"I think it would be very difficult to take all those scum out, what with their forces being divided," Nos Heliwr said with a grim tone underlying his words.  "hat being the case, we should hit the ones on this side first. Target the two with crossbows from cover.  Maybe I can sneak around and get a jump on the lookout.  But we need to come at them form behind, Louis and I could do that while the rest of you move up into the rocks and wait for the commotion to signal your attack.  Keep the rock to your right and that will make it difficult for the three across the river to hit you with those crossbows.  I think we should bind and gag Fallon just in case."  He glares at the man.

Louis tells you that his reading of Fallon is that he's too scared to do much more than sit and cower in the boat.  But Aaron nods in agreement when Nos Heliwr mentions tying him up.

The sun is out above you and perhaps the wind is dropping - the clouds seem to have slowed their race across the sky anyway.  The sun is pretty much directly overhead, so it's roughly midday.

Vaclav drops out of Chernobog's eyes to speak with the others and finds them making a plan. "I could have Chernobog attack the fellow in the tree. I have the ability to channel some things through him if needed. The fellow in the tree should get a nasty surprise." 

"Good ideas, all," Claire says, handing Nos a strip of cloth to gag Fallon, as well as rope if it should be needed.  "We should launch our assault all at once.  I'm not very stealthy so I suppose I shall be a distraction for them.  Remember, we want to take the lookout alive, so try to be quick and efficient, but not lethal.  I've never seen ranged weapons and magic being anything but lethal even with the best of intentions, so someone is going to have to get in close to finish off that leader if we want him alive, after our first wave of attacks."  To Vaclav, she reminds him in low tones, "Be careful of those crossbows, too.  If they peg you for a magic user, on a continent like this, you might become their primary target regardless of the local politics."

“The plan is made then. I’ll get into position. When I shoot, you’ll know. Claire, get in there and hit the leader.”

Louis proceeds to sneak towards the rear of the bandits/soldiers.

stealth 15 

And just for simplicity, here’s initiative 13 

Louis sets off into position but in the manner of all good adventure stories, he steps on a dead twig just as the wind drops. The sharp crack rings out in the midday quiet and echoes off the boulder field. 

Any chance of surprise is unfortunately lost. 

(OOC: I’ll roll Initiative for everyone presently. )

Initiative

Claire:  2
Nos Heliwr: 22
Vaclav: 22
Louis: 17
Bandits: 9


 

Round One

Unfortunately, the bandits hear you coming and react quickly.  The five of them with light crossbows move into better positions in the boulder field and level them, ready for you to come into view.  As each of you comes into view they shoot.

OOC:  I'm going to roll their readied attacks here.  I'll trust you not to adjust tactics too much.  ;)

At Vaclav:  Attack: 13 Damage: 8
At Claire:  Attack: 22 Damage: 7
At Louis:  Attack: 11 Damage: 2
At Nos Heliwr:  Attack: 22 Damage: 8


Louis and Vaclav are up!

Vaclav steps aside as the bolt whizzes past him and then backs up using his range. He presses his hands together, hard, and lets the heat build for a second before release a bolt of fire at one of the bandits. fire bolt

Attack: 17 Damage: 2

Vaclav’s fire bolt blasts into one of the half-hidden crossbow men. It singes his leather armour, and he’s heavily injured but still standing.

Louis tries to finish off Vaclav’s target with an arrow at the ready 

Attack: 10 Damage: 5 

Attack: 19 Damage: 5

Swearing under his breath, Nos Heliwr will shoot one of the hijackers across the river and the fade into the trees and Hide.

Louis steps into sight as a bolt flies high over his shoulder.  He aims and releases in one smooth action and is rewarded with a satisfying thunk as his return shot strikes the singed bandit in the chest, taking him off his feet never to rise again.

As Nos Heliwr steps out he is clipped by a crossbow bolt high in the left shoulder (he's moderately injured).  Sucking in a painful curse he fires far out across the river.   OOC:  Nos, can you re-roll to hit please as the far side archers are more than 30 ft. away, so are at long range (Disadvantage to hit).  You can also make a Stealth check to hide as a bonus action.

Claire is up!

Claire runs towards the bandits on her side of the bank and hefts a javelin, tossing it at the nearest crossbowman in a tree.

Attack: 22  (if more than 30 feet away from her full 30 feet of movement, with disadvantage: 10)

Damage: 8

Claire's javelin thuds into one of the bandit's nearest her - the last one on the ground on your side of the river - spinning him in a full circle.  He's still up, just, but critically injured.  He drops his crossbow from a ruined left arm and painfully draws his curved blade.

OOC:  I'm going to start Round 2 even though we still need Nos to re-roll his attack and make a stealth check.

Round Two

Initiative

Bandits: 16   <<----
Vaclav: 14
Louis: 11
Nos Heliwr: 5
Claire: 2

The lookout drops deftly out of the tree, landing in an athletic crouch near his badly injured companion.  He rises to his feet and in one smooth action draws a wickedly curved blade and a dagger.  "Time to die Grunal scum," he sneers at you, eyeing your orange bandanas.  He moves swiftly into Claire's reach and attacks with great skill.   OOC:  Claire can have an Opportunity Attack as he closes with her glaive.

Louis goes to put down the injured man with another shot. 
Attack: 17 Damage: 8 

Quote from nschrock >>

Louis goes to put down the injured man with another shot. 
Attack: 17 Damage: 8 

 

OOC: It's the bandits' turn, once Claire has had her Attack of Opportunity.  But we'll save this for Louis' go when it comes around.

"Stand down, and you might not have to eat those words," Claire fires back, thrusting her glaive at her assailant.

Attack: 7
Damage: 4

The bandit, who looks far more competent and skilled than his fellows, easily swats Claire's prodded glaive aside as he closes with her.  He then goes to work in a rapid series of thrusts, slashes and spins.

Attack (Scimitar):  Attack: 16 Damage: 4
Attack (Scimitar):  Attack: 10 Damage: 7
Attack (Dagger):  Attack: 23 Damage: 7

Claire's heavy armour and good footwork keep her out of most trouble but this guy is clearly competent and a dagger thrust gets through, cutting a nasty gash on Claire's side.

Meanwhile, the other bandit, with a javelin half through his shoulder closes on Louis:

Attack (Scimitar): Attack: 23 Damage: 11

Louis dodges easily, the swordsman is clearly struggling to operate, he is so badly hurt.  The three bowmen on the far back disappear off into the trees and boulders and are gone from sight.  They were all moving downstream, away from you.

OOC:   As things have changed and Louis has a bandit in his face you can elect to do something else with your go.

Vaclav and Louis can act for Round Two, Nos Heliwr still needs to re-roll his Round One attack.

Vaclav makes an arcane symbol in the air and then directs Chernobog to swoop on one of the bandits on the other side of the river. The owl's talons crackle with energy as he swoops down. Shocking Grasp

Attack: 11 Damage: 3

The owl then swoops up and away, back into the sky.