Dies the Fire

"Necromancy...  Well, that explains it," Sarah says with a grimace.  "I think we better deal with this sooner rather than later."

"Do we know if stuff from fairy tales work? Like holy water and all that jazz?" Em asks Sarah.

"I... suppose it might.  That's more Granny's thing than mine but with her powers she might be able to do it."

When the party is about 1 hour from our quarry Aleister will cast Goodberries and then about 30 minutes later he will cast Longstrider on himself and Matthais, then he will cast Sharpen on 'Limmerick' and make sure his dart thrower is loaded.  He will put a bit of Flame-paste on 4 firebombs (5 if Thomas doesn't use fire arrows) and give everyone a small pot of the stuff to coat their blades with should they choose to use the stuff.

"If we decide to attack we should shower them with a volley of firebombs, lighting them and our blades at the same time; then give 'em hell! as the saying goes."  He looks at everyone, "What do you all think of these ideas?"

"This is strange stuff. Anyone else wonder why these people and creatures would be travelling like this? Are they all zombies?"

'I've got to assume the one-shoe man is walking against his will - either as a prisoner or I suppose a Zombie is possible now too.  Jumping Jesus what kind of world do we live in now?'

"It makes me wish I was more spiritual, just to be better equipped to fight these kinds of horrors, if it's what we think it is."

"We have power.  We just need to leverage it," Sarah remind them, her hand straying away from Gramps.  "My concern is just how big this group is.  How many people have gone missing that we know about?  Also who haven't we had word about.  I hesitate to add 'Zombie' to our 'Magical Apocalypse' but we've screwed up and let this thing have a lot of time to prepare.  Maybe we scout this thing out and if it's as bad as it could be, we can talk to Granny and see if she or some of her prayer circle can come on down?"

After the shock revelation - zombies?! Really? You continue to follow the group.

Your eyes-in-the-sky report from ahead that there is a group of people (6) heading in your direction. Behind them (about 400 yard) is another group with dogs and horses tracking them. PPA troops (15).

"Want to see what this is about? I'll create a Magic Circle off the road a little bit and we can either wait in it and use it for defense, or we can use it as bait for the front runners before we pick sides." While they deliberate, Thomas summons up a Phantom Steed, all ebony and dark, with it's riding gear also as dark as possible. He drops his disguise self illusion, revealing the Ghillie suit, as he slinks off to the shadows, waiting. His all too normal horse he leaves with the rest of the group.

Stealth - 21

 OOC - If given the go ahead, he will create the Circle against Fiends and Undead and hide within it, keeping the Flame Arrows spell concentrated on while things play out. Gamliel will stay high until the battle is engaged, reporting on details of the two groups as he sees them. 

Sarah readies her bead and casts Mirror Image and Armor of Agathys.  She then fades into the surrounding forest to hide, helping and being helped by the others.

Stealth: 6

OoC: how does the paste work mechanically? do we need to light it on fire after application? and all those associated questions...Whats the terrain like in the area? Anything we can use to hide ourselves or set up a better ambush?

Quote from MoeMasu >>

 Anything we can use to hide ourselves or set up a better ambush?

Sarah said she'll provide help for Advantage to hide.

There’s magic circle creating and hiding. The six in the lead run through where you wait. You get a good look as they stager by, they look exhausted and are wearing iron collars. A charming custom of the PPA reserved for ‘serfs’.

The sight of the PPA's slaves makes Sarah burn with anger.  Glancing at her companions she points to her bow and the pursuing scum.  There would have to be no witnesses... but that's not really a problem.  Maybe one to question but otherwise no witnesses.  Then they could aid the serfs.

Leaving the magic circle, Thomas finds a better vantage point for the upcoming ambush of the PPA, knowing that a swift end to these scum is too good for them. Signaling to his companions, he and Gamliel keep tabs on the enemy staying out of view of the PPA birds of there are any.

OoC: do the familiars see any ranged weapons on the PPA troops?

Matthias will move 40' from the edge circle and plug two of his javelins in the ground near him and pull out food to pretend to be eating absent-mindedly. When he "sees" them he'll hail and flag them away from where the rest of the group is using "sirs," "were those slaves yours," and other deferential speak.

Aleister will conceal himself about forty feet from the trail, or as close as he can and still have good visibility.  He will scoop out a small, deep hole and place a lit candle in it to lit a bomb or two.

OCC Just smear the paste on and set it alight with a flame, candle, matches, a snap of your finger whatever'll work.

His main target will be the middle of the PPA mob, trying to ensure confusion and, hopefully, obstacles to help prevent the trail from being able to engage quickly.  'Limmerick' has been sharpened and coated with flame-paste.

"Drat!" he mutters, "too bad we don't have short pieces of that monofilament, then this would be sausage slicing time, eh Iago?"

Quote from MoeMasu >>

OoC: do the familiars see any ranged weapons on the PPA troops?

Matthias will move 40' from the edge circle and plug two of his javelins in the ground near him and pull out food to pretend to be eating absent-mindedly. When he "sees" them he'll hail and flag them away from where the rest of the group is using "sirs," "were those slaves yours," and other deferential speak.

 PPA men-at-arms have chain shirts and shields and are armed with longswords and crossbows. Knights have chain mail and shield with longsword and heavy crossbows. When on horse they may have a lance as well.

Initiative from everyone please plus statements of intent.

Max want to get into melee with the knight in charge as quickly as possible Initiative: 5

Initiative: 7

Intent:
Em is hoping that his obvious visibility will buy some time for the rest of the group to get into an advantageous position for flanking and ambush. That being said, when the distraction fails, or when at least three enemies get within 30' he will act.
-Launch two javelins at two different enemies (if beyond 30' will roll with disadvantage on attack)
-Move up to 40' to engage with another enemy with his bat
-Action Surge to gain another attack action
-First attack to Shove enemy off horse, then second attack to attack (regardless of shove success or fail)

 EDIT: formula for critical was typed out wrong. here is damage for that 7