"Nijel, my friend, I thought our task was to break through and escape! 'Tis not knightly, I know, but it is the job we were given."
"I suppose you're right, of course, Katherine. But leaving just one of these unsavory scoundrels able to draw even one breath of the sweet air with his foul lungs makes my blood boil! We must, nevertheless, obey our orders. Perhaps vengeance may yet be ours to claim further on."
"Although I agree with your feeling Nijel, we have no choice. We must reach the Lord Marshall." Cairnwalker points with his sword to the west. "West, ho!"
__________________ -Rhun
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death." -Robert Fulghum
"Yes, you are unquestionably right. Still, I wonder what it is that draws me so strongly toward an ill-advised action? One might almost call it somewhat chaotic!"
Roak smiles as he answers the young knight. "Glory and honor!"
__________________ -Rhun
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death." -Robert Fulghum
Ewan pauses his horse waiting for the others, searching for more targets to give his 'Message' to.
"For those of our level of training, it is far easier to feel the call to battle. The more difficult path is to follow orders to flee the battle. If we pause much longer, we won't have a choice as the battle will catch us. Let's ride so I can get somewhere where I can get off this blasted horse."
__________________ "All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages."
Wm Shakespeare -- From As You Like It (II, vii, 139-143)
Avatar by Sialia
Last edited by Dracomeander; 2nd November 2007 at 04:02 PM..
"Yes, we must keep moving. Our time will come later. For now the task is to survive." He makes a powerful swing down with his Long Axe (1d20+10=30) virtually chopping a foe in twain. "Of course one should not pass up the opportunities the Light presents either."
"Yes, you are unquestionably right. Still, I wonder what it is that draws me so strongly toward an ill-advised action? One might almost call it somewhat chaotic!"
"More like stubborn. Let 'em run, our mission is more important."
As he pulls his horse around to the west, Aidan lets one more blast fly at any of the fleeing rabble who remain in range to keep them running
"More like stubborn. As he pulls his horse around to the west, Aidan lets one more blast fly at any of the fleeing rabble who remain in range to keep them running
"My Brother!! Gotta love him!" Nijel spurs Saint Jo to a brief gallop to ride alongside Aidan, riding on the side of Aidan from which any attack is likely to come to shelter his brother as much as possible.
Last edited by Leif; 2nd November 2007 at 09:49 PM..
Seeing the rest of the company canter on, Roak pauses a moment to whirl Widow's Lament over his head, as if daring the orcs to continue their pursuit. Then, he puts spur to Halcyon's snowy white flank, and gallops after his companions.
Standard action to recover maneuvers.
__________________ -Rhun
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death." -Robert Fulghum
Last edited by Rhun; 2nd November 2007 at 10:36 PM..
Padraig rides hard after the others, anxious to put this ambush behind them all. He spares a small part of his thoughts to enjoy the way his golden cloak flies behind him. He lets out a whooping howl as he gestures back at the orcs with his mace.
Having smashed one of the forming shield walls and damaging another the party wheels to the left and begins to race towards the end of the pass against the opponets who were to to their rear and who are also racing to close the gap thus entrapping the party and other survivors from the frontal assault earlier that morning. Parting shot from Aidan, Kat and Ewan slow the attackers that were just moments before directly in front of them. It is Alban however which makes the foes step back as he raises his mighty axe and with one downward stroke splits an orc in have sending torrents of blood and goo splattering about the hillside. The party however does not escape untouched. Arrows, perhaps as many as fifty are sent chasing after the party scoring hits on Ewan (12), Aidan (4) Roak (2) Padraig (3) and Alban (4).
Tactical: The party is racing westward and has perhaps another 500 yards to go before breaking into open fields. Orc's and Ogiers are to the east, north and south of the group. Several other small bands of survivors are engaged in a running fight with the bad guys but none are close enough to aid. Smoke still is rising from the south west. Detachements of orc's and ogiers can be seen in the distance forming a defensive perimeter and the party swears there is at least three large hulking shapes atop the hillock where the regimentail commander went down.
Nijel glances at the place where his regimental commander fell to the wicked slaves of darkness, and fights down the urge to go and take immediate vengeance upon them. However, remembering the wise words of Katherine and Cairnwalker, he puts aside all such thoughts for the moment, and rides hell-for-leather to the west and the salvation that awaits them there.
"Faster, Saint Josiah! Run as if the very demons of hell were nipping at your heels, because if we fail, they will be!"
Roak continues to spur his mount faster, guiding him with his knees, holding his blade in such a way to deflect incoming arrows. The minor wounds he had received were of no matter; they must escape the trap and reach the Lord Marshall.
Full Defense (+6 to AC)
AC: 29, HP: 50/53
Ride Check (guide with knees) - Automatic (DC5, Ride +8)
Stances: Stance of Clarity, Stonefoot Stance
Maneuvers Readied: Moment of Perfect Mind, Steel Wind, Leading the Attack, Tactical Strike
__________________ -Rhun
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death." -Robert Fulghum
Padraig briefly concentrates on the need for perceptiveness, knowing that spotting threats before they develop will greatly help the escape efforts. He then works to keep pace with the rest of the operatives, never ceasing to think about a victorious return to these cursed hills.
ooc
Switch aura back to senses, +2 on listen, spot, search and initiative rolls
Katherine tucks her bow under her arm and hunkers down over Caoimhe's powerful shoulders, urging the swift steed to even greater speed with knees and skillful shifting of her weight in her attempt to escape the closing jaws of the trap.
Ewan groans as a few arrows find their mark in him and urges the horse on to get out of their opponents' effective bow range. Once the range is opened up, he slows the horse to a more normal ground eating pace and turns to let one last arrow fly at their pursuers. Then he starts scanning the territory ahead to pick out the best terrain to maintain speed to slip past those trying to cut them off.
__________________ "All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages."
Wm Shakespeare -- From As You Like It (II, vii, 139-143)
His satisfaction at the mighty blow soon fades as he sees the terrible array of foes. He prays for sharp eyes and ears lest they find another ambush. He considers the tactical situation as they move. "Now that we seem to be breaking clear of the worst of the enemy, we need to spread the word to the farms hamlets here to fire their goods and flee."
Nijel spurs Saint Jo to a brief gallop to ride alongside Aidan, riding on the side of Aidan from which any attack is likely to come to shelter his brother as much as possible.
Linear Mode
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