Nthanda cursed to herself and then followed the others at a slower pace; fast enough to keep them in sight, slow enough to see if they run into an ambush with time to react...

In the based of the valley where Nathanda spotted the scout, the  foliage has become a very thick.  Unlike the whispering woods there is no evidence of the corruption that surrounded the caves.  The forest here is wild and unsullied by the touch of civilization.  From here the old tracks that Ukhtusk and Zenphar had found travel roughly south towards the tallest peak, and there is evidence of a single person travelling east towards the small of the two peaks.  These tracks are very fresh.  There is no sight of the scout.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:57, Sun 31 Oct 2021.

"The freshest tracks head east," Zenphar notes, "That seems the best course."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:57, Fri 15 July 2022.

Ukhtusk grunts in affirmation, heading eastwards at a trot.

Thromm grunted sourly as Uhktusk continued to trot and set his pace to keep alongside Nthanda. He chewed his lip considering the situation but there wasn't much he disliked about it. Rushing into battle was very much his style. Still, something was upsetting his stomach. Eyeing the peaks, he thought carefully about the fresh tracks. He had a sneaking suspicion. But, not knowing anything of tracks, he left it to the experts.

Tegan was used to the weight of his heavy armor, but he was nonetheless beginning to sweat heavily due to the fast pace that had been set.

He slowed his run to a more manageable jog that would not sap his strength o'ermuch. He hoped that they could catch up to the enemy scout before the bandit could raise the alarm, However, he reckoned that if their prey was wearing light armor -- which he (or she) probably was -- they would be hard-pressed to make up too much ground.

As the you move off to the east you hear a horn blow.  It was a long blast followed by a shorter one.  It sounds like if is about 300 or so yards away, coming from the tree line.  A moment later a single blast replies from the south, then another single blast comes from the west.

"Hells take it!" Zenphar curses. "We're surrounded...I'm thinking we keep going east, hope the lookout is on his own...and find a defensible position."

"Lead on, then," Tegan replied to Zenphar. The Elf seemed to be comfortable out in the wilds -- much more than the city-bred Tegan was -- and he had a good head on his shoulders, so the Human was comfortable in trusting to his judgment on this.

Tegan had been in enough squad-level actions during his days in the Suzail Watch to know that when the enemy was nigh and time was short, decisions needed to be made and followed without o'ermuch back-and-forth chatter.

He turned to Ukhtusk and Thromm. "Good news," he said with a lopsided grin. "They'll be coming to us."

"I do not think that qualifies as 'good news' Tegan, but it may simplify our task: we are victorious and capture the bounty, or we die and it won't matter," Nthanda says as she follows the others along to what she hopes is not their collective doom.

Thromm, between heavy breaths, grins at the dusky elf, "But that is good news! We can knock it off with this accursed running about. I was built for the still not the running of blockades." Thromm still felt a pinch of blackness surrounding the decision to run straight into enemy territory. He sought a glorious end, but not a reckless one. "did anyone consider that they want us to go east though? Might we consider the defensible position more urgent?" Thromm, likewise, understood taking quick action in emergent situations, but a second thought never hurt anyone and he was still running.

"You could be right, Thromm," Zenpaher replied, "But there is only one set of fresh tracks heading east...and many more older tracks heading south.

My hope is that the lone scout is heading to a spot on the mountain that might give us the high ground, if his friends come from the south and west."

“Is good news. Best news.” Ukhtusk said, and grinned. “Every direction we go is attack.”

He tested the weight of his javelin and checked his sword’s draw from the scabbard. “They not can escape.”

Out of nowhere from the a small peak in the distance came two arrows.  The scout lying in wait misjudged the distance and the volley of arrows he fired at Ukhtusk and Zenphar were wildly inaccurate.




Each square is 10 feet.
Initiative you then the scout.
Scout AC 13  HP27


20:20, Today: GN rolled 14 using 2d20+4, dropping the highest dice only.  Attack Ranged Z.

20:20, Today: GN rolled 9 using 2d20+4, dropping the highest dice only.  Attack ranged U.

Ukhtusk immediately ran towards the attacker with a grin.

---

OOC:
Move & Dash to I4. Cover in the trees is nice, but not at the expense of not directly attacking the bowman... probably upper-right I4.

"Tally-Ho!" Tegan shouted when he caught sight of their foe. He could not remember where he had first heard it, but once upon a time someone had explained to him that it meant "prey (or enemy) in sight".

"Bad luck," he muttered to Thromm. "Looks like a bit more running will be needed." He understood that such an activity was not a favorite pastime of the short-legged Stout Folk -- although at least, in this instance, they were charging towards their foe.

Then he jogged off after Ukhtusk, intent on closing the distance with the bandit who was sniping at them with a bow.

---

OOC:

Tegan will move and dash to Square H-4 (upper right corner).

Nthanda ducks along the tree line (to E6) and fires her eldritch blast at the scout, but this close to the limit of the spell's power she is not surprised to be off the mark.

---

I counted 18 squares frm where we started, moved 3 forwad, range of Eldritch Blast is 120 feet, so the scout is really out of range.  She's pretty smart, but I doubt she is counting exact feet in her head.

14:43, Today: Nthanda rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Eldritch Blast.

"Hanseath's hairy bollocks!" Thromm eyed the sprinting half-orc and human with despair. He knew well enough that he would not keep up with them. He looked to the elf whom Thromm assumed would tear off as well. Pursing his lips, he grumbled and looked to the more slowly moving elf. That was something he could help. Grunting darkly yet again, his short legs churned and he moved up alongside the elf who was watching her magic sail short. He drew his axe but kept his grip choked up beneath the weapon's head so he could move if needed. He called out to Zenphar, "Stay close in case his friends catch us up, will you?"

That said, Thromm kept his sharp eyes peeled for more enemies approaching from the south and east.

The poorly aimed arrows allow Zenphar to spot their quarry. He continues moving north and east to get a clear shot. But his arrow is no better than the scout's, landing wide of its target.

---

Moved to F2.
Zenphar rolled 4 for 15 damage using 1d20+3,1d8+14 with Longbow Sharpshooter - SNAKE-EYES!
This message was last edited by the player at 07:05, Sat 23 Oct 2021.

The bandit on the hill let loose two more arrows.  The first flew straight hitting Zenphar (11 peircing).  The second arrow was fired with a little more urgency it flew over Nthanda's.




Scout AC 13  HP27

10:42, Today: GN rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  Attack ranged N.
10:41, Today: GN rolled 11 using 1d8+3.  Damage to Z.
10:40, Today: GN rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  Attack ranged Z.

"ARRGGH!" Zenphar shouts in pain as the arrow pierces his armour and embeds into his flesh.


"Keep moving, as fast as you can," Zenphar calls, grimacing in pain, "I'll bring up the rear."

The elf moves forward and focuses on the scout, "Praeda", he intones before loosing another arrow at the scout.

Watching his arrow strike the scout solidly and stagger him, Zenphar, mutters, "I owed you that."

---

Move to bottom left corner of J1 (7 squares).
Bonus action to Cast Hunter's Mark
Range: 90 feet  Deal an extra 1d6 damage to the target whenever you hit it with a weapon attack.

Zenphar rolled 22 for 20+5=25 points damage using Longbow Sharpshooter: Attack, Damage, Hunter's Mark.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:59, Fri 15 July 2022.

Nthanda moves up keeping calm and maintaining her watch in case the scout has allies nearby.

---

Move up to H6 and hold her attack in case a target presents, using the trees as cover from the scout (in case he still lives).

Ukhtusk kept running at the threat.

---

OOC:
Move&Dash to O2, upper right corner.

Tegan heard Zenphar cry out in pain somewhere off to his left and behind him, and he assumed that one of the bandit's arrows had hit its mark. A moment later Zenphar's own arrow buried itself nearly to the fletching in the bandit's midsection.

He closed the distance a bit, then hurled his javelin at the bandit. Unfortunately the range was a bit too long for him to make an accurate throw, and the javelin flew wide of the mark.

---

OOC:

Move: Tegan will move to Square K-1 (Upper right corner): 30 feet.

Action:
16:04, Today: Tegan rolled 11,20 using d20+6,d20+6 with rolls of 5,14.  Ranged Attack (Javelin: Disadvantage due to Range). Miss.

Notes: A javelin's range is 30/120, so Tegan attacked with Disadvantage.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:59, Mon 25 Oct 2021.

Dwarven:"Bloody idjit arsehole!" The broad dwarf cursed roundly in his own language as the elf took a bolt to the chest. Glancing toward where Nthanda was taking cover in the treeline and staying inconspicuous, Thromm then chugged toward the hurt archer. There, he quickly put his shield up and blocked as much of the man's form as possible. "How about you not be a great flaming target for the enemy then? Uhktusk is almost upon the man, and that'll be the end of that. So get yourself to that treeline and avoid trying to become a living kabob." Despite the serious sounding words, there was only concern and worry in the dwarf's eyes.

Grumbling savagely, the dwarf bowed his head for a moment: "Hanseath, forgive our recklessness. Please, bestow upon us the health and vitality of your sacred brews." Thromm felt the responding warmth and reached out to quickly contact the wounded warrior and send healing energies into him. "This world would be a much sadder place should you depart the party early, Zenphar."

---

Move: 25' to lower left of G1
Action; Cure Wounds. Thromm rolled 7 using 1d8+3.  heal.