Darbakh: 13

His familiar: 13

Perception: 8

Perception; 15

(( Looks like MaxDef hasn't been active in awhile; I'll go ahead and roll for Redoff until he reappears. Redoff's Perception Check: 23 ))

As the party approaches the remains of the campfire, some of the party starts to notice strange clues. Evan notices the thickness of the smoke from the embers; Redoff sees that some of the rocks surrounding the fire pit are still wet; Whistler observes new wood on top of the embers, but only lightly burned; and Evan spots a tiny flame at the end of a twig go out right before his eyes. They can only conclude that this fire was put out recently--as in, mere moments ago, at most.

Those who notice hesitate, becoming sharply more alert as a tension suddenly fills the air and the forest suddenly goes quiet. Within seconds, you all hear a single pair of hands start slowly clapping.

"Should have known you'd see through that," speaks a deep, confident voice. From behind a tree across the clearing steps a large man in light armor, clapping as he grins broadly. He stops and assesses the party, and it's then that everyone sees a literal gleam in his right eye--a golden glow emanates from it, only visible at the proper angle as he turns his head to look at everyone in turn.

(( The man before you is NOT holding a familiar. ))

Seconds later, from behind trees to the right and left edges of the clearing, step two other rough-looking men, each about thirty feet from the party. Both are armed, and they both stare at all of you greedily.

"Alright, look," sighs the large man as he pulls out a heavy crossbow. "You didn't come in far enough for us to surround you, so you could still make a break for it. But we'd rather not chase you down. Besides... what is it they say? You'd only die tired." The other two chuckle darkly at the slight joke.

"So your only real option is to just drop your weapons, and lay down everything of value. And then, we just might let you live. Otherwise..." He grins and shrugs. "...suffer the consequences."

At this point, the man's grin fades, and a stern look comes over his face as the light in his eye grows from a gleam to a full shine, clearly visible by all. "And in case you're thinking you can take us, you should understand that we might have... what'll we call it? An edge or two that could make this far nastier than you want it to get."

The assailant raises his crossbow toward the party, the shine from his eye nestling right above the crossbow sights.

"Your move."

(( Everyone roll initiative! ))

(( Everyone can speak a free line or two of dialogue as you make your initiative rolls, before combat officially starts, either to each other or to the bandits threatening you. ))

(( Whistler's Initiative: 12, Redoff's Initiative: 13 ))

(( Secret rolls...

 ))

"Ok, ok, lets be civil here. I'll give you one of my things," Aeron smiles, reaching towards a bead necklace around his neck

Initiative: 9

Darbakh squeezes the grip of his maul as he balances it on one shoulder; he cradles a burning ball of sparks and embers in his other hand as if offering it as a treat. “And I’ll give you the choice of one of these!” he laughs, adding as much acidic, passive-aggressive mockery as he can.

Darbakh’s initiative: 7

Gordon: 19 

"We outnumber you, and I don't think you can go up against us. I've fought bandits before... I won." Gordon cracks his knuckles, and his tattoo glows. 

(( Round 1 ))

The large man shrugs. "You were warned."

The bandit to the right has pulled out a crossbow, while the one to the left has entered a crouch; both seem ready to attack. Neither makes a move just yet though.

Bandits: 20
Gordon: 19
Evan: 17
Redoff: 13
Whistler: 12
Thug: 11
Aeron: 9
Darbakh: 7

(( Gordon is up! ))

Gordon will decide to take the leader, and run forward, throwing a sword at him, while growing bigger. If the sword hits, fiery chains appear from it and wrap around him. If Gordon can reach the leader bandit, he will. 

Attack: 22 Damage: 11 + 5 fire damage and must succeed on a STR saving throw (DC:13) or be restrained for 1 minute. While restrained, he takes 2d6 fire damage at the start of each of his turns. He can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, banishing the shackles on a success.

As Gordon starts to run forward, all three assailants take aim and attack, having been ready for any hostile maneuver...

Thug's Heavy Crossbow - Attack: 20, Mundane Piercing Damage: 5 (or 10 if crit)
Bandit's Crossbow - Attack: 9, Mundane Piercing Damage: 5 (or 10 if crit)
Bandit's Thrown Dart - Attack: 6, Mundane Piercing Damage: 3 (or 6 if crit)

(( Gordon takes 10 total damage ))

(( Thug's STR Saving Throw: 9 ))

Despite the oncoming attacks (and one that actually lands) Gordon continues forward, his sword striking the apparent enemy leader on the leg. The assailant tries to move, but fiery chains spring into existence and wrap onto him from his legs up to his torso, holding him fast as he roars in pain, "WHAT THE $#*&#?!!"

(( The thug is now restrained, and seriously injured. Gordon is 30 feet ahead of the party, but still 10 feet from the thug. ))

Bandits: 20
Gordon: 19
Evan: 17
Redoff: 13
Whistler: 12
Thug: 11
Aeron: 9
Darbakh: 7

(( Evan is up! ))

Evan teleports close to the thug, taking an immediate slash at him with his pact weapon. He then backs away from his restrained target, who simply swings a fist that doesn't come anywhere close to reaching.

(( Since Evan can teleport to within ten feet of the target, which is his reach (and right next to Gordon,) I presume he would do that, and then retreat ten more feet.

So now Gordon is still 10 feet from the thug, and Evan is ten feet behind him, in the center of the clearing, twenty feet from the thug. The thug, still restrained, is still 40 feet from the rest of the party, and the other bandits are still to the far left and right, 30 feet from the rest of the party, 20 feet from Evan. ))

Bandits: 20
Gordon: 19
Evan: 17
Redoff: 13
Whistler: 12
Thug: 11
Aeron: 9
Darbakh: 7

(( Redoff is up! ))

Seeing his opportunity to finish the boss, Redoff pulls up his heavy crossbow and fires a bolt at the target.

FREE: Draw heavy crossbow
ACTION: Attack thug, with advantage due to restraint
* Crossbow Bolt - Attack: 24, Mundane Piercing Damage: 10 (or 16 instead if crit)

The bolt flies true, and Redoff's attack pierces a weak point in the thug's armor, right near the left armpit. The boss's eyes widen, and the light in his right eye winks out as he coughs up blood, drops to his knees, then falls onto his face.

(( The thug is down! ))

(( Whistler's up! ))

The bounty hunter smirks at the fallen thug. "He ain't gonna be robbin' no one again anytime soon!" he chuckles as he draws two daggers, then flings them both toward the bandit to the right.

FREE: Draw two daggers
ACTION: Attack bandit to the right
* Dagger Throw - Attack: 24, Silvered Piercing Damage: 9 (or 11 instead if crit)
BONUS: Off-hand attack to the same bandit
* Dagger Throw - Attack: 9, Silvered Piercing Damage: 4 (or 10 instead if crit)

The second dagger goes wide, but the first catches the bandit as he tries to turn his head, slicing a deep cut right at the eyebrow. His hand flies to his face, but can't stop the blood from pouring from the wound and dripping through his fingers onto the ground. The accompanying scream suggests the blade might have actually gotten the eye....

"You little $#!+$!! I'll kill you!!"

Bandits: 20
Gordon: 19
Evan: 17
Redoff: 13
Whistler: 12
Aeron: 9
Darbakh: 7
Thug: X

(( Aeron is up! ))

(Knowing my luck, Aeron will kill both bandits before I get to do anything)

Quote from Five_Timbers_bright_cliffs >>

 *I'm purposely trying to get a opportunity attack*

(( You can only make those with a melee attack, and all he had immediately available was a fist, versus your halberd's 10-foot reach. He was pretty helpless. ))