Oris club comes across and dashes a young man to the ground, a strange voice rings out above it seems somewhat familiar though you can't place it...

The raiders seem quailed by the strange voices calling out above but their leader knocks the arrows from his chest in a show of bravado and calls out, " Are ye men o' Morrigan or nae! Get up and at 'em."

More than a few of his men don't seem convinced especially with a few of their number already on the ground...

Almeric moved up using his shield to defend the others as he laid about with his sword, he slapped Vardi on the shoulder, " Form up!"

Attack: 23 Damage: 8

BA- Shield of Faith- +2 AC to Vardi.

( Thatch is up)

Thatch watches as the others seem to have caught the raiders by surprise, but his look turns grim as the tall raider pulls aside their arrows without even flinching.  He sends another arrow at the leader from his hiding place, then moves to his left 15 feet before attempting to hide behind a rock outcropping.

Attack: 16 Damage: 5 plus 3 sneak attack damage.

Bonus action stealth to hide: 14.

.

Thatchs arrow catches the bearded man in the neck, his left arm raises to touch it and his face takes on an annoyed expression as his knees buckle and he falls to the ground dead.

(Vardi and Cainneach are up)

Cainneach senses that there might be an opportunity to parley with these brigands, given the massive toll his party's first round of attacks had taken on their number.  He calls out, using his most Almeric-like tone, "Surrender now, lest you lot lose your lives as well!  You are surrounded, leaderless, and outnumbered!"

The forester moves 20 feet down the ridge to the next spot of cover (not hidden, just for flavour).

Bonus Action - move Hunter's Mark to the strongest looking remaining bandit

Action - Ready an attack with his Longbow vs. the new "leader": 27, damage (piercing): 10  (w/Hunter's Mark dmg, ONLY IF another of their company attacks)

(Cainneach vs. DDB dice roller, round 2!)

Action - Ready an attack with his Longbow vs. the new "leader": 21, damage (piercing): 13  (w/Hunter's Mark dmg, ONLY IF another of their company attacks)

(Well, that didn't seem to take, so I've provisionally rolled in the campaign log.  A whopping 11 to hit, for 9+2 damage if that's somehow sufficient.  Sheesh!)

15

The Clan Morrigan lads immediately dropped their spears and Rory moved to see if any of the fallen could be saved.

Ori straightens out, trying to show any height he can with the larger folks about. "Well lads, your not as stupid as you look. Steady mated look like this lot seems to have come to thier senses." Ori will leave the questioning to Sir Almeric or Rory, Ori will seemly try to seem like a intimidating force to help the questioning go ... smoother.

Vardi, grim in expression since she followed Ser Almeric down, smiles behind her shield and hopes one death is enough to satisfy Freya for the moment, and silently gathers up spears over her unoccupied shoulder like a bundle of firewood, the other being perched on by Skuggavardi as he makes his own survey of the Morrigan clan's most unfortunate sons.

Like a gracious hostess taking her guest's cloaks, the Lyften lass piles the implements of war neatly up at the edge of the gulley out of temptation's way for the moment, then asks "Are tha cattle alright beyond being run over hill and dale in tha dark?" 

As the fighting seems to come to an end just as quickly as it has started, Thatch steps out from where he was hiding among the rocks and joins the others down below.  As Vardi collects the weapons from the raiders, Thatch replies to Vardi  “I’ll have a quick look around to check on them and see if there are any other raiders hiding in the gully. Find out where they came from and why they are after these.”  With that Thatch sets off once more in the brush.

Perception: 14.

.

She takes his hand and follows Thatch down to join the others.  When Vardi. voices her concern about the wellbeing of Rory's cattle, she replies, "Well, I was mair a shepherd in Igham than a coo-herd; but I learnt a bit frae those that were.  I'll look these ower and see whit I can see."

=========

Nature 26 (to remember what the signs of distress or ill health among beasts are, and translate that from sheep to coos)

Animal Handling 3 (trying to calm the coos enough to allow  her to examine them more closely)

Quote from Engineered_Beard >>

Ori straightens out, trying to show any height he can with the larger folks about. "Well lads, your not as stupid as you look. Steady mate, look like this lot seems to have come to thier senses." Ori will leave the questioning to Sir Almeric or Rory, Ori will seemly try to seem like a intimidating force to help the questioning go ... smoother.

Quote from Shankhil >>

Vardi, grim in expression since she followed Ser Almeric down, smiles behind her shield and hopes one death is enough to satisfy Freya for the moment, and silently gathers up spears over her unoccupied shoulder like a bundle of firewood, the other being perched on by Skuggavardi as he makes his own survey of the Morrigan clan's most unfortunate sons.

Like a gracious hostess taking her guest's cloaks, the Lyften lass piles the implements of war neatly up at the edge of the gulley out of temptation's way for the moment, then asks "Are tha cattle alright beyond being run over hill and dale in tha dark?" 

Rory pulled two of the Morrigan lads back to their feet and passed them over to their clansmen, " Aye, me kine are in slàinte mhath."

Almeric regarded the men sternly, in Albion stealing cattle would be a hanging offence but they were not his property nor was this his land and Lord Carnasses reach seemed tenuous out this far. 

" What should be done with them, Rory Mar?"

Rory sucked on his moustache a little, and looked over the crestfallen highlanders, " I'll take the two youngest o' ye as me bondsmen til next Winter.  Ye'll be fed, housed and worked....in return ye'll harbour no ill will or ill deed towards me and mine."

" Swear on yer Ma's souls and we'll make it so."

Two of the young Morrigan highlanders were pushed forward and they swore an oath before Rory and the others, his sons made their way down the slope and clasped their new workers by the hand moving forward to corral the cattle together.

Quote from LAXGunner >>

This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.

As the fighting seems to come to an end just as quickly as it has started, Thatch steps out from where he was hiding among the rocks and joins the others down below.  As Vardi collects the weapons from the raiders, Thatch replies to Vardi  “I’ll have a quick look around to check on them and see if there are any other raiders hiding in the gully. Find out where they came from and why they are after these.”  With that Thatch sets off once more in the brush.

Perception: 23.

.

 Thatch finds no one else hiding nearby and querying the raiders they merely give embarrassed explanations that they had failed in numerous raids earlier in the season and were getting desperate to be recognised back home.

Quote from OisinmacCameron >>

This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.

 Famh smiles tenderly at Cainneach as she emerges from hiding.  "That brought them tae their senses, leannan.  We can a' be proud of ourselves today." 

She takes his hand and follows Thatch down to join the others.  When Vardi. voices her concern about the wellbeing of Rory's cattle, she replies, "Well, I was mair a shepherd in Igham than a coo-herd; but I learnt a bit frae those that were.  I'll look these ower and see whit I can see."

=========

Nature 11 (to remember what the signs of distress or ill health among beasts are, and translate that from sheep to coos)

Animal Handling 16 (trying to calm the coos enough to allow  her to examine them more closely)

Famh notes that Rory is correct and there are no injuries among the herd.

.............

The Morrigan clansman attended to their dead leader and fallen brethren quietly as the companions considered their next move.

Thatch comes back around to the group after his quick circuit of the area. “All clear” he reports.  Seeing Rory’s boys and their new bondsmen moving to gather the cattle, he notes that there is not much more to be done here and turns to Sir Almeric and Rory “Ser, will we be wanting to continue on to visit the Lady of the Downs to find out more of these attacks now or is there more to be done here?  Rory, many thanks to your hospitality. Could you point us in the right direction?”

Quote from OisinmacCameron >>

 Famh smiles tenderly at Cainneach as she emerges from hiding.  "That brought them tae their senses, leannan.  We can a' be proud of ourselves today." 

She takes his hand and follows Thatch down to join the others.  When Vardi. voices her concern about the wellbeing of Rory's cattle, she replies, "Well, I was mair a shepherd in Igham than a coo-herd; but I learnt a bit frae those that were.  I'll look these ower and see whit I can see."

Cainneach returns the smile warmly, proud of his betrothed and thankful for the quick end to what could have been a truly bloody encounter.  He speaks in a low voice, such that the raiders might not overhear.  "Indeed, love!  Your plan was brilliant, as always!"

Quote from LAXGunner >>

Thatch comes back around to the group after his quick circuit of the area. “All clear” he reports.  Seeing Rory’s boys and their new bondsmen moving to gather the cattle, he notes that there is not much more to be done here and turns to Sir Almeric and Rory “Ser, will we be wanting to continue on to visit the Lady of the Downs to find out more of these attacks now or is there more to be done here?  Rory, many thanks to your hospitality. Could you point us in the right direction?”

Cainneach nods in agreement.  They were out here already, may as well move on to the next bit of business if that could be done expeditiously.  This should certainly have bought them valuable credibility with Rory and his family, and hopefully word might get back to Clan Morrigan that they're not to be trifled with either.

( Damian_Mays backup account-  My account is currently buggered like quite a few others and when I post or PM I get this-  " You can only make 1 post every 1 sec.")  I have reported and will try and muddle through until they can fix)

Sir Almeric mused for a moment, " Once the Morrigan have gathered their dead and departed myself, Rory, the Lads and the ' new hires' will head back to the broch.....I've faith you'll all prove more than fitting for said meeting and anything you come across."

Rory nodded and missed his mop of red hair, " If I ken rightly, dra ye doon past that ridgeline and onward till ye come to a stretch of black moors....ye'll need ta find her therein." 

Half an hour later the Morrigans were disappearing northwards across the ridgeline with their departed comrades and Rory, Almeric and the herd were headed southwest across the hills.....the companions looked westward as they considered their path.....

Quote from Bulya39672 >>

Sir Almeric mused for a moment, " Once the Morrigan have gathered their dead and departed myself, Rory, the Lads and the ' new hires' will head back to the broch.....I've faith you'll all prove more than fitting for said meeting and anything you come across."

 

Rory nodded and missed his mop of red hair, " If I ken rightly, dra ye doon past that ridgeline and onward till ye come to a stretch of black moors....ye'll need ta find her therein." 

Half an hour later the Morrigans were disappearing northwards across the ridgeline with their departed comrades and Rory, Almeric and the herd were headed southwest across the hills.....the companions looked westward as they considered their path.....

With a look in her eyes that mingles thoughtful curiosity with just a bit of apprehension, Famh gazes over the ridgeline in the direction Rory indicated the group should take.  She straightens her earasaid and checks the rest if her gear absently as she muses, "She'll like tae have a cottage on the muir somewhere, or at least a hut thon we coud see from a distance.  But we have tae get there first."  Her eyes flicker back to the base of the ridge and the country separating it from the place where the retinue is now, looking for any game trails or cattle droves that might lead in the right direction (such as perhaps might be used by any of the countryfolk seeking healing or charms from the Cailleach).

=========

Survival 5

Despite her best efforts the high moors are too different a place to the lowlands she is used to for Famh to spot an easy way across....