"As you see fit, my Lord Marquess." Aracynth replied as they all made ready to depart for Ibben. "Thank you, Harold." He said as he recieved the figurine once more from the Guard Captain. "Was there any message from Duke Oglethorn? And Thank You again for all your assistance these past few days. Your service in your Lord's name was exemplary, and deserving if the highest respect, even if Duke Armitage would have stand at ease the whole day through." He nodded to the Guard before approaching the grey mare, and readied his equipment for travel. 

Once mounted, he turned his steed to address the Duke and Marquess one last time. "My Lords, it has been an honor to serve you and the Lady these past few days. I vow upon the Grace of Bahamut, that we will deliver the Lady Rhea safely to her parents once more, and will send word once this has been accomplished. Your assistance has been invaluable and I hold myself indebted to you. Should you ever have need of me, send word and I shall return to aid you as best I am capable. By your leave." The Paladin nodded once more in farewell.

Once the party had taken the road out of Cloverdown, Aracynth took up position adjacent to the Lady Rhea. In the passing silence of their trip, he ruminated on all the strange, troubling, and mysterious events surrounding this venture. From the Lady's Curse, and Ma'al's cryptic warnings, to Kynortas' foreboding dreams, and his own horrific nightmares. The Paladin sought to glean some semblence of understanding, like orienting the myriad pieces of a puzzle, to see how they might fit together.

Insight :

18

3

10

After a time in thought, he turned to Lady Rhea beside him. "My Lady, you said there were some matters to discuss on the road, before we should arrive back in Goldenrock?"

The silver raven confers its message once Aracynth speaks its command word once again, and Duke Oglethorn's voice comes through "She's safe?! She's alive?! Please bring her to us with utmost haste! We miss her so dearly!" and the bird is once again a statue.

Along the road, the weather seems fair. No clouds, no oppressive heat, it is a fine late-summer's day. Snickering at Tharin and Fizzbang, the lady turns to Aracynth and her smile fades. "Yes, I believe we should have a plan to get into the castle. I would rather not draw too much attention. I gather it is known that I was not present in Goldenrock and wish to keep my return quiet until I can speak with my parents. There is a path behind the castle, a small one, that we could take up the cliff without the horses. That would provide us entrance without drawing a crowd in town. It is unknown to most and quite safe from falling. Does this sound reasonable?"

Before you get a chance to answer, Tharin, who had turned back at Fizzbang to answer his pie, notices some movement on both sides of the path. Several figures are flanking you quite quickly... Humanoid shapes are taking advantage of your horse's momentary slower gait to sneak up on you quite rapidly... Please roll initiative! (I will consider perception checks as free actions in this circumstance as Tharin will likely warn the party.)

This is your current composition on The North Road (headed south to Ibben). Tharin is the only one currently aware of the enemies:

A whistle from Tharin, causes Aracynth to perk up from his discussion with the Lady, to look around, immediately on his guard.

Perception : 13

Initiative : 20

Tharin whistles, a sharp, piercing note.

"Ambushers. Two each side. Get to riding! They're on foot, we should be able to lose them. Fizzbang, guard the Lady. We can catch up."

Tharin draws his bow and pivots in his saddle, taking aim at the closest shape.

Initiative 19

Kynortas looks around him to find where the ambushers are coming from.

Perception: 8

He moves with his shield closer to the lady and draws his crossbow.

Initiative: 19

Fizzbang dismissed his illusions, including a particularly good one of a dancing Rakshasa in a tutu. He was proud of that one dammit! It had taken ages to get right! Oh well.

Perception:  17

Initiative: 17

The humanoid figures, no longer attempting to hide, spring at the road! Now in view there are three thicker looking humanoids in black leather armor; two have scimitars and the other a crossbow. The fourth figure is a more lithe humanoid in similar dark armor, but does not appear to be wielding a weapon yet. He is the one in the back, closest Kynortas, in the northeast corner of the map. They begin rushing you and spooking the horses a little as you ready your attacks!

Initiative: Aracynth, Tharin, Kynortas, Fizzbang, Rhea, enemies

As the brigands gave up their skulking in favor of a forward charge, the grey mare bucked slightly with a loud whinny. Aracynth did his best to the calm the mare as quickly as possible. It was too much to hope their trip back might pass without incident.

Animal Handling : 12

Luckily, Tharin's sharp eyes spied their foes before the ambush could snare them. Between the Elf's keen sight, and their mounted position, the Paladin hoped their advantages would see them safely through this ordeal. Tharin also had a point, that they might just outrun their foes, but Aracynth was sworn to protect the Lady Rhea, and could not in good conscience leave her side now. Instead, he planned to stack the odds even further in their favor. As he unlimbered the lance from its sheathe, he invoked a blessing upon his allies.

"Divine Bahamut, by your Grace, Bless us that our blades strike true our foes, and protect us from all ills they would cast upon us!" As he finished the prayer, a faint white aura coalesced to surround Kynortas, Tharin, and Fizzbang. 

[OOC : Per the spell description, they may each add 1d4 to every attack roll and saving throw they make while the spell is active.]

Tharin lets loose an arrow at the figure with no weapon. 

"Damn your chivalry! Take the lady and GO!"

Attack: 10 Damage: 6

Sneak Attack 4

Tharin turns back around in his saddle and urges the horse toward Ibben.

Animal Handling 21

The unarmed foe deftly sidesteps Tharin's shot and grins wickedly. "She's the prize, eh?" he snarls.

Kynortas saw the unarmed man ahead to his right and thought, "Unarmed with this group most likely means magic. I should interrupt him fast."

He takes aim with his crossbow, feeling something help guide his shot as his arm glows with a slight white light.

Attack: 23 Damage: 7

When he finishes he moves to load his crossbow and then pats his horse on the neck trying to soothe the animal.

Animal Handling: 5

Again the unarmed foe is unscathed. His armor absorbs most of the blow, but his speed denied the rest. He glares at Kynortas with a wolfish grin.

Aracynth and Kynortas are able to calm their horses (as they are bred for war and simply didn't expect the charge but don't mind fighting so much), but Tharin's black destrier was less prepared and bucks about for a moment, resistant to his urge. Your next attack is at -2 trying to keep steady while you turn the horse about. If you decide to bolt south, please roll another animal handling check instead.

Well that progressed quickly...Fizzbang took stock of the situation. What is it with this noblewoman? Sure she's special, being noble and whatnot, but there's plenty more of those out there! 

(I want to move in a way that lines up the two enemies on the left to both be hit by my spray attack). Fizzbang gives the pony a gentle nudge, "Come on now, lets show them the old razzmatass eh?" Confident that his opponents are lined up just right, Fizzbang lets loose a Color Spray! It effects 44 hit points 

Fizzbang's pony sidles over (rather cheerfully despite the threat) and allows him to cast Color Spray blinding both of the enemies on the West side of the road! (I assume that was left on the map, not his left?)

The two humanoids on the western side of the road stumble as Fizzbang's color spray hits them. They shake their heads and try to bring their scimitars to bear on the party as they approach, more cautiously now. The first (southernmost) one comes into view of Fizzbang, knowing about where he was when the spell was loosed, and attempts to swing his scimitar at him! Due to the blindness he swings far too wide and even Fizzbang's pony seems amused at the wild swing!

The second stumbles over toward Aracynth and takes a swing when he hears the horse snort at him. This blinded swing clangs loudly off Aracynth's armored leg and he stumbles backward, shocked he even connected. Up close you can see that they are human males, clad in dark leathers and hides with gnarled, weathered faces. They appear to have spent much of their time outside and in harsh conditions

On the opposite side of the road the other highwayman takes a crossbow shot at Kynortas, staying where he is. His shot thuds loudly into Kynortas' shield harmlessly.

The unarmed figure takes another step toward Lady Rhea and his now wolfish grin takes on its true form. His body contorts and he grunts slightly as his limbs elongate, fingers becoming claws and, now that he's closer you're able to see he was running barefoot... his feet stretch and grow vicious nails and padded soles. His face grows as well, his nose and mouth stretching out, gruesomely forming into one maw. His body grows slightly more hair... or fur... and his ears spring up to form animalistic ears. Looking at him after the complete transition he now resembles a hybrid of some form of dog or wolf with that of a man. He snarls at you all and dashes to Lady Rhea! With plenty of speed to get there he is now directly beside her, glaring up with canine eyes and fangs... A ragged tail now swishing gleefully behind him.

Lady Rhea, now seeing the hybrid beast beside her, screams and attempts to pull her horse in between Kynortas and Aracynth. Animal Handling: 15

The enemy does get a free strike against her, swiping up with one of his clawed hands, but misses as her loyal friend and steed turns just in time. She makes her way into the space between the two warriors and takes up the Dodge stance.

As the Lady ushers her horse forward, narrowly avoiding the man-beast's raking claws, Aracynth seizes the opportunity to drive his lance into the monster's exposed chest.

Attack: 10 Damage: 11 Piercing

Seeing his blow pierce the monster's hide, Aracynth uttered a short prayer, "By Bahamut's Grace, I Smite thee, that your presence will no longer befoul these lands!"

Divine Smite : 14 Radiant Damage

He then positions the grey mare as best he can to intercept any of the brigands who would move to attack the Lady.

As the hybrid moves in to follow Lady Rhea for further harassment Aracynth's lance bursts through its chest! Gasping and snarling it grips the lance with both clawed hands and struggles against the paladin. Still grabbing it Aracynth pulls the lance back out of the creature, now burning with intense radiant heat, it screams one last yowling, whimpering gasp and falls forward with the momentum of the retracting lance. Its hide now smoking and the wound cauterized by the light of Bahamut, despite a gaping hole directly through it, it now shifts into a small jackal with a lance-sized hole in it. The now small canine shudders and lays still, the fur singed around its chest and back where the Paladin smote it.

Tharin curses and draws another arrow. The beast below him bucks and throws off his aim, but he tries to aim for the brigand with the crossbow. 

Attack: 19 Damage: 4

Sneak Attack 3

"Lady Rhea! Get going!"

The crossbowman takes an arrow of his own to his loading arm and drops his hands heavily. He looks to be on death's door, but is still standing.

"Go where?!" Lady Rhea shouts, "Without you?! What if there are more?! I'm no fighter!" (Please make a persuasion roll, Tharin.)