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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 474967" data-attributes="member: 6294">"Unearthing the Past" by Jesse Decker (WotC Cliffhanger) - Part 4Despite the sudden nature of the attack, the young monk's reflexes save her from serious injury: she spins to the side, the bolt that was aimed at her throat merely grazing her shoulder.  [DM's note: Point Blank Shot and True Strike, and I rolled a "1" for damage.  Sigh.]"Damn it!" Briar snaps off a shot back at the monk's attacker.  His aim is true, but at the last moment the bolt strikes an invisible barrier and is harmlessly deflected away.  The target of the shot, meanwhile, has turned and bolted away from the group.Ulfgar raises his waraxe and charges down the road toward the scene of the confrontation, his sturdy legs allowing him to cover almost half the distance to the wagon, despite the muddy conditions.Another dagger flashes out of the bushes on the opposite side of the road, but does not even come close to striking its fleeing target."Who is that?" Briar wonders again."Who cares?" Ulfgar yells in response, still running toward the fight.  "As long as they're not trying to kill us?"This sounds like good advice to the young rogue, who puts aside the question of the mystery participant to race after the fleeing human.  Seeing that the man still has his crossbow in his hands, the youngster gambles and puts on a burst of speed, trying to get in front of their adversary.Seeing Briar out of the corner of his eye, the man swings the crossbow, cudgel-style.  The haft of the weapon strikes the young man on the side of the head, but the glancing blow is not even enough to make him stumble as he moves to block his assailant's attempt to flee.Ming Li, by now thoroughly convinced that they can attack this man in good conscience, races up behind their opponent, leaving him neatly boxed in.With a snarled expletive, the man feints left, then dodges to the right around Briar, still trying to get clear.  The young rogue echoes the curse, draws his sword, and gives chase, chopping at the man's back as soon as he gets in range.The blow is hastily aimed, but the impetus of Briar's charge makes it effective: the blade plunges deep into the man's back.  It's likely that the blow is instantly fatal, but the victim staggers on for a few more steps before the effects of his wound catch up with him, and he collapses into the mud."That's for Jesper and Garal." Briar snarls at the corpse, then kicks it for good measure."Well done, young 'un." Ulfgar congratulates Briar as he moves up to the scene.  Then he gestures with his axe at the area of bushes where the daggers came from, "Now we can worry about who's sneaking around out there.""I don't see them." Briar confesses, scanning the vegetation fruitlessly."Nor I." Ming Li concurs."I do." An out of breath Macwood gasps out as he jogs up. "Over there, behind the blackberry bushes.""Aye.  I see her, too." Ulfgar nods, "You've got sharp eyes, bard." He raises his voice, "You may as well come out."  "Oh ... you can see me, huh?" a slip of a gnome girl emerges bashfully from the undergrowth, a dagger held lightly in one hand.  She looks limber and lithe, and has darkly pretty features - though with a decidedly mischievous cast."Been able to all along," Ulfgar bluffs, playing a hunch, "You've been following us since town.""Oh." The girl looks crestfallen, "Gotta work on those hide skills, I guess." [DM's note: or maybe those Sense Motive skills would be a better investment!]"Why are you following us?" Ming Li is very practical.The young gnome grins,"I kinda overheard you talking to that guy about going looking for this wagon, and I figured it sounded more exciting than hanging around town ... so I thought I'd tag along.""Well, good job with that orc." Ulfgar gestures with his axe, "Nice throw.  You got a name, kid?""Tweedlefinkle Dessandri Rhowyn." The girl answers proudly.  Then, seeing the bemused expressions on the others faces, she visibly deflates, "Oh, just call me Twinkle.  Everybody else does."</blockquote>

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