Shattered Sea Chronicles, Book II: Of Rocks and Red Eagles

[EvolutionKB]

Redbeard

Still being partially pulled by Ralph, Redbeard replies obviously winded, "If...we don't...smell them...first."

 

[Imerak]

The long trek actually seems to energize Larren, who darts from place to place, looking for some sort of excitement to break up the monotnous hike. "I fear you've been hearing old wives tales, Red. Good ol' Thorentil told me he met some of them and they didn't look much different than your human street thug... mind you, he said he was drunk at the time, and that they didn't look so human in the morning... whatever that means." Larren had learned early that it was usually better not to ask for more detail from one of Thorentil's stories.

 

[Blarkon Dragonslayer]

May 10, 1106CR
Southern path into Mallon Vale

Whatever crofts Maris was referring to, it is apparent that the trek from the highland camp to Bright Rock is going to take considerably longer then a single morning. She leads her horse, since the party isn't mounted, though it's fairly obvious she thinks they should all be on horseback.

Still, she passes the time largely by trying to find out about the adventurers, where they come from, what those places were like, their prior adventures and travels. She seems very interested in anything she can learn about life outside the mountains.

As afternoon starts to pass into evening, and they come close to what seems like the end of the trail, suddenly Ralph growls, and Jillian tenses, having spotted something in the brush ahead. Redbeard too, senses something amiss.

They are not surprised then when two large black wolves come into view, one releasing a long, growling howl. Answering howls come from a distance to the right, and the left. As the wolves look at the adventurers, an evil red glint can be seen in their eyes.

In the brush, four orcs rise into view, javelins held in hand, about 20' ahead of the group.

[sblock=Redbeard]
The creatures are worgs, not wolves.
[/sblock]

OOC
In this surprise round, only Redbeard, Ralph, and Jillian will get to act. The worgs are 10' away from the group, the orcs 20'. There wasn't really an order of march set, so establish that in the following posts, then we'll worry about a map. In general, the group is on a fairly narrow trail, about 20' wide including the brush on either side, with irregular rock walls on either side.

Init: Jillian, Nathaniel, Worgs, Hurog, Orcs, Maris, Pauli, Johanna, Broderick, Larren, Redbeard(Ralph)

 

[Guest 11456]

Jillian Wolfrunner : Female Elf Rogue 3

Jillian, having spotted something in the brush ahead, draws her bow from her shoulder and prepares to fire at the enemies.

OOC: Standard action, draw weapon. Jillian would have been in the front of the group.

 

[Nathaniel Frost]

Nathaniel's pulse quickens, and sweat beads on his forehead at the sound of the howling. He had practiced some things with his father, but had yet to be in any real combat. During the march, he lagged to the rear of the group. For a moment, it seems that fear might get the better of him...

 

[pathfinderq1]

Johanna had been fairly quiet for a while now, both in the camp and on the trail. From time to time she spoke a few words with Maris, but most of her attention seemed to be on the environment around them, so different from sea and coastal hills of home. Unfortunately, though, she was so wrapped up in her observation of the unfamiliar terrain that she was caught completely off guard when a real threat appeared...

OOC: Nothing but gawking this round... It seems likely that given the narrow trail we would have had one full-time warrior type at each end of the group. With the initiative, perhaps Johanna nearer to the front, behind Jillian and anyone else on scouting duty, and Broderick near the back, with most of the others randomly distributed in the center of our "formation"? Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

 

[EvolutionKB]

Redbeard

Redbeard hears Ralph growl, and looks towards the trees. He catches a glint of the sun off the metal and yells, "Ambush! Orcs and evil beasts!" He begins a soft chant under his breath raising his hands to the brush around them and then bring his hands, arms extended, together in front of him. The trees, bushes, and even the grass begins to reach out and hold on their foes. "Be gettin' out yer ranged weapons, why they be held by the plants!" After the spell be cast, Redbeard pats Ralph on the shoulder and points to Jillian, "protect her boy, but be stayin' out of tha weeds."
[sblock=ooc]Casting entangle, centered to catch all the enemies as close to the middle of the 40' radius without getting any of us. DC: 14 partial. The plants continue to grasp all creatures that remain in the area. If failure, creature is held in place and entangled and can attempt a DC 20 escape artist or strength check to break free Entangled: move at half speed, can't run or charge; -4 dex and attack rolls; if casting concentration DC 15+spell lv or lose the spell. From the definition of the condition entanged it looks like the creatures are held in place until they make the strength of escape artist check because they would be anchored to an object or tethered by an opposing force. Redbeard would probably be near the rear, it is where he was while in the sewers. Ralph is commanded to defend Jillian, Handle animal +9. Ralph's AC vs is 21 vs everybody except the closest creature it is then 22(dodge feat)I would assume Broderick would be near the front, actually; his movement is lower, so it would harder for him to go to the front if that is where battle is(which I think is more likely)[/sblock]

 

[Bloodweaver1]

'Pauli' The Psion

Traveling in the high forest was a real adventure all in itself for the mind mage. The adverse library at the school pales in comparison to actually feeling the dirt underneath your feet and the breeze across your face.

He is so caught up in the experience that he fails to notice the Orcs and their pets until they are plain view. Taken off guard he quickly clears his mind of the environment and focuses on the battle at hand.

OOC: Round 1:
Move Action: Stays out of melee range if possible.
Standard Action: Manifests Energy Missile (Electric) on 5 targets (Orcs first then Worgs) 3d6+3 DC 17 vs Reflex for half (PP 17/17)

 

[Imerak]

Larren lingers in the middle of the line, making conversation with Maris. When he hears the rumbling, he gets her to move behind him and draws his crossbow, firing it tentatively at the bushes.

[sblock="OOC"]hp 20, AC 20, ranged attack +4[/sblock]

 

[Blarkon Dragonslayer]

May 10, 1106CR
Southern path into Vale of Mallon

Jillian's bow comes into her hand, just as the worgs lunge forward, one of them going for her throat, and ripping her to the ground, savaging her brutally as she lay under its jaws (-16 hp Jillian) The other worg goes for Johanna, catching the Jotun before she can react, and ripping into her as well, knocking her down, though her enchanted chain shirt shields her from some of the damage (-13 hp Johanna) The orcs launch their javelins into the group, aiming at Pauli and Nathaniel. One javelin thuds into Pauli (-7 hp Pauli), and one into Nathaniel. (-5 hp Nate) The other two miss, burying themselves in the dirt.

Then Redbeard says a few words, and the brush starts grabbing at the orcs and worgs, like a living thing. All but one of the orcs are wrapped around by brush, as is the worg savaging Jillian. However, that worg has other problems, as Ralph comes barrelling in, charging into the worg and tackling it, teeth ripping and tearing. (Atk 13 hits, 9dmg, Trp 16 succeeds, Atk 16 hits, 7 dmg)

OOC
End of surprise round