Lenny - Rogue

"Damn it! This shouldn't take so long! I almost had it... ah, there it goes. That's the last of them."

Lenny holds up a fist, above his head. The signal is noticed by the ones behind, as they move up quickly. The sergeant turns to Lenny, face grim.

"Well, it's now or never. Good work, now it's our turn."

Another hand signal goes up by the sergeant. A series of gestures, each one of them sending complex commands to the various small groups of his band of warriors. Tertia was at war, and this was a time of action.

Lenny could still remember the easy days, spent in the mountain regions of his homelands. He was taught well, due to the fact that his mentor was the best at his craft. He didn't know how to react, when he was indentured into service to Master Wyn those many years ago.

Again, his mind races through bits of his past, linking one to another. They come screaming back to the here and now with a violent shove from his sergeant. Instincts kick in, as he peers about, watching the troops move quietly, or as quietly as they can. It was ll too noisy for him, but he's used to it.

They fan out, one group left, for higher ground. Another group heads right, to complete the flank. They would be the initiators of this battle. The plan was sound, and the troops trained well. This last group, the one that Lenny would stay with, was simply here for reinforcements.

Seconds tick by, the time to act was upon them. As if reading his mind, the right flank moved into the camp, methodically sweeping through the tents and dealing with the contents swiftly. The first few tents did not have a chance, but that would soon change. When the screams alerted the rest of the camp, the real battle would begin.

Lenny watched the scene, awed at the audacity of the Tertians to try this stunt. The enemy camps were always around, riddling the landscape here and there, as if mocking the Terians that they were soon to be cornered and obliterated from this world.

"Desperate times, desperate measures," he whispers, as the sergeant spins his face on Lenny. A simple shrug from Lenny, and the sergeants concentration goes back to the attack.

The first screams could be heard now, but something was wrong. They weren't in the enemy tongue. They were their own screams! Something is definately wrong!

Lenny scans the campsite, seeing that the towers, thought to be unmanned and guarded by sleeping guards, were simply decoys. The campsite was a trap! Not wanting to be outdone, and knowing that it was his duty, the sergeant, in all his glory, stands, and gives the battlecry.

"FOR TER.." he starts, not able to finish the cry, as the arrow lodged in his throat simply takes the sergeant off his feet, and flying backwards on his back. The gurglling of his blood can be heard, as the troops look around, not knowing their orders now. Flee or fight?

Lenny's mind reels again, as visions of those ample tests in the darkness, with the Master Wyn readying his own punishment should Lenny fail. Those were troubling times. He had hated Master Wyn in those years, and it wasn't until a full 6 years afterwards that he had somehow managed to find that the anger he felt, was built into pride and respect. He was harsh to him, for certain, but he was fair. Fed, clothed, cared for, trained, punished, yet during all that, a bond had formed. Something near to him. The only family he had come to know.

Now, his mind races to the here and now. The troops would be slaughtered, and he can see their faces striken with panic and doubt. He had learned to use that panic for other purposes. Turning quickly to the camp, Lenny lets loose his hands, letting them go to work feverishly. This was his moment to show his skill.

His longbow is unslung with practiced ease, the arrow in place as he turns to the towers. The troops, not knowing what to do, simply ready themselves, waiting for an order. It dawns on Lenny that he was not their commander, but they seemed to be looking to him for answers. His answer would come with a single arrow, hopefullly.

The arrow flies straight, the tower guards not able to dodge in time. All eyes watch this single arrow, as it misses the guard, and continues its path beyond the tower. A sigh, greater than he had hoped for erupts from the troops, as they cower in fear. Lenny does not falter.

"Wait for it!" he asks, as he hears the sound of the arrow hitting a wooden plank. That single plank then shifts its weight, hitting the barrel to its side. The barrel, for some reason being laid at an angle, tips, rolling across a series of pitons set into the ground, knocking them loose ever so slightly. The ropes that were tied to each of these pitons then is released, as the towers seem to spring to life, teetering to the side. Then, as if to answer his troops plea for aid and guidance, the first tower falls, its guards toppling to the ground. The towers seem to reach out, falling onto nearby tents that hold enemy warriors. The next few seconds went by swiftly, as time caught up to Lenny's methodical checking of each part of his master trap. It was a success!

The troops, seeing the carnage that has erupted from the camp, springs forth, rallying the others. It doesn't take long, and does not go without more casualties, but the battle is won. Barely. As the last of the enemy troops is dealt with, Lenny leads the retreat. The other camps would surely come to see what had happened, and Lenny was in no mood to be around when that happened.

He leads the troops back to Tertia, winding his way here and there, leading them through his series of traps that were laid out for any enemy that would come after them. As the last of the troops enter the city walls, Lenny is fearful that there were too many lost. It seemed that almost a quarter of the troops were lost, and another quarter injured. But the ones that remained, they all looked to Lenny.

"Where is your sergeant?" asks the awaiting commander. The troops look around, before shaking their heads.

Lenny speaks up. "He didn't make it. He died honorably, and were it not for him, we would not have survived. It is he who we owe our thanks and lives to."

The commander seems to balk at the words, as he turns to the another warrior. "You there! You are in charge now. Get some rest, as the enemy would soon retaliate. Good job men, good job!"

Lenny slinks out of the group, heading back to the barracks for some much needed rest. He is halted by a hand on his shoulder.

"Why did you lie? Without you, we would have all panicked and probably been out there with the sergeant, dead. Why do you keep doing this?"

Lenny shrugs, again his mind racing. Master Wyn had scolded him that day. He had thought that he had mastered the technique, and had not been reluctant to be very vocal about it. He had learned humility, humbleness, and humor at the same time. There were times when a need had to be filled. This was one of thos times.

"I saw a need, and I filled it. That's all I did. Besides, I am not a leader. I work better on my own, and without having to worry about protocols. If I told them what I did, then I would be promoted. I wouldn't be able to go in the advanced scouting parties, as ranks would not allow it. I would then leave the lives of the troops to those that were probably capable, but not the best suited for the task. Now, with you in charge, you know where I work best at. Sergeant knew that as well. He trusted me. Hopefully you will too."

Lenny shifts his weight, bringing his pack down. "Now, if you are not in need of me again, I have to resupply my tools. Pulley's aren't easy to come by, and those nails either. Not at this time. Not in these lands."

*pst* Some Use Magic Device would be awesome...

But seriously. We have a rogue? Sweet. I'm loving this party.

may be poor, but with places like New Raveshead haveing all this magic devices around town (read character creation) i am sure other places have them to, and it would be nice if one of you back country folks know how to run the elevator

Ok, background posted.. .it's a ramble, but it works...

Climb? Yeah, we've got that skill, too. Also Disable Device. Let's just say your elevator had a teensy weensy 'accident'.

Ok, leveling up Lenny to Rogue 5
Gain
[dice=6][dice=6]
+4 hp=49hp
+2 bab
+1 to all saves
Feat: Diehard
Sneak attack goes to 4d6
Trap Sense goes to +2
20 skill points:
Diplomacy +10
Craft Traps +2
Craft Poison +2
Hide +2
Move Silently +2
Tumble +2 [rand=838518973250473530944455253855353383265596196142652759615747534]

Changed Spot Ranks to only +2 and put the other 4 ranks into Search.