threaded his horns through the neck opening, a feat made significantly easier by the fact that the hauberk was slightly too big for him. This was also fortunate as in his haste he had donned it over his waterskin , which left a conspicuous bulge at his left hip.

With the hauberk still bunched up about his waste, he snatched up the mace in his right hand and stood, the weight of the chain links finally pulling it down about his thighs. Once on his feet the Minotaur surveyed the barricade with murderous intent and exhaled sharply through his nose, more than likely looking for the man who had nearly planted a bolt in his skull.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:39, Thu 04 Jan 2018.

In reply to Gustav Du Meseries (msg # 43):

Rondald aims for a second at the leaders head before firing.

[OOC: GURPs does not have a generic head hit location that includes face and skull...do you have a house rule for that? If not, then I will use skull, as I rolled, but would prefer head.

He then drops his crossbow, with the weight being taken up by the sling as it swings down beside him as he picks up us shield and moves to the opposite end of the barricade as Odella is moving to.

    She hated being in the open like this - daylight was the worst of times to do anything of this kind and having as many eyes open to see her set her teeth on edge. She'd wanted to remain behind the cart, but both the woman and the Horned One were back there which left no room to keep out of sight.

    She moved as quickly as she could and kept to the crouch she was in, the whip handy to quickly disarm the man on the right side of the barricade. She kept going, jade flints flashing in her eyes as she closed in on her prey.

Gustav knows that this combat has proceeded too far to retreat back at this point, he digs his heels into the ground and rushes forward grit in his teeth as he attempts to tuck and roll over the barricade.

Twang! Ziip!

Gustav twists wildly, seeing first the crossbow pointed straight at him!  The bolt narrowly misses, but even as Gustav takes a moment to let out his breath...

Twang!

This time Gustav is not prepared and his rapid defense does not protect him, the arrow strikes a stinging blow that rips across his ribcage underneath of his left arm.  Still spinning away from the blow, Gustav finds himself off balance, trying to jump from a side-foot.  Nevertheless, his momentum is too much to get away from the attempt now.  Launching himself the best he can, Gustav finds he has miscalculated the jump poorly.

Twang!

One more time the sound rings out as Ronald shoots his own weapon at the man to the south, though his aim is off by a half a foot.

"Ooof!"  The air rushes out of his lungs as he lands mercifully between two of the stakes, the near side scraping a superficial bloody gash down his calf.  Knowing all well how exposed he is sitting atop the barricade, Gustav takes a grasp with both hands and pulls himself down, landing flat with another thud.

On the far side of the wall, his finds his opponent scuttling backward from the barricade and rising to his knees as he grasps a sword at his hip, unsheathing it even as he pulls himself to his feet and spins to face Gustav who still lays on his back.

As for the other men, the bow and arrow wielder to the north draws a further arrow from his quiver and knocks the weapon pointing down at Gustav at a range that is nearly impossible to miss...

Meanwhile Odelia has made her way south around the barricade.  She watches as he closest foe draws a sword and takes a step towards Gustav...  Things look dire indeed for the swordsman who thought it his duty to take on three attacks on his own...

OOC:  I have rushed post to get something up so if something is confusing please feel free to PM me or post in OOC and I'll try and clear it up.  Gustav is supine in the hex that previous middle foe was occupying with two empty hands.  It looks like all three of the bandits are targeting (facing) you for the moment.  He also took a stinging arrow wound across his ribcage that ripped through his light armor.  Odelia is five hexes south of the southern foe and has a ready whip in her right hand.  Magnus is standing in his previous hex with a ready mace.  Ronald is standing one hex northeast of his previous with a ready buckler in his left hand and an empty right hand.  The northern foe is drawing another arrow, the middle foe is drawing a sword and standing one hex east of his previous spot.  The southern foe has also dropped his crossbow and drawn a sword.  He is currently facing north towards Gustav and has his back to Odelia.

In reply to Raddek (msg # 47):

Rondald whips out his knife even as he closes the gap. Racing off at a sprint around the north of the barricade, Rondald knows he has not long to back up his companion, and he runs accordingly.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:31, Sat 13 Jan 2018.

Sucks to be me Gustav thinks as he arches his back and attempts to fling himself away a little, roll and get to his feet ... It's so hard to dodge on your back

Magnus was already moving by the time the crossbows began to fire.  With most of his weight forward he came out from behind the wagon at a run, his cloven feet kicking up clods of the damp earth as he moved. With the rhythmic hard impacts and the jingling of his ring mail with every step it was hard to not hear him coming.

With Odelia to the south and Rondald looking like he was going to try and vault the barricade, Magnus took the northern side in an effort to flank whoever lay beyond it.

As he drew nearer his nostril began to flare more violently with every exhalation, his entire body trembled with fear, excitement and rage, and his shaggy hand gripped the mace with white knuckled intensity.

    She watched the man closest advance, seeing steel emerging from his scabbard. There was little time to think - most of what would be done next would be done on instinct rather than planning.

    She moved as quietly as she could towards the bandit that was advancing on the blonde-haired attacker, she let the coiled leather whip fall loose before she drew back and aimed at the leg of the man. The whip in an of itself wouldn't do much in the way of damage, but she used it for something else - to trip the man up in the hopes that causing him to fall on his face would grant the blonde a moment's respite that he could move out of the way and regain his footing as well as his weapon.

---

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
15:04, Today: Odelia La Faelis rolled 9 using 3d6-2.  Whip attack on the nearest leg (11 - 2 = 9 to attack) to trip opponent.

---

Only slowly recognizing the danger circling him from three sides and his back at a wall, Gustav kicks his legs back towards his face and kips to his feet in a moment his hands push forward to steady himself.  The motion is not a moment too soon, for even as he starts to regain his bearing another arrow whizzes just behind his back, shattering on the ground halfway between himself and the man to his right.  Ahead of him, the mail clad soldier steps and swings, though his aim too is short and Gustav feels the whistle of air brush just by his leg…  To his right, the other sword bearer takes a step closer, his sword readied for a swing.

Meanwhile, the group at the cart begins to disperse quickly.  Ronald sprints forward, his shield held out as he whips a knife from his belt, charging straight at the barricade.  Magnus shrugs his own gear into place as he sets out on a run as well.  Odelia, now nearly within striking distance sets her coiled whip in readiness.

”Yannis!”  The bow and arrow man shouts as he sees Odelia from across the length of the barricade.

OOC:  Only did one round that time as I wasn’t entirely clear in my last post.  Gustav is now standing, still in the spot where the middle bandit resided in the previous map.  He has somehow miraculously evaded being hit by both his attackers this turn.  His hands are empty, though his sword is still scabbarded and has not lost his knives.  You cannot retreat due to the position of the barricade.  The Northern bandit is still in his same position and has a ready bow in his left hand and an empty right hand after firing his arrow.  The middle bandit stands one hex to Gustav’s east with a ready sword in his right hand.  The southern bandit is two hexes south of Gustav, with a ready sword in his right hand.  Odelia is now two hexes south of the southern bandit with a ready whip.  Please note that if you wish to trip, it must be against the foot (ankle) and is a roll against skill-4 after hit penalties are applied.  So essentially if you want to knock him over it is at -8 to skill.  Rondald has moved 6 hexes due east.  Note that there is no “gap” in the barrier large enough for you to walk through, but there is a spot that is easier to jump over at the meeting of the two devices.  If you want to jump over on your next post, roll vs.  Acrobatics to tumble back to your feet or DX/Jumping-4 to simply land on your back.  You may drop either your knife or shield to give a +1 to that roll, or both to give you a +2.  It's also important to note that is where Gustav is standing at the moment, so unless he books it you are likely to plow into him as you attempt your leap.  Otherwise you can go around.  Magnus has moved his full move towards the northeast to edge around the northern side.  Please post two rounds of action this time.

In reply to Raddek (msg # 52):

Rondald again tries to go around the north end of the barricade, knowing he is not acrobatic enough to try to jump it, he hopes to pit himself at the archer this time.

[OOC: Where did people get the impression he was charging the barricade? Did I imply something I did not mean to? Oh, and full defence as before if it is needed.

Edit: Is it too ate to have him actually shield charge the guy with the bow? If not, what rolls do I make for that?]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:14, Wed 17 Jan 2018.

Magnus kept up his momentum, his pace slowing just slightly as he rounded the northern end of the barricade. There was so much going on in the mind of the beast man that it was difficult to put into words, but sufficient to say the look of co-mingling fear, anger and perhaps introspection would be familiar to those who had seen young men pressed into life or death combat for the first time.

He watched the flickering obscured shapes of people through the cracks in the impromptu blockade and heard the sounds of shouting on the other side.

A few more moments and his life would be changed forever.

[OOC: There was something in your original post, along the lines of "around the top" or "over the top" before you edited it that alluded to him trying to jump it, at least in my mind.]

OOC- GM, I am assuming the top is north, If I am where the center bandit was and he is one row east of me, he needs to be a half hex north or south, the difference could be important to me... could you clarify please.

OK Gustav draws his saber (free action since he passed the fast draw roll) and he will take an all out defense; choosing increased dodge and move ½ his movement between the two most distant opponents [Page 366 of GURPS Campaigns] . His dodge is +2 so 11. He may yet live!
  He should end up either two hexes NE or SE from his current location facing west, passing two hexes from each opponent. [I am assuming speed 6 and dodge 9 as his gear was put on the cart.]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:04, Fri 19 Jan 2018.

Swords fly amidst the chaos, swiping this way and that as the brigands (for at least Gustav is certain that is what they are as the two previously hidden men have no markings of the emperor whatsoever) are forced into combat behind their reinforcements.

Gustav knows that standing here between the three is certain death, so he presses his shoulder forward ducking to the side as he tries to evade his closest foe.  Though the man steps in his way, swinging his sword madly, Gustav manages not only to evade the blow but also spin right by his tormentor!  Whipping his saber into his grip he continues to backpedal and is not prepared as his foe swings again and slashes him across the side, tearing his tunic and sending forth a vomiting spray of blood that slicks his hip and the ground below him!

Meanwhile Odelia finds herself in the perfect place to strike!  She swings her arm around sending the whip in a brutal arc for the man's arm.

Crack!

Though the blow hits squarely the man does little more than wince as he turns, swinging his sword in a wild arc that misses terribly.  Odelia brings back her arm to swing again though this time the two both exchange blows that miss wide.

Ronald and Magnus each run at top speed, though it is clear that Rondald is the swifter.  He makes his way to the left side of the barricade, finding himself a mere two yards from the bowman who now points his next arrow directly at him.  Magnus trails some half dozen yards back, the blood of rage throbbing in his ears.

"Terri!  Hold Sally!"  Rudyard barks as he grabs his own crossbow and leaps from the cart, sprinting off a few steps behind Magnus.

OOC:  To keep this moving guys please do me a favor and make sure you post as many round of action as I call for.  If I have to do one round every post this is going to take forever.  I promise I will stop things if any significant event changes the gravity of the fight.  The next post will be two seconds of action.

Gustav is now standing four yards northeast of where the center bandit started facing southwest.  You have suffered a major wound to the torso.  Roll vs. HT to avoid knockdown and stun.  You are at half move and dodge but you did successfully manage to get out from the middle of the three bandits with an impressive evade roll.  You have your saber ready in your right hand.  Note that your foe is wearing mail armor with the tunic over, with leather boots.  His hands and head are unarmored.

Odelia is now one hex south of the southern bandit, who is back to the same place where he started the fight.  He has a sword in his right hand and leather armor except for his hands and head.

Ronald is now two hexes north of the northern bandit, who has turned to the north to face you.  He also wears heavy leather armor with the exception of the head and hands.  He has a ready arrow in his bow pointed at Ronald.

Magnus is still five hexes west of the barrier and will get around (but won't be able to attack) next turn.

Rudyard has grabbed his crossbow, and started to move towards the barricade as well, though he lags well behind the others.

In reply to Raddek (msg # 56):

Rondald holds the shield in front of the bow to deflect the expected arrow as he charges the man, quickly closing the gap and then stabbing at the mans chest as he gets so close he can smell the bandits breath.

"Servant of the Empire my ass. We will avenge the soldier whose uniform you stole!"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:41, Mon 22 Jan 2018.

Magnus rounded the corner of the barricade and immediately followed in the wake of Rondald, somewhere in the back of his mind he registered the smell of blood and felt a thrilling wave of adrenaline rush through his body, but the more pressing concern was the archer who seems just moments from launching an arrow into their midst.

The Minotaur bellowed to the sky, his mouth wide with his lips pulled back against his teeth. The muscles in his neck and his nostrils flared and his hauberk seemed to stretch as he flexed and bent forward slightly, all the while continuing to advance on the bowman.

Gustav stumbles back, struggling to keep his head clear... there is a terrible pain in his side and some numbness setting in... He glances and sees the blood ... DAMN! He thinks ... but his thoughts cloud and he struggles to keep his balance.  SWORD POINT UP AT ATTACKER goes through his mind ... they beat that into him ....  he struggles to see the attacker ... to keep his balance ... why is everything spinning so...
This message was last edited by the player at 17:46, Sun 21 Jan 2018.

   Realising that she has lost the advantage of surprise and that her target is prepared, her left hand slipped behind her and extracted a thin blade from a hidden sheath. Eyes narrowed as she ran slightly forward towards the man, then began to circle him in an attempt to offer a shot to one of the others.

---

OOC: Will take one second to half-move and draw a weapon (dagger), then move to the man's left side to try and flank him. If he follows, he may offer a side or back hit by a missile weapon user from our side. Failing that, will attack the following turn.