Post by TheUdjat on Apr 6, 2009 8:40:11 GMT -5
(Answering Questions/Comments)
HAHAHA! 
I almost thought about giving you a point for that wonderful joke!
But no.
{Thanks for the awesome rolls Udjat. 
I'm glad we trade natural 1s for really high rolls that don't matter. I didn't want to be useful anyhow. 
Sorry, dude. The dice, they hate you.
Trying to regain a steady grasp of the battle, Elric rears back, defending himself with sword and shield, shouting out commands to his guardsmen. He then directs his shouting voice at the second of the bandit brothers, assuring him that his time has come. His men dying around him, the bandit leader seems suitably unnerved by Elric, though he keeps on fighting.
Jakob gives up on shooting things and throwing things, and resolves to walk up to one of the damned bandits and personally hit him with an axe. It’s easy enough to find one of the men clustered around Elric, still trying to bring the man down. He whirls to face Jakob, but too late, and the axe slams down into the base of his neck and shoulder. With wide eyes and a voiceless cry, the bandit falls at Jakob’s feet.
Still, the remaining archers in the trees continue to fire, still targeting the guardsmen who remain staunchly in the open. Two bolt slam down into the ground without purchase, but a third strikes the passenger on the cart, slicing open his arm as it streaks by. Not a bad hit, but an injury nonetheless.
The two guardsmen on the cart try to return the favor. Still coping with his injury, the passenger with the bow is unable to keep his arm steady, and the shot goes wide. The driver takes deft aim with his crossbow, however, striking one of the archers to the east dead in the chest. With a yelp of pain, the bandit falls from his perch in the tree and plummets to the ground, striking the plethora of limbs on the way down. He will not be getting back up.
Thomas, the guardsman surrounded by two spearmen, continues to battle them. He manages to strike another glancing hit on one, but between controlling his horse and defending himself, the blow doesn’t have the strength it needs to overcome the bandit’s armor. He curses, but remains focused, even as his comrade James rushes from behind, dropping his bow in favor of the longsword at his side. He brings the blade down in one clean sweep, and though the bandit moves to parry the blow, James turns the slash into a thrust, catching his foe in the ribs and sending him to the dirt. Another bandit is felled.
As men scream and die and weapons go to and fro across the battlefield, Tawno moves under the wagon, determined to stay there, well out of sight, for the remainder of the battle. No one pays the fortune teller any mind now that she’s gone silent.
The last bandit around Thomas turns on this new enemy, James, and thrusts with the spear. The weapon catches him full in the chest, but James turns with it, letting the weapon slide off of his armor harmlessly. He smiles grimly, ready to finish this melee. The other bandits continue to stab with futility at Elric, hoping to bring down the apparent leader of this contingent, but their attempts are laughable—neither comes close to hitting him.
Still in the trees, Arnaud lines up a shot at another archer. As ever, his aim is flawless, and the bolt strikes the half-hidden bandit in his shoulder. The blow sends him spinning off-balance and out of the trees, cracking his neck over a sturdy limb on his way down. He comes to rest at a sickeningly deformed angle, face twisted in pain.
The last archer looks at his fallen comrades in dismay, and seems ready to try and escape—but as he turns, Rupert thrusts his little knife up, directly into the man’s throat, slashing it open. Blood sprays over the young animal handler, hot and smelling sharp, metallic. The ‘big wolf’s’ face is one of surprise and agony as he keels sideways off of the tree, falling to the ground with a hideous thud.
With all of the archers fallen, the words of Tawno still ringing in his head, the first brother knows the battle is lost. He drops his axe and turns, staggering as quickly as his legs can manage, clutching his bleeding chest as he goes, face pale with terror and blood loss. Perhaps he is ignorant of Elric’s command to kill those that run, or perhaps he simply is beyond caring.
The other brother is made of stouter stuff, though. He brings his axe up to swipe at Elric again, and with more luck than his comrades. But Elric is as skilled as he is brave, and he deflects the axe’s blade, slamming it aside with his increasingly-battered shield.
Amalric looks about the trees, but they are finally quiet, save for Rupert hanging in one. The magus makes certain the guards know that he’s one of theirs, then turns his mental powers to the handful of remaining fighters. He targets the bandit leader again, thrusting out at his mind with his will—but this time the leader’s mind resists. He visibly grits his teeth against the attack, though he cannot comprehend where it comes from. The effort of the mental attack leaves Amalric a little tired, his magic use starting to wear on him.
Joseph tries to blast the bandit with a focused rush of winds once more, but once again, he is denied. The winds rush out in a finely honed funnel, but though they connect with the bandit, he merely staggers a step and keeps his wits, undaunted.
Only four bandits remain committed to the battle, their leader still moving sluggish, hampered by Amalric’s mind attacks. Surely it won’t be long before they are finished now.
Initiative: Elric (26), Jakob (20),Bandit Archers (20), Covenant Guards (19), Tawno (17), Bandits (14), Arnaud (12), Rupert (9), Bandit Leaders (7), Amalric & Isabeau (7), Joseph (6).
Description: There are only 4 bandits left in the battle; 3 are attacking Elric, one is caught between Guardsmen James and Thomas (4 and 3), who are likely to be unstoppable now that they have names. The original bandit leader is fleeing south, stumbling and bloody, and not likely to get very far.
The road is some ten feet wide. Trees are all around off the path. The wind is now gusting powerfully (-2 to ranged attacks and notice checks for sound. Tiny creatures knocked down/blown away). Since Rojito specified he wanted the winds blowing against the bandits, the ranged weapon penalty does not apply if attacking the bandits by the wagon.
(Character Status)
Amalric – Normal [cover from cart]
Arnaud – Normal [cover from trees]
Elric – Mounted, Hurt (-1 vs. lethal), Wounded (-1)
Jakob – Normal
Joseph –Mounted, Fatigued (-2 Str/Dex, no charge)
Rupert – Normal [hiding/sneaking]
Tawno – Wounded (-1) [cover from cart]
Isabeau – Blown away
Guardsman 1 – Driving Cart, Wounded (-1)
Guardsman 2 – Mounted, Wounded (-2), Unconscious, Dead
Guardsman 3 – Mounted, Hurt (-2 vs. Lethal)
Guardsman 4 – Normal, Walking
Guardsman 5 – Riding Cart, Hurt (-2 vs. Lethal), Wounded (-1)
Bandit Leader 1 – Shaken, Wounded (-2), Staggered, Disabled, Panicked [fleeing; 30’ south]
Bandit 1 – Shaken [attacking Guardsman 3], dead
Bandit 2 – Shaken [attacking Guardsman 3]
Bandit 3 – Shaken [attacking Elric]
Bandit 4 – Shaken, Unconscious, Dying
Bandit Leader 2 – Shaken [attacking Elric], bruised (-1 vs. nonlethal), staggered
Bandit 5 – Shaken [attacking Elric]
Bandit 6 – [attacking Elric], dying
Bandit 7 – [in the open; no spears], dying
Bandit 8 – [in the open; no spears], dying
Bandit Archer 1 – [west side of road, DC 10 Notice check to target], dying
Bandit Archer 2 – [west side of road, DC 10 Notice check to target], dying
Bandit Archer 3 – [east side of road, DC 10 Notice check to target], dying
Bandit Archer 4 – [east side of road, DC 10 Notice check to target], dead
Then, you can give me another conviction point for my dauntless first kill.
I almost thought about giving you a point for that wonderful joke!But no.
I'm glad we trade natural 1s for really high rolls that don't matter. I didn't want to be useful anyhow. 
Trying to regain a steady grasp of the battle, Elric rears back, defending himself with sword and shield, shouting out commands to his guardsmen. He then directs his shouting voice at the second of the bandit brothers, assuring him that his time has come. His men dying around him, the bandit leader seems suitably unnerved by Elric, though he keeps on fighting.
Jakob gives up on shooting things and throwing things, and resolves to walk up to one of the damned bandits and personally hit him with an axe. It’s easy enough to find one of the men clustered around Elric, still trying to bring the man down. He whirls to face Jakob, but too late, and the axe slams down into the base of his neck and shoulder. With wide eyes and a voiceless cry, the bandit falls at Jakob’s feet.
Still, the remaining archers in the trees continue to fire, still targeting the guardsmen who remain staunchly in the open. Two bolt slam down into the ground without purchase, but a third strikes the passenger on the cart, slicing open his arm as it streaks by. Not a bad hit, but an injury nonetheless.
The two guardsmen on the cart try to return the favor. Still coping with his injury, the passenger with the bow is unable to keep his arm steady, and the shot goes wide. The driver takes deft aim with his crossbow, however, striking one of the archers to the east dead in the chest. With a yelp of pain, the bandit falls from his perch in the tree and plummets to the ground, striking the plethora of limbs on the way down. He will not be getting back up.
Thomas, the guardsman surrounded by two spearmen, continues to battle them. He manages to strike another glancing hit on one, but between controlling his horse and defending himself, the blow doesn’t have the strength it needs to overcome the bandit’s armor. He curses, but remains focused, even as his comrade James rushes from behind, dropping his bow in favor of the longsword at his side. He brings the blade down in one clean sweep, and though the bandit moves to parry the blow, James turns the slash into a thrust, catching his foe in the ribs and sending him to the dirt. Another bandit is felled.
As men scream and die and weapons go to and fro across the battlefield, Tawno moves under the wagon, determined to stay there, well out of sight, for the remainder of the battle. No one pays the fortune teller any mind now that she’s gone silent.
The last bandit around Thomas turns on this new enemy, James, and thrusts with the spear. The weapon catches him full in the chest, but James turns with it, letting the weapon slide off of his armor harmlessly. He smiles grimly, ready to finish this melee. The other bandits continue to stab with futility at Elric, hoping to bring down the apparent leader of this contingent, but their attempts are laughable—neither comes close to hitting him.
Still in the trees, Arnaud lines up a shot at another archer. As ever, his aim is flawless, and the bolt strikes the half-hidden bandit in his shoulder. The blow sends him spinning off-balance and out of the trees, cracking his neck over a sturdy limb on his way down. He comes to rest at a sickeningly deformed angle, face twisted in pain.
The last archer looks at his fallen comrades in dismay, and seems ready to try and escape—but as he turns, Rupert thrusts his little knife up, directly into the man’s throat, slashing it open. Blood sprays over the young animal handler, hot and smelling sharp, metallic. The ‘big wolf’s’ face is one of surprise and agony as he keels sideways off of the tree, falling to the ground with a hideous thud.
With all of the archers fallen, the words of Tawno still ringing in his head, the first brother knows the battle is lost. He drops his axe and turns, staggering as quickly as his legs can manage, clutching his bleeding chest as he goes, face pale with terror and blood loss. Perhaps he is ignorant of Elric’s command to kill those that run, or perhaps he simply is beyond caring.
The other brother is made of stouter stuff, though. He brings his axe up to swipe at Elric again, and with more luck than his comrades. But Elric is as skilled as he is brave, and he deflects the axe’s blade, slamming it aside with his increasingly-battered shield.
Amalric looks about the trees, but they are finally quiet, save for Rupert hanging in one. The magus makes certain the guards know that he’s one of theirs, then turns his mental powers to the handful of remaining fighters. He targets the bandit leader again, thrusting out at his mind with his will—but this time the leader’s mind resists. He visibly grits his teeth against the attack, though he cannot comprehend where it comes from. The effort of the mental attack leaves Amalric a little tired, his magic use starting to wear on him.
Joseph tries to blast the bandit with a focused rush of winds once more, but once again, he is denied. The winds rush out in a finely honed funnel, but though they connect with the bandit, he merely staggers a step and keeps his wits, undaunted.
Only four bandits remain committed to the battle, their leader still moving sluggish, hampered by Amalric’s mind attacks. Surely it won’t be long before they are finished now.
- Elric does some commanding and shouting at people. Demoralize check. Elric’s Intimidate: 8. Bandit Leader’s Level check: 7, fail. He is Shaken.
- Jakob attacks the nearest bandit (one of the ones attacking Elric) with his handaxe. Attack @ +2: 18, hits. Bandit Toughness Save vs. DC 17: 9, failure. As a minion, Bandit 6 is now dying.
- Archers try to rain down more arrows. One on each wagon guard, another on the guardsman with a bow. On Guardsman 1: Natural 1, miss. On Guardsman 4: 9, miss. On Guardsman 5: 14, hit. Toughness Save vs. DC 18: 16, fail by 2, he is hurt again.
- Guards act. Guards 1 and 5 continue trying to shoot archers. Notice checks: both pass. Guardsman 1: 16, hits. Toughness Save vs DC 18: 11, fail. Archer 3 is dying. Guardsman 5: 8, miss.
Guardsman 3 (Thomas) continues to fight the guys attacking him. Attack: 12, hits. Toughness Save vs. DC 19: 19, pass. Freaking bandit is still alive.
Guardsman 4 (James) drops his bow and draws a longsword to engage the bandits around his buddy. Attack: 11, hits. Toughness Save vs. DC 19: Natural 1. Bandit 1 dies. At last. - Tawno hides like the girl she is.
- The handful of remaining bandits continue to fight. Bandit 2 turns to attack James: 15, hits. Toughness Save vs. DC 19: 23, James is doing just fine. Bandit 3 attacks Elric some more: 2, miss. Bandit 5 also attacks Elric: Same roll. Lots of fail for bandits this round.
- Arnaud aims to snipe some more. Notice check: 16, succeeds. Attack @ +2: 12, hits. Toughness Save vs. DC 17: Natural 1. We’ll call Archer 4 well and truly dead.
- Rupert goes to cut the last archer’s throat. Attack roll w/ Sneak Attack bonuses: Natural 20. Crit confirm: 20, confirms. Toughness Save vs. DC 21: 10, plenty of fail. Last archer is slain.
- Bandit leaders act. Bandit Leader 1 finally gets to flee—very slowly (he only gets 30’, since he is staggered and can only take one move action). Bandit Leader 2, also staggered, does not stop attacking Elric: 15, miss.
- With all the archers dead, I’ve put Amalric’s efforts to taking down Bandit Leader 2 with another psychic blast. Toughness Save vs. DC 16: 20, pass. Isabeau cannot act this round (failed fort save last round). Amalric Will Save vs. fatigue @ +3 (-1 for succeeding last fatigue save): 5, fail. Amalric is winded (-1 Str, -1 Dex, no charge/double move)
- Joseph aims another blast of wind for one of Elric’s attackers. Attack @ -1 (-2 Dex Fatigued): 9, miss. Will save for Joseph vs. 11 for Fatigue: 13, pass.
- Isabeau’s Fort Save @ +2 vs. 14 for wind: 14, pass. She can act next round.
- Initiative goes to Elric.
Initiative: Elric (26), Jakob (20),
Description: There are only 4 bandits left in the battle; 3 are attacking Elric, one is caught between Guardsmen James and Thomas (4 and 3), who are likely to be unstoppable now that they have names. The original bandit leader is fleeing south, stumbling and bloody, and not likely to get very far.
The road is some ten feet wide. Trees are all around off the path. The wind is now gusting powerfully (-2 to ranged attacks and notice checks for sound. Tiny creatures knocked down/blown away). Since Rojito specified he wanted the winds blowing against the bandits, the ranged weapon penalty does not apply if attacking the bandits by the wagon.
(Character Status)
Amalric – Normal [cover from cart]
Arnaud – Normal [cover from trees]
Elric – Mounted, Hurt (-1 vs. lethal), Wounded (-1)
Jakob – Normal
Joseph –Mounted, Fatigued (-2 Str/Dex, no charge)
Rupert – Normal [hiding/sneaking]
Tawno – Wounded (-1) [cover from cart]
Isabeau – Blown away
Guardsman 1 – Driving Cart, Wounded (-1)
Guardsman 3 – Mounted, Hurt (-2 vs. Lethal)
Guardsman 4 – Normal, Walking
Guardsman 5 – Riding Cart, Hurt (-2 vs. Lethal), Wounded (-1)
Bandit Leader 1 – Shaken, Wounded (-2), Staggered, Disabled, Panicked [fleeing; 30’ south]
Bandit 2 – Shaken [attacking Guardsman 3]
Bandit 3 – Shaken [attacking Elric]
Bandit Leader 2 – Shaken [attacking Elric], bruised (-1 vs. nonlethal), staggered
Bandit 5 – Shaken [attacking Elric]
