Cool and/or Explanatory Names Are Overrated - In Character

[ben-zayb]

Magnus actually ends up trailing behind the whole group after everyone caught up with each other. He decides to not be an idiot today and follow the Sperr, the one who seems least likely to get lost.

After shaking off being creeped out by the trail of assorted bones, he manages to calm himself enough to recall any possible knowledge about them.

Spoiler: Knowledge checks

Show

Arcana: (1d20+4)[10]
History: (1d20+4)[18]
Religion: (1d20+4)[11]
the Planes: (1d20+4)[7]

[rweird]

Magnus:

Spoiler

Show

You cannot recall any arcane or planar significance of bones hanging from trees.

In darker religions, bones are used in rituals (though no-one was ever clear on exactly what the rituals were, or the use of the bones, some things, people just don't want to be caught knowing), and sometimes are animated into undead.

In history, the less-than-embodiments-of-righteousness have at times, been known to display bones, corpses, bodies, and other generally unpleasant things as warnings or means of intimidation. Some cultures (across the sea, but at the edge of the Brokenlands, similar practices have been reported), believe, or have believed, that bones (especially the skull or ribcage) are houses of the soul, and either consolidate them in a place to pay respects to the dearly departed, or placing bones to act as charms, thinking the souls of their ancestors will protect them, typically at the edge of a house, property, town, or entrance to something considered significant. Broken bones of enemies in areas often seen by potential enemies (often boarders along a path), as a warning of what will happen (that they will kill you and break your soul).

[drack]

Hellen continues leading up the group, blissfully ignorant that her hero is hiding in the back of the group.

[rweird]

Helen:

Spoiler

Show

You come to a fork in the trail, one branch goes forwards and slightly northwards and upwards, the other turns southwards and down.

The Party (sans Helen):

Spoiler

Show

Sper sniffs the air uneasily as you press forward down a short hill.

Magnus:

Spoiler

Show

On lurking in the bushes at the edge of the path, you notice a pair of humanoids lurking, one on each side. They wear hides and leaves, and blend in quite well.

Aeris:

Spoiler

Show

On lurking in the bushes at the edge of the path, you notice a pair of humanoids lurking, one on each side. They wear hides and leaves, and blend in quite well.

Perched on a branch some 20 ft up is a third figure, leaning against the trunk of a tree, clad in a cloak much the color or tree bark, holding a longbow.

Sperr:

Spoiler

Show

On lurking in the bushes at the edge of the path, you notice a pair of humanoids lurking, one on each side. They wear hides and leaves, and blend in quite well.

Boddynock:

Spoiler

Show

Rocinante is also uneasy.

Bard:

Spoiler

Show

You cannot think of good rhyme with Sper, you suppose you could say he growled, or said gerr, but that isn't very good. Perhaps this incident is better to leave out of your tale.

[Archmage1]

Aeris freezes, and prepares to shoot the one with the longbow, if he decides to attack.

[drack]

Hellen makes sure the group is still following before heading towards the lighthouse.

[ben-zayb]

Magnus tries to keep an eye on the shadows, and with as much dignity and calmness as he could muster, whispered to the others, "We got company."

[Tjallen]

Looking around Sperr sighs before stopping and motioning to the hidden figures the universal 'I am not armed please don't kill me' signal that is holding out his open hands to show he does not have weapons before gesturing for them that he has indeed seen them.

[rweird]

Suddenly, there is a rustling in the bushes as if something is making ready to pounce.

Magnus, Sperr:

Spoiler

Show

The creatures in the bushes are 30 ft ahead of you.

Aeris:

Spoiler

Show

The creatures in the bushes are 30 ft ahead of you. In the trees above 40 ft away and 20 ft up, the figure with the bow begins to draw.

Surprise Round: Aeris, Magnus, Sperr, ???, and Lurkers get to act before normal combat begins, this will be in normal initiative order, so Magnus and Aeris can beat all your foes in acting, Sperr goes after ???, but before Lurkers.

Initiative:

Spoiler

Show

Aeris: 22
Magnus: 19
Bard: 18
???: 14
Sperr: 12
Boddynock: 10
Lurkers: 9
Helen: 0

The path is 5 ft wide, and normal terrain, it is straight, on either side of the path is light undergrowth and normal trees, although behind you 20 ft, and ahead of you 40 ft, both to the south, are 5-ft trees.

Helen:

Spoiler

Show

They appear to have stopped near the top of a small hill you just came down, Sperr is holding out his open hands. Magnus and Aeris are nowhere to be seen, so probably unseen, somewhere. You are 30 ft past the 5-ft tree ahead of the party (west), and off the path 10 ft to the south.

[Archmage1]

Seeing the man with the bow drawing his weapon, Aeris beats him to it, and swiftly lets loose his arrow, sending the glowing arrow at the man.

Spoiler: rolls

Show

(1d20+8)[18] attack
(1d8+4)[7] damage
Cold iron, using inspiration to enhance damage and attack

[rweird]

Aeris looses an arrow into the trees above, and a cry of pain is heard. A figure up in a tree, 40 ft ahead of you, 20 ft up, leaning against the trunk from the hit, trying to stay on the branch, stands a humanoid figure holding a longbow with an arrow knocked.

Initiative:

Spoiler

Show

Aeris: 22
Magnus: 19
Bard: 18
Archer: 14
Sperr: 12
Boddynock: 10
Lurkers: 9
Helen: 0

The path is 5 ft wide, and normal terrain, it is straight, on either side of the path is light undergrowth and normal trees, although behind you 20 ft, and ahead of you 40 ft, both to the south, are 5-ft trees.

[ben-zayb]

Idiot! Didn't we just talked about shooting willy nilly?

"Have you not a diplomatic bone in your body? Now I can't even say 'We come in peace'!", Magnus whispers in light of Aeris' preemptive aggression.

Instead of risking himself to mere potential danger and assaulting anyone who might just be cautious enough to lurk and arm themselves against perceived invaders (which can now be unfortunately justified), Magnus chose to merely prepare himself for a counterattack if and when it happens. It seems to be an inevitable conclusion that they will retaliate, but he hopes his lucky star that this crisis can still be averted.

Spoiler

Show

Standard: ready action to fire an eldritch blast against the first one to attack (successfully or not) Magnus and his companions.
Attack: [roll]1d20+[/roll] Damage: (1d6)[4]

[rweird]

The archer raises his bow and fires at Aeris. Before he fires, Magnus makes himself visible with a bolt of eldritch energy, wounding the creature severely.

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+5)[19] for [roll]1d8+4 damage[/roll] 8, miss chance from foliage (1-20, (1d100)[28])

Initiative:

Spoiler

Show

Aeris: 22
Bard: 18
Magnus: 14.1
Archer: 14
Sperr: 12
Boddynock: 10
Lurkers: 9
Helen: 0

[Tjallen]

Sperr looks around and starts weaving a spell, calmly humming the words.
Sper places himself in front of Sperr to block any threats approaching.

Spoiler

Show

Giving up produce flame for summon natures ally I, will arrive on my next turn.
Sper readies an action to charge (The standard action one, if possible, else just for a normal attack.)

[rweird]

From the bushes, 30 ft ahead of you, too hunched humanoid shapes run towards you, wearing muddy hides, with gaunt faces and a savage gleams in there eyes move forward through the undergrowth, stopping about 15 ft away, snarling.

Round 1

Initiative:

Spoiler

Show

Aeris: 22
Bard: 18
Magnus: 14.1
Archer: 14
Sperr: 12
Boddynock: 10
Lurkers: 9
Helen: 0

Helen:

Spoiler

Show

By the group, you see a pair of humanoids run through the bushes towards the group, snarling, as Magnus appears from the shadows, blasting something in the trees above the path, which you can vaguely make out, as it looses an arrow at Aeris.

It appears they stumbled into another problem.

[Archmage1]

Aeris launches another arrow at the archer, pausing just long enough to get off a good shot, before moving behind a tree, immediately shifting to being quiet, hoping that they would forget about him.

Spoiler: rolls and things

Show

(1d20+8)[27]
(1d8+4)[6] damage
cold iron

27 MS, 16 hide

[rweird]

The archer falls, unconscious, sliding down till he is sitting on the branch, but by some fortune, does not fall out of the tree.

Initiative:

Spoiler

Show

Aeris: 22
Bard: 18
Magnus: 14.1
Archer: 14
Sperr: 12
Boddynock: 10
Lurkers: 9
Helen: 0

[ben-zayb]

Seeing his reckless ally being shot at in retribution, he, too, tries to hide from the incoming creatures. He can't risk running off alone in an unfamiliar place, however, so he also prepares to ambush anyone who attacks his only company.

Spoiler

Show

Swift: expend Darkness to Blend into Shadows
Hide: (1d20+18)[22]
Move: move carefully (to a maximum of 15 ft.) behind his allies
Standard: ready action to use Eldritch Blast on the approaching creature who takes a harmful action against the party
Attack: (1d20+5)[12] (Flatfooted Ranged Touch, Precise Shot) Damage: (1d6)[5]

[rweird]

Bard, in shock, jumps back, trips over a tree root and falls in a plot hole, it looks deep, you hope he'll be able to get out, but the more pressing matter of the attackers leaves no time to help him.

Initiative:

Spoiler

Show

Aeris: 22
Bard: 18
Magnus: 14.1
Archer: 14
Sperr: 12
Boddynock: 10
Lurkers: 9
Helen: 0

Out of Character:

Spoiler

Show

It appears the don't post for over a week -> skip motion passes.

[Tjallen]

Sperr finishes his spell and a Wolf springs into being and charges straight at the left humanoid, while Sperr shoots the right one, quickly followed by Sper charging in and snapping at the enemy.

Spoiler: Actions!

Show

Sperr finishing his SNA and shoots with his crossbow, depending on if him having it out makes sense he will use his move action to reload or draw it.
(1d20+4)[24] for (1d4)[4]

Summoned wolf charges:
(1d20+10)[23] for (1d6+4)[7] if it hits, trip: (1d20+3)[23]

Sper Charges:
(1d20+5)[17] for (1d6+3)[9] if it hits, trip: (1d20+2)[18]

[rweird]

The arrow strikes one of your foes as a wolf appears out of nowhere and brings it to the ground, unconscious. The second one is wise to Sperr's canine assault tactics and raises a hide-coated hand which Sper's teeth fail to penetrate.

Initiative:

Spoiler

Show

Aeris: 22
Bard: 18
Magnus: 14.1
Archer: 14
Sperr: 12
Boddynock: 10
Lurkers: 9
Helen: 0

[Lexin]

Boddynock finally notices an enemy on the ground. "Chaaaarge!" he screams while closing on to attack one of the lurkers.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

If I understand correctly - Boddynock sees only one conscious enemy on the ground level. If charge is possible he charges at him (or her), if not he simply rides closer and makes a regular attack (still screaming 'Chaaarge' though)

Attack (1d20+4)[24] (+2 if charge is possible, +1 if the enemy is small) [if it hits Boddynock heals himself for 2hp]
Damage (1d6+2)[5] (+ (1d6+2)[8] if charge is possible)

Rocinante (if I roll 10 or more - Ride: (1d20+8)[15]):
Attack (1d20+3)[6] (+2 if charge)
Damage (1d6+3)[6]

[rweird]

(Charging would be blocked by Sperr and bushes on the side of the path)

Boddynock strikes true, although the beast jumps back before he can drive his lance through for a killing block. Angrily, it claws at Boddynock and Sperr.

Spoiler

Show

Boddynock: (1d20+5)[23] for (1d8+4)[8] damage, miss chance (from concealment, 1-20) (1d100)[71]. If hits, grapple attempt (improved grab): (1d20+9)[27], dealing an additional (1d3+2)[3] damage if successful (and you'd be grappling).

Ignore this if Boddynock is grappled:
Sperr: (1d20+5)[21] for (1d8+4)[10] damage, miss chance (from concealment, 1-20) (1d100)[58]. If hits, grapple attempt (improved grab): (1d20+9)[13], dealing an additional (1d3+2)[4] damage if successful (and you'd be grappling).

Initiative:

Spoiler

Show

Aeris: 22
Bard: 18
Magnus: 14.1
Archer: 14
Sperr: 12
Boddynock: 10
Lurkers: 9
Helen: 0

[Archmage1]

Leaning out from behind the tree, Aeris fires another arrow, this time, aiming for the lurker Boddynock had injured.

Spoiler: rolls

Show

(1d20+4)[9](-4 penalty for firing into melee applied)
(1d8+4)[5] damage

[drack]

Gripping the tiny bow from her childhood, Hellen fires an arrow through the trees.

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+2)[13] for (1d6)[1] damage

[rweird]

This time, neither archer is lucky, in the swirling melee, both shots go high out of caution not to hit an ally.

Initiative:

Spoiler

Show

Aeris: 22
Bard: 18
Magnus: 14.1
Archer: 14
Sperr: 12
Boddynock: 10
Lurkers: 9
Helen: 0

[Lexin]

Rocinante tries to get the beast away from his master.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Attack (1d20+3)[8]
Damage (1d6+3)[9]
if it hits: Trip (1d20+2)[15]

Stabilization roll for Boddynock (1d10)[9] - 1 wins

[rweird]

Rocinate unfortunately snaps at thin air rather than the beast that hurt his master.

Initiative:

Spoiler

Show

Aeris: 22
Bard: 18
Magnus: 14.1
Archer: 14
Sperr: 12
Boddynock: 10
Lurkers: 9
Helen: 0

[Tjallen]

Sperr guides the summoned wolf to flank with Sper as they both attack the beast that downed Boddynock.

Spoiler: Attacks

Show

Sper: (1d20+5)[7] for (1d6+3)[6] if hit trip: [roll]1d20+2[roll]
Summoned wolf: (1d20+10)[21] for (1d6+4)[5] if hit trip: (1d20+3)[20]
Flanking already in there.

[rweird]

Sperr's wolf brings the second one to the ground in short order, unconscious.

Spoiler

Show

All of them are now unconscious (as is Boddynock), none of them dead.