Malvoisin's War of the Burning Sky - IC Thread

Taren curses, like Cassandra said, things are happening just as expected. He hunkers down behind the bar, hiding for now and ready to loose shadow darts at intruders.

Aridha takes a position against the wall ten feet away from the door, ready to rush forward and deliver a strike against whoever comes through...if anyone.

*Cassandra is behind Coldan, positioned so that nothing coming from upstairs could charge her. If worse comes to worse, she might be able to pull off a flank.*

The assembled conspirators react quickly to the warnings of Aridha and Markus. Xander and Markus move quickly toward the stairs, ready for whomever or whatever might descend. Taren darts behind the bar, and crouches down out of sight. Coldan and Cassandra move to middle of the room, while Ari moves closer to the alley door, wary of an attack from that direction. Torrent kicks aside her chair and stands near the table, drawing a fine-looking battleaxe from her side as she does.

In the tense seconds that follow, an unusual sound reaches the ears of the ready adventurers. It's a series of 'thumps', reminiscent of some ripe fruit landing on the roof of a house.

Then, from the street out front, a man's voice yells, "Front door! Go!" The boarded over door shudders with a loud, heavy impact, as though a battering ram has struck it! The force of the blow splinters the door, and two rough looking men can be seen in the street outside. They drop their portable battering ram as one of them growls, "Drop your weapons and come quietly. We don't want to break your valuable little heads!" Drawing saps, they force their way through the wreckage of the front door, and start to enter the Poison Apple.

Torrent laughs harshly at the threat, brandishing her battleaxe. "Just try it, buddy!"

COMBAT!



Initiative Order, Round 1

18: Taren
18: 2 Thugs
17: Coldan
13: Torrent
9: Cassandra
7: Aridha
7: Xander
3: Markus

Please state combat actions for round 1.

Taren from his position behind the bar will peak his head over and summon an Arrow of Dusk from the shadows that abound. Again little evidence exists that he is casting a spell, though his shadow seems to be making movements of its own. An arrow streaks out over the bar towards the first thug through the door.

[sblock=ooc]arrow of dusk +2 touch (2d4 nonlethal/20/X3) range 110', 6/day;
AC: 12 (plus cover), HP 7/7[/sblock]

Silent and deadly, Aridha charges the man who just came through the door, leaping up and swinging her dagger down at the juncture between neck and shoulder as she reaches him!

[sblock]Charge attack! +4 to hit, 1d4+1d6+2 damage if successful. Dodge to Foe 1. AC 14 against Foe 1, AC 13 against anyone else. HP 10/10.[/sblock]

Torn between the desire to rush towards the battered door and to remain and guard the flank from those that lurked above, Markus saw the others pressing the forward attack and moved closer to the stairs to strike at whoever, or whatever, lurked above when they came down the stairs.

[sblock=combat stats]Ready attack against anything coming down the steps for this round and potentially next before moving into combat on Rd 3 if nothing has came down the steps by then. Melee: +3 (1d6+3/20x2/p, Shortspear); HP 10/10; AC: 16[/sblock]

His greatsword already in hand, Xander steps toward the first thug, slashing at the man with his heavy blade.

AC15, HP 16/16
5' step, Attack +3, 2d6+4 (19-20)
(If Coldan drops thug 1, then 10 ft. move to attack thug 2)

COMBAT ROUND 1 (PARTIAL)

Taren engages the intruders with an arcane assault. He stands from behind the bar, and steps over to get a good view of the first thug, then launches a shadowy arrow from his fingertips with an incantation. The arrow strikes the entering bounty hunter square in the chest, causing him to stagger back with a grimace. He stays on his feet, however.

The first thug heads straight for Coldan, brandishing his sap. He tries to hit Coldan with it, but it bounces uselessly off the knight's armor.

The second thug heads for Cassandra, and has better fortune than his companion. His sap cracks painfully across Cassandra's skull, causing her to see stars momentarily.

(Note that, in the glow of the lantern, everyone can see that these thugs are wearing red insignia armbands with a black horse's head upon them.)

Coldan....?

(OOC: I'll hold up here for the rest of the actions, then finish round 1)

[sblock=ROUND 1 MECHANICS]
Taren stands up, takes 5' step, casts Arrow of Dusk on Thug #1. Ranged Touch Attack roll 11+2=13, HIT! Damage roll 2d4=4, nonlethal.

Thug #1 5' step, attacks Coldan with sap. Attack roll 8+3=11, MISS vs. AC 18.

Thug #2 moves 10', attacks Cassandra with sap. Attack roll 19+3=22, HIT vs. AC 14 (FF). Damage roll 1d6+2=5 (nonlethal).
[/sblock]



Initiative Order, Round 1

18: Taren
18: 2 Thugs (Thug #1 4 Nonlethal Damage);(Thug #2 Unharmed)
17: Coldan
13: Torrent
9: Cassandra (7/7 hp, 5 Nonlethal Damage)
7: Aridha
7: Xander
3: Markus