Gallus is about to respond to the offered names when the offer of a new job is made.  If I am accepted by all, then the terms are agreeable for sure.  Yes I'd very much enjoy accompanying you to Thurmaster.  Still looking about for someone to give him a mug of mead, Gallus holds up his hand as if holding a mug to all around the table and says, To our trip!  May fortune smile on us!  He mimics a drink and then sits.  Gallus had little reaction to Antia being Tiefling, at least not visibly other than to greet her, as he did all the others.

When the table begins to break up and go to find rooms, Gallus once again approaches the bar and asks about a room, and about that mead...

The party stays at the inn a second night, then reports to the river the next day for guard duty on the barge. The bargeman has two guards already with him, both dressed in chain mail and carrying long swords and shields (and crossbows).

The slow moving barge begins making its way east down the Churnett River toward Thurmaster, a journey that will take at least a couple of days.

Lucien speaks little in front of the bargeman and his guards and instead patrols the deck for hours as though constantly ready for an attack. He stops his fretful pacing only to meditate around midday and when Seirye studies her spells. When the wizard is reviewing her spellbook, he stops and observes the process though he doesn't speak until she is done. "I do not mean to disturb you, but I do have a passing interest in magic. I am afraid that I haven't had the time to look into its study in the past, but it occurs to me that you may be able to demonstrate certain basic concepts. If you don't mind." The elf says this without any discernible emotion.

Lathan keeps watch with his longbow ready. He makes sure to rest/meditate at different times than Lucien.

Not needing much sleep herself Seirye has had lots of spare time and Lucien's question comes as a pleasant surprise. She hadn't picked him out as a student of the Art. She looks up at Lucien, a broad smile on the face. In contrast to Lucien's expression, and indeed Seirye's normal manner, it may be the happiest he's ever seen her since the identification of the Shaman's ring.

She nods slowly, appreciating his interest. "Certainly Lucien, I'm more than happy to help in any way I can... although I would be the first to admit that I'm no master yet. In fact I would suggest that even the greatest wizards are always learning, and it is almost certainly that which makes them great. My specific interest is in understanding the meta-magic, the rules and mechanisms by which magic is controlled and manipulated. One day I hope to have a treatise on the subject which could be published but for the time being we can go over some of those concepts."

Seirye begins, and in contrast to her normal wind-baggery and excessive exposition, the approach proves a useful way to get the ideas across. Seirye has had teachers, both good and bad, and she knows what worked most effectively for her. She starts with the first principles of magic and how they come together, happy to talk as long as Lucien finds it interesting.

Albrecht was far too far into his meads. He mostly grunted or giggled and followed along zombily for some time before coming around and finding himself on the barge. "Oh, well then, this is nice" he thinks to himself. Trying not to embarrass himself, he'll pretend to keep watch for some time before asking what we're watching for and how we got on a boat.

The barge stops about four miles east of Hog Brook, on the edge of the Thornwood, for the night. A steady drizzle falls for most of the night, and it continues to rain shortly before dawn when, all of a sudden, a volley of about half a dozen arrows falls down on the barge from the woods. Gallus and Lucien are each hit by one of the incoming arrows. The source of the arrows is not immediately apparent, though the party can observe some movement in the foliage, roughly 50 feet away.

Begin combat. Roll initiative and post your first round's actions.

The sounds meant little to Seirye. She'd almost forgotten the twang of the bow from her childhood as her less cerebral friends practiced. Even she had needed to spend some time with the bow. But as the years passed it faded in her memory. A life studying in libraries had not really prepared her for this but the arrows that clattered on the deck were unmistakeable. The lack of light meant nothing to her and as she scrambled for cover amongst the cargo on the barge's deck before she peered out from between two crates looking for any signs of their attackers (Darkvision 60'). Fizjl crept out from Seirye's hood and skittered across the top of the crates but even with all those extra eyes she simply couldn't see far enough (Darkvision 30'). Seirye herself couldn't see any specific shapes with that brief glance but it was enough for her.

Initiative: 08:50, Today: Seirye Lathilar rolled 16 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.
18:30, Today: Seirye Lathilar rolled 10 using 1d20+3 ((7)). Perception
Move: approx. 15' and take cover on barge deck
Action: cast Sleep, range 90', target the approximate area where the most obvious noise came from, radius 20'. GM to roll the 5d8 hp of effect, no save.

This message was last edited by the player at 08:31, Wed 02 Aug 2017.

Always on his toes, Lucien is nearly off the barge before the arrow he pulls from his thigh hits the ground. His bow is in his hand and an arrow is knocked as he dashes into the woods in search of both the attackers and a relatively safe place from which to shoot at them. Unfortunately despite the conditions, there is a considerable amount of open ground to cover which makes it hard for him to hide effectively from any additional volleys of arrows.

Initiative: 23
Lucien Nailo rolled 23 using 1d20+3. Initiative.
Action: Dash, approximately 60ft towards the trees but to one side of the attackers
Bonus Action: Hide
Lucien Nailo rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Stealth.
Perception: 24, looking for baddies
Lucien Nailo rolled 24 using 1d20+7.  Perception.

Al looks to one side then the other. "Alarm!" He calls out in case anyone on the boat was sleeping or too busy to notice "Shelter mates, we got this!" he calls to the crew.

Casts entagle on the area he saw movement in.

As the arrows come down around them, Lathan springs into action. Drawing his swords, he leaps onto land and rushes in the direction whence the arrows came, attempting to locate the attackers and find some cover.

21:08, Today: Lathan Swiftstrider rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.
21:08, Today: Lathan Swiftstrider rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Stealth.
21:08, Today: Lathan Swiftstrider rolled 8 using 1d20+4.  Perception.

Hearing the alarm call Anita crouched down behind some crates and pulled back her good.

Her night vision aiding her she surveyed the surroundings looking for the attackers.calling to the light for aid she called up the righteous fire of her god ready to cleanse the foul attackers away once she had located them

As Lucien moves onto land, followed by Lathan, Albrecht casts entangle into the area whence he thinks the arrows came. Seirye casts sleep into the same area. Another volley of arrows falls from the forest. One of the other barge guards is hit in the neck with an arrow and drops to the ground with a thud. The other is hit in the shoulder. Antia cannot locate the attackers, but she does get a general idea of where they are hiding. Gallus removes the arrow and casts cure wounds on himself.


New round

As he moves more thoroughly into the woods, Lucien again attempts to hide himself amongst the foliage, but again finds difficultly in doing so this time because of his injured leg. The same leg gives out just as he looses his arrow and causes the shaft to fly wide of its intended target: the shadowy figure who appears to be casting spells.

Move: Into the woods
Bonus Action: Hide
Lucien Nailo rolled 11 using 1d20+7.  Stealth.
Action: Attacks caster hits AC 7 for 9 damage.
Lucien Nailo rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Longbow attack.
Lucien Nailo rolled 1 using 1d4.  Bane.
Lucien Nailo rolled 9 using 1d8+3.  Longbow damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:03, Tue 08 Aug 2017.

Al shrugs and mumbles to himself "I guess we goin ashore." He drops down to all fours, wildshapes into a wulf. He sniffs the air for the attackers and dashes into the foliage on his best guess as to where they are.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:39, Wed 16 Aug 2017.

Seirye is nervous as her colleagues move into the area. Casting spells like that again would be too risky. She scans the area looking for a target. Seirye didn't need to actually say anything but it seemed the right thing. "Fizjl, can you get closer and tell me if you see something? And don't get into trouble!"

The tiny spider looks up at her and then dashes off towards the woods. It'll be a little while before she gets there.

Seirye continues to peer out from behind the crates, scanning the dark for any signs of an attacker. She thinks she can see someone and in her mind she begins to remind herself off the patterns for a fire Bolt.

Seirye
Move: Remain in cover
look for foes. 21:49, Today: Seirye Lathilar rolled 21 using 1d20+3.  Perception. Muahahaha.
Fizjl
Move: Dash at 40'

Lathan continues to scan the woods for the source of the arrows. When he spots their attackers, he rushes toward the nearest opponent, attacking him with his blades.

10:40, Today: Lathan Swiftstrider rolled 5 using 1d6+2.  Damage.
10:40, Today: Lathan Swiftstrider rolled 5 using 1d6+2.  Damage.
10:39, Today: Lathan Swiftstrider rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Attack.
10:39, Today: Lathan Swiftstrider rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Attack.
10:39, Today: Lathan Swiftstrider rolled 27 using 1d20+8.  Perception.

Eldritch fire danced along the young clerics hands. Taking a deep breath and with a prayer to the light on her lips she swung round from her hiding place behind the crates

Bringing her hands together a solid bolt of energy shot from he finger tips towards the general area she knew the shooters were located.

She was a sight from hell itself, flame red hair cascading down her back her bright yellow eyes shining in the dark and her magic energy reflected off her twin horns. She looked more the servant of evil than a cleric of light.


Ooc .
07:35, Today: Antia rolled 16 using 1d20+4.  Guiding bolt.
13:24, Today: Antia rolled 20 using 4d6.  Guiding bolt damage.


This message was last edited by the player at 12:25, Thu 17 Aug 2017.

Lucien fires an arrow at the hooded figure, but it flies wide. Albrecht changes shape into a brown bear and rushes into the foliage. He spots an attacker wearing chain mail and claws him, injuring him severely. Seirye's fire bolt finishes the man off. A second man in chain mail swings his sword at Albrecht, but misses. The hooded man casts another spell, which dispels the vines summoned previously by Albrecht. Lathan spots an attacker in leather armor and strikes him twice; the man barely remains standing. Antia's guiding bolt takes out one of the attackers in a brilliant flash of light.

New round.

Hooded figure: uninjured
Bandit 1: dying
Bandit 2: uninjured; asleep
Bandit 3: uninjured; asleep
Bandit 4: severely injured (-10 hp); fighting Lathan
Bandit 5: uninjured
Bandit 6: dying
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:33, Thu 17 Aug 2017.

Another arrow flies from Lucien's bow towards the man in chain mail that is attacking Albrecht the bear. He continues to circle behind the attackers, but is unable to find cover sufficient to disappear from sight.

Action: Longbow attack hits AC 10 for 9 damage.
Lucien Nailo rolled 7,2 using 1d8+3,1d6.  Longbow damage.
Lucien Nailo rolled 2 using 1d4.  Bane.
Lucien Nailo rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Longbow attack.
Bonus Action: Cunning action: Hide.
Lucien Nailo rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Hide.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:47, Thu 17 Aug 2017.

Lathan continues to attack his injured opponent, hoping to take him down quickly.

11:28, Today: Lathan Swiftstrider rolled 8 using 1d6+2.  Damage.
11:28, Today: Lathan Swiftstrider rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Attack.
11:28, Today: Lathan Swiftstrider rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  Attack.

It wasn't the first time that she had cast a bolt of fire but it was the first time that she'd targeted a living creature. She barely registered the concern in her head. It seemed peculiarly impersonal, or maybe she just rationalised it that way. It mattered not.

Tiny little Fizjl came skittering through the woods taking care not to get too close to any of the big things that were bashing and crashing around her. As was natural for her she looked for a vertical surface and climbed up a tree. She ignored the tremors of a juicy wood grub as she passed a hole in the bark. She started to spin a thin trail of silk behind her. It wasn't that the fall would be a problem since she could spin another thread that would act like a parachute but that she'd rather not go through the effort of having to climb up again. Having got to a branch a few feet above the ground she peered into the gloom.

Seirye looked at the woods herself, trying to see another target, before she felt for and found the spider's mind in the woods. Taking in the broader perspective of vision was intensely alien but the result of almost 360 degrees of sight was exhilarating. The now familiar pattern of the fire bolt flickered to life in Seirye's head again, the words on the tip of her tongue and she itched to feel the release of the arcane power as she thought she saw a target.

Perception/Darkvision (Seirye): 13:18, Today: Seirye Lathilar rolled 13 using 1d20+3 ((10)).
Perception/Darkvision (Fizjl): 13:19, Today: Seirye Lathilar rolled 14 using 1d20. 

Anita moved out from by the crates and called forth her powers yet again sending another Eldritch bolt sailing towards the attackers


Ooc:08:21, Today: Antia rolled 12 using 4d6.  Guiding bolt damage.
08:21, Today: Antia rolled 13 using 1d20+4.  Guiding bolt .
04:19, Today: Seirye Lathilar rolled 14 using 1d20

Wargaahhhrrrlll!(in bear"Have at you foul villains!")

Al throws himself in full attack at the figure in chainmail all gift wrapped and delicious looking.

Lucien's attack misses its mark. Albrecht pounces on his opponent, biting his head almost completely off. The hooded figure casts another spell as he turns to retreat into the woods. Sierye's fire bolt takes down Lathan's opponent. Lathan turns to attack the hooded figure but is confused and cannot find him. Antia blasts at the retreating hooded man with a guiding bolt but misses.

New round.

Hooded figure: uninjured
Bandit 1: dying
Bandit 2: uninjured; asleep
Bandit 3: uninjured; asleep
Bandit 4: dying
Bandit 5: dying
Bandit 6: dying