An Unchanging Reality (Take two)

[stanleyindraven]

"We saw your posting. We would like to accept the charge," Dromet says to the surly man.

[meemaas]

The man turns and closes on Dromet, looking him up and down. "Just the three of you? You think you can handle this?"

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

She smiles and says, "We are tougher than we look."

[meemaas]

"Not saying much, since you lot look like you couldn't take down a bull in its sleep." He grumbles and looks between them. "The total's 200 gold each. You have to protect me and my merchandise from here to Vesperia. I can't stay here much longer, the soldiers'll loot my store a second time in the name of this blasted war."

[Man on Fire]

Serph stays silent, leaving talking to Dromet and Eophyn, as always. Through he does try to look like a professional, even through acting wasn't even his thing.

[stanleyindraven]

"Sounds good, anything we can do to help you prepare," Dromet asks the man as he looks to his companions and then to the cart.

[meemaas]

"Nope. Don't trust your lot anywhere near my things. Come back here in the evening and i'll be ready t'go. Not a moment later."

[stanleyindraven]

"Fair enough," Dromet says as he looks to his companions. "Need anything while we're here?"

[meemaas]

As the party decided they needed nothing, they simply waited till evening.

In the evening, the three of you approach the man at the gate, he is leading his horse out as the three of you follow behind. He takes you down the path, out of town, heading back the same way you came from originally. A couple of hours pass, and as you reach the intersection where you once met findo gask, the three of you can smell what appears to smell like ash, a chunk of the woods you had escaped from had burned down, a large path leading towards that mansion you had once been in. The man then leads the wagon towards the Shrine of Angara, prompting you to follow him without even paying attention to the destruction nearby.

Traveling a few more hours in the dark, the wagon stops suddenly, and you hear a voice call out. "Hand over the goods and nobody gets hurt. Am i understood?!?!"

[stanleyindraven]

"You will do well to stand down and run, before you get hurt," Dromet will say as he comes around the side of the cart.

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

She really didn't understand the desire to travel at night. Sure you could move unseen better, but in a cart that advantage was eliminated.

The challenge came without an arrow, she stood and looked where the voice came from.

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+6)[25] perception (She does have low light vision)

[meemaas]

Eophyn

Spoiler

Show

You can clearly see two men standing side by side directly in front of the Wagon. Both seem well dressed in clean metal armor, each have a longsword strapped to their waist and a shield strapped to their back, and they do not seem prepared to attack. Its as though they believe the man will just surrender in an instant.

"You would dare to talk to the border guard like that? You insolent whelp, stand down or i'm authorized to use lethal force." The man sneered at Dromet, putting his hand on his sword, although in the dark, its hard for Dromet to see that.

The dim light is making it hard for Dromet to see the figures clearly. Serph will be able to see them clearly though, when he looks.

[Man on Fire]

Serph picks up his bow and moves slowly a bit into the right, trying to have better position at shoot, and maybe attack the man from the flank.

Spoiler

Show

Perception to see those two other guys better. [rol]]1d20+4[/roll], Stealth so the guy won't notice Serph's taking position to attack (1d20+7)[15]

[Man on Fire]

Spoiler

Show

Perception again (1d20+4)[18]

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

"You sound more like brigand than boarder guards," she calls out. Then whispers to the man, "Your call, brigand or boarder guards"

Spoiler

Show

They are human?

[meemaas]

"We are under orders for his majesty, King Aaran Gestorn, to do our duties. As well you should know, Harron, trying to sneak the border in the middle of a war. All merchants are required to support the war effort without fail, and your attempt to flee has given us the right to stop you. Resist, and we will be authorized to use force." The man speaking begins to draw his weapon, to back up his point.

Spoiler

Show

Yes, they are humans, and Serph, thanks to your darkvision, you see everything Eophyn does, clearly.

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

"He's your king... what do you want us to do?" she asks the merchant again.

[stanleyindraven]

"Looks like a fight they want, any others around that you can see E," Dromet tries his best to whisper to his female companion.

[Man on Fire]

"Yeah, yeah, nice story man, you almost got me. How can we know you're really king's men? For what we know you might be bunch of bandits in stolen or homemade uniforms." Serph speaks for the first time, looking suspiciously at the man.

Spoiler

Show

Sense Motive (1d20+8)[22]

[meemaas]

"Bandits? You think we're just mere bandits? You aren't from around here are you? I'm sure we could bring you in. Wanna bet whether or not your name rhymes with someone on our list?" The man draws his sword, and as he finishes his sentence, an arrow shoots past his shoulder at Dromet, the closest target.
The merchant cowers and hides behind his wagon, avoiding the combat at all costs.

Spoiler

Show

Ranged attack roll: (1d20+2)[3]
Damage (1d6)[2]

Initiative rolls. (1d20+1)[2]
(1d20+1)[6]
(1d20)[19]
Dromet (1d20+2)[4]
Serph (1d20+3)[10]
Eophyn (1d20+3)[6]

The man up front takes up a position to block off view of the archer who shot and missed at dromet, holding his position while he waited for his foes to come to him.

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

She'd wish the merchant spoke up sooner, getting them the initiative, but she had to play the hand they were dealt. Quickly she begins her battle dance and moves to a position where she can see both. Weaving a quick spell she releases hundreds of small shards with a kick.

Spoiler

Show

If they are close enough (15') she will:
Free action 5 step
move action start her battle dance
standard action cast Chord of shards
if I can take the 11 I rolled way back I'll take it if not: (2d6)[11]
Ref save DC 14 negates

If they are not close enough she will
move action start her battle dance
standard action draw weapon

[meemaas]

The closer man collapses from the shards skewering into his body, while the other one manages to deflect them, quickly shifting his sword to bounce them away. As he sets into position, you can now see the archer another 15 foot behind him, readying another arrow.

Spoiler

Show

Reflex saves for both.

(1d20+1)[12]
(1d20+1)[18]

Serph and Dromet are up.

[Man on Fire]

Serph moves to the right, to attack nearest opponent from the flank and, when he's on position, he fires from his bow

Spoiler

Show

Attack Roll (1d20+3)[11]
Damage roll (1d6)[3]
If it counts as sneak attack (1d6)[3]

[stanleyindraven]

Dromet will charge the archer.

Attack (1d20+8)[17]
Damage (1d10+6)[8]

Makes my AC14 til next round

[meemaas]

The archer collapses in an instant, bleeding out like his buddy beforehand, the remaining guard turned and started to run away, recognizing that the three they had challenged were simply too much for him to beat.

Spoiler

Show

You felled the first guard, he's in negatives now. The second one took a withdraw action to run away.

The party is up next, if they wish to continue the fight, if not, then you've won this one.

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

Turning to the merchant she says with a smile, "Tougher than we look, right"

[meemaas]

Shaking, the merchant nods his head carefully. Then he starts whispering. "They were right. The new king has said that all merchants must give their wares to the war effort if they are so needed, but doing that will put most of us out of business. Thats why i wanted to get across the border after dark."

[stanleyindraven]

Well, they did not present an order and only three of them makes them appear as brigands. I am sorry if it was lawful for them to stop and make such demands. But as such, let us get moving before he comes back with more," Dromet said to the merchant.

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

She frowns at the merchant. She had given him enough time and warning to give his opinion before having to engage them.

Before leaving she searches the one she killed.

Spoiler

Show

Take 10 for searching the body which gives me a 16.

[stanleyindraven]

Dromet will search the archer before moving his body off the road.