Unable to think of anything better, Ebele will shrug to herself. Classic drunk monk approach? The blonde would pull her wineskin from her hip to take a swig of her cider as she’d take a few unsteady steps forward. “Fancy meeting some fellow travellers here. Is that boar I smell? Hic!” She’ll make a loud audible sniffing noise. “You wouldn’t happen to be so kind as to spare a morsel for a hungry belly?” The monk would strafe in a direction that was away from where she heard Kerric following behind her, trying to draw all eyes in her direction away from her companions.

In a brush-choked dell a short distance from the Cairn Road is a makeshift camp in front of a cave entrance. Five surly humans sharpen their blades around the fire. Nearby is a wagon with a wooden cage atop it. Inside the cage, a black bear paws at the bars.

Persuasion check please Ebele

Persuasion: 11 

Hearing Ebele speaking with someone at the campfire,  Xalkas attempts to move to a covered position where he can observe what’s happening. 

the five all raise their blades watching Ebele intently

"Who are you an what are you doing here, do you bring word from the stone masks?,

the larger one raises his hand to shush the others   what is the password

History check: 16

Xalkas thinks he may remember something about stone masks 

Kerric:

Freezing into stillness as Ebele makes her distraction, Kerric overhears the conversation and wonders who the Stone Masks might be...a local bandit group perhaps, or something  darker?

History:  7

“Masks eh?” Ebel would scratch the band at her temple as she’d think. Then when a more stern one would ask her what the password was, without skipping a beat, the ‘drunk monk’ would pop the cap to her wineskin, “Open sesame! Hic!” She’d let out a hearty chuckle, “Cheers!” And she’ll take a swig. “Eh? Eh?” Her brows would bob as if expecting she got the password right.

The big one laughs  then to the others

"i thought so.  Take her

All five advance on Ebele

ROLL INITIATIVE

Initiative: 2

Seeing the bandits draw their blades and move towards the blind monk, Xalkas pulls out an orb from his robes moving his hand around it in much practiced motions. The interior of the orb begins to look like a cloudy gray sky, then pointing towards the closest person to Ebele says, “Time for a nap gentlemen” sleep: 26

as they are advancing the two rearmost suddenly drop to the ground.   the leader is still focused on Ebele while the remaining two are looking about loudly.

the bear is starting to pace its cage agitated

Ebele initiative: 22

“I didn’t think my joke was that boring...” She’d jest, hearing two snoring thuds hit the ground. 

Kerric:

Shaken from his musings as the mercenary leader signals an unprovoked attack on Ebele, Kerric leaps up to aid in her defense.

Initiative:  20

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker was feeling rather down on himself at the abysmal (used in the derogatory) job he'd as yet been doing. As he walked along the road behind the others he scratched out an idea for a term, then began scribbling another. Xalkas had unwittingly given him an in, and he supposed a simple, utmost basic contract with a hook for addendums could work, but then he'd been so distracted he'd entirely forgotten to get the contract with the constable signed, and that a most basic thing, an agreement for services rendered. He was starting to think he should push for setting an early camp so he could get a fresh start on a new, and hopefully better day tomorrow. Then again, even if the services contract hadn't been signed, the spirit of the verbal agreement was that he'd put in the appropriate amount of time, and stopping at a couple hours of searching on the first day could hardly been seen as good faith. But, why not use the walking time wisely, and so he had out his copy of the map for this area and was diligently making notes as they went and.....um...hmm....  He stopped and looked around just in time to see them creeping into the woods.  They were a very flighty group weren't they. Smell a bit of boar cooking and off they go, likely to stumble upon your average woods man, or you know....he frowned and moved after them.  Listening to the crunch and crackle of them as they bushwacked their way through the wood was simple enough.  Without too much care he followed along behind them. (Stealth : 10) 

He sees them crouched ahead, and stops about 20 feet back.  He scratches his head and looks around.  Ahhh, a cave. Most interesting.  A few scribbles added to the map. Suddenly Kerric bursts into action. Shocked by the sudden violence and realizing he has several contractual obligations to fulfill, he drops the maps on his backpack, as he pulls out his hand crossbow and the small belt quiver, dashing to the edge of the hill so he can see the enemy, loading the hand crossbow as he goes. 

Initiative : 13

waiting on Nemo but      

 Initative order as it stands

Ebele 22

Kerric 20

T'chal 13

Bandits 13

Xal 2

Kerric:

Bursting into action as he moves swiftly to Ebele's defense, Kerric proclaims, "Human knaves! Have you no honor?!".  Drawing his gleaming Elven Curved Blade as he goes, Kerric approaches the lead knave and carves a powerful slash with his sword at the man's midsection.

Elven Curved Blade:  Attack: 19 Damage: 15

(Nvm read the DMs blessing)

“Are you sure you don’t want any?” Ebele will ‘offer’ her wineskin with a little extra gusto, before dropping it.

BA: Unarmed punch to leaders face: 5 Damage: 6

“Oopsie!” The monk will use her quarterstaff to assist her in ‘finding her dropped cider’, using both hands swinging it around to her aid with a little extra enthusiasm.

Attack: 19 Damage: 9 

Ebele drops her wineskin and the lead bandit follows it with his eyes before realizing what is about to happen, he ducks back from the fist at the last minute, stumbling backward which to his favor helps him avoid the quarterstaff.

the second bandit was not so lucky as he turns in horror to the shouting armored figure who cuts him down with the slash of his weapon instantly gutting him

at that point there is a rending crash 

and the Black bear tears from its cage and starts to maul one of the sleeping bandits

11 bear initiative

Attack: 16 Damage: 5

Bite attack Attack: 23 Damage: 3

the unfortunate fellow wakes with a scream that is promptly cut off 

T'chal is up