New Friends and New Objectives

[arkahm]

With breakfast finished, and all ready to head out. Janiven calls everyone together and you slip out the secret door to the safehouse. You wander through the alleyways, emerging shortly onto the street near a stables. The early morning daylight is just cresting the horizon as you mount the horses, apparently acquired the night prior. Janiven hands you a hooded cloak as you mount up. "Wear these to hide your appearance from the guards of the gate and the prison caravan. We can not afford the risk of being found who belongs to the 'Liberator's of Westcrown'." She says with a smile. She instructs the lesser trained others to use a different gate and meet at a preplanned position down the road and leads you to a lesser used gate. You have no problems exiting the city, the guards being fairly lax at their boring gate duty. You meet up with the others a short time later and are lead to the area you are to prepare the ambush. You tie off the horses a short distance into the wooded area and walk to the bridge. "Pick your hiding spots and remember not to spring until the advancing Hellknights have entered the caltrops." She points to the area described in the planning. The others tend to placing large bags of caltrops across the front of the bridge area, carefully camouflaging them into the dirt road. "We will be on the bridge when the hellknights charge at us, ready to flee into the woods when they are injured. I will attempt to circle back around to assist you when the others are safe." She then turns to assist the others in the set-up.

Map

Please tell me where you are setting up your hiding places. On this map I basically want an X,Y reference counting each square from the top left to right from 1 to 27. then from the top left to bottom 1 to 28. So you will end up with a number like 15,5 (which would put you at the edge of the top central copse of trees). The rocks and trees are big enough and dense enough to provide full cover. Don't worry, when the ral fighting begins I will shrink the map down as the groups converge. PM me if you don't understand my coordinate instructions.

[Vardaen]

Fellan nods to Javien, "If you don't hurry quick enough, the fight will be over by the time you join us." He sweeps his hair out of his face and then draws his weapon and shield and moves to take his place hidding behind the large boulders and rocks. He peeks out and prepairs to scry on the incoming caravan on their arrival, long before they reach the bridge. He nods to Kyle and then looks over at Ralen, "I hope you are a good strike with that."

OOC

4,7 Right among the rocks.

When the Hellknights come into view, before they are even close to the bridge I cast Detect Poison and focus in on their weapons and the prisoner. Relaying if I find out if they do have poison to the others.

Have out Morning Star, Shield, and have on Cestus today.


Dont forget, rogues could mabe hide south of the road to get into flanking easier.

[mackaber]

Viraj is not as swift as his human and Elven companions and thus moves slightly in front of the stones Fellan hides behind and rubbes himslef in the dirtyy before diging a shallow hole in which he can lie in waiting.

OOC

6/9 right in front of the rocks. Sadly the monk of the iron mountain cannot become a rock himslef

[Chanur]

Following Fellan, Ralen pulls his spear down and has it in the ready position. Hiding behind the rocks, he grins at Fellan's comment.

"I practice! But it is not my best skill."

OOC

Ralen moves to 5,7 behind the rock, and will cast Mage armor on himself as soon as he see's them coming down the road.

[Trogdor]

"I'll go over here by the brush," Kyle says. "We aren't all going to fit behind the rocks."

OOC

13/2 (or 13/3 if it's possible to hide in the brush).

Cast Shield of Faith just before the ambush.

[Vardaen]

Fellan nods to Kyle, weapon and shield out, he waits for the wagon and the prison to arrive. He is going over the chant for several of his spells in his head.

OOC

I'll be using Bane, Fear, and Command on these guys to get them to do as we like.

[arkahm]

OOC

The long awaited combat post! Thanks for your patience.

Janiven turns to help the others set up the caltrops, and stage themselves to the best way of retreat on the bridge. Meanwhile the rest of you set up your prospective ambush positions. The rocks and brush are big enough and dense enough to provide good cover. Kyle finds that the brush is not difficult to get in and out of, restricting movement very little. Viraj begins digging a shallow hole and gathers brush for concealment from the road. He hopes it is enough to shield himself from the Hellkight's view. Ralen prepares himself for battle, with a slightly shimmering aura around his body that fades from view after a short moment. You hunker down into your prospective hiding spots hoping it will not be too much longer.

Roll

Viraj stealth check: ?? (Also be aware that getting up from prone is a MOVE ACTION)

Your hopes are granted when a short while later you hear the clopping of horses from farther up the road. A carriage begins to come into view, being lead by a team of 2 horses. Ten of the guardsmen are dressed in the all too familiar Hellknight armor you have encountered before, 4 of them being mounted on horses, one driving, and four clinging to the side running boards. One noticeable difference in the wagon is the location of the remaining soldier. Mounted on top of the wagon, manned by the remaining Hellknight, is a heavy crossbow of the largest size you have ever seen. The other person, sitting as a passenger near the driver, is dressed quite differently. His accouterments consist of much more elaborate armor, although still with the garish design base of the others, standing out as the leader of the band. The Hellknights manning the escort fortunately do not look too concerned with being attacked, carrying on conversations and jibbing each other with offensive jokes. Their arrogance precedes them, and helps you in your plight. After all who in their right mind would attack an armed Hellkight caravan? Your group is about to show them who.

Roll

Perception: Leader: 5 (The only one paying particular attention)

Action

Fellan: Unfortunately for you they don't get into range for detection spells (25'+5'/level).

The carriage slows to a stop on seeing Janiven and the others posing as bandits, brandishing weapons like they are demanding a toll. The leader stands in his seat, giving out a laugh towards the 'œbandit' group. 'œClear the way!' He calls in a commanding voice, showing his leadership qualities.'Clear the way and you will be spared!' You hear Janivens voice return the order, 'œYou shall pay our toll!' The man then looks to either side of the wagon at the horsed men, waving them forward to clear the bridge. Snickering to themselves, and drawing weapons, they kick their horses sending them into a charge. Janiven's band immediately, but slowly, begins to withdraw in retreat.

Initiative

Initiative for mounted hellknights and bridge group.
Janiven: 18
Hellknights:16
"bandits": 8

As the Hellknights charge, Janiven fires off a bow shot, not at the charging force, but at the leader. The arrow embeds into the wooden wagon causing the man to jump up onto the roof, pushing the soldier to the side, and man the crossbow. The horses charge towards the retreating allies blindly entering the area of caltrops in their path. The horses rear and buck as the caltrops impale the tender fleshy portions of their feet. It is apparent these soldiers are not skilled at riding as they fall to the ground, not expecting the trap or the horse's reactions.

Roll

Attack Janiven: 10vs18(miss)

Action

Mounted Hellknights charge (stepping on caltrops.)
Others withdraw and double speed.

Now is your time to spring.

Initiative

Initiative:(it will take at least 10 rounds for the M(ounted)HK's to get to you from over 100 feet away with caltrop damage.)
Kyle: 19
Viraj: 18.9
Fellan: 18.5
Shanwen: 18.1
Ralen: 16
Hellknights: 10

Map

[Vardaen]

Fellan doesn't bother with his detection, the enemy remains out of range. So he watches with great excitement as the bait is laid out, and the horsemen fall for it. The moment Javien and her band fall back, and the horsemen begin to fall from horses into the caltrop he shouts out, "NOW!"

OOC

Just some flavor awaiting my initiative. I see you fixed the image, cool.

[Trogdor]

Kyle strides out from his hiding place, his holy symbol held tightly in his hand. "Pharasma," he says in a low voice, "bring the fear of failure and death to these men." Then raising the holy symbol high, he call out in a much louder voice. "Despair, for your doom is upon you." As he speaks, a wave of energy burst from around him, bringing fear and doubt to the minds if his enemies.

Action

Move Action: SW S S S S S
Standard Action: Cast Bane

BTW, was there enough advanced warning to cast Shield of Faith before they got in range?

GOOGLE DOCS UPDATED

[arkahm]

GM

Yes, you would have a round to cast Shield of Faith. I've added the bonus already to the "on the fly" tab.

Kyle moves from his concealed position, advancing to get a better range on the enemy. He chants his mantra to his deity.

Initiative

Bold has gone this round.
Kyle: 19
Viraj: 18.9
Fellan: 18.5
Shanwen: 18.1
Ralen: 16
Hellknights: 10
Giving you 1 round surprise here and they are flat footed until their first action.

Roll

Save vs Bane
Shanwen: 23 vs DC16
HK1: 3 vs DC16
HK2: 5 vs DC16
HK3: 1 vs DC16
HK4: 8 vs DC16
HK5: 12 vs DC16
HK6: 9 vs DC16

Hit Points

Kyle: Full
Viraj: Full
Fellan: Full
Shanwen: Full
Ralen: Full
Hellknights: Full
Shanwen: Full
HK1: Full (-1 Attack/Saves for 20 rnds)
HK2: Full (-1 Attack/Saves for 20 rnds)
HK3: Full (-1 Attack/Saves for 20 rnds)
HK4: Full (-1 Attack/Saves for 20 rnds)
HK5: Full (-1 Attack/Saves for 20 rnds)
HK6: Full (-1 Attack/Saves for 20 rnds)

Map