Can Dextyr Keep All These Strikers Alive? (DM: JoeNotCharles, Ozymandias79 Judging)

[JoeNotCharles]

"Is like fever sick or throw-up sick or poo-poo sick? You is upside down and naked, so no bad if you throw-up sick, but is much bad if poo-poo sick, because where you think poo-poo go?"

The halfling's rotation slows to a stop. "It's ok, I feel better now," he mumbles. Until Tristan pokes him. Then he screams, suddenly throws up (narrowly missing missing Tonk) and passes out.

[sblock=Tristan]
These guys are clearly bandits living off what they could steal, and not very good at it. Their gear is mismatched and worn, and as you look closer at the bodies they seem gaunt from hunger. They're carrying no valuables except for basic armour and weapons.
[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

"So what do you prefer to do, Prepare an ambush of our own or should we avoid the others and search out the young Applethorpe and bring the fight to him"? Dextyr asks the others in a lowered voice so their prisoner would not hear.

Tonk speaks in his 'quiet voice'...

"I like for to bring fight to son, but maybe no fight, just talk. Is more sneaky. Sneaky fight is good fight."

"He was paid to kill us, the only difference is that he failed. I do not know if I have the stomach to kill him in cold blood." Dextyr finishes his speech looking to he others for an answer to him moral dilemma, hoping perhaps that they will have the solution.

"Is okay! I already think of this, for is easy to solve problem."

Tonk pinches and slaps the halfing to wakefulness.

"Hey! Hey! Is you want no be bad no more, yes? Like for to get job and work for much better of all person, no? Hmm? Even maybe you like for to help us with other bandit or maybe go to church of Dead God and give self as slave or you maybe be slave of me? If slave of me, is good job, though is long hour, but is nice for to sleep under star and eat good food find in dumpster. You be surprise is what is find in dumpster. Look!"

Tonk points at the name tag on his chest.

"Is good paper! (It no have name of me when I find, okay, but I find charcoal for which to write.) Why for people no use? So, what you say?"

Tonk's Insight Check: (Has there been profound and permanent moral transformation?) (1d20+7=26)

19?! Will I never roll a '20'?!

 

[H.M.Gimlord]

"Judging by his behavior
up to now,
something
tells me

kindness and forgiveness is not due.
I don't think we can afford to
let him
live.

He is a survivalist.
If those that are coming outnumber us,
my guess is that he'll betray us."

Mikara looks up at Dextyr.

"You are right. We are no better than they are. I don' t have a problem with that. He chose his side, and we have chosen ours. If you don't like the business of killng, you should not have put your name to the contract."

[sblock=OOC Ooh this is getting good. Mikara is not exactly the compassionate type. Ken and Dextyr on the other hand are the bleeding hearts.

Blade,

If you want to wade in on this argument, we might outvote the others.

JNC,

Too bad Tonk woke the halfling up. I was considering a coup de grace. [/sblock]

 

[DMDanW]

Dextyr looks over to Mikira as her last statement hits him.
"Look, I signed that contract same as everyone here, well except him." Dextyr points over to the dangling halfling. "There are numerous good reasons to kill someone. In self defence, In protecting others, During times of warfare, and in the punishing of criminals and upholding of the law. Those are all perfectly good reasons to take a life. To kill out of rage or hatred, or to kill someone just because they are different than you - those are not acceptable reasons.

Dextyr once again looks to the halfling and then back at Mikira.
"You are correct though regarding his loyalties. He would turn on us in an instant, so we cannot simply set him free. I say if we are to set an ambush, we use him as bait. Perhaps tied up in the middle of the road or something like that."

"If we are to venture elsewhere, then we tie him up and keep him knocked out. We will be heading back to town and we can drop him off at the authorities and have him charged with the crime of highway robbery. In either case we have Tonk break enough of his bones that he cannot threaten us again anytime soon. Justice would then be served - either way in my thinking. I believe in forgiveness and the redemption, but I am also not a fool as to think that we can trust that one."

 

[KenHood]

"There are numerous good reasons to kill someone...

Tonk stuffs a finger in his nose and pulls out a long string of mucus, which he flips into the brush.

"No, no. You make too hard. Is think too much, yes? Is much, much, much simple! See, is god that make right and wrong, no? So, is god that say we kill, so is no can be wrong, yes? Is like...(uh)...reso--...resoLUTION...of...(urm)...meta-ethical...sub--...sub--...subJECTIVISTISM. (I think is right word, yes?)"

 

[JoeNotCharles]

The halfling moans as Tonk roughly wakes him. He seems to be slipping in and out of consciousness as Tonk makes his long speech, trying to focus on the words. Finally he says, "Whu...? Slave...?"

He is cut off by the baying of hounds approaching up the trail.

[sblock=Nature 15]
There's something wrong with the cry of the hounds - unnatural. It chills you, though those less in tune with nature may not notice anything amiss.
[/sblock]

[sblock=OOC]
Last chance to spend healing surges. You do have time to get under cover, ready weapons, etc, but nothing fancy like resetting the log trap. There is enough time to cut the halfling down and do simple things with him (like free him, or gag him, or toss him into the bushes) but anyone involved in this won't have time to hide, so they'll need to start on or adjacent to the road.

Please choose your positions and make Initiative and (if necessary) Stealth rolls. Remember that the brown square is still difficult terrain. You can also hide behind it as long as you're prone. (The sound of the hounds is coming from the south.)

It's also possible to run away if you all start RIGHT NOW. If you choose this, tell me which direction you're heading.
[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

Once again, Tonk sighs in exasperation.

"Okay! We finish conversation later. Here is what you do. You cry for help and get bandit to cut you down and say to new bandit that we run away to West, yes? You understand? See, I no want to kill you, but my Punch Brother and Sister want me to break you bone or smash in you head."

Tonk leans in and 'whispers' in a conspiratorial manner. "I think is little over top, yes, but what is half-orc to do? Is...(er)...stereotype, yes?"

"So, you make good show, and I no need to eat you intestine while you still alive and can watch. Okay? Is like spaghetti! But fill with poop! Hee-hee!"

Skill Check: Intimidate (1d20+6=20)

Tonk tosses one of the healing salves to Dextyr, then the half-orc flips up into the tree, disappearing amongst its branches. He draws a shuriken in one hand and his mace in the other.

Skill Check: Stealth (1d20+9=23) -- Which SHOULD get a situational bonus because people don't look up! Dropping on someone's head counts as charging, right?

Initiative (1d20+4=15)

 

[JoeNotCharles]

[sblock=Rules]
Oh, yeah - this next fight will be using Mal Malenkirk style rules, so: all the monsters will be going at once, and your Init roll decides if you'll be going before or after them in the first round. After that whoever posts and action first, goes first (1 post per person per round, obviously). Feel free to make posts discussing strategy or making free actions or whatever without actually posting your turn, just be sure it's clear which post is your official actions.

Tonk: yeah, nobody looks up as long as the tree's not still shaking from your climb by the time the hunter's get here. So it evens out - if you roll high, you're well concealed, but if you roll low, you didn't get up there fast enough.

Dropping from the tree counts as charging, but you'll also take normal falling damage (which you can reduce with Acrobatics as usual).
[/sblock]

 

[Lord Sessadore]

Tristan's head snaps up as he hears the baying of the hounds, and his hand reflexively goes to the hilt of his sword. Drawing the long blade, he pauses briefly to listen to Tonk's idea. "A good plan, Tonk." Turning to the halfling he adds, "This is your chance, little one. If you cross us, we won't be quite as nice the second time around. You've been warned."

With that, the elf dives off into the bushes near Tonk's tree, hoping to catch the newest wave by surprise.
[sblock=ooc]Nature (1d20+6=10)
Initiative: 1d20+4=15
Stealth: 1d20+11=16[/sblock]
[sblock=Tristan stats]Tristan Moonblade - Male Elf Avenger (Dayna) 1
Passive Perception: 21, Passive Insight: 14; Low-light vision
AC:17, Fort:13, Reflex:15, Will:15 -- Speed:7
HP:24/28, Bloodied:14, Surge Value:7, Surges Left:8/9
Action Points: 1, Second Wind: available
Powers
Bond of Pursuit, Overwhelming Strike
Angelic Alacrity, Channel Divinity, Elven Accuracy, Oath of Enmity
Oath of the Final Duel
Group Awareness: All non-elf allies within 5 squares of Tristan gain a +1 bonus to Perception.[/sblock]

 

[H.M.Gimlord]

Mikara whispers to the halfling.

"You got lucky, little one."

She gives the him a look that clearly communicates how close he came to being stuck like a pin cushion.

Then she disappears into the forest.

[sblock=OOC
Nature 1d20+5=22
Stealth = 1d20+9=27
Initiative = 1s20+4 = 23

Move action: to E13 and she climbs into the tree
Athletics = 1d20 + 7 = 24
(I know the comment on IC says acrobatics, but I used my athletics bonus)
[/sblock]