Scions of the New World:Scene One-Gertle's Gulch...

Uriel · 22nd January 2004, 12:24 PM

Tzzarcct and Mantis

Tzzarcct sniffed the air again. Yep, that was smoke all right...waving Mantis up from where he waited by an old dead oak tree, the Rogue took another look through the dried grasses atop the hill.

Below, off to the side of the Road, a burnt-out wagon gave up the ghost at last,it's final embers burning down in the morning air.
The sound of course laughter drifted up the hill from down below.

Tzzarcct could see Brahnz moving down among the rocks, her form camoflauged with an appropriately colored dun cloak. Her puppy was close,too, skulking among the rocks.

What was going on down there...

Not ten minutes ago the Band of them had smelled the smoke and had hastened up the road, curiousity more than altruism driving them (except for Whistler, with his ever-touted Law...). It looked to be some sort of bandit ambush, though there seemed to be no bandits around.

Wait <Spot 23>...there was an arrow and the tip of a bow sticking out from behind a boulder...freck, whoever it was, they were getting ready to pigstick Brahnz...

Brahnz

Lupe growled as he sniffed through the rocks, his lupine muzzle searching for anything of note on the winds.
Brahnz looked back at the wolf, petting him and seemingly paying him all of her attention, while <Spot 19> she,in fact, saw the archer hidden in the rocks not 30 feet away. Buffoon...to think she'd let him stick her in the back.
Brahnz could clearly see signs of horses, maybe a half dozen, though these must have gone on, down the Road maybe an hour ago.It seems that some of these fools had decided to stay and loot further, pity their bad judgement.

Where was Whistler and the Animal, anyways...?

Whistler and Semm

Semm slavered. He could smell meat, very fresh meat and so much blood...
Whistler threw him a no look that spoke volumes, even to the dim-witted Animal within. Angry and flexing his massive fists, Semm didn't want to wait for the Strategy that Whistler had mentioned...waiting for the enemy to show themselves was silly. Rush up and CRUSH THEM!!!

Whistler knew that there were maybe 5,6 bandits.If there was a Scion with them, he wasn't sure. Whatever they were, they had left little of the poor souls who had been travelling in the Wagon. The horses or whatever had pulled the Wagon had been taken as well.

Semm straightened <Nat 20 on Listen>, slavering. Whistler <Nat 1, haha,sorry> looked up annoyed, wondering what the Animal was doing now!?!

Around a turn in the hill came three Orcs, laughing, fresh meat still being chewed as they stopped, slack-jawed when they saw the Marshall and the big Feral.

Semm and Brahnz have a Suprise Round.Brahnz' target is 30' away and in half cover.
Semm's future lunch are 25 feet away.

Round One

Whistler '20', 21 total.
Brahnz 19
Tzzecct 18
Mantis 18
Lupe 15
Semm 9
Archer 14
Orcs 7

Uriel · 22nd January 2004, 12:25 PM

Map for the Scene...

Argent Silvermage · 22nd January 2004, 01:03 PM

Brahnz whips around and in the blink of an eye is in front of the archer. Now that was a very silly thing to do. Did you think you could sneak up on a dragon? Did you? She says and rakes a claw across his chest while Lupe attacks from behind. (getting flanking bonuses)

Jeremy · 22nd January 2004, 01:22 PM

Mantis is walking over towards Tzzecct when his head pivots around at the first sounds of battle.

"That's our queue-tck," he clicks. He heads towards the closest sounds of battle while summoning up his prowess.

OOC: Cast Divine Favor, Move 40'

Velenne · 22nd January 2004, 04:02 PM

The scaled monster crouches low onto its forelimbs like a Gator. Its jaws snap several times- teeth clacking together like hammer on anvil. Semm crosses the distance to the orcs in seconds and leaps onto the first one (who still holds its meat in one hand). His reptillian hiss can be heard a good distance away.

OOC: Charge the lead orc- dodging him as well. +9 (1d8+7). AC is 22 to that one and 21 to the others. If he hits, Semm automatically makes a grapple attempt at +11.

Sparky · 22nd January 2004, 04:15 PM

Zadkiel recovers his wits quickly and as Semm crouches, Zadkiel cocks his head ...Good evenin' boys... amber eyes ablaze. Flexing his shoulders and shaking them out he clenches his hands, knuckles popping. The ringing rasp of his elven blade lingers in the air as he levels it at the bandits and he growls in orcish, "Rrrash kreshnek The Law. Krerrr bourash gerek skra."

Translation: "Kneel before The Law. Or taste your own blood as you die."

Orcish, faugh... Zadkiel spits. I need a drink.

OOC: Intimidate +6. Combat expertise, adding 3 to AC taking 3 from Attack. Attack now -1, AC now 19.

Uriel · 22nd January 2004, 11:34 PM

OoC: Sparky-Combat Expertise is limited to 1 point per Base Attack Bobus, so it's -1 for +1 Ac at this point.
Argent- You will have to Charge the Archer to get to him/her,remember the archer is 30 feet away. Lupe goes after you do, btw...The archer is hidden in rocks, so no flanking is possible,as his/her rear is in a little cave of sorts.
Since nothing that is possible with a Standard Action was stated on the Suprise Round, I am going with the default Intimidate for Semm and Dragon-Girl.

Pre Round One

Brahnz (Intimidate) "Now that was a very silly thing to do. Did you think you could sneak up on a dragon? Did you?"

An immediate reaction is evident, as the bow begins to shake and Brahnz can hear crying...

Semm crouches forward, roaring and promising entire new(if quickly ending) World of Pain to the Orcs <Intimidate>. The two closest look unshaken, while the furthest Orc squeals <Orc #3 is Shaken>.

Round One

Whistler "Rrrash kreshnek The Law. Krerrr bourash gerek skra."
The two Orcs still seem unswayed, but the rear one now Squeals again and bolts back around the rock.

Tzzarcct moves quickly down the slope (ref save 22, made), standing where he can get a good view of the north and East passes.

Brahnz moves in to finish off her attacker, to be confronted by a dirty little boy (human) hiding in the rocks, tears streaming down his bloody face.He looks to be about 10 <Spot 17>. there is an even smaller boy hiding behind him, this one looking half-dead, a crossbow bolt sticking out of his leg.

OoC:Still attacking?

Mantis casts Divine Favor and creststhe hill, moving 40' down it's rocky surface (Ref Save 19,), seeing that it would be very easy to lost one's footing.

Lupe moves up, unsure of what to do...
OoC:He'll attack with a free action command,if Brahnz wants him to.

Semm Charges, catching the Orc by the throat <15HP....dead orc>, seeking to grapple him, but finding that he has popped off the Piggy's head instead.

The little boy drops his bow and tries to back up, only to find himself trapped by the rock.

The remaining Orc (the one not recently beheaded or peeing himself as he runs away), swings a mailed fist at Semm, his gauntlet bouncing off of the big Monster's hide.

Round Two

Edit:Tzzarcct's action...

Jeremy · 22nd January 2004, 11:42 PM

Mantis continues heading towards the sounds of combat, he hears the squishy sound of Semm doing something unmentionable to something--oddly, it makes him hungry.

Quick as a blink, throwing darts are in his hands as he continues to close.

OOC: Throw if something hostile is in range, careful of things hiding near the wagon as well.

Sparky · 22nd January 2004, 11:55 PM

The corner of Zadkiel's mouth twitches and his eyes narrow hungrily as Semm's hissing roars echo off the boulders. Damn that Semm, but he makes me want to kill...

Swinging his sword mightily he rasps as he advances, "Bourash it is then!"

OOC: He will attempt to flank if possible. AC 17, Attack +1. Sorry about the Combat Expertise gaff. Any chance I could have taken a 5' step last go so I can close this time?

ferretguy · 23rd January 2004, 07:31 AM

Hearing the sounds of combat, and knowing how that sometimes the Animal gets a little carried away,leaving none to figure what may have happened, Tzzect moves quickly forward readying his bow for any foes that may not have fallen..

OOC: sorry about that, didn't check posts yesterday...

Argent Silvermage · 23rd January 2004, 09:05 AM

Brahnz stops in mid claw as she recognises these children must be survivors from the attack. her entire demeanor turns from attack to worry. Bones of the dragons! Children! Little ones I will not harm you. I am Brahnz. I can heal your friend. Please allow me to help you. she says Lupe backs away seeing his mistress is not attacking.

Uriel · 23rd January 2004, 11:58 AM

OoC:Yes to Whistler's 5 foot step.

Whistler clears his scabbard of the long wicked blade, Charging in <hit,6HP> and flanking the remaining Orc.

Brahnz sees that the children are exhaustedand hurt, and takes up a defensive position near them.

Tzzarcct can just see an Orc clearing the boulders near Semm, running East,screaming as he goes. Shooting (hit,4HP>, Tzzarcct wings him, but the orc continues to run, roaring in pain now.

Mantis also sees the fleeing orc and, taking aim, hurls a dart up and out...to imbed it with a thunk in the top of the orc's head.
<6HP damage...even with 3 range increments, you whacked him...haha>. The Orc stumbles and stops, dead...

Lupe takes up position near Brahnz, keeping his sniffer into the Wind.

Semm feels disappointed that the little Orc wasn't very good at this game.
With a smach <13HP>, he sends the Orc flying skywards some twelve feet, to hear a satusfying thud as it's lifeless body hits the hill behind it.

The little boy seems calmed, although he hasn't stopped crying. He says in a vice parched by the oppressive heat 'My name's Derry...this is Wallam,my brother, he hasn't said anything fer a long time,Miss...'

Brahnz can see <untrained Heal Wis2+18,total 20> that the younger boy is near death...

Sparky · 23rd January 2004, 02:43 PM

Zadkiel watches in awe as the Orc goes flying. I still do not believe thissun's strength. He gives his sword a sharp twist to sling the orc's blood off the keen blade, "Keep yer eyes peeled, Semm. I reckon there are more around." His wings lift and flutter in a weak remembrance of flight as he leaps the dismembered bodies ...unbelievable... and rounds the boulder in pursuit of the fleeing orc. He stops, cloak swirling around his legs as he sees his prey fallen, an arrow and a metal disk showing that others found him first.

He sees the wagon ahead and grimaces and crouches low in some rocks and brush. "Semm... c'mere." He glances back, "Eat later!" he hisses. "C'mere! I'm worried about Brahnz."

Jeremy · 23rd January 2004, 02:51 PM

Mantis closes on the dead orc, wrenching the dart out of it's skull, and sheathing it in it's heart. After a quick twist he pulls it out and wipes it clean, keeping a wary eye on the wagon and he moves with the angel and the demon to investigate.

Concerned about more brutes charging forth, he pulls two picks free of their loops and holds two more darts ready to throw as he advances.

Velenne · 23rd January 2004, 03:43 PM

The Animal issues a menacing growl in response to Whistler's words. Confirmation or opposition? It's hard to tell.

But the man inside Semm registers the words and fights for control of the body. His eyes narrow as they scan the surroundings, the Animal tamed...for now.

"Brahnz has captured one," he says, but stops to sniff the air,"but it is no ork."

OOC: Also FFR, while Charge has been changed to a FRA in 3.5, you can still do it as a Standard if limited to only such an action (such as in a surprise round), but you're limited to a single move instead of a double.

EDIT: Corrected. Oh and it's a GROWL not a roar....ahem....rawr.