With the help of one of the laborers, Gustav heaved the last barrel of beer onto his wagon.  He thanks the man and wipes his brow, though it was only a few hours after sunrise, Gustav had been laboring since before the dawn to get the last of his supplies loaded up, and it seemed like he was finally ready.

The caravan was not overly large.  Fzoul Slovis was a young farmer, a dark skinned man with blackened teeth and seedy eyes.  He too was leading a wagon, loaded with seed and farming equipment, along with the foodstuffs for the journey, a large plow strapped to the side so that the blades hung down low near the wagon tires.  Ayun Ghannis was a middle aged man, his hair just thinned enough to show bits of his mottled head.  Ayun's skin was a pasty white with brown hair and eyes, giving the impression that his ancestors had hailed from climes much farther north.  Ayun was a goatherd and a merchant, really he was the impetus of the whole expedition.  He had hired two other men, Kiro and Tatsori to be laborers for the caravan, driving Ayun's wagon, which carried barrels of water for the animals and workers along with whatever personal items Ayun had thought to bring, for he had nothing on his person apart from the staff in his hands and the knife on his hip.  They were all there for similar reasons...  the seeming unlimited potential of the new town at Three Corners.  A new trade town with the southern border which had sprung up from the mine... a town which had yet to spring up the necessary sustainment it would require to thrive.  It was a ripe opportunity for the plucking.

Rolf too, had agreed to come along as a sort of guard and helpful hand.  Ayun had been happy for the extra help and had agreed to pay him the same going rate as the laborers, $300 for the two-week trip.  It wasn't exactly a lot, but Rolf had been drawn by that same calling of opportunity that Three Corners seemed to offer, and had been somewhat off put by a newfound, not all together positive, notoriety that his involvement in the whole Witten affair had seemed to gain him.  He wanted to lay low at least for a time, until the whole thing had washed over.

The last among them, besides the dozen or more hardings that Ayun was transporting, was the dog Kunai, who happily ran amongst the goat-like creatures, yipping and wagging his tail wildly.

Gustav checked the wagons one last time, passing his hands over his weapons belt.  He had his saber, the main-gauche, and on the other hip he carried the black sword...  Though he had intended to bundle it up and stow it happily away with his other things, he found himself pulled to keep it closer, its grip warm and welcoming in his hand.

"Are we all ready?"  Ayun asks the other five men, nudging the last of his own supplies stored in the back of his wagon.  "Daylight flees from us and opportunity beckons!  The new road to Three Corners does not wait, we move!"

OOC:  It is 0800 on 14 December, 2005.  Sorry for the monumental delay in starting the thread and thanks for the patience.  Gustav has a wagon loaded with all of his goods, which you can opt to drive or let one of the laborers, Kiro or Tatsori, do it.  Ayun is walking along with the hardings, which are goat-like creatures raised primarily for milk, although they can be eaten.  One of the laborers is driving Ayun's wagon, which has a pair of mules pulling it.  Fzoul is driving his own wagon, which is being pulled by a draft horse.

Rolf has been paid in advance for the mission, $300, which has been added to your character sheet.  Gustav, though you are probably the best fighter of the group, you aren't being paid, instead you were offered goods and services from the merchant guild (Ayun) to get your business off the ground.  If there are any last minute items you wish to add to your character sheet (or sell) please let me know.  Also do me a favor and let me know what items you have on your person.  Otherwise I'll go with what is default on your character sheets.

Gusttav quickly finds all the swords to be too much and puts the saber and Main Gauche away.
He carrys the Black sword, a knife * and a new shield. He also has his crossbow in a notch by the seat of the wagon which holds it aimed down so it won't hit any body or any animal unless it's under the wagon. Gustav plans to drive the wagon.

Rolf has done his best to lay low.  Notoriety for his role in the Witten affair is not something he is after.  Many politically powerful people might want a word with him after the explosion at the insane asylum and he would like to remain anonymous, at least as much as he can.  For his own safety, the less that know about him the better.

And that's not even counting the Mind Flayers.  Rolf is as confident as any man that he can defend himself, but against those creatures all bets are off.  He prays they are dead, but he wonders if they survived and could come after him.  Or send any number of mind controlled assassins to do their killing for them.  The thought sobers him.

When not contemplating his own demise at hands of otherworldly monsters, he spends much of his time poring over the wizards tome and adds a few new spells to his repertoire.  Many of the spells sadly he is unable to learn right now.  They require knowledge he doesn't have.  At least not yet.

But there's time.  He's young and has much to learn in general.  Despite wanting to be seen as little as possible, he takes the risk to track down his former cohort Morgalyn.  Not for a romantic rendezvous, but for training in the art of defeating locks.  She made it look so easy, though he's sure its not, that he wanted to give it a try.  Owing to his innate intelligence it didn't take him too long to get the rudiments of it down.

He also took the time to spend his money and invest in a better sword.  It drained most of his funds, but he likes his new Falchion much more than his last.

After weeks of studying, training, and fretting, when the opportunity to leave with Gustav for the Three Corners he jumped at the chance.  Getting out of the area would do him good.  Fresh air and new opportunities abound in the unsettled lands.  A man like himself could make a mark there he thinks.

And the pay on making the trip is just icing on the cake as far as he's concerned.

OOC:  Rolf is good to go.  The only thing he may want to buy is more food.  Enough for the trip, plus another weeks supply just in case.

Edit:  Rolf will keep his backpack on one of the wagons.  With himself nearby. That way he'll be carrying a smaller load.  He'll keep his crossbow at the ready, with an eye out for any trouble that may come their way.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:10, Wed 31 Mar 2021.

You can put your stuff on my wagon Rolf, keep it in the group.

Ayun grins with a yellowed smile as no one rebuts his own readiness to be gone on adventure.  "Good!  We go!"

"Ayun!"  The voice comes from a stone's throw away, to the side of the caravan.  Gustav turns his head towards the voice which he recognizes instantly.

Terri looks like shit.

Though she wears gleaming new scale armor, and her bow shines with polish, Terri has the look of someone who has taken no care for herself.  Her eyes are sunken in darkened pools and her skin has paled dramatically from the last time Gustav has seen her.  It is not any wonder to the swordsman, for he has heard that Rondald had died at the hand of brigands.

"Ayun!"  Terri shouts as she approaches the caravan from the streets.  "Is your offer still good?  Do you still need another hand for your crew?"

Ayun's eyes narrow, his yellowed teeth slowly closed by his lips as he dons the calculating look of a salesman.  "Of course not..."  Ayun simpers.  "We are readied to depart, there can be no hiring of hands at the last minute... besides, you have been replaced!  Do you think I am made of money?"

Terri's dour expression shifts into one of contempt.  "I have no need of the pittance you offer, I just wish to be rid of this place!  Do you still have room in your caravan for another or not?"

The corners of Ayun's mouth spread wide in a sort of diseased smile, his eyes squinting as his rough edges soften soften somewhat from Terri's harshness.  "I suppose if you are so adamant we can make room..."  Ayun looks about the wagons, which are all nearly full to the brim.  "Though I can't say it isn't an imposition!   You'll need to carry your own goods, though I have enough food... I think... for all of us."

Terri scoffs at the man, as she draws up level with the others.  "I need no one else to carry my things.  Get me down to Three Corners is all that I ask, and away from this place."

Ayun's nods, his expression no less afflicted.  "If you must..."  He waves generally towards the wagons.  "Tatsori!"  Ayun shouts, redirecting his attention towards his own wagon.  "We move!"

Despite the early start, the caravan's progress is slow.  Loaded down as they are, the wagons are a heavy load for the animals.  As well the road that the caravan has chosen, through the hillsides rather than down the Conn, is barely more than trodden grass.  Ayun's wagon leads for most of the way, driven by Tatsori, though the hardings are often pushed out in front by the happy dog Kunai.  Fzoul's wagon brings up the middle, with Gustav in the back.  Ayun, Kiro, Rolf, and Terri walk at intervals around the wagons, at times chatting to carry on with the time, though Rolf finds that Terri offers little conversation, resorting to one or two words in response to his questions when possible.

the whole day drags on, the hilly plains of western Megalos slowly sliding behind them.  The only thing of note is the sighting of a single rider cresting another hilltop some miles away, thought whoever it is quickly recedes backwards and out of sight.

"That seems enough for today."  Ayun offers to no one in particular as the sun begins to hang lower in the sky.  "Two more days before the town of Assa, then the wilderness really starts!"

OOC:  Ok, mostly admin still, but feel free to roleplay the first day on the road.  Rolf, you can feel free to know as much or as little as you have read in the threads about Terri, as it is easy to explain that Gustav may have told you, or else the details of the murder have been common gossip over the past few months.  I do need however a few things from each of you: a common watch list and a perception roll.  Each of the NPC's is happy to take a rotation in the watch.  The hours of darkness are from about 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM due to the late time of year.  Let me know if there are any questions outstanding.  I still owe Gustav a shield, and I'll get it to you as soon as I know which one you want.

TERRI, Put your gear on my wagon if you wish, you are welcome with us.

Rolf doesn't mind if another comes along.  The more the merrier he thinks, but she seems stressed and on the run from something...much like himself.  While he is running from literal monsters, what is Terri looking to escape?

In any event he has no idea and doesn't want to pry.  It's not his business or concern.  But he makes a mental note to ask if Gustav knows her during a quiet moment and what her story might be.

The going is slow, which suits Mr. Erikson just fine.  He keeps his crossbow handy, but unloaded.  There's hardly anywhere for a potential threat to hide and catch them napping, leaving him with plenty of time to load his weapon.

And even if he can't get it ready in time, he still has the robe and it's array of three different spells.  But he'd rather not use them if he can.  The fewer people that know what it can do the better.  Word could potentially get around about what his robe does, and that word could get back to someone, or some thing, associated with Witten.

He finds himself in agreement with Terri and he can't leave soon enough either.  Rolf may be being paranoid as Witten is in ruins and Dr. Heraldus is dead, but still, the forces at play there were powerful and may only be scattered for now.  The farther away he is the better.  It would put his mind at ease.

Though the lands they are traveling to are no picnic.  Strange creatures lurk in dark places, waiting to pounce on those foolish enough to peer into them.

The day goes smoothly and Rolf is glad to get ready to camp.  Taking his backpack out, he rummages around and pulls out a small tent.  Addressing Terri he says amicably "You are welcome to use this tonight if you'd like privacy."

OOC:  Here's my proposed common watch.  Let me know if anyone has other plans and if I missed anyone.  [Rolf, Gustav, Fzoul Slovis, Kiro, Tatsori, Ayun Ghannis, Terri]

If Terri doesn't want or need Rolf's tent he will use it.  Otherwise Rolf will bunk down in the common tent(s).

Perception roll:  13, missed by 1.
17:59, Today: Rolf Erikson rolled 13 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,5,4.  Camp perception.

Gustav tries to get Terri aside and ask what happened to Rondald and if she is OK. Whats happened to her to?
He makes it clear that she has a friend .

Gustav just shrugs... Guard duty is just a fact of life, he makes sure he knows where Fzoul sleeps.

He has the cross bow loaded and sword with shield on for his watch.
He stays alert during the whole watch.

The group halts with the setting sun, setting up camp in a wide circle just off the road with the wagons on the west side and Ayun directing Tatsori and Kiro to erect his large tent while he minds to the animals, Fzoul minding to his own horse and wagon.

The others mostly mind their own things, Rolf grabbing his pack from the Gustav's wagon, offering his tent to Terri, though the other shakes her head, patting her own pack as she lowers it down from her shoulders.  "I've got my own, thanks."

Before long, camp is made.  It is a tight circle with the wagons on the west, nestled at the bottom of an embankment.  The tents are pitched on the southern side, with the road on their east and the animals scrawling over the hilly plains to feed on what they can find of the first greens sprouting up of the rainy season.

As he hasn't been able to speak much to Terri through the march, having been on the wagon, Gustav makes his way to the woman once his own things are set.  He starts off asking of Rondald, and though he had intended to ask more, to be more consoling, her reaction cuts him off in his tracks.

Terri shakes her head vigorously, putting up a hand towards Gustav in a sort of a "stop" gesture.  After a moment, she turns her head away and closes her eyes, though Gustav thinks he sees the shimmer of a tear falling down her cheek.  "Sorry Gustav, I can't...  I..."

She rubs a forearm across her face and shakes her head again, walking away from Gustav and crouching down to crawl into her tent.  "I just can't take it anymore.  I need to get away."  Her last comment is little more than whispered, and she does not emerge to join the rest of the others for supper...

Ayun agrees to Rolf's suggestions for the watch, and after making sure everyone knows their order and who they are waking to replace them (Terri gives a throaty assent to Rolf from inside her tent), he takes up his position for the first watch of the night, tending the small fire, fed by the thin branches of a dead scrub bush.

For the first half of the night, all seems quiet...  Rolf sees nothing upon his own watch, and passes it along to Gustav, Gustav to Fzoul...  It is later when a piercing cry rings through the night.

"Brigands!"  Kunai's bark adds to the din, angry and loud... voiced from just outside the tent.

The noise pierces Rolf and Gustav awake in a moment, each of them already searching for their weapons...

OOC:  It's assumed that Rolf is sleeping in his own personal tent and that Gustav is in the big tent with Fzoul, Ayun, Tatsori, and Kiro.  Neither of you know exactly what time it is, though it is definitely late in the night.  You may assume that you are sleeping next to your weapons, and that you are sleeping in any armor that is flexible, which I think includes very little of what you guys own.  Feel free to RP that you are sleeping in less than that (it seems a little silly to sleep in your boots, but I'll allow it).  Your robe is fair game Rolf in case there was a question.  We are not quite in combat yet, though we may be there very quickly.  Give me about 10 seconds worth of action, which should include grabbing whatever weapons you want to take.  Note that if you want to don armor other than something that slips over an arm or hand, it's going to take a significant amount of time.

Gustav Rouses quickly and grabs (and puts on) sword baldric (with sword and venom knife) and shield, then the spear as he heads outside. Stepping aside just outside the tent to see what is happening.


Gustav sleeps in his boots as does most any soldier not in a safe place; Foot care is done in daylight with guards around.

OOC - An example of why you wear your foot gear was when we got to a base camp in Vietnam and I took off my boots to sleep. Had a rocket attack and had to run across 30-40 feet of crushed rock to get into the bunker. Very uncomfortable!

Rolf sets up his own tent, preparing to settle down for the night.  The day has been long and he really would like the rest.  Not a fan of camping so much as he prefers a proper bed, but at least with his tent he knows it has been carefully cleaned and won't smell too badly.

He takes off all his armor and boots, but leaves the robe on.  It's comfortable enough to sleep in and in the off chance he needs to spring to life to deal with some threat, he'd have some defense.

But he's not worried about danger.  They are not that far from civilization and their party is pretty large.  Who or what would dare take them on?  He soon drifts off to sleep after his turn on watch is finished...

sssss

With bolt Rolf springs from slumber at the call of bandits!  He rolls instantly from his sleeping pad and hurriedly puts his boots on and grabs sword and shield.

Once out of the tent he does his best to assess the threat.

OOC:  Rolf will sleep with the robe on.  He will put on boots and grab his sword and shield.  Once outside the tent, if he has time he will attach the sword scabbard to his hip so he won't have to carry the sword.  And he'll look and listen for which direction the threat is coming from.

How much light is there?  Manmade or otherwise?  The last thing Rolf wants is to have himself near a light source and the Bandits in the dark.

The moment of panic breathes fire into Gustav's veins, making him race in the darkness, gripping at his sword belt and wrapping it around his waist in haste.

All around, bodies seem to rouse from a drowsy stupor.  "What the?"  Ayun murmurs as he sees Gustav making ready for battle, but Gustav has not time for explanation!  He grabs his spear and shield and hurls himself towards the front flaps of the tent, bursting through them and into the night beyond!

Gustav halts for a moment to get his bearings.  Ahead he sees Kiro, still standing next to the fire pit, though the flames have died down to embers and give only the most meager light to the surrounds.  Two men face Kiro on the other side, each with a knife.  Kiro swipes out with his club, smacking one of them hard on the hand, and causing the man to drop his knife and scream!  But the other, seeing a moment of weakness, slashes out hard and though Kiro retreats desperately to evade the blow, the knife slashes neatly across his chest.  What's worse, Kiro's enthusiastic defense has him reeling backwards, taking another moment to recover his balance!

The man who still has the knife jumps forward with a slash, though he misses the mark, his friend nursing his hand as he stares gape-mouthed at the suddenly arriving help!

Gustav hears another tent flap open to the side of him, but he is already darting forward, looking to join the fray!

OOC:  Gustav, you join the fray first.  You have a ready spear in your right hand and your shield ready on your left.  You have also managed to put your sword belt on with both the black sword and the poison knife in their sheathes.  Please give me 3 seconds worth of action.

Rolf, you emerge from your tent slightly behind Gustav with your shield readied and your sword belt strapped around your waist, so your right hand is free.  You also have your robe on.  Please give me 2 seconds worth of action.

The light penalty is quite bad.  The sky is overcast and it does not seem like much light is making its way through the clouds.  The fire give some small bit of light, but not much.  Each of you please make 2 rolls - the first labeled "Vision" the second labeled "Hearing".

This message was last edited by the GM at 16:55, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

12:58, Today: Gustav Du Meseries rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,3,3.  Hearing.
12:58, Today: Gustav Du Meseries rolled 9 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,4,3.  Vision.

Gustav having apprecuiated the situation as best he can lunge forward and stabs for the knife wielders vitals


13:01, Today: Gustav Du Meseries rolled 6 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,1,1.  One handed Spear thrust.

13:03, Today: Gustav Du Meseries rolled 5 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 4.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:50, Mon 12 Apr 2021.

Rolf leaves his tent as quickly as he can and does his best to look and listen for trouble.  He has no idea how many Bandits there might be and what kind of trouble they're in for.

Meager light bobs and weaves to the west of him where the camps main fire smolders.  A scuffle of men he notes are encircling the flagging embers in a deadly dance.

Drawing his sword he rushes to help.

OOC:  Round 1 Rolf will 1 hex step west and draw his sword.  Round 2 Rolf will close and defend.  Retreating dodge.

Hearing roll 13, missed by 1.  Vision roll 8, made it by 4.

16:39, Today: Rolf Erikson rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,5,1.  Vision.
16:39, Today: Rolf Erikson rolled 13 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,6,6.  Hearing.

Gustav takes a moment to assess the situation, his senses on high alert.  Though the fire burns low, the dim light cannot mask the dull clop of a horse's hoof on the road, and it doesn't take long for Gustav to see the man a spear-throw away sitting atop a dark horse.

"There's more!"  Gustav shouts gripping his spear in his hands and rushing headfirst into the battle.

But for the moment, Kiro continues to battle two-on-one valiantly.  The man with the knife slashes forward but Kiro staggers back, the blow missing him by inches.  The other man lurches forward with his one good hand, but Kiro swats the arm away with his club as he steps back towards the others.  He rushes back, his club swinging overhead, though the man with the knife dances back nimbly back without harm.

Gustav dashes in with his spear as well, jabbing out with precision, though somehow the man twists to avoid the blow!

Then, several things happen at once.  Terri screams, Rolf sees another man dashing in just past the line of his tent!

Tw-Twang!  Twin bowstrings hum, a man's groan from Terri's direction and a shout of pain from Kiro!  Gustav looks over to see an arrow sprouting from the man's chest and Kiro stumbles backwards, though for the moment manages to keep his feet!

Rolf whips his sword from the belt, stepping back as another thug charges towards him, knife flashing.  Rolf manages to catch the blow off the edge of his shield with a thunk!

Foot beats thump from every direction as more bodies appear in the in the gloom of the dying campfire, friend and foe, weapons drawn.

Chaos!

OOC:  First thing's first... can we all just take a moment to appreciate how amazing my map skills are?  Have you ever seen copy/paste used so skillfully?  (God I'm awful).

Gustav's good rolls allowed him to see the the rider in the darkness, though he's far enough out that details are hard to determine.  Kiro has taken an arrow in the chest and does not look good, though he remains standing.  1 is disarmed and has a broken hand.  2 still has his knife and is unharmed.  3 is mounted, though no more detail is possible in the near darkness.  4 has a knife, is unharmed and is engaged with Rolf.  The character just coming out of the tent is Tatsori.

Lets to two rounds of action.

Rolf wonders what's keeping Kiro on his feet.  Despite multiple wounds the man remains standing, though likely not for much longer.

But the mage has more pressing concerns and can't dwell on his condition as a knife wielding roughneck whips his way past his tent, making a beeline straight for Rolf.  Murder in his eyes!

Rolf barely notices him in time and is just able to slip out from his knife blade as it skitters over his shield.  The battle is at hand!

Regrouping he swings his falchion, coming in low.

OOC:  Round 1 feint on #4.  Defense retreating dodge.
Round 2, if the feint was successful then normal attack targeting #4's leg and same defense as round 1.  If the feint failed then defensive attack, again targeting his leg and retreating parry defense.

This message was last edited by the player at 21:41, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

The man with the knife is the most dangerous, but the other is hardly harmless... none the less, he again stabs for the Knife wieleder's vitals, but his thrust is wide.  He keeps his shield up and ready to block any attack.

Gustav thrusts his weapon wildly at the foe ahead of him, though the blow misses.  Certainly the swordsman has faced worse odds before than two-on-one, with one of the men weaponless to boot, but he is not one to take the situation lightly.  The man with the knife dances forward, his thrust swatted away with Gustav's shield.  The other man lunges forward too, though his attack seems rash and uncoordinated.  Beside him, Kiro topples backwards, landing hard on his side and unmoving...

Meanwhile, Rolf jabs his falchion at his own foe, looking for a reaction.  The man responds, thrashing a knife high towards Rolf's face!  Rolf steps backwards, his weapon barely swiping the knife off course.... Rolf regroups himself, following his own blow up quickly, slashing low and cutting a wide ribbon of flesh through the brigands trousers.  The man screams and falls, blood spraying in a wide arc across the ground.

Meanwhile, Gustav jabs forward again with his spear, this time catching a bit of flesh at the knife wielder's side.  The man responds, slashing with his blade, though Gustav easily bats away the attack with his shield.  Gustav is unprepared however, when the other man stumbles forward, and though he stretches himself to get out of the way, the man manages to grip Gustav around the waist, pressing his shield uselessly against his chest!

"What in the hell is going on?"  Ayun's voice resounds from inside the tent.

OOC:  Battle map is essentially unchanged with the notable exception of Kiro falling unconscious.  Both of you are facing away from 5/6 Terri and Tatsori, so you don't have much information on what is happening there, but you haven't heard anything that would lead you to believe that the fight is going particularly well or poorly.  Likewise, due to the darkness, it's hard to tell what 3 is doing unless you dedicate a second and a perception roll to it.  He still appears to be standing in the same place though.

Gustav managed a minor wound to 2, though he has been grappled around the torso by 1.  Note that your spear is at -4 in close combat, and your shield's DB affects all skills negatively.

Rolf, you have dealt a crippling blow to 4, he is currently prone and facing you, though he has managed to keep a hold on his knife.

Let's do 2 more seconds.

Rolf's feint doesn't go as planned, in fact it almost gets him killed.  In any event he is determined to get his foe on the ground and hopefully not mortally wounded in the process.  Certainly a heavy enough wound will do the trick, but he plans on targeting the man's lower extremities as most can't keep their feet on one leg.  Plus in his experience many less skilled fighters generally don't handle low attacks well.

Dancing lightly on the pads of his feet he gives his opponent a healthy amount of respect, which is fortunate as the man shrugs off his diversionary swipe and his knife comes perilously close to the mage's face!  With a swipe of his falchion he barely diverts the attack away and ripostes with a low arc swing that connects solidly!

The rapscallion lay flat from the blow while sporting a grave leg wound that bleeds heavily.  Yet he is still conscious and holding his deadly blade.  Rolf brings his falchion to bear once more as he vaguely hears Arun's distinctive voice.

"BRIGANDS!" he shouts in response in hopes of bringing the slow witted man to his senses.

OOC:  Round 1: Rolf will swing for the fallen brigand's knife arm in an attempt to disarm him.  Defense retreating dodge.  Round 2:  Same as round 1 if he still holds his blade.  If the first round attack hits and he looks to be incapacitated, Rolf will reassess try to help if any of his group nearby are in trouble.  Which from the map and how things are going will likely be Gustav.  Defense retreating dodge.

Gustav would curse, except he is busy, he jerks his shield up and then slams the bottom edge back down on the fools head. hetriesto keep the spear point between him and the knife wielderas best he can, but the clod grappling him is the current effort.

The clash of blades sing out into the dark night.  Rolf screams in anger and frustration at Ayun, who somehow has not yet seemed to grasp the situation.  What in the hell are you doing?  Though the word brigands, yelled for the second time, seems to bring the man to his senses.

"Shit!"  Ayun yells as sounds of scurried fumbling begin from the vicinity of the tent.

Other screams sound out in the night as well.  Tatsori shouts, and another unknown voice from the area of the tent...

Rolf meanwhile takes his saber and slashes it down hard on the fallen man before him.  Though he struggles to roll himself out of the way, Rolf's blade bites deep into his arm just above the wrist, and Rolf hears the breaking of bone.  The man screams and drops his weapon, his face in a pained look of agony for a moment, though quickly he collapses back to the earth unmoving, blood spraying in angry pulses from his twin wounds.

Meanwhile, Gustav fights back against the two men to the best of his ability, though his movements are not quite quick enough to avoid the danger.  The man with the knife lunges in, managing to get the tip of his weapon to sink deep into Gustav's side.  Gustav sucks his teeth at the pain, though he struggles through, shoving himself away and backwards from the other man's one-armed grip.  As he manages to back away, he smashes his shield down on the man's shoulder, though the pain makes the blow flimsy and ineffective...  The other man lunges forward again, nearly striking another vicious blow - though Gustav manages to reposition his shield at the last moment, taking the blade off the rim as he staggers back, trying to regain his breath and master the pain!  The Baldric strung over his shoulder seems to pulse with heat, and Gustav wants nothing more than to rend these two men apart piece by piece!

Rolf takes the moment of relative quiet to feverishly assess the scene.  Behind him, Terri alone stands, her bow empty in her left hand and in her right is her knife, which is soaked in blood.  Tatsori and two of the brigands are down and unmoving.  On the far side of the fray, the horseman still lurks, bow in his hands which is knocked and readied, pointed straight into the melee!

OOC:  Gustav has taken a major wound to the torso and is at half move and dodge, though he is no longer grappled.  Your shock penalty applied to the previous turn, so do do not need to worry about that this round.  Terri is uninjured.  Tatsori is unconscious, as are the thugs 4, 5, and 6.  Ayun and Fzoul seem to be making a lot of noise in their effort to work their way out of the tent but have not shown up yet.

Gustav drops the spear and draws the black sword, if it's going to be a close in fight he'll use the close in weapon. He readies it and waits for either of the men to close before striking.

Rolf is concerned the wounded man could throw his knife into his unprotected backside if he were to turn his attention elsewhere.  With fury the mage sends his falchion down hard once more.

The brigand's attempt to roll away is too slow as his blade slices deep into bone and tissue alike.  His foe slumped to the ground in a widening pool of blood, Rolf spins and doesn't like what he sees.

Scattered about their camp wounded men lay motionless as Gustav bleeds heavily from a cut and does his best to fend off not one, but two men.

The action is fast and furious!

Ever wary of the bowman's next arrow he briefly considers engaging him, but his trusty companion safety comes first.  Seeing Gustav wounded, Rolf rushes to his side.

"Help Gustav!" he shouts to Terri as he moves.

OOC:  Round 1:  Close to 1 hex on one of Gustav's attackers.  Defense retreating dodge.
Round 2:  Attack torso.  Defense retreating dodge.

Gustav grits his teeth to suppress the pain, dropping his spear and drawing the black sword which seems to throb in his hand.  One of the men jumps forward with his knife, though Gustav manages to swat the blow to the side with his shield, and presses in the attack with his own weapon.

The black sword rends the man's flesh like a hot knife through butter.  Before Gustav has even attempted to pull the blade back, it has been buried to the hilt just below the brigand's solar plexus.  Gustav knows the blow is deadly, that much is clear.  The man stumbles, his own blade going awry as Gustav slicks the blade out, eager for another blow.  The hit seems to invigorate the swordsman, Gustav's pain lessens, his mind clears and sharpens as he turns his attention to the man with the broken hand.

Rolf too runs forward, his blade slashing out as well.  He slashes out with his saber at the closet foe, the one who had just been skewered through the gut by Gustav's weapon.  The blade hits well, cutting a wide swath across the man's chest that splatters blood across the campsite.  The man pitches forwards, his eyes empty as his knife falls to the ground and his face straight into the coals of the fire.

Ziiip! Gustav steps back as an arrow streaks only a few inches to his left.  He turns his attention to the horseman who is even now turning his steed in the opposite direction.

"Shit!"  The last man shouts, his eyes wide and his right hand still useless.  He turns as well, just as Terri stumbles forward, slashing her knife in a blow that crashes straight into his back!  The blade clings into his flesh, and the man pitches forward, stumbling down to the ground below.

"Where are they!"  Ayun's voice erupts from the opening of the tent as the fat merchant emerges, knife in hand, his head swinging wildly in each direction.

OOC:  Ok, 5 out of the 6 men seem to be out of the fight, with the last one (the horseman) looking like he is going to flee.  If you wish to chase him, continue giving combat actions, and give me about 5 seconds of how you intent to chase him down.

Gustav isn't feeling much like running after a horse just now, but he does lift his shield.
Take care, the rider has a bow.