Adray continues to bob and sway dodging most of the blows.  He laughes as he does so and then grimaces as he takes a gash across his forearm from Ordrag's foe.  Adray then growled.

Action unarmed punch M2: Attack: 25 Damage: 6

Bonus flurry of blows one at M2 and another at M1.  If either hit target needs a DC13 dex save or be knocked prone.  Last ki point spent on this.

Attack for M2: Attack: 17 Damage: 8

Attack for M1 Attack: 17 Damage: 6

Ooc: damn a wasted point.  Oh well guess it will be just a slug fest now and no more fancy moves.

Ordrag seems to regain some of his vocabulary, but he still booms out slowly and deeply in frustration as he continues to try to hit the elusive thug: Stand still puny human!.

Warhammer: Attack: 7 Damage: 10
Longsword: Attack: 24 Damage: 33

(That's more like it!)

Choir uses her last third-level spell slot for another Prayer of Healing, praying loudly in the hope that Akadi will still be paying attention.13

The haystack men seem awfully tough. She tries to determine whether they are really people or maybe also demons in disguise.  (Insight? 9 Perception? 11 )

All choir's senses were telling her the group is dealing with humans (they were humans, not even humanoids) - just well trained and truly tough warriors. From thug's point of view, undying group that they took for - yes, numerous and armored but just random adventurers - might look unbelievably though as well. Though, they did not say anything.

Thanks to Choir's healing, Reya began to look better, that did not make M3 all too happy. What was more worrisome for the attackers, giant Ordrag finally pinned M1 down with such a blow, the thug died instantly.Happy and very impressed Reya (and non-stop cursing Falaster) tried to repeat the great deed and finish off M3:

Attack: 25 Damage: 6

Attack: 23 Damage: 6

Attack: 11 Damage: 7

Falaster Attack: 15 Damage: 7

Falaster expectedly (now) missed but Reya did it! M3 dropped dead on the spot, unable to defend himself against the fury of the warrior-girl.

Adray's opponent - M2 was still standing, but you could tell - not for long.

Polly's turn. The only enemy left is M2

Polly will for the first time join in on the battle! She run in between Adreys legs and whisper “brisingr” and cast a non lethal firebolt right at the mans crotch. 

fire bolt: Attack: 21 damage: 4

Hissing from the sudden fire wound, surrounded and alone M2 did not even try to run away - he could not hope to achieve it any way. It looked like he just wanted to take at least one of his enemy with him and Adray, even healed,  looked like the most reasonable target:

Attack: 16 Damage: 4

Attack: 24 Damage: 6

Attack: 19 Damage: 5

He did wounded his enemy but now had to be ready to retaliation.

Kill or capture - he is all yours. Everyone's turn

Choir attempt to subdue the haystack hiding miscreant without killing him.  Maybe he will know where the flying thief took her shiny shield. She bops him gently on the head with her mace.

Attack: 23 Damage: 9

It certainly sent the message but he did not lost his consciousness yet. 

Adray will move to flanking position with the least amount of movement, maybe not having to move if Chior is already in that spot.  He will then grab the man and attemp to headbutt him hard, twice if needed to knock him out cold.

Move: to flanking position with anyone

Attack: 25 Damage: 8

Bonus Attack: Attack: 17 Damage: 5

That did it - the man finally dropped down! (You meant to keep him alive, right?)

((Yep!))

Choir thinks that it was a pity she didn't think to being any manacles from the cultists' dungeon. She attempts to tie up the unconscious villain. (Sleight of hand? 8 )

Ooc: Sorry if it was unclear but knock him unconcious was the intent with the phrasing knocking him out cold.

As the man slumps to the ground Adray looks up and back toward where the devil flew off.  He lets out an exasperated sighs, "Damn and double damn."  He turns back to the others.  "Well that was disappointing, I suppose we could give chase but having flight gives us the disadvantage.  We have no way of tracking it."

After Choir ties him up, Ordrag offers to sit on him while the others wake him up for interrogation.

I know the enlarge spell will probably wear off shortly, but even at normal size, with the guy prone, restrained and being sat on, we should have a good chance of keeping him there.

Fran would go around collecting her daggers while Brutus standsby for the interrogation. “Aye. I’m just as disappointed as you are... but we have what’s actually important.” The artificer was hinting to the box, but didn’t actually want to say it in the presence of the hostage. “That’s still our mission. Not the shield.” She will look over to Choir, knowing she was probably the most disappointed. “There are ways to locate objects. I trust we can find it again...”

Choir sighs.  At least she didn't throw away her old shield.  She rubs it with  the corner of her cloak.  But it doesn't get very shiny. And she's pretty sure it will never talk to her.

When everyone has gathered on the wagon again Polly look at all of them.

“We lost a significant lead to find and returning Elturel today, but all hope isn’t lost.. we also learned some things. Before the fiend flew away I read his thoughts and learned that he was from ‘the knights of the shield’ and that he was desperate to get ahold of the ‘Huddle Lord’.” She takes a pause. “What I don’t get though is how did they know where we were and what we transported? And if they knew about the shield, how come they didn’t know about the other thing?” 

“I could read he’s thoughts” and she point at their ‘friend’ “to find out what he knows, but not until tomorrow. I expended a lot of magic trying to get the shield back from that ‘thing’ and ended up draining myself. So I suggest this. Until tomorrow we just ignore him and let him stew. We don’t give him any food or water and tonight we don’t let him sleep. That way he will be easier for me too read and I can get anything I want out of him.” 

Agreed, says Ordrag picking up the unconscious thug, but let's keep moving while we still have light. He tosses the body into the back of the wagon and climbs aboard.

Fran will give Choir a gentle pat on the back to try to provide some comfort for her lost shiny before following Ordrag into the cart. "Agreed."

Before they head out Adray says, "It could be there is a double cross in the Black Fist... or as you said there is ways of finding things with magic and maybe the only thing keeping it from being found by them was the vault it was in?"  He strokes his beard, "Don't know, magic isn't really my thing."

Actually, party "inherited" yet another wagon with two good draft horses and full of quality hay. It sure can be just left on the road - there are fields around, some peasants will always find the use for two horses, but it belongs to the party.

Until the evening no more bandits or mysterious ambushers tried to assault party in any way. The weather is cool and cloudy but not that bad you can not camp outside - the flat  wilderness the road is winding through can supply enough wood for the campfire and convenient enough location to stay.