Trap! Holding for Hostages
You've been walking for hours as the guard of one Lord Sonaut. He requested someone to aid him in locating his lady-love after she was kidnapped by bandits. It's a pretty straight-forward mission all told. Though he'd insisted on coming along. Like a fool. He's got a rapier at his hip, but he doesn't carry it like he knows how to use it. His eyes are a little too wide. His nerves wound a little too tight. He shouldn't be here.
The weather is lovely at least for the first part of the day. It's starting to get dark now though, and the once-pleasant breeze is becoming cold and unwelcome as the sun sets. The Lord Sonaut - Stormguardian that he is, doesn't seem to notice the chill. Honestly you half-expected him to wield something with more meat on its bones but... Here you are.
Dirk does his very best to remain chipper as he lumbers along. Civilians on the field tend to be more trouble than they're worth. However, he's determined to make the best of things. And so he goes, thunderbelcher slung over his shoulder, whistling a cheerful tune to pass the time. At least the weather's pleasant enough. And he's a burly dwarf with plenty of layers, both clothing-wise and bodily-wise, so the chill doesn't damper his good mood. "Don't you worry, laddie," he says to Lord Sonaut, reaching up to give the man a hearty clap on the back. "We'll get yer lassie back, nae trouble! It's just a pack o' bandits, nay? No match fer proper heroes like -us-!"
Verna is not generally the optimal choice for escort duty, and does not often volunteer for such. This day, however, it appears that she desired a distinct break in her routine. It is entirely possible that she presumed the travel would be by carriage and that she could rest throughout. The facts that her robes cannot hide a slump and her tone is more monotonous than usual both led credence to this possibility. "Indeed. Proper heroes. No match. Bandits." Given her hood, one cannot be certain that her eyes are even open despite her walking.
A simple enough mission, and one that is distinctly -different- than his usual fare sounded good to Dolan at the time. He even took the precaution to dress warmly and for the weather, his warm traveler's cloak a nondescript gray over a gold-trimmed one of much newer material and pulled securely around him. He appears to blink fairly frequently, at least, the one human eye he has. He is just a touch pale, though, and by the time darkness rolls around, weariness is starting to show in him, too. "They'd better show up soon," he replies darkly.
Halani very much welcomes the opportunity to leave the city. Not that she couldn't before, but there always seemed to be something to do. Floors to sweep, bodies to help prepare for their final rites.. and the training. Always the training. So she decided to see what kinds of tasks were being offered at the guild, for the first time in a long time.. and file it under 'training' to justify the outing. Which is how she found herself on this escort mission.
If she has any misgivings about Sonaut's ability to contribute, she keeps it to herself. Because "one never knows!" as she has said more than once on this journey. She does start to keep her cloak pulled tighter about her as the chill sets in, her islander blood not the best at fortifying her against the colder climes. "Come on, perk up Mourner.. fresh air and maybe a fresh fight await, yeah?"
Lord Sonaut looks at Dirk and wiggles on his horse. Of course he's not walking. He's not a _commoner_. He seems uncomfortable. "Yes, I'm sure everything'll be fine." There's a black rose pinned to his lapel and he touches it nervously. A glance at Dolan. "I ah... hope so too? I hope they haven't hurt Elis."
So far there's no sign of the bandits.
GAME: Verna rolls perception: (7)+28: 35 GAME: Dolan rolls perception: (2)+9: 11 GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
A long inhale and subsequent exhale emits from Verna's hood. "Regrettably, I do not currently feel especially ...perky, nor readily perkable." Another cycle of breath in and out. "Fortunately, Lord Sonaut, should some horrid fate have, indeed, befallen her, you can rest assured that her remains shall be returned with the utmost of care and respect. Afterwards, her soul and body can be reunited should they wish to be."
Even wearied, she can offer encouragement.
GAME: Halani rolls perception: (10)+25: 35
"You're so reassuring, Mourner." For the first time, a wry smile cracks Dolan's features, and he blinks a couple more times. "Let's hope none of that is necessary." He, too, trudges along on foot, his cloak now pulled around him. At least it's fresh air.
Dirk rumbles with laughter. "Aye, fresh air's good fer ye!" he booms cheerfully. "'course, a good mug o' beer an' a full pipe is even better, but fresh air's certainly a good start!" He twirls his rifle like a baton, artfully swinging and spinning it through the air. He puts on quite the entertaining show as he lumbers along. He seems bound and determined not to let the grim mood affect his chipper outlook.
Halani comes to a stop after a few steps, eyes on the surroundings. "Well, think your wishes are gotten, yeah? Looks like a bunch trying to get the surprise on us," she says, the level of her voice still conversational, though the tone has switched to tense. "Probably gonna jump us any second now," she adds, lips curling into a grin as she brings her arm back down so she can crack her knuckles.
Halani's eyes manage to pick out two.. and she suspects more. But rather than charge into the rocks, she looks up at Lord Sonaut. "Best not to stick out so much I think, milerd." And then she's hopping, like a feather, briefly perched on the back of Sonaut's saddle.. and uses her momentum to bear him down beside the horse. "Crossbow!" she barks out afterwards.
GAME: Dirk rolls ranged: (6)+5: 11
Dirk hears Halani's warning, and it's like a switch is flipped. He catches his rifle mid-spin and swings it up to his shoulder. "Got 'em!" he barks, cocking back the hammer with his thumb. He takes careful aim and squeezes the trigger. BOOM! The thunderbelcher barks, kicking back in his grip. But the shot goes wide, missing the crossbowman completely. "Gahhhh -shit-," he growls, racking the action to eject the spent shell.
There's a chorus of laughter from the men as Dirk's shot goes wide. The one on the rock is the only one that doesn't laugh. He sort of huddles closer to the rock and uses it as cover. Aiming his crossbow at Dirk specifically. The man beside the rock is the one that speaks up, holding his hands up to show himself unarmed. Which is laughable considering the weapon inches away when he crosses his arms a moment later. "We'll accept yer surrender. Trust me, you don't want to fight with these boys."
He laughs like his words are a joke an the men echo him.
GAME: Dolan rolls weapon2+1: (14)+7+1: 22 GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+5+2: (9)+5+2: 16 GAME: Verna rolls ranged+1: (9)+11+1: 21 GAME: Verna rolls 1d8+1: (2)+1: 3
Warned by Halani, Dolan's fingers on the leather harness he wears are quick, and the leather slithers to the stone of the road, the greatsword appearing in his hands. "By the Knight's holy sword, people like you deserve only one fate. His justice find you swiftly." The words are dark and dangerous, and the slash that follows it is swift and merciless, but while it finds its mark, it does not leave the deadly wound that one would expect, and the man's frown deepens. "What unholy thing are you?"
The offer is made, and before Verna can respond, Dolan has moved in and struck. "I believe that you can consider that a declination of your offer," she notes to the man as he is struck. Not struck down, however.
A hand lowers in a sweeping gesture to retrieve an item from her robes rather than invoke mana. It returns with a polished, well-made (and perhaps rarely used) dragon-spitter, which is promptly leveled at the somewhat hiding crossbowman. The shot fires true enough, though with the stone intervening, 'wings' him, at best.
"We don't wanna fight either!" Halani yells back, which is totally a lie. Already proven by everyone else's actions. She'd probably be out there too if Sonaut weren't here. "Which is why you should surrender, yeah? Be the best choice you ever made!" Meanwhile she's doing her best to keep Sonaut down and not in a direct line of sight of what she believes are the bandits.
Dirk briskly reaches into his hips satchel for a fresh shell. With a smooth snap of his wrist, he breaks the action, slapping the shell into the breach and giving a twitch of his wrist to lock it back into place. He racks the slide with a satisfying CHK-CHAK, bringing the weapon up to his shoulder, ready to fire. "I only have tae hit ye -once- boyo!" he growls. "I'd think twice 'bout keepin' on wi' yer nonsense if I was you1"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8: (3): 3 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (5)+6: 11 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (7)+6: 13
An arrow flies from the top of the rock, and slams a bolt into the horse's rear end. The horse, who hadn't bargained for this takes off like an arrow. Meanwhile the bandit in front of Dolan is undergoing some kind of hideous change. Fur climbs over his hands, his face, his clothes rip and tear as they make place for larger muscles. Dolan might well recognize the were-wolf form before him, but this wolf is an unusual purple color. It's blackish fur shimmering with odd highlights.
Halani finds herself with her hands full of the Lord who is desperately trying to evade the swords of the last two bandits who swing their weapons at her and at him in general. Not really seeming to care who they hit. "Get back! You fools! Do you know who you're dealing with? You promised you wouldn't hurt me!" This last seems to come out without him realizing it.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+19: (6)+19: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+6: (3)+6: 9 GAME: Dolan rolls weapon2+1: (20)+7+1: 28 (THREAT) GAME: Dolan rolls weapon2+1: (4)+7+1: 12 GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+5+2: (8)+5+2: 15
No. Not again. Dolan backpedals several steps as the _thing_ starts to change, his eyes going wide as saucers. "I can't hurt that thing, Mourner!" he shouts. "Andie's going to kick my ass into late next week if she finds out!" He dodges sideways, not quickly enough to avoid taking a deep claw-slash down the side of one leg, and instead turns the bloodied blade against one of the thing's accomplices. This time, the strike is dead on target, but not with quite enough strength to cut him in two. It still leaves a deep gash down the man's front, though.
Verna had a less than delightful evening. The day traveling here had not improved matters at all. Bandits worsened the situation. Now, at least one has sprouted fur, fangs, and claws. No, definitely no perking today. "I am both surprised and yet, strangely, not... I will make every attempt to to do so!" she calls to Dolan. After she reloads, it appears, as she rapidly works to clear, charge, repack and prime her weapon.
GAME: Halani spends ONE point of KI POOL. GAME: Halani spends ONE use of STUNNING FIST. GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4: (13)+22+5+-4: 36 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4: (17)+22+5+-4: 40 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4: (6)+22+5+-4: 29 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4-5: (18)+22+5+-4+-5: 36 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4-10: (2)+22+5+-4+-10: 15 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+8: (8)+2+5+8: 23 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+8: (6)+2+5+8: 21 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+8: (9)+2+5+8: 24 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+8: (6)+2+5+8: 21 GAME: Halani rolls cmb+2-4: (3)+22+2+-4: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (9)+5: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6+1: (4)+1: 5
With Dolan's arrival Halani's eyes positively gleam. She'd seen the werewolf. She's also a little bit not right in the head. You'd think two deaths would make someone a little more aware of her mortality. "Heya! You guys'll watch him, yeah?" she says to the Dolan and Dirk... as if they aren't busy with their hands full right now. "My turn." Then she puts two fingers to her head, flicks them in the pair of ruffians who tried to stab her and Sonaut.. then steps backwards, almost looking like the's falling before she disappears.
Then she reappears right in front of the one who wolfed out, leading with her elbow, driving it into what she's guessing is his solar plexus. Then she blinks out again, appearing behind him as she drives her heel into the back of his leg. Three more times she warps, delivering a snap kick to his face, a punch into the side of his gut, only to have her last swing.. a hand thrust to his throat.. dodged.
GAME: Dirk rolls ranged: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Dirk rolls 1d12: (1): 1
Dirk brings up his rifle, eyes narrowed as he draws his bead. Again, he clicks back the hammer with his thumb, and squeezes the trigger. BOOM! The rifle kicks back, and the bullet hits the boulder shielding the crossbowman with a PYANG. A chip of stone flies into the man's cheek, drawing a tiny bead of blood, but otherwise the man remains unharmed. "Damn it," he growls, racking the action to spit the shell out. "Don't you worry, milord. We won't let the bandits get ye. Ye just have tae deal wi' -us-!"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+19: (19)+19: 38 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+9: (7)+9: 16 GAME: Halani rolls fortitude: (20)+15: 35 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (15)+6: 21 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (20)+6: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+6: (1)+6: 7 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+6: (2)+6: 8
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (19)+4: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8: (5): 5
The man on the rock shoots Dirk with his crossbow, lancing an arrow into the other man's shoulder while he sits securely on the top of the rock using it as cover. The werewolf lashes out at Halani, catching her with its teeth in spite of being stunned by her previous blow, and the two remaining bandits hold Dolan at bay with their weapons. One of them strikes the man with a glancing blow, and the other hits the Lord who... passes out from the sight of his own blood. Hero material that one.
GAME: Dolan rolls weapon2+1: (3)+7+1: 11 GAME: Verna rolls ranged+1: (2)+11+1: 14 GAME: Verna rolls 1d8+1: (4)+1: 5
Dolan's got his own problems, sorry Halani! One of the swords tags him, drawing more blood, and he swears, jerking back automatically. That jerk is enough to send his swing wide - fighting two enemies at once is tougher than he expected!
Now that her weapon is reloaded, Verna turns towards the the lycanthrope... only to see that Halani has relocated to there and looks to be bludgeoning the lycan out of it. The bolt into Dirk turns her back to the crossbowman and she fires off a snapshot in return that catches him. "Are all well who are not bandits, lycanthropes, nor colluding nobles?" she inquires generally of her colleagues.
GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4: (13)+22+5+-4: 36 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4: (17)+22+5+-4: 40 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4: (13)+22+5+-4: 36 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4: (1)+22+5+-4: 24 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4: (9)+22+5+-4: 32 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4: (17)+22+5+-4: 40 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4-5: (12)+22+5+-4+-5: 30 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5-4-10: (10)+22+5+-4+-10: 23 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+8: (10)+2+5+8: 25 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+8: (8)+2+5+8: 23 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+8: (6)+2+5+8: 21 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+8: (3)+2+5+8: 18 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+8: (6)+2+5+8: 21 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+8: (7)+2+5+8: 22 GAME: Dolan rolls weapon2+1: (12)+7+1: 20 GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+5+2: (10)+5+2: 17
Halani isn't quick enough to avoid the teeth. Always the teeth. She grimaces as she jerks her shoulder and twists, pulling it free, then follows up with a series of kicks, punches.. in the middle of the flurry, she yells out, "I'M OKAY!" At one point the werewolf stops moving, stops making sounds, but Halani's blows keep it on its feet for a few seconds more before she lands from a spin, half crouching... the furred man-beast falls, then, though she continues to stare at it, her shoulders heaving as she breathes hard.. before finally straightening and looking back at the others.
Seeing their leader fallen, the others leave as quickly as they can manage. One of them takes a blow from Dolan and goes down. The rest however... make good their escape.
"GYAAH!" Dirk roars in pain as that crossbow bolt hits his shoulder. He wrenches it out and tosses it aside, ignoring the blood now welling up from his breastplate. He digs for a fresh shell, breaking the action and chambering the round quickly. By the time he has his rifle back up and ready to fire, the lycan is downed and the bandits are on the run. He boggles slightly, then roars at their backs. "AYE, YOU -BETTER- RUN, YE SHEEPFUCKERS!" Panting for breath, he casts his gaze around, then settles it on Lord Snooties. Up comes his rifle, leveled right at the man's nose. "An' -you-... my -lord-... have got some -explainin'- tae do!" he snarls.
That moment of distraction is enough. Dolan takes advantage of their distraction to slash one of the two through the heart as he turns and runs. The other gets away, and he only half lowers the blade, glancing quickly back at the others. "I'll be fine. Go after them! I'll just slow you down, so I'll watch him-" Pause. Beat. "Where'd he- oh for the love of the Holy Knight." He turns and limps over towards the fallen noble.
Verna is not fleet-footed enough to effectively give chase, or not immediately inclined to do so. Instead, she turns to Dirk Bolt-Catcher. "I can tend to your injury," she notes. Prior to that, however, her hood turns from him to pan across Dolan and the others in case there are other, more serious injuries. Halani did state that she was fine.
Halani was just about to take a step back towards the others, maybe to help wake the nobleman up. She has questions. They all probably do. But then Dolan is shouting to go after them. It takes her a moment to choose.. and then she's zipping on after the one who'd had the crossbow, running swiftly.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+19: (12)+19: 31 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+19: (3)+19: 22
Dirk glances down at the red starting to spread down the sleeve of his sweater. "I've had worse," he grumbles, turning his attention back to the passed out noble. Setting his thunderbelcher down, he digs out a length of rope from his satchel and sets to work trussing the man up like a Yuletide turkey. Once he's got the man's hands and feet bound, he puts a knee on his chest and gives his face a couple rough slaps. "Oy! Wake up, princess!" he growls angrily. The once-cheerful dwarf's mood has suffered EMOTIONAL DAMAGE and he's -not- pleased.
The noble startles awake after the first few slaps. He tries his bonds immediately, but to little avail, and he shrinks away from Dirk. "Please! They said they'd hurt Elis! I was just trying to get her back safe and sound!" He wiggles on the ground, trying to feebly escape Dirk.
GAME: Dolan rolls sense motive: (20)+11: 31 GAME: Dirk rolls sense motive: (12)+2: 14
Shortly after Halani takes off, there is battle. There is howling, there is roaring. There is... yipping? Someone shouts, "BAD DOGGY!" And then some more time after that, Halani returns, bringing with her a mostly trussed up, purple-black wolf man. And it seems she's taking no chances. Muzzle, claws, arms, legs. Everything is bound. She appears over a rise, huffing as she drags the bestie back to the group.
"Stop." Dolan's voice is unexpectedly deep, and a bloodied sword blade appears between the noble and the khazad. "He's telling the truth. We need to find the girl." There's an element of exhaustion in that voice, and he is definitely bloodied, but he steps in and over the noble, clearly ready to defend him, bloodied leg and side or not. "We've got to follow those bandits."
Verna eyes Dirk's wound, regardless, though gladly lets him truss up Sonaut. "If the woman is in danger, then we should," she concurs with Dolan. "Though it may be best we wait to see if Halani might bring the bandits to us. You are injured."
Dirk peers angrily at the nobleman, but chuffs a snort that makes his beard ruffle. He looses the ropes and heaves to his feet, helping the man stand up. "D'ye know where they're keepin' 'er?" he grumbles. He's still not happy--but at least the man had good reason to mislead them. He's a kind-hearted sort. Unlike most of his kin, he's not one for bearing grudges. He looks over to Verna as she looks him over. "If ye'd like tae heal me, missus, I certainly won't stop ye. I'll need tae be in top form if we're goin' huntin'." He grunts softly. "Usually I'm just huntin' beasts," he mutters. "This is a wee bit out o' my wheelhouse."
"Hey! A little help, yeah? This one's fat!" Halani probably means heavy. Dragging the werewolf is leaving a pretty clear trail behind her.
"Take care of the khazad, I'll try to call on the grace of the Sunlord." Dolan isn't backing down until Dirk steps away, but gradually does so, limping thoroughly. His head snaps up at Halani's call. "The hell? She catch one? Little fuckers," he snarls, not caring about his language in front of the nobleman. "Go help her, I'll do what I can for him." And for himself.
The noble seems to relax minutely when Dolan steps forward protectively. "I don't know where they were keeping her." His eyes tear up a little, but he manages to maintain himself without crying. "What do you- AHHHH!" He screams in terror at the sight of the second werewolf.
The second werewolf tries to free himself of his bonds, growling and spitting in a threatening manner, but his jaws are tightly bound as well so all he can do is hiss and spit.
GAME: Dolan casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14 GAME: Dolan rolls 1d8+3: (7)+3: 10
Tend the khazad, aid Halani in heavy dragging. Verna has a fair grasp of whom is responsible for which. She can aid Dirk so he can better aid Halani. "Keep your shoulder still for a moment so I may bind it, if you would aid Halani with ... that."
Bind it, she does, yet not by The Gray Harpist's blessing. Instead, she does so with a bandage and talent. A bandage, for certain.
GAME: Verna rolls heal: (16)+21: 37
Dirk's shaggy white brows furrow as Verna tends him with bandages. "Oh aye, sure, give the highborne ponce magicked healing," he grumbles. "I only took an arrow tae the shoulder. No worry o' -that- gettin' infected. Wind up wi' the lockjaw I shouldn't wonder." He rolls his shoulder in a circle as the bandaging is finished, strapping his armor back down. He goes to help Halani out, giving the werewolf a sharp swat on the snout. "None o' -that-, fleabag," he growls. "I was havin' the most lovely day afore you lot came an' cocked it all up."
"He's paying us," Dolan mutters, very quietly, but sighs and turns a look on Verna, turning his full face towards her. "Is everything all right, Mourner? I don't see that method very often." His gaze is keen and unbending, searching out any attempt to prevaricate. His own wounds are nasty enough. "I could use a hand as well, if you brought the kit. I wasn't kidding when I said Andie is going to kick my ass, I spent a week in bed less than a week ago." Then what is he doing out here?
Halani lets the ropes drop once Dirk has helped her get the wolfman close enough. She fixes the nobleman with a brief stare.. though it somehow lacks the weight that the others can bring to that expression. "So! We can punch this one until he tells us where the girl is, yeah?" The idea of aggressive negotiations doesn't seem to bother her much. But then she remembers something, and she looks back at Verna. "You know, mourner.. I feel like you're holding back on us, yeah?"
"If it is of any consolation," Verna offers to Dirk, "I would have allowed our noble lord to continue bleeding. His wound would not become life-threatening for several more hours." She is already moving to Dolan with her kit when he mentions his need. "I see," she acknowledges Dolan's concerns as she examines his wounds and works to bind them. "I shall endeavor to bind them well, so that you earn no concerned wrath, that your posterior remains unstruck, and any time spent in bed is mutually approved..." After working on him a few moments, she adds, for all interest parties, "I am well enough. A bout of insomnia prevented my prayers and preparations this day. A temporary inconvenience, yet one all should be aware of as we continue on."
-TBC