In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 726):

Quite some distance from the camp, Enrei smashes into a small bush.  By "smashes" I mean he accidentally uproots and kicks down into a low valley, which makes a good deal of noise.

Needless to say, the men react.

Combat Round

Beardaf is only a round or so of movement away, he roars and charges toward the main group by the fire (roll already made).

He can see now that there are five men around the fire, some sitting, some standing, and three horses tied nearby.

Several rounds of running away (depending on how you roll), are Enrei, Titus and Brennan.

Titus concentrates, but accomplishes nothing.

Brennan has already planted his feet and drawn his bow.  He can shoot this round (get full aim bonus, but -1d for range and -2d for darkness)

Your move...

In reply to GM (msg # 727):

Focus. Weave an arrow between the dreams.

Brennan breathes deeply through his nose, lines up his shot at the glowing figure, and releases his grip on the bowstring at the same moment he exhales.

[Archery + Coord + Improved Aim - Penalties: 4: 2x9, 2x4]


The arrow streaks away with a silent thrum, burying itself in the glowing man's right-hand shoulder with a sickening THUNK.

The way is clear and my eyes are open. I cannot miss.

Brennan smiles and nocks another arrow.

Enrei sees no problem with his treatment of the bush in his way, but as the men in the distance move to action he hurries his approach.  If the glowing man were to get away the others might never know about him.

((3x4 to run?  i don't remember what if any rules there are for moving faster))

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 729):

Brennan's arrow sails true.  The glowing figure crumples to the ground and you lose sight of him.

The other man standing beside vanishes as he dives for cover.  View of him and his companion is somewhat obscured by a red glow that seems to be coming up from the ground.


Enrei crashes over and through bush, hill and rock.  He is partway to the main circle of enemies.

Titus remains beside Brennan.

Beardaf crosses the small gap between the trees and the fire ring quickly.  His size, speed and the ferocity of his roar spooks the horses terribly and they whine and strain against their tethers, one managing to break free and flee.

Of the five men around the fire, two lose their cool and run away yelling.  The other three, though scared, hold their ground.  One manages to seize up a bow while the other two ready hand axes.

Combat Round

Beardaf is now at the campfire and a round's movement away from the glowing red circle.

Three enemies are with Beaerdaf, 1 has a bow 2 have axes.

Two men are fleeing, but may change their minds at some point.

At the glowing circle, one man is injured and both have taken cover and cannot be seen by anyone.

Enrei is a 2 rounds away from the campfire, Brennan and Titus are 3.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:53, Mon 06 July 2015.

In reply to GM (msg # 730):

"DESTROY. THE. CIRCLE." Brennan bellows. "IGNORE EVERYTHING ELSE."

True to his command -- and in stark contrast to what appears to be the optimal tactical positioning for him during this battle -- Brenna shoulders his bow and hurtles toward the glowing runes as quickly as his legs can carry him.

[Body + Athletics: 2x8]

]

Enrei spares a glance over his shoulder as Brennan shouts, but continues his "stealthy" jog to the circle.

((2x4 run roll))

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 732):

Ulbear continues his charge toward the circle, bashing into the axe wielding mook in the process

[Brawl 2x9, 2x1]

Here's to hoping he's not as tough as he looks..

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 733):

If anything Titus seems to disappear even more into shadow gliding along like mist through the trees.

[Coord + Stealth 2x10, 2x8]

Let them think they are fighting three superhumans, Either I can make a break for the circle when the others are occupied or I can pop out of nowhere with knives...

Its a win-win.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 734):

Enrei charges ahead.  Somehow, his overwhelming strength doesn't allow him to outpace Brennan, who manages to catch up by deftly leaping over and around obstacles.

Beardaf roars and slashes at one of the axemen, tearing at his arm (4 Killing to R. Arm))

His companion brings his axe down and nearly severs Beardaf's arm (6 Killing to R. Arm) spraying blood across the dirt.

The third man draws his bow and aims at the bear.

Combat Round

Brennan and Enrei are another round of running away.  Titus is still 3 rounds away (but sneaky).

The red glow at the circle intensifies, and you feel like you can see shadows even against the black night.

The non-glowing man there looks to be crawling to his feet (if you shoot at him, since he's almost prone, a hit location of 1-3 or 7 will miss).

The glowing man is still hidden.

In reply to GM (msg # 735):

Titus' eyes widen seeing the savage blow to beardaf but with actor's poise he does not break stealth....

[Coord + Stealth 2x6, 2x4]

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 736):

Brennan continues to run toward the circle, his eyes intensely focused on the shadowy blob forming in the center of the runes. He doesn't even seem to notice the terrible wound Uldaf suffered, such is his attention to that single detail.

[Running: 2x3]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Tue 07 July 2015.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 737):

Ugh. One more like that and I'll be lucky to have an arm attached at all, bear or not.

A clearly irritated and injured Ulbear rages at the man audacious enough to have struck him

[Brawl, 2x10, 2x8, 2x6]

As Enrei sees Uldaf take an axe less than gracefully, his face clouds with concern and he veers slightly in his charge, now aiming for the axemen rather than the place the glowing red man used to be.

((2x10 runs))

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 739):

Campfire

Enrei thunders across the small hills and explodes into the firelight, startling the three men almost as much as Beardaf did.

The archer, in particular, does not take kindly to the appearance of the giant shadow-colored man.  He quickly pivots and looses an arrow at him.  The shaft sails wide and vanishes into the night.

A few seconds later, it strikes a nocturnal hare and severs its spine neatly.  Soon thereafter, a fox finds the kill and steals it, returning to its burrow with food for the whole family.

The first axeman swings at beardaf and misses completely.  His injured friend has more luck, sinking his axehead into Beardaf's other arm (4 Killing L. Arm).


For his troubles, Beardaf smacks him solidly across the head with one claw, nearly taking it off (5 Killing, head).  The man staggers back, his face a mess of blood.

Circle

Brennan leaps up the crest of the hill and finds himself looking down at a glowing circle of runes, smouldering salt and bubbling tar.  The smell of brimstone is thick in the air and the runes pulse with dull red light.

The glowing man is crouched not far away beside a thick bush, only poking his head out.  Brennan recognizes his ugly countenance and missing tooth immediately, it's the brigand you spoke to days earlier in the valley.

The other man is still on his knees, gripping the shaft of Brennan's arrow with one bloody hand.  He looks at Brennan, then down at the circle.

"Hal-guhn!"  he croaks. 

Combat Round

Beardaf engages two axemen.  The archer is unengaged, but looking at Enrei.

Axeman 1: no damage
Bowman: no damage
Axeman 2: 4 killing R. Arm.  5 Killing Head.

Brennan faces down a glowing circle, an unarmed man and a glowing man who is hiding behind a bush (unless you hit location 10, he will get armor from the bush).

Glowing dude: no damage
Other dude: arrow in arm

Titus is now 2 rounds of running or 4 rounds of sneaking away (and sneaky)

In reply to GM (msg # 740):

Damnit I'm not getting anywhere and they are going to get shredded into ribbons down there.  Stupid Enrei can't sneak worth a damn, stupid Uldaf can't wait worth a damn, this whole plan is stupid.

He breaks stealth and casually as possible walks towards the camp focusing and muttering bitterly to himself.

[Illusions 2x9]

This message was last edited by the player at 13:20, Wed 08 July 2015.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 741):

Beardaf, unsatisfied with the continued attachment of the axeman's head, decides to have another go at it

[Brawl 3x1, 2x10, 2x7]

Beardaf swings at the dazed axeman, before hearing the sounds of the war horn.

Fancy, fancy boy.

Enrei pays the archer no heed and instead approaches the unharmed axe man.  He grips the axe by its haft, and in the process also grips the man's hand.  Then, with his free arm Enrei hammers his fist into the man's elbow, forcing it in a direction it was decidedly not meant to take.  When he feels the shock of the injury loosen the man's grip under his own, it is an easy task to liberate the axe from its erstwhile owner.

((4,8,7,9,7,9,8,10,2,3.  2x9 to punch him in the arm.  2x8 martial disarm, my axe now.))

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 743):

Brennan glares at the circle, the shadowy blob, and the men surrounding it, and vents his frustration by yelling at all three.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 14:54, Wed 08 July 2015.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 744):

Campfire

Enrei easily disarms the bandit, breaking his arm in the process (4 Killing R. Arm, disarmed).

Beardaf roars and slashes again at the severely wounded man, who collapses backward with a loud thud.  His legs spasm involuntarily, but he will not rise again.  Ever.  (1 Killing head.  I used your faster set to interrupt)

The archer looses another arrow, and this one catches Enrei squarely in the back when he turns to toss the axe to the side (4 Killing 4 Shock torso, reduced to 2 Killing 2 Shock by spending 1 Echo).

All around you, the sounds of horns and hooves echo.

Circle

Brennan speaks quickly though at any distance his voice is drowned out by the sounds of horns and hooves.

The injured man's eyes go wide.

"NO!  What are you DOING!?"


The glowing brigand behind the bush calls out.

"I know you, don't I?"  He laughs and stands up from behind his cover.

"And you shall see me again."

He crouches, then leaps up into the air and darts away almost within the blink of an eye, flying off into the darkness.

Combat Round

Beardaf has his choice of an archer and an unarmed man fighting Enrei with a broken arm.

Unarmed axeman 1: 4 Killing R. Arm
Bowman: no damage
Axeman 2: Dead

Brennan faces down a glowing circle, an unarmed man and a glowing man who is hiding behind a bush (unless you hit location 10, he will get armor from the bush).

Dude: arrow in arm

Titus is now 2 rounds of running or 3 rounds of walking away

In reply to GM (msg # 745):

Brennan glances up into the sky as the glowing man leaps from the bushes and streaks away. He gesticulates wildly and continues to yell, but nothing seems to happen.

When the arrow thunks into his shoulder, Enrei turns to peer at the archer quite unhappily.  He raises his newly obtained axe up over his head and then hurls it.  However, it does not fly at the archer, and instead takes a high, lazy arc toward the red glowing thing where Brennan went.  Axe loosed, Enrei marches toward the archer like an angry parent preparing to scold a child.

((5,5,8,3,5. 3x5 to throw the axe up and toward the circle.))

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 746):

/ooc just to clarify this guy is airborn correct? /ooc

Titus bites his lower lip looking at the man streaking off into the distance, and continues his grumbling.

I wish I could fly instead of making stupid illusions.  Would be so much better I could fly off and leave this stupid area and go someplace nice and sunny without having to deal with stupid adventures.  I would open a bar and making a killing...

He continues to move at normal speed seeing that most of the combat is under control.


This message was last edited by the GM at 12:26, Thu 09 July 2015.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 748):

Did that man just fly into the air? And did he say he knew us? Could he be the one for whom the red wolf heels?

Seeing Enrei has effectively incapacitated the axeman, Beardaf turns his focus toward the archer.

[Brawl, 5, 3x2, 2x5]

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 749):

Campfire

Enrei hucks the axe and bears down on the archer.

The sound of hooves approaches.  The archer, caught between a bear, a seemingly unstoppable titan and approaching riders, makes a bolt for the horses.

Beardaf, however, is faster and manages to seize and take a nip out of the man's arm (2 killing L. arm).  This converts the man's energies from flight to pounding at the bear ineffectually with his bow.

"Call it off!  Call it off!" he screams.

The man who recently had an axe now finds himself unarmed and with a bear and a big man between him and his horses.  Somehow the switch in his head remains stuck on "Fight".  He does his best to leap up on Enrei's broad shoulders and put him in a combination chicken-wing/piggyback ride.

Having encountered this strategy countless times, Enrei easily shrugs him off, which gets grunts and words like "Fucker" out of him, but does no serious harm.


Circle

An axe lands in the center of the circle with a solid thunk, just barely missing both Brennan and the remaining foe.

There is a rumbling and a horrible voice vibrates through your bones.


The glowing circle flashes and winks out.

"Damn you!"  the remaining man screams at Brennan.  Despite his injury, he comes up with a knife aimed at Brennan's ribs.  The stab goes wide.

Combat Round

Beardaf and Enrei engage a surrendering archer.  The unarmed man is still trying tofight Enrei.

Unarmed axeman 1: 4 Killing R. Arm
Bowman: 2 Killing L. Arm

Brennan faces down a man with a knife and an arrow (though the arrow is not a useful weapon right now).

Dude: arrow in arm

Titus is now 1 rounds of running or 2 rounds of walking away

In reply to GM (msg # 750):

Titus flips up the cowl of his cloak and assumes his most villainous glide towards the camp.