Persuasion 20

"Your mother wants you alive. You can get there faster on your horse. We will follow you as soon as we can, but we must get you home. That's more important than these lawbreakers."

Lady Rhea nods to Tharin and looks about, ready to make her move.

Kynortas looks back and sees an opening. He maneuvers the horse slightly, stows his crossbow and pulls out the photon javelin. He lines up the two blinded foes and readies the javelin. 

"Treascair!" He calls out and throws, targeting the rearmost foe.

Attack: 15 Damage: 25

As he throws the javelin it turns into a beam of light and Kynortas watches, amazed.

His prismatic assault successful, Fizzbang lets out a whoop of joy! Nothing like a little illusion in the morning! Still, they weren’t through with this yet.

Firebolt! 8 damage 9

As Kynortas looses the javelin and speaks its word, the shaft glows bright and the tip seems to glow like the sun. Leaving his hand it launches at preternatural speed, transforming into a beam of light that pierces straight through the first blinded enemy and straight into the second. The brazen tip lodging itself into the second foe, it turns back into a beautifully wrought javelin, shaft swaying slightly from the impact. The two assailants stand, stunned and blind, for a moment and both fall with heavy thuds into the grass. The first enemy has a smoking, gaping hole in his abdomen where the light blasted through him. The second has a javelin stuck like a flag of conquering in his chest as he lays prone on his back; his armor and face blackened and curled from the intense heat.

Fizzbang's firebolt is far less successful than his color spray and the crossbowman dodges it with ease.

The crossbowman reloads his weapon and whispers a shocked curse, stunned at his allies' deaths. He takes aim at Kynortas again and looses the bolt. It clangs loudly off the heavy plate on his shoulder and pings off into the road beside him. Seeing he is far outnumbered and quite outclassed now, he turns to run.

Lady Rhea, finishing her silent acceptance of Tharin's plan, spins Yarrick around and bolts toward Goldenrock, getting a good 80 feet down the road in a flash. (i.e. dashing on her turn)

As the enemies fell beneath their spears, the Lady Rhea bolted for Goldenrock. Seeing the last brigand turn to flee, Aracynth buried his great reluctance to leave his new friends behind, and moved to follow suite. 

"We'll wait for you all before we enter the city. Don't tarry too long!" He called back to the others, as he urged the grey mare into a Dashing gallop to keep near the Lady, maintaining his concentration on the blessing even as the others began shrinking into the distance. 

As he drew near, the Paladin roared over the rising wind to get her attention, "My Lady! Let us continue this pace until the city walls rise before us. We can slow again if the others should catch us up, but until then your greatest safety will lie in speed."

Finally, someone listens to reason. Tharin urges his steed to follow, hoping to catch up and provide the rearguard, now that the noblewoman was accompanied by Aracynth.

Animal Handling 22

Kynortas urges his steed forward. As he rides past the fallen enemies he leans down to grab the Photon Javelin mid-ride.

Athletics: 14

Fizzbang watches his spell fizzle inneffecually as his compatriots dash on down the road. He pulls tight on the pony’s reigns.

”now I know I’m not the best rider, and you’re a small horse, but us wee folk have to stick together right?” Fizzbang tried to ignore the churning in his gut. Hopefully this works, he thought grimly.

Animal handling: 17

Rushing to Lady Rhea's side you are able to catch up and assuage her some. You travel at a quicker pace and notice your compatriots coming up quickly, no enemies in tow. Tharin rushes up alongside and has to reign in his horse before it overtakes you completely. Apparently the black beast was excited to show off its prowess as a fast mount.

Kynortas swings down and deftly plucks the javelin from the lifeless body of the highwayman with ease, though there is a slurping sound as it dislodges and a twitch to the dead man that is mildly disturbing to Fizzbang.

Fizzbang's pony whinnies excitedly and begins rushing to meet up with its giant brethren. The wind lashing about the pony and rider whistles and whips the mane, though he is still unable to catch up quite as well as Kynortas and Tharin...

Once you have all ridden out a ways and see no more threats, Lady Rhea again speaks with Aracynth, ushering Yarrick forward a little as she does so. "My Lord Paladin, I was trying to say that we should certainly remain hidden entering Goldenrock. And at this point I feel as though I want to avoid Ibben altogether until I feel safer. Thank you all for your courage, but I am still frightened of... whatever that mongrel was and his lackeys," she pauses at the end and shudders. "There is a path up the cliffs behind my family's castle that will lead us in. If you all would continue to escort me I would feel much safer. We will send the steeds back to Duke Armitage before ascending. What say you?"

Tharin turns around in his saddle and nocks another arrow.

Attack: 13 Damage: 8

As he releases toward the remaining brigand, he turns back to the Lady. 

"Avoiding possible conflicts within the city would be preferred, Lady. We can make our way through this passage."

Aracynth nods in agreement. "As you see fit, my Lady. Since your safety is presently our greatest priority, little or less attention would be most advantageous. Please lead on."

Aracynth extended his arm to rub the grey mare's neck, now that the excitement had passed, and their pace had slowed a little.

"How did you all fare from that encounter? Kynortas, I believe and arrow found you at the onset? Is it manageable? Or should we stop to tend your wound, and rest Duke Armitage's magnificent steeds? As it stands, my magical prowess is spent for today, though i can still heal minor wounds."

As the thug runs off Tharin's arrow thuds into his ribcage in the back, but he keeps running. He seems more intent on getting away from the powerful foes than fighting back...

"I know it is a first since we started adventuring together but I am unharmed so far. No arrows found purchase in me. This new javelin however is extremely useful." Kynortas looks back for Fizzbang.

"I think we should slow our pace a little and let our magical friend and his mount catch up to us." Kynortas tugs on the reins and calls for his horse to slow.

“Oh yes, let’s all run off on 8ft tall destriers and leave the wizard and his Thrice-damned PONY in the dust!” Fizzbang harrumphs. “That sounds like a glorious idea!”

He spares a glance at Lady Rhea. “Honestly, these people.” 

Fizzbang's pony looks slightly offended and quickens its pace in response. Catching up, you all catch sight of the cliffs and the castle above them. Still a couple hours ride away at a brisk, but not too tiring, pace. Kynortas, the hair on the back of your neck and arms prickles slightly as this looks eerily familiar... The landscape is moving by slowly, but it is certainly an area you recognize.

Lady Rhea looks back at Fizzbang with amused pity, but continues forward. "We're almost there. If we swing to the southwest and head toward the sea we should reach the cliffside path in nought but an hour or so."

"Everyone! Be careful. This is exactly like the dream, or vision if you will. I would advise us caution. I saw in the vision going up that cliffside path. I am not sure if we should go that way. Maybe we could send the Raven and have your father send out guards to meet us near the city or the gates. If we inform him of that ambush surely he will send assistance." Kynortas says

"I had a similar thought, actually," Aracynth chimed in. "Since we've already been ambushed once on this trip, I also considered requesting the Duke Oglethorn's assistance at this critical juncture. Given his desperation to see his daughter once again, I strongly doubt he would refuse. If anyone has any objections, I would hear them now." He looked at each of the others in turn, as the Paladin reached into his cloak for the figurine.

"Dreams and riddles, bah! If you wish to put your fate into something else, let it be something that gives solid answers. All this mystery is tiresome. Send the raven if you wish, I will continue on to the path. I still believe the less people know where we are, the better. If you wish to stop until you hear back from the Duke, I will report back if I find anything of note."