...And another fight approaches!
Abde'ragman finds no signs of magic at work in the earlier ambush.
As Evanar tries to get up a tree for a better point of view, and the others inspect the site of the ambush, Selua keeps watch and spots something flying closer from the north, three thin, yellow-white, man-sized forms...... Merrick hears something while he checks around the ambush site, standing up and turning as he tries to determine where the sound is coming from......
Then the trio of long, thin forms get close enough to discern details, and Selua can see that they're giant, skeletal bats! They are flying about 30 feet above the forest floor and are about 40 feet away from Selua when she finds them.
Merrick faces northward and holds his crossbow up, but doesn't see the critters yet. He just says quietly "There's something approaching...." No one else is aware of the critters just yet, just Selua.
[sblock=Combat!]Surprise Round Initiatives:
13 Merrick
12 bonebat #1
8 bonebat #2
8 bonebat #3
? Selua
Merrick raises his crossbow and looks around to the north, but doesn't spot his targets yet, having trouble figuring out where it was he heard the sound of flapping wings coming from.
Everyone, roll initiatives!
Selua, post your surprise-round partial action as well. I don't know where in the initiative you'll act, but for reference, bonebat #1 will be diving at Tarven on initiative count 12, bonebat #2 will be diving at Merrick on initiative count 8, and bonebat #3 will be diving at Evanar on initiative count 8. Just so ya know where they'll be at those points in the surprise round for purposes of figuring out what you're gonna do.
The map, such as it is.....
R R * 1 2 3 * X X
* R R X X X X X *
X X R R * X X X X
X X * T R M X X E*
* s X X R R * X X
X X * X * R R X a
A X X F X X R R *
* X X X X * X R R
X X * S X X X * R
* X X m * X X X *
A = Abde'ragman, a = Abrielle, E = Evanar, F = Fayne, M = Merrick, m = mule, S = Selua, s = Storn, T = Tarven, 1-3 = bonebats, R = empty 5-foot space of road/trail, X = empty 5-foot space of light undergrowth, * = tree (half cover, effectively heavy undergrowth for moving through the space)[/sblock]
