The stillness of the night is broken by Zyphen's yelling, "Foes, awake!  Awake!  Six of them.  Humanoid.  Fanning out to flank us."  After that things happen very quickly.  Zyphen draws, fires, draws and fires again.  Two very neat shots and one of his proclaimed foes goes down, though whether he is dead or wounded is impossible to tell even with Zyphen's darkvision.

Atalakis reacts next, grabbing his sword and lance he moves to mount - discovers that he doesn't have enough hands to carry sword and lance and untie his horse's reins - discards his lance and mounts.  Unfortunately, the start of his speech is met by a rough voice from downslope calling, "We're sprung.  Attack!"  Two arrows accompany the command.  The Pastel Paladin astride his horse and silouetted by the firelight is an easy target.  One hits him in the chest and another arrow, longer and heavier than the first, hits him in the thigh.

On the side to which Zyphen fired there is only silence.  [Private to Zyphen: You see the standing brigand replace his axe with a bow and move to cover.  It was the two at the foot of the gully, including the probable leader, who shot Atalakis.]  From the other side come warcries and heavy footsteps, followed by a thud and a jangle of bells as one trips on Zyphen's string.  Kanir, who had been stirring groggily, finds himself instantly awake and alert.  The other brigand makes heavy going of charging uphill in the dark through undergrowth and runs out of steam just as he enters the light thrown by the fire.

OOC: Okay now we're in intiative order, they're definitely hostile.
1) The fire has burned down and now offers only 10' bright illumination and 10' shadows.  Please take illumination into account in your actions.
2) Cuaglir and Corven need to make Listen checks to wake up, DC 5, then you can act normally - though I remind you that moving from prone to standing is a move action.
3) Atalakis 10HP damage.  Also, charging in these conditions would be very hazardous.  Fortunately the charging brigand has done a fantastic job of isolating himself from his colleagues.  Feel free to take out any frustration you may be feeling :)

Atalakis will grunt in pain as the arrows strike him, doing his best to maintain his composure. A foul greeting indeed. Sune will share little love with you tonight.

He says as he guides his horse near the closest man. He skillfully controls the mount, urging into to attack as he swings down with his greatsword.

I am not sure what his AC is, so I rolled damage normally, and then rolled again in case it would be a crit (crit would be x2 damage, for 2d6+20 total).


Damage if not crit: 14
Damage if crit: 33

08:49, Today: Atalakis rolled 8 using 1d20-1. Bite.
08:49, Today: Atalakis rolled 11 using 1d20+4. Hoof 2.
08:49, Today: Atalakis rolled 8 using 1d20+4. Hoof 1.
08:49, Today: Atalakis rolled 20 using 1d20+6. Ride - Fight w/ Mount.
08:48, Today: Atalakis rolled 19 using 2d6+10. Bonus damage (if crit).
08:48, Today: Atalakis rolled 19 using 1d20+5. Greatsword - Critical Confirm.
08:47, Today: Atalakis rolled 14 using 2d6+10. Greatsword Damage.
08:46, Today: Atalakis rolled 24 using 1d20+5. Greatsword Attack (PA -3).

(From his position behind ___ [fill in the blank if Zyphen achieved cover],) Zyphen tracks the archer heading for cover, drawing and firing twice.  As he does so, he speaks a melodic word in Auren, the language of the genies, and silvery mist begins to pour from his armor.  [Note:  If I moved out of the Firelight, and these guys don't have Darkvision, I might not need the Mist to get Concealment.  But I am not sure about any of that, so I am going to use it anyway.]

Initiative: 9
Free Action: None
Swift Action: Activate Mithralmist Armor (silver mist - concealment)
Move Action: Full Round
Standard Action: Full round, Rapid Shot at archer taking cover

Attack Rolls: 8, 23, 15 (haste arrow, if applicable).
Potential Damage: 0, 10, 5 (haste arrow, if applicable).

Effects: Silver Mist, 10 rounds (grants Concealment (20% miss), my square only, does not interfere with my vision, does not move).

NOTE:  Any Haste bonus to hit is NOT included in the above.  The 15 attack roll and the commicerate 5 damage are the haste arrow if applicable.


This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Wed 21 Nov 2007.

"Nielánial thraerleniel thialalas rinaeniel tenánindiel tirinleniad sinorbrnar aelowélril."

Fully awake, the young wizard takes a bit out of a licorice root in a big hurry, and spit it out quickly.  His crap spreads the smell of licorice to permiate in the air and as before, friends begin to blur and your perception of the world begins to slow...

OOC: OK, standing up, and casting Haste.  Priorities are Atalakis, Dovain, Cuaglar, Corven, Atalakis' mount, my self, Corven's Animal Companion, my familiar, in that order.  I can only affect those who I can see, and I can affect only 5, so let us know who's hasted, Fletch.

Remember the haste bonus, everyone

-K

Cuaglar finally awoke, hearing loud yells and the whistle of arrows flying through the air.  He turned his head, and saw the battle going on around him.  The elf grabbed his bow lying beside him and slung his quiver over his shoulder as he rose to his feet, reaching for an arrow.

OOC: 11:08, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 18 using 1d20+2. Listen check.
11:10, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 13 using 1d20+4. Initiative.
I think the process of getting up and arming myself took two move actions...  My sword is still lying by my bedroll.

Kanir takes advantage of his sudden alertness to cast his favourite spell.  His friends speed up, the world slows down.  Atalakis+mount, Zyphen, Cuaglar and Corven all hasted

Atalakis guides his horse towards the lone brigand, using only his knees.  His greatsword rises and falls in one fluid motion and the brigand drops almost soundlessly, killed instantly as his skull is split wide apart.

Cuaglar wakes and comes to his feet bow in hand.  Noting that Atalakis is hurt, he takes the opportunity to move away from the firelight into the shadows of the night.  His elven eyes can make out the brigands with bows standing downhill from the camp. Taking advantage of Haste for you by moving into concealment

Zyphen fires off three arrows with unnatural speed.  The first misses and the third is blocked by the tree behind which the brigand has taken shelter but the second strikes squarely and the brigand grunts in pain.

Sorry Corven, couldn't wait for you.  I'll count you as refocusing this round, so you go at the top of the initiative automatically.

The brigand to one side trades arrows with Zyphen.  Zyphen is disadvantaged by his chosen ground since there are no trees close by that are tall enough to offer cover while still using his longbow.  On the other hand, the shot is poor and it is a simple matter for Zyphen to twist away from the arrow.

Atalakis is not so fortunate.  He is hit by two more arrows from the foot of the gully.  It is perhaps for the best that whomever is wielding the larger bow is the worse shot.

The brigand who tripped over the string and bells set-up scrambles to his feet and retreats to join the other two.  There is still no sign of the sixth assailant who fell to Zyphen's arrows.

Another 9HP damage to Atalakis.  Atalakis, Zyphen and Cuaglar can see okay courtesy of low-light vision or darkvision.  Kanir and Corven can't see any of the brigands, who will count as having total concealment against them.

Cuaglar bent his bow once more, towards the archers further along down the hill.  His arrow sped close, but at this distance he couldn't tell whether it was going to strike down his mark.  As he was much faster now, however, he swiftly plucked another arrow from his quiver and launched it at a different bandit.

OOC: 08:18, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 16 using 1d20+10. Longbow Attack roll.
08:20, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 5 using 1d8. Damage if hit.
Second attack:
16:03, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 16 using 1d20+10. Attack roll 2.
16:03, Today: Cuaglar Annondur rolled 3 using 1d8. Damage if hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:04, Sat 24 Nov 2007.

Three more arrows fly from the cloud of silver mist with perternatural speed, aimed at the brigand archer hiding behind the tree.  As he fires, Zyphen will call out locations and distances of brigands for the night-blind.

Round: 2
Initiative: 9
Free Action: None
Swift Action: None
Move Action: Full Round
Standard Action: Full round, Rapid Shot at archer taking cover

Attack Rolls: 13, 24, 9.
Potential Damage: -, 8, -.

Effects:

Silver Mist, 9 rounds (grants Concealment (20% miss), my square only, does not interfere with my vision, does not move).

Haste:  ? rounds remaning.  A hasted creature gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves.  +30 move; +1 attack on full attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:10, Fri 23 Nov 2007.

Atalakis sucks in his breath as the arrows cut into his body. He scans the terrain, noticing the distance between him and the bandits, and then guides his horse to the nearest cover.


Round: 2
Initiative: 10
Free Action: None
Swift Action: None
Move Action: Move behind tree, trying to gain full cover if possible.
Standard Action: Lay hands on self to heal for 9 hp.

Attack Rolls: NA
Potential Damage: NA
Effects: Haste

Becisien zack grad tity odrishremiel.
Doni idogre corya akiterar rejus.

The young mage chants again, and this time, claps his hands right above his forehead.

He then hunches over, and his forehead starts to manifest scales and they start to spread throughout his face and neck, and within seconds, his whole body is covered with scaly skin.  As the scales spreads through his back, spines pops out of his hunched back.  When the transformation is done, he sprints forward to the edge of the bonfire light as he grawl.

OOC: Cast Alter Self, to take on Troglodyte Form.  Move forward (up to 30') to the edge of the bonfire light where he can clearly see himself.

-K

Corven lies prone on the ground, warily looking into the night for the glint of arrows as the brigands attack once again.  When he feels that it's safe, he begins to cast a spell, calling upon the power of Chauntea to summon a guardian.




Corven will choose to summon a Dire Badger (hopefully the low light vision and the scent abilities will allow it to cause some trouble!

Round: 2
Initiative: 9
Free Action: None
Swift Action: None
Move Action: None
Standard Action: Cast Summon Nature's Ally 2.

Attack Rolls: NA
Potential Damage: NA
Effects: Haste

16:33, Today: Corven rolled 9 using 1d20-5. Corven Init.

Corven sensible chooses to keep his head down.  No point making himself a target with so many arrows flying back and forth through the night.  The guardian he summons seems more aggressive, though.  Even as it appears it begins snuffling at the air picking up the scent of its enemies.

Kanir casts another spell, this one transforming him into an reptilian humanoid that's on the pretty side of hideous - barely.  The protection of his new leathery hide seems to give him confidence and he runs forward to the very edge of the fire's light.  Remind me Kanir, you don't get Stench or the Trog's vision do you?

Cuaglar and Zyphen both return fire.  Cuaglar hits twice, injuring one of the brigands clustered together downhill.  Zyphen hits only once but proves himself the more dangerous archer.  His target is left cursing the inadequate cover of the tree between them (and grieviously wounded).

Atalakis decides he's had enough of being a pincushion and turns his steed towards a clump of vegetation.  Once screened from view he calls upon his strength of faith for healing.

From the brigand's leader you hear a shout, "Gods help us, they've spellcasters.  Leg it, boys!"  The two brigands injured by Zyphen (including the one who went to ground) crash back through the bush towards the sound of the voice.  The three standing together loose their arrows at Kanir then turn to join their fleeing comrades.  They don't wait to see whether they have hit, which is probably just as well.  Two of the arrows miss badly, but the leader's shot is lucky and Kanir finds himself struggling for breath as he peers down at the arrow jutting from his chest.

OOC: The brigands are fleeing back towards the path and are now out of sight of everyone but Zyphen, although anyone with dark- or low-light vision should have no trouble finding them again (i.e. moving back within sight range this turn) if you want to pursue.  Kanir -15HP (and very lucky I didn't roll higher on the damage 3d8+9)

"Don't let them escape!" Zyphen hisses.  "They will bring word of our approach.  They should not be able to outrun us."  As he speaks, he continues firing arrows with preternatural speed, aiming at the injured bandits.  [Zyphen is attempting to bring them to staggered or unconscious; something where they cannot flee.  He will divide his arrows accordingly.]

Round: 3
Initiative: 9
Free Action: Talk
Swift Action: None
Move Action: Full Round
Standard Action: Full round, Rapid Shot at injured bandits, trying to knock them into staggered or unconscious, so dividing arrows accordingly.

Attack Rolls: 27 (threat, 9 to confirm), 22, 14.
Potential Damage: 7, 8, 8.

Effects:

Silver Mist, 8 rounds (grants Concealment (20% miss), my square only, does not interfere with my vision, does not move).

Haste:  ? rounds remaining.  A hasted creature gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves.  +30 move; +1 attack on full attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:45, Wed 28 Nov 2007.

Atalakis finishes healing the worst of the wounds by holding his hands over them, a red glow filling the space between. Ah, Lady Love, you are too kind to me. He says with renewed vigor.

He then raises his voice. Yes, stop them! We cannot have them continuing to spread such mayhem across the land.

Atalakis will spur his horse and chase them. He will perform a charge attack on the nearest one. It will be a ride by attack. Thus he will hit one and continue riding past to attack the next one on the following round.

The horse charges at a move of 180'.

Round: 3
Initiative: 10
Free Action: Talk
Swift Action: NA
Move Action: Charge
Standard Action: Charge

Attack Rolls: 11 (Dice Roller does not reflect the haste bonus)
Potential Damage: -
Effects: Haste.

Cuaglar was not so eager for the chase, and stayed by the fire in case the bandits' flight was feined.  If Atalakis' steed and Zyphen's fleet feet couldn't overtake them, then Cuaglar certainly couldn't.  He took a stand between Kweek and Corven, defending them so that the druid could help the poor wizard.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:52, Wed 28 Nov 2007.

"Aguh...", the young mage find himself with an arrow sticking on his chest, and arrowhead is sticking out behind his back as well.  He struggles to breath, and hacks some fluid out.  Apparently it punctured his lung straight through.

Still unable to see clearly in the night, he decides to stay put, with his hands on his knees and breathing as best as he could.

OOC: I'll just stay at the camp now :P

-K

Seeing the blood gushing from the mage's chest, Corven begins to crawl on the ground towards the injured young man.  "Stay still, I'll be there soon!", he whispers.

07:44, Today: Atalakis rolled 15 using 1d20+6. Ride.

As the brigands flee, Corven begins to crawl across to the wounded Kanir.  It's slow progress but he will be able to attend to the young mage next turn.  Kanir simply crouches over and tries to ease his laboured breathing.  Cuaglar can see no immediate threat but moves to protect the spellcasters just in case.

It is left to Zyphen, Atalakis and the badger to attack the brigands.  Zyphen sends another barrage of arrows in their direction, targeting the two he has already wounded.  He is gratified to see that he has hit both and they crumple to the ground.

The badger has heard the ruckus caused by the brigands and growls once before launching itself in pursuit.  While it can see better than its target it cannot move much faster and it may take some time to catch up.

Atalakis has no such problems, his enhanced steed is faster than the wind and it is just as well that he too is hasted as it takes all his skill to guide his steed in its blind charge.  Unfortunately, this leaves little time to concentrate on his attack and the brigands simply dive to one side as Atalakis rushes through.  He is forced to rein in not more than 20' feet past the brigands.  To continue the charge unchecked into the thicket ahead would likely kill both horse and rider.

OOC: I used DC 10 to charge over the uneven ground +5 for the poor light, meaning that you just succeeded with 15.  To continue into the thicket increased DC to 20 and I was counting fail by 1-5 as a safe stop and 6+ as wounded horse and a thrown rider.

The brigand's leader pulls up and stops his two surviving companions by the crude expedient of grabbing them.  "Gotta stop Sir Prissy or we'll never make it away.  With me boys!"  He ditches his bow and closes to engage Atalakis in melee, his two fellows do likewise.

[Private to Atalakis: The leader is a half-orc of considerable size.  He wields a bastard sword all too comfortably.  The other brigands only have hand axes.  The leader hits you with a heavy blow 13HP.  To his left, the brigand swings at the larger shape of your horse Ride check DC 19 or 5HP.  The brigand to his right is disoriented by the darkness and misses badly.]
[Private to Zyphen: The leader is a half-orc of considerable size.  He wields a bastard sword all too comfortably.  The other brigands only have hand axes.  The leader hits Atalakis with a heavy blow.  To his left, the brigand swings at the larger shape of Atalakis' horse.  The brigand to his right is disoriented by the darkness and misses badly]

Noting the danger is squaring off with three opponents alone and unarmored, Atalakis will reign in his horse and withdraw.



Atalakis will withdraw and move max distance, so they would be unable to close on him, even with a charge. His primary focus would be to avoid getting hit by the half-orc, so if he is threatened in a way that will provoke AoOs, he will withdraw in a way that avoids AoOs from the half-orc.

If he sees cover, he will ride behind it, in case they decide to use ranged weapons. The more cover the better.


Round: 4
Initiative: 10
Free Action: None
Swift Action: None
Move Action: Withdraw
Standard Action: Withdraw

Attack Rolls: NA
Potential Damage: NA
Effects: Haste


22:36, Today: Atalakis rolled 22 using 1d20+6. Ride .
This message was last edited by the player at 04:59, Sat 01 Dec 2007.

Zyphen takes aim at the leader, firing off a constant blur of purple-fletched arrows that hiss out of the mist and shimmer briefly in the firelight before finding their targets.  "Fool!," he mutters as Atalakis charges off into the darkness.  Then more loudly, "Do not die, paladin!  You are no good to me dead."

Round: 4
Initiative: 9
Free Action: None
Swift Action: None
Move Action: Full Round
Standard Action: Full round, Rapid Shot at Leader

Attack Rolls: 8, 22, 24.
Potential Damage: -, 13, 9.

Note that the damage includes my Favored Enemy +2 vs. humans.  I had been forgetting that until now--whoops!

Effects:

Silver Mist, 7 rounds (grants Concealment (20% miss), my square only, does not interfere with my vision, does not move).

Haste:  ? rounds remaining.  A hasted creature gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves.  +30 move; +1 attack on full attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Sat 01 Dec 2007.

With the extra sound of crushes of steel, the scale covered young mage straighten up a little bit.  He chants briefly, claps his hands together then slaps his hands onto the top of his feet.  His feet and legs blurs briefly, just like when the 5 men were blurred earlier, but only legs this time.  He starts to dash into the moonlight.

OOC: Cast Expeditious Retreat, and move at 60' ground speed, in the general direction of the combat...just tell me what happened, and if I see any sort of target...

-K

Corven blinks as the mage disappears into the night.  "Wait ..." he calls out in vain, but his cry is lost in the distance.  Sighing, he nods towards Tacky, his faithful companion and steed.  "I guess it's just you and me now!"

Cuaglar shrugged at Corven, as he took off after Kweek as well, nocking another arrow to his string as he jogged, the landscape speeding under his feet.

OOC:
Hustling at 120 feet per round, until I catch up to the action.

Kanir and Cuaglar rush towards the fight erupting further down the hill.  Kanir who pauses to cast another spell (and who can't see as well) only gets close enough to make out the darkened shapes of the combatants, seen for a moment and then gone as they move against the shadowy backdrop of the trees behind.  Cuaglar has no such limitations and finds himself close enough to reach out and touch the combatants, so it's a shame he left his sword back at the camp.  Corven, who is back at the camp, finds himself alone and starts talking to his horse.  Fortunately, he's a druid so it's not that strange.

Atalakis disengages from the melee with ease as none of the brigands have a hope of matching his horse's speed.  Indeed they show no signs of following and would probably have continued their flight if a super-sized badger hadn't jumped amongst them.  One of the bandits finds himself bleeding from four bloody gashes from a swipe of the badger's claws.

Zyphen is trained at picking out targets in such situations.  His first arrow misses, but a slight adjustment sees his second arrow hit.  The brigand looks badly wounded and the third arrow would surely have dropped him except that Zyphen has to pull his shot as Kanir and Cuaglir move between Zyphen and his target.

The brigands, who are now desperate to get away, turn their attention on the badger.  The leader strikes another heavy blow, opening a horrible wound in the badger's flank.  One of the other brigands hits with his axe, while the other misses.  The badger is all but dead on its feet, but the injuries it has suffered just seem to make it angry.

OOC: The badger takes 25 of 28HP.  But now its raging :)  The two brigands are both badly hurt but their leader is, as yet, uninjured.