The warrior’s shot strikes the edge of the door jamb and deflects onto the ground next to the one of the footmen, who gives Fost a rebuking glance.

Round 3
The woman inside the building screams, “Mourir!” and thrusts her staff forward. The same bolt of snow and ice streaks past Ser Perth, to the same lack of effect. (Move Minor Action to stand, Ranged Attack (Arcane Lance) Major Action)

OOC: Those of you who speak Orlesian understand that mourir means “die”.

The knight of Redcliffe, quite done with snowballs being repeatedly tossed at him, stalks into the room, ignoring both men just inside the doorway, and says, “Stop. It.” He points his blade at her, ready to strike her down should she do anything threatening. (Move Minor Action, Prepare Minor Action: Melee Attack)

The readied footman follows his knight into the house, and stops to face the Tevinter crossbowman. (Activated Prepared action to follow Ser Perth into the house.)

OOC: Okay, Mikhail’s footman & Richard (Fost) are next.

Damage Taken
Tevinter House Man-at-Arms 1: -15 hp, dying
Tevinter House Man-at-Arms 2: -15 hp, dying

Redcliffe Footman 2: -3 hp

Initiatives

Realizing that the fleet-footed elf was faster than him, Richard stopped, notched an arrow, briefly took aim and shot.

Richard rolled 15 using 3d6+3 (5 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {5}, 2, 5.  Long Bow attack, short.
If already long range then 13
rolled 12 using 1d6+6.  Long Bow Damage.
rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,3.  5 stunt points, lethal blow.
If no hit, use all 5 stunt points to move Sexta 10 yards nearer or into sight of the others


This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Fri 07 Aug 2020.

The footman strides forward and move to strike the crossbowman, intent on making sure Ser Perth's threat is seriously considered. Ultimately, he didn't want to kill the man, just wound him enough to keep them from getting up and fighting back.

---

Minor Action: Enter the house with Ser Perth
Major Action: Attack the crossbowman
11:32, Today: Mikhail Loren rolled 15 using 3d6+5 with the AGE System with rolls of {3}, 5, 2.  Footman Attack.
11:32, Today: Mikhail Loren rolled 10 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 5,2.  Damage longsword.

The footman moves up and into the doorway, then drives his blade into the crossbowman’s shoulder. (7 hp of damage gets through)

Richard stops and nocks an arrow. His pull is smooth and his aim is true, and the arrow buries itself between the she-elf’s shoulder blades. Her body immediately goes limp as its momentum continues forward, skidding to a halt along the path. (all 18 hp of damage gets through)

With his fellow footman covering the crossbowman, the other Redcliffer within the house turns to face the false magister and orders him to surrender. (Move Minor Action, Prepare Minor Action: Melee Attack if false magister tries anything stupid)

The crossbowman, wincing in pain from the stab, raises his good arm up in surrender.

OOC: FYI, a success is required to take advantage of stunt points.

OOC: Up next are Loran’s footman, Fost’s crossbowman, Brother Loran, and Mikhail.

Also of note, Loran could see Richard’s shot and Sexta go down.

Damage Taken
Sexta: -15 hp, dying
Tevinter House Man-at-Arms 1: -15 hp, dying
Tevinter House Man-at-Arms 2: -15 hp, dying
Tevinter House Crossbowman: -7 hp

Redcliffe Footman 2: -3 hp

Initiatives

The Redcliff crossbowman advanced cautiously keepinghis aim at the enemy.

Minor Move, Minor Prepare (aggressive Action/no surrender, shoot)

The footman moved in after ser Perth and stabbed at the crossbow man in the hut

Occ

10:28, Today: Brother Loran rolled 15 using 3d6+5 with the AGE System with rolls of {3}, 1, 6.  Footman attack.


 Brother Loran gasped as he saw the arrow hit sexta. With renewed speed he ran towards the fallen elf girl.

She might be a thief but there must have been a reason for steeling.

If only he could make it to her he might be able to safe her life.

Head down with no regard for his safety or the battle around him he ran as fast as he could
This message was last edited by the player at 19:51, Mon 10 Aug 2020.

Mikhail strode forward. Now that the soldiers and the Knight were inside the home, he decided it would be best to be more careful with his attacks. Reaching into the Fade, he sent a bolt of force out to strike the lady in the rear of the home attempting to cast spells, calling out to her in Orlesian. "You aren't playing in the Grand Game over here. Surrender."

---

Minor Action: Move closer to the house
Major Action: Attack with Arcane Lance
11:22, Today: Mikhail Loren rolled 9 using 1d6+4 with rolls of 5.  Arcane Lance damage.
11:22, Today: Mikhail Loren rolled 16 using 3d6+4 with the AGE System with rolls of {1}, 6, 5.  Arcane Lance attack.

The third footman in the room emphasizes his fellow’s point with the point of his own blade. (6 hps of damage gets through)

The Redcliffe crossbowman moves closer to the stairs, keeping his weapon ready to fire.


Brother Loran runs as fast as he can to the down she-elf. (He’ll reach her with a Move and a Run)

OOC: Mikhail won’t be able to see the woman with a single Move Minor Action; he’ll need to move an additional 15 yards beyond that to get in line of sight and range of the Arcane Lance. Since the primary effect seems to be to get her to stand down, I’m going to say Mikhail used the Run Major Action to get into position, and while he doesn’t fire off his Arcane Lance, he still attempts to tell her to stand down.

The false magister drops his staff and puts his hands up in surrender. “We surrender. We surrender!” he says with a thick Orlesian accent.

OOC: Folks, please roll damage when you roll your attacks.

Fost is next, and then we’ll go to the top of Round 4.

Damage Taken
Sexta: -15 hp, dying
Tevinter House Man-at-Arms 1: -15 hp, dying
Tevinter House Man-at-Arms 2: -15 hp, dying
Tevinter House Crossbowman: -13 hp

Redcliffe Footman 2: -3 hp

Initiatives

Hearing the annoucment if submission, Fost closed with those in the house. Still at the ready and wary of betrayal.

Minor Move, Prepare (betrayal, shoot)

Fost takes up position near the others at the base of the stairs, his eyes open for trouble.

Round 4
The magister’s mistress, for all her vitriol, symbolically drops her staff in surrender. Ser Perth lowers his blade and kicks it aside; both know the woman doesn’t need a staff to cast magic, but this the ritual most often followed, the mage declaring with the lost staff that they would attempt no magic and the captor acknowledging and accepting the surrender.

“Men, secure them; ensure the magister and his woman’s hands are bound well,” he orders. To his crossbowman, he calls out, “Get our young healer over here; I’d like to save the two footmen, if we can.”

The three footmen set to their duties, each man taking responsibility for one of the three ambulatory prisoners. The crossbowman looks for Brother Loran and sees him sprinting past the house.

“Oi, Brother Loran!” he says as he jogs out into the path. “Ser Perth needs you to look at the downed Tevinters!”

OOC: We’re not out of combat rounds, as they’re important to who lives or dies, but I’ll take over the actions of the Redcliffe soldiers from here.

That said, I’m not going to enforce strict order of action; so, what is each character doing for their Minor and Major actions in Round 4?

Damage Taken
Sexta: -15 hp, dying (Round 3)
Tevinter House Man-at-Arms 1: -15 hp, dying (Round 2)
Tevinter House Man-at-Arms 2: -15 hp, dying (Round 2)
Tevinter House Crossbowman: -13 hp

Redcliffe Footman 2: -3 hp

Initiatives

Richard nodded to Loran and said with firmness.
"Sexta first, Loran, we need to get behind her story."

Mikhail started to walk toward the knights, keeping his staff ready, just in case of foul play. He decided to stand by and see if his help would be required, especially if it turned out they would prefer to speak in Orlesian. Still, there was also the problem of rogue mages here. Chances are he would need to assist the Templars or the Circle as required, but this felt like something that was far above what he would be tasked with.

As Fost and Mikhail stand by in case of trouble, Brother Loran continues his sprint up the hill to reach the dying she-elf's side.

Richard, meanwhile, stays near the base of the hill, ready to assist either group.

Round 5
The mages are bound and the men-at-arms weapons removed; the crossbowman offers no resistance. Ser Perth motions Mikhail over and asks him to interpret for him, so there's no "misunderstandings."

"He's an Orlesian? Where was his Circle?"

Fost sees a number of locals emerge from their cottages. One of the farmers - Gemma's brother-in-law, he thinks - calls out to him, "Fost, what's going on with the visitors?"

The arrow is buried deep in her back, clearly a mortal wound, but Brother Loran recognizes it'll do as much damage coming out as it did going in. He'll need to work quickly and carefully to save her - not an ideal combination.

OOC: The offending arrow must be removed first; Brother Loran has two choices: use a Minor Action to pull it out, and make any attempt at healing her more difficult (+2 TN for mundane healing or casting Heal), or use a Major Action to carefully remove it, and risk that she dies this Round. (A character at 0hp dies after 2+Con rounds.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:17, Sun 16 Aug 2020.

Mikhail shrugs as he speaks to Ser Perth. "I believe the First Enchanter serves the Empress as an advisor on magic, so that should be right in the heart of Orlais itself. At least somewhere around there."

Stooping down to look over the bandits, he had to wonder why they would like to try to disguise themselves as Tevinter. Still, he had to wonder what would have happened had they fought them earlier. "You're pretty far away from home. Stealing from the Chantry is pretty low, even for criminals. Why did you ask someone to do it?"

Brother Loran dropped to his knees by the elf girl tears running down his cheeks hestarted praying to the maker as he worked to save her life.

His nimble fingers tended the body as he called upon the years of knowledge he'd learned tending the sick

All the time his prayers grew louder and louder calling upon the maker to save this wayward child to allow her the chance to atone for her crime

OOC: The arrow needs to be removed first before the wound can be healed. Since Loran is going ahead with healing, I'm going to assume he went with a quick removal and healing in the same round, increasing the TN to successfully cast Heal by 2.

Brother Loran rolled 12 using 3d6+4 (3 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {3}, 3, 2.  Heal (TN 12).

Evil GM, on behalf of Brother Loran, rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,5,1.  Healing Effect.

Sexta is healed for 10 Health

Thanks to his relative solitude, Brother Loran is able to work his miracle without interruption or unwanted attention. He removes the arrow quickly and immediately pulls a healing poultice from his medicine bag and spreads a quantity over the carnage left behind. Placing his hand over the wound, he recites a familiar prayer of healing, and the poultice melts away from both hand and wound, leaving behind a scar that will fade over time. Sexta begins to cough roughly, but her breathing soon returns to normal even as she remains unconscious. She'll need some time to fully recover.

Meanwhile, the mistress fires off a vitriolic retort. "What has the corrupt Chantry ever done for us? Deny us our birthright is all!"

"Lille, please," the false magister pleads. Turning to Mikhail, he adds, "She is not wrong, though; how can one hold in high esteem a Chantry that suppresses a whole class of people, and abuses an entire race, pitiful as they may be? We hold no loyalty to your Chantry, cloister."

"As the Chant of Light says, 'Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him'. It was Andraste that sent that warning as she marched on the very Imperium who is known for blood magic and mental domination. I'll take the blessings of the Maker over the domination of a demon any day. As for calling a species pitiful, assuming you mean the elves, I'm unconvinced on that matter. Andraste called upon the Dalish for her March. However, that's more a topic for the Mothers and Sisters. Maybe even a Templar or two."

He could not speak for all the Circles. Each one was only linked by the Chantry itself, meaning that he had no bearing on what the Orlesian Circle was actually like. However, First Enchanter Irving was always fair and balanced in his approach here in Ferelden. "Perhaps we can appeal to the First Enchanter in Orlais. Sometimes, people just need a change of scenery. Obviously, this has to be punished, but I can sympathize with the plight. It's not a life for everyone, but the dangers of magic necessitate a particular mindset. Ser Perth, do you have any questions for them. I will serve as interpreter as needed."

Brother Loran stood amazed his humble skills with herbs was able to save the girl.

As he turned he said a prayer to the maker for guiding his hands.

He then called one of the doorman over to look after her while she slept.

Wiping his hands he walked back to the main group to tend the other wounded from both sides. As he passed the woman "the evil Chantry just saved that young elf girls life" he said through gritted teeth.

Then he spun back to face her "I care nothing of the arguments between magic, religion or slavery. I am a simple brother trying to follow the words of the maker that all life is precious that is why I will tend your men as well as ours. They were following your orders to fight perhaps it's not the religion or the magic but the people that control it that are the issue"

He throw his hands up in anger and exasperation realising he was getting close to blasphemy but unable to articulate his thoughts without crossing the line so gritted his teeth and took a moment "now if you will excuse me this evil change brother has wounded men to tend to"

With that he walked off to assess their injuries

Silence falls over the group, many of whom are stunned by the Chantry brother's rebuke. Ser Perth clears his throat to break it, and asks, "First things, first. What are your names?"

"Guillaume Le Batard d'Aveliard," the magister states he says through the Mikhail's interpretation. "My fiancee is Lille Therioux. The crossbowman is Gaius Secundus; his footmen are Marius and Rufus. I don't know to which family they belonged."

"And the she-elf?"

"Sexta. She's Gaius' property." If they're lying about their names, they're at least consistent.


"Well, given your current situation, she's now your equal in chains. Still, this can't be your first attempt; how many villages have you plundered along the way?"

"Six," the crossbowman replies in the King's Tongue. "The latest was Lothering."

"Have you sold what was stolen?"

"Most of it; coin and ingots are easier to transport than bulky treasures," d'Aveliard answers.

Ser Perth nods. "How?"

"Many merchants on the road are happy to haggle a foreigner out of his finery. Even getting half value on the goods has more than paid for our return home." Is he actually proud of himself?

"To what purpose?" Ser Perth seems genuinely baffled.

"Power, of course. I am the illegitimate child and only son of Comte d'Aveliard." Guillaume's chest puffs out in a show of self-importance. "My half-sister stands to inherit lands that are mine by right of ancient law, but which the young empress won't enforce. To gain what is mine, I must take it by force. These men I met in Denerim, and we devised a plan to convert my somewhat modest means into a tidy sum that would be enough to purchase the loyalty of key members of our house guard, without also making us beholden to another patron."

So much for this fellow simply being a misguided mage.

Meanwhile, Brother Loran examines the two men-at-arms, and finds that both are beyond even his means to rescue from their final crossing through the Veil.

Mikhail shrugs as he whispers to Ser Perth, "If Empress Celine doesn't recognize him, no amount of bluster or sum of gold will change her mind. And, now that he's admitted to these crimes, I doubt that King Cailen will be merciful. Especially if Teryn Loghain has anything to say. Still, we're in Arl Eamon's lands here. We need to bring them before him. Also, we should get a Templar out here. We have a mage that needs to return to her Circle."

"Well I don't pretend to understand much regarding politics," Richard finally responds, "but I am certain I don't appreciate you playing them here.  But I do think your plans to inherit your estate, valid claim or not, may just have been put on pause for a while as I believe you all now have an appointment with Arl Eamon."

Fost did not even know the political situation about his homeland, how was he supposed to know anything about the realm to the West. Such things had no interest for him.
All he registered was that these were villains who had robbed, and maybe killed, innocents.

To the villager he replied.
"These guests of yours have far surpassed Ferelden hospitality. They are robbers, bandits, villains and no mistake because they act like nobles. A trial is due and we'll escort them to the Arl."

He turned to the knight and said in a low voice.
"Let the villagers keep the gear and coins of the dead as recompense. They should bury the dead with all necessary rituals."
"Have the house searched for the stolenitems from the Chantry.", he suggested. For him, Perth was still the one in command here.

"Bah. Orlesians can't keep their hands out of Fereldan pokcets. Been that way for as long as I can remember," he says, spitting on the ground in the false magister's direction. "A good stretchin' is what they need."



Ser Perth nods at the suggestions. "Do you think we can move her to the castle without danger, now that she's bound, and have the Templars meet us there?"



D'Aveliard scoffs, "Meh. Peons. Take me to your betters."



"That's not a bad idea," the knight says. To his men, he adds. "Borrow a cart from one of the locals to carry the injured and the dead. We'll take back all of their gear and stolen items. What can be returned will be returned to the Chantry. Any coin on their persons shall be distributed evenly among the families in the Crossroads. Their weapons and armor will be taken to the castle."

He turns back to the Fost, Mikhail, Richard, and Loran. "I trust you'll help us escort these dangerous criminals back to the castle?"

Fost nodded and affirmed at the knight’s request for accompanying the accosted back to Redcliffe.

Mikhail nods, "Of course. Magic and music have some very similar qualities. Both are easier to do with hands. Nevertheless, I trust we have the time to send the word out to her Circle. I'll draft a letter to send to Lake Callenhad and the Senior Enchanter who taught me. They should know how best to take care of them."

Turning to Brother Loran, he asked after Sexta, "How does she fare?"