[E8, D&D 3.5] Crestfallin'

[JbeJ275]

Spoiler: OOC

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Accalon buys a perfectly regular light crossbow.

[JNAProductions]

Arth waits outside for the rest of her comrades to finish their business.

Spoiler: OOC

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Let's go!

[3drinks]

Spoiler: OOC

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I'm just lying down to bed, will have a nice detailed post once I'm woke. 😎

[Woggle]

Olwyn smiles as Arth and Accalon exit the Hammer and Tongs.

"Get everything you need? Suppose we should be on our way, now."

[3drinks]

So, after grabbing a last few supplies en route to complete the trek north, and prove your bodies and minds are sound enough to allow the populace of Crestfallin' to depend upon you, you've finally decided to head out. The journey ahead is relatively peaceful, and quiet. For what would pass for summer time in our seasonal schedule, the realm was dry, bright, but luckily not overly hot. The shrubbery around was blooming to a point and it was really fairly engaging to look at. After a couple of hours march, your bodies thank you as you arrive at what appears to be a sort of campsite. There was an active campfire built with only a low flame and some type of animal roasting atop it - likely something's dinner - and surrounded by four logs most likely used as make shift benches. Off to the northwest you can see the shoreline and what would be the start of a body of water.

At present, there does not appear to be anybody here. But judging by both the roasting animal carcass, and the description given to you by senior advisor Thomas Brooklynn, this appears to be the site referred to...

For reference, here's a rough image of what I had tried to depict via text. (In case it matters, credit to Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun)

[Woggle]

Olwyn stops a short distance away from the remains of the fire. She commands her donkey and dog to stay, then loads a bullet into her sling. Keeping her shield slung over her back, Olwyn retrieves her long spear from her pack saddle, carrying it loosely in her left hand.

Before moving closer to the campfire, Olwyn glances about at any potential hiding places, on the lookout for would-be ambushers.

"Any sign of an ambush? You think they might've known we were coming? Surely not..."

When she's satisfied there's no hostiles about, Olwyn moves with careful steps toward the campfire. She examines the ground, looking for any trace of tracks that might give a clue as to who was at the fire.

Spoiler: OOC

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First, a Spot check:
Spot - (1d20+5)[12]

Are there trees near the campfire? Large amounts of vegetation that would potentially conceal would-be ambushers?

Then, a Survival check to look for tracks by the campfire:
Survival - (1d20+5)[21]

[JbeJ275]

They announces what we were doing in public, a runner has almost always made it this far while we got supplies. Still if they don’t jump us straight away we might be able to use that to our advantage in someways.

[JNAProductions]

I've got a bad feeling... Arth says. We should stick close.

[3drinks]

Anyone casually glancing around at the area should make a set of Spot checks for anything resembling what you're looking for. A simple DC 12 will suffice.

[Vrock Bait]

Spoiler: OoC

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Yep, making that check.

(1d20+1)[4]

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: Spot Check

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(1d20+1)[10]

What do I see with a... 10. *Sad trombone noises*

[3drinks]

Gorros, you see nothing out of the ordinary whatsoever with that check. "Everything looks fine to me!"

Spoiler: Arth

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Something isn't quite right but you can't put your finger on it. To the left, near that shoreline in the pic, there's a couple of bushes with the leaves on them that "don't quite match" the rest of the shrubbery...

[JNAProductions]

Arth quietly mentions her notice to her companions, without pointing directly at the bushes.

[3drinks]

Thanks to Olwyn's strong check results,

So, okay, among the tracks it's hard to tell as there's lots of footsteps going in different directions. Definitely humanoid size and stature in nature, though. Some could be smaller, like halfling size you'd ascertain, sure. It would seem this is quite the high traffic area, as Thomas Brooklynn advised...

Now let's get onto the elephant in the room. Yes, to the side where Arth discovered the bushes have a different colour shade to them, you'd be able to take that a step further. Knowing the vegetation in that one area looks distinctly different, you're able to ascertain a pair of muscular in stature and humanoid in shape bodies, and this is about fifty feet out now, but they're actually wearing the bushes like it were some sort of camouflage. Like in a sarcastic movie - it's kinda comical all things told. It would seem as if they were waiting for something...

[Woggle]

Olwyn peers down, taking note of the humanoid-looking prints of varying sizes. She's about to crouch down for a better look when she catches sight of Arth's silent motioning out of the corner of her eye. Olwyn stops still and looks about once more, careful not to alert any potential hidden folk. She notices the suspicious bushes and does her best not to look at them directly.

Olwyn stands up and turns her back to the bushes. She winks exaggeratedly at Arth, Accalon and Gorros.

"Well, no sign of anyone here! I guess they must have long since moved on. Yup, not a trace of anyone, certainly not ambushers! Don't know what we were worried about."

As she speaks, Olwyn lets her loaded sling slide loose from her hand, ready to spin and shoot at a moments notice.

"So, who wants to take the first *wink* watch *wink* ?"

Olwyn gives the others a questioning glance, as if to ask: Should I shoot first?

Spoiler: OOC

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Olwyn tries to help out Arth's motions, without making it too obvious she's spotted the camouflaged humanoids

[3drinks]

With those perhaps subtle but not really subtle hint of words uttered by Olwyn, it's obvious "the jig is up", so to speak, as a pair of x-bow bolts come flying out of the discoloured bushes, both of which directed at the man that spoke up. You may not have the surprise...but neither do they, at least. I'm gonna need a round of Initiative from you all.

They're about fifty feet out from you, and not really in direct line of sight for a charge, though many range weapons might hit.

Spoiler: x-bow to Olwyn

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(1d20-1)[7]
(1d20-1)[6]
If first hits, (1d10)[7]
If second hits, (1d12)[4]

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: Init

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(1d20+4)[6]

Arth grips her dagger, readying for battle.

[JbeJ275]

Initiative: (1d20+2)[20]

Accalon rushes and slides into over behind the logs as the first shots fly around them. He initially goes to blast his magic at the enemies but realises his error and goes to shoot with his newly aquired crossbow instead.

To Hit: (1d20+4)[17] for (1d8+2)[9]

[Woggle]

Olwyn Initiative - (1d20+1)[6]

Olwyn ducks beneath the two whizzing quarrels and then returns fire with her sling, loosing a bullet toward the nearest of the camouflaged humanoids.

Spoiler: Sling Attack

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Attack - (1d20+2)[10]
Damage - (1d4+3)[4] CritBonus - (1d4+3)[7] extra damage on a natural 20.

She then drops her longspear at her feet and slides her shield from her back onto her arm. She watches warily for any other missiles fired from the bushes.

[3drinks]

While olwyn chucks a sling bullet ahead, it clanks off the "bush" body, but the iMPACT is absorbed by the armour - no damage. Meanwhile Accalon slides into position behind a log and takes a shot like every sniper movie ever, the bolt lodging in the shooter's throat! Blood spurts out from the shot and that one drops to the ground, the breath leaving it's body.

Arth tightly grips her blade amongst the chaos of the moment...

[JNAProductions]

Cussing under her breath at her lack of bow-having, she charges in to attack the nearest foe.

Spoiler: OOC

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CHARGE!

(1d20+3)[8]
(1d3)[2]

I'm attempting to charge to a flanking position if possible, so as to get Sneak Attack.

(1d6)[1] If I can.

Edit: I'm sad now. :P

[3drinks]

The goblinoid among you bravely charges ahead at the one in the bush standing, her dagger held tightly as she lunged ahead with a certain lust for malice in her eyes! She struck at the being wildly, eliciting a chuckle from the being as he calmly stepped back, invalidating her attack.

Spoiler: Arth

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Being this close you'd be able to make out this person is an Orc. And he was armed with a very large x-bow, at least to your eyes. A quick glance this close would make you believe it was almost as long as you are tall! Truly a sight you've never seen, at least thus far.

[JNAProductions]

Um... Meep! Arth lets out, looking and feeling quite exposed for the moment.

[Vrock Bait]

Spoiler: Sorry, here’s my Init

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(1d20+1)[20](mandatory message extension)

[3drinks]

Vrock is the only one left to act this round. In the interest of speeding things along because pbp combat is clunky;

The other being snarls at you, Arth, as he pulls back the cable holding this enormous x-bow together and places a bolt right in the chamber, "YOU'RE NEXT!" straight up Goldberg style, the being bellows right at you. And that's it's turn.

[Vrock Bait]

Spoiler: OoC

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CHARGE
(1d20+4)[6]
(2d6)[8]


Also, activate Iron Guard’s Glare as a swift action.

[3drinks]

As Gorros races across the battlefield, perhaps sensing the imminent danger his companion Arth got into (ironically, of course), he swung the huge blade over head, bringing it down across the Orc's head - but the Orc barely side steps and the blade cleaves nothing. Gorros manages to recompose himself in nigh record-time though, perhaps almost daring the Orc to "come at me bro".

To which the Orc obliges. He drops his x-bow and draws a club from his side, and readies an attack toward the large sword wielding knight.

Spoiler: OOC

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Arth and Gorros are each entitled to an AoO no they're not, that's only if he sheathed his weapon while threatened.

Olwyn and Accalon should make a Listen check as they're back from this immediate melee, and a rustle in the underbrush may or may not be coming from behind them.

[JbeJ275]

Accalon blinks in panic as the orc hits the floor, then reloads the crossbow and fires again, practically tasting the adrenaline that floods him as he does so.

To hit: (1d20+4)[5]
Dam: (1d8+2)[10]

[3drinks]

Accalon blinks in panic as the orc hits the floor, then reloads the crossbow and fires again, practically tasting the adrenaline that floods him as he does so.

To hit: [roll0]
Dam: [roll1]

You sure? This orc is currently engaged with two of your companions (Gorros just sword swiped him). I dont subscribe to the idea of auto failures, but if you're firing into melee and missing the mark by that much, you've potentially just hit your own travelmate.

You also didn't make a Listen check, as offered to you and Olwyn.

[Woggle]

Olwyn Listen - (1d20+2)[16]

Having neither a clear shot with her sling, nor a straight line to charge, Olwyn hangs back a bit and hesitates. She perks up her ears to listen for any sign of more hidden foes. As she listens, she loads another bullet into the cradle of her sling. She readies herself to make another shot if more foes present themselves.