They look like they're heading our way. Gurgun replies, eying the small group approaching from behind.
Two on horseback and one on foot; maybe they've hired a tracker?

As Coby turned his horse about and rode off, Jorn yanked his horse around and gave chase. But Coby was the better rider and moving at pace, and Jorn could not catch up. Finally he was forced to give up the pursuit and he returned to Slove, alone.

Now it was just the two of them, again, and feeling a little uncomfortable. Being stuck carrying out was ostensibly somebody else's quest was embarrassing and awkward. Doing that while being under-staffed was downright dangerous.

Then again, the people on the road ahead did seem to be going the same way.

[Private to Slove: The road below his feet was damp dirt and sticky mud, and the recent rains and the hooves of horses had churned it up. Still, the ranger knew what signs to look out for: on the edges of the road, where the water didn't form puddles and the horses didn't step, he found prints.

They were like the paw prints of a large dog or great cat, with large claws. But they appeared to be walking upright, as they only came in pairs, which corresponded to no beast he was familiar with.

Slove estimated maybe a half-dozen creatures came this way an hour or two before, and heading in the same direction.]

***

As Gurgun watched, one of the horse-riders suddenly turned about and rode away at speed. There seemed to have been some kind of argument.

They rode on for another half an hour, until the road took a curving path between two low hills that formed a shallow valley, each topped by a copse of leafy trees.


OOC: The two groups are now a 100 feet apart. Gurgun, Authiel and Iodaem and 40ft from entering the small valley.

As they approach the valley entrance, Gurgun looks cautiously ahead and strains his ears to catch any sound of danger. From what I have read about this place I'm lucky to ride with an elf. Don't think a lone hobgoblin would be recieved kindly.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:32, Sun 09 Mar 2008.

Slove stops moving and walks round careful looking at the ground.
He turns to Jorn.
[Private to Jorn Brightcaller: I have found some tracks.  They 2 legged but they are of some type of cat or dog.  I not sure.  Think maybe knoll like creature.  We going to have to be careful.  I think group ahead should be warned.]

Slove waves at the group ahead.  He seems to be calling them back.  In the other hand he had his bow ready.  He also seems to be looking around as if trying to spot something.

He shouts to group.
"I found some tracks of some intelligent beast like creature.  I would be careful as not sure what creature they are.  You could be walking into an ambush up head."

Gurgun reins in his horse the moment he hears the warning. Flipping one leg over the horses head he sits sideways an instant before tumbling backwards over the horses back and landing on his feet, quarterstaff in hand. (OOC: Tumble, take ten, beats DC20)

Take my horse and join the other two, I'll cover the retreat. I move faster on foot.

Pulling up on the reins, Authiel looked at Iodaem, making certain he was also doing the same.  She had no desire to walk head-long into danger and so was glad to heed the stranger's warning.

"There might be an ambush, all right, but how can we trust these strangers?  For all we know, they are bandits trying to lure us into a trap," Iodaem replied, not turning around yet, but slowing his horse down.  "Lady Authiel, do we ride on, or wait for them to catch up with us?" he asked, not certain which option to favor, but trusting in the elf's skill at battle to sense if they were walking into one now.  And just in case, he reached for the large, curved blade hanging off his back. . .

PL:
[Private to DM BadCatMan: Sense motive check: 18]

Suddenly alert and tense, they watched and waited, wary of an ambush.

[Private to Gurgun Nightwhisper: The warning seemed honest and genuine.

As he listened, he heard a sound come from the stand of trees on the right, like a short bark or a cough.]

[Private to Iodaem: As he listened, he heard a sound come from the stand of trees on the right, like a short bark or a cough. And on the left, gravelly voices snarling and snapping, like an argument was in process.

Looking closer, he saw glimpses of grey fur and hard steel lurking within the trees on both hills.]

[Private to Slove: Elven ears pricked, Slove listened to the sounds carried to him on the wind. He heard breeze whistle through the trees ahead, leaves crumpling underfoot, the whisper of voices and soft growls.]

Nervous and wary, Authiel murmured, "Retreat," as if she were indeed the boss.  But of course she was nothing of the kind, she was only worried for Iodaem and Gurgun's safety, though thankfully the hobgoblin was already moving to safety.  "Let us meet up with these strangers.  If they mean us harm, we shall find out soon enough," she went on, only suggesting now.

I think he's honest, and my guess is that gnolls will be attacking soon! Now take my horse and retreat.
Gurgun hands the reins to Authiel, and readies his sling all the while scanning the tree line for movement. As his companions retreat under the cover of the rangers(?) bow, Gurgun follows on foot sling in hand.

"Friendly or not, they look a whole lot friendlier than whatever it is I see hiding up there," Iodaem muttered - he'd never seen a gnoll before, but he'd heard of them, and though he didn't really fear doing battle with some of them, he was as always concerned for Authiel's wellbeing.  And so, he moved back, staying between her and the creatures up ahead.

Authiel took the reins of Gurgun's horse and looped them around the pommel of her saddle once so that her hands would be free, if necessary, to cast a spell as she began the retreat she had kind of ordered.

With the travelers alert and warned, there was no possibility of an ambush now. Eager to seize what little advantage they had left, the gnolls swarmed out of the woods, howling and barking and banging weapons on shields loud enough to startle the horses, who whinnied and shied away from the ferocious sight.

[Iodaem and Authiel: make a DC 20 Ride check as a move action to control your horses (2 for Authiel) or they'll run off. If you fail, it's a full-round action and you go with the horses. Or you can dismount and fetch the horses later.]


Locations:

Slove and Jorn are 100 feet from Gurgun, Authiel and Iodaem.

Gurgun, Authiel and Iodaem are 60 feet from the Gnolls. The 30 feet nearest to the Gnolls is a steep slope and carries some penalties: When moving uphill, you move at half-speed. Tumble checks have DC +2. (Downhill has it's own problems, but only matters to the Gnolls.)

There are two groups of Gnolls on either side of the road, 60 feet apart. If you attack them, let me know which one, as marked below.

Initiative:
19 - Gurgun
18 - Iodaem
17 - Authiel
11 - Slove
11 - Jorn
10 - Gnolls Right: E, F, G
 9 - Gnolls Left: A, B, C, D

Slove shout at gnolls in common.
"Call this an ambush.  A 80 year old female Kobold with glass eye andwooden leg could do better.  Lets see if you ugly fleet riden overcoats can stop me killing you."
He then shoots of two arrows and move of to one side and backwards.

OOC:
Attacking one of group of three.
08:12, Today: Slove rolled 21 using 1d20+10 (-2). attack with bow.
08:12, Today: Slove rolled 10 using 1d8+3. damage.
08:13, Today: Slove rolled 12 using 1d20+10 (-2). attack with bow.
Have ajusted for rapid shot.
Roles do not include range ajustment - I leave that up to you as no map.


Slove move is draw the gnolls to him and away from others.  As is his words.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:25, Sat 15 Mar 2008.

Gurgun moves a few steps up the hill to the left (10') while loading his sling.

Fools! He calls out in goblin as the bullet whizzes away.

09:32, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 6 using 1d4+3. Damage.
09:32, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 14 using 1d20+7. Sling attack.

OOC: Am I allowed to move back after firing, if so I step back 10'?

Slove put an arrow right through the throat of one gnoll. Bleeding profusely, it staggered around a little.

Gurgun's sling stone fared poorly, merely skipping up the slope aways, then tumbled back down.

OOC:
E - severely wounded

Just add the distances together to get the full range: 100 + 60 = 160 feet, which is half the reason why I didn't make a map (the other being I couldn't be bothered). I'm assuming you're all roughly in a straight line.

If you move then attack, you can't move again unless you have Spring Attack (for melee attacks) or Shot On The Run (for Ranged Attacks).

As Iodaem's horse was startled, there was nothing he could do to keep it from running - and he tried to get off first, wanting to stay behind and protect Authiel from the ambushers. . .  but, as his horse began to run away as Iodaem tried to climb off, he slid, and fell flat on his face onto the ground.


[Private to GM: So, I saw that you said that a failed check to dismount quickly just meant it would be done as a move action - does that count even if I rolled a natural 1?  :p
12:06, Today: Iodaem rolled 13 using 1d20+2. Ride?.

12:07, Today: Iodaem rolled 3 using 1d20+2. Ride to dismount quickly. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:33, Mon 17 Mar 2008.

Authiel slipped off her horse fairly easily, knowing she'd be unable to control both it and Gurgun's, and let them go, quickly weaving her favorite spell.  Within a moment, two darts of purple sparkly light burst forth from her hand and sped accurately towards a gnoll, striking it right in the chest.

[Private to GM: Attacking A, I suppose?  Doesn't really matter to me.
19:40, Today: Authiel Hannasiel rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Init. (Just in case it does come up later for some reason.)
19:37, Today: Authiel Hannasiel rolled 10 using 2d4+5. MM.]

Jorn trotted his pony closer, and readied his bow.

OOC: Move 30' closer on horse and prepare weapon.

Authiel's magical darts blasted into the gnoll's chest, knocking back and over, where he lay unconscious on the grass.

On the right hill, the gnoll wounded by Slove wiped away the blood and brought his own bow to bare and fired. But the shot was too long, and the arrow hit the turf far from the elf.

On the left, two more gnolls fired their bows, this time in arcing shots down onto the nearby travellers. One arrowed sprouted from the ground directly in front of Gurgun. Another appeared in front of Authiel.

The rest of the gnolls snarled and hurtled down the hills, axes swinging and jaws slathering.

It didn't go so well. All three tripped and stumbled on the slick wet grass. Two skidded to a halt a few feet later. The other fell flat with a startled yelp.

At this rate, it looked to be a disaster for the gnolls...

Locations:

Since this is long range and there's no map, I'm going to measure you all as if in a straight line, with the zero point being where Gurgun, Authiel and Iodaem were initially standing.

Gurgun - +10ft to left hill
Authiel -
Iodaem - prone
Slove - -150ft?
Jorn - -70ft

A - unconscious, +60ft up left hill
B - archer, +60ft up left hill
C - archer, +60ft up left hill
D - melee, prone and +55ft up left hill
E - badly wounded, archer, +60ft up right hill
F - melee, +55ft up left hill
G - melee, +55ft up left hill

Initiative:
19 - Gurgun
18 - Iodaem
17 - Authiel
11 - Slove
11 - Jorn
10 - Gnolls Right: E, F, G
 9 - Gnolls Left: A, B, C, D

Jorn picked a target from the group near Slove, but not one that was directly involved in melee, and let fly a shaft from his bow.

21:04, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 2 using 1d6. arrow damage if needed.
21:03, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Arrow attack.

Authiel selected an archer to go after, trying to keep any of them from firing at Iodaem, Gurgun, or her.  Or the others since they did indeed seem friendly.  Rpeating her favored spell, another twin bolts of purple shot unerringly towards one of the gnolls, striking it perfectly in the center of its chest.

[Private to GM: Going for B this time.
20:34, Today: Authiel Hannasiel rolled 12 using 2d4+5. MM.]

Steadying himself on the slope, Gurgun loaded and let go two bullets in rapid succession towards the remaining archer (B or C, whichever isn't hit by Authiel's missiles), before taking a few steps back (5' step).

20:40, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 5 using 1d4+3. Damage 1, if needed.
20:39, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 6 using 1d4+3. Damage #2.
20:39, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 19 using 1d20+5. Sling attack, flurry of blows 2.
20:38, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 14 using 1d20+5. Sling attack, flurry of blows 1.

Jorn's arrow sped over the gnoll's head, leaving a neatly carved furrow of fur. The gnoll yelped in surprise, immensely relieved that he hadn't been seriously injured. Only his pride. He'd never attract any bitches looking like that.

As before, Authiel blasted into unconsciousness another gnoll.

Gurgun tried to be clever with his sling, but only succeeded in dropping one bullet at his feet. But the first was surprisingly accurate, and sconed one startled gnoll.


OOC:
B is unconscious
c is moderately wounded

Gurgun: You can't flurry with a sling. It's not a 'special monk weapon', only one that you're proficient in. I took one of your attacks, as either would have hit on its own, and chose the max damage.