PrP: Role Reversal
Title: Role Reversal
Emitter: Kade
Characters: Faiza, Kojot, Radek, Aegremar, Temarie
NPCs: Rourn
Place: Eldwyn Forest
Time: July 31st, 2013
Summary: An old Goblin rancher needs stalwart adventurers to save his goats from evil humans!
APL: 3rd
Encounter 1: Spiked Pit Trap, 3 Bandits, 1 Riding Dog - CR 5
Like so many jobs posted on the Guild's board, it was fairly straight forward. "Bandit Troubles. Adventurers Needed. Contact Grishnak at the Weary Traveler Inn for details." Grishnak turned out to be an old goblin in canvass overalls, hayseed to the core. He puts up little money (In fact, trying to push prize goats off on you as payment), but is sure than the ones that have been steadily snatching his goats and shot his boy with an arrow when they were spotted in the last robbery are the one and same as a bandit group that has been preying on a main road a few miles away, complete with bounty.
Out of moral obligation, love of violence, or the potential for a pay day, you find yourself on Old Man Grishnak's fields, surrounded by smelly goats and their droppings, facing the edge of the Eldwynn who's treeline rests a few yards away from the northern wall of his property. WHAT DO YOU DO?!
Radek sits on his horse, a light quick mount made for skirmishing instead of heavy combat. He himself seems to reflect this, lean and wiry the hobgoblin carries a Thunderbelcher and scans the area with his dark eyes. He has no words to offer just yet, apparently just waiting to see what the others have planned before he speaks.
Temarie looks over at the goats and chuckles. "Well.....I've heard of worse things than someone's devotion to goats." She says before looking to the group that has accompanied her. "Anyone here a tracker?"
"I have a bit of skill in that department," admits Kojot. "And I do look forwar to preying on those who prey on merchant caravans." The grin on his face is a mix of resolute and feral.
Faiza is trying to stop a goat from munching on the lower hem of the robes she wears over her armour. Not with an awful lot of luck, it might be added. "So," says the Mul, finally just yanking the slightly damp and ragged bit of cloth out of the goat's mouth and pushing it away with a foot, "how do you suppose we'd find any tracks that belong to the bandits? The road -is- well travelled, and it's not like they have "bad guy" stitched to the bottom of their soles." Ooh, the paladin is in a tetchy mood today, it seems.
"Cause I seened them!" calls out Mepolx, the son of Grishnak. He has a bandage around his left thigh, and walks with the aid of a hand carved crutch with some level of difficulty, all Tiny Tim like in his gait. "Right after they shot me! Pinkskins! Two of them!" The goblin squeaks, "Night before last! I heard some commotion and saw them carrying one of the herd over the wall there!" He points at a spot near the edge of the woods, "Dirty rustlers shot me with an arrow when I yelled at them."
Temarie understands Faiza's attitude, a little.
Radek grunts a bit, "Most tracks not on the road would likely be our bandits. It was said this area had many, so most prudent and legal travellers would not stray far off the road." He looks over to Kojot, "You can scan the woods then to see if there are tracks yes?"
Kojot nods. "At the very least, it'll give us a start towards finding the bandits," he agrees as he starts to look around.
GAME: Kojot rolls Survival: (13)+11: 24
Aegremar is silent. Having barely two words since they all arrived together his scorched features seemed to regard the goblin and his goats as pitiful; once sneering at the man when the members of his herd were offered.
Now at the tree line, the Oruch's murderous eyes survey the forest before them. As Kojot offers his skills the black skinned orc grunts and then barely nods, as if favoring this, and then simply reaches to unsheathe the cruel looking blade which was strapped to his back before moving with the fellow to the forest's edge.
He continues to glare at the forest - seemingly uncaring for the tracks they may find.
Faiza's ears only twitch a little at the word "pinkskins". She probably knows several less flattering words to add to that. "They shot you with an arrow when you yelled at them," she repeats, eyeing the goblin kid with narrowed, scarily glowy red eyes. "What happened then?" Still listenint for any response, she half-turns and squints into the densest part of the woods. "I'm no ranger," she admits after a pause. "Or any kind of outdoorsy type, really.
Mepolx, which is totally not a name I just made up mashing random keys on the keyboard, huffs as he relives the horrible hayseed experience, "They took Gribbles, our best goat and ran off with him and left me in the mud!"
Meanwhile, Kojot's inspection of the wall appears to confirm the story. There was fresh rains two days ago, which left the ground muddy, but also cleared of potential evidence. But the broken branch on a sapling and the bootheels of a man carrying a struggling goat are visible in the dirt, continuing into the underbrush.
GAME: Kojot rolls Survival: (9)+11: 20
"If you cannot defend your flock - purchase a hound which can." Aegremar speaks these words in a deep baritone without ever bothering to look back upon the hayseed. He paces silently near Kojot as the man surveys the area while continuing to watch the perimeter.
Radek continues to watch, holding his rifle across his arms as he does. He waits to hear from thier tracker, himself more focused on anything that might decide to attack them, cause you know, bandits are stupid that way.
GAME: Kojot rolls Knowledge/Geography: (13)+7: 20
Faiza's eyes are glowing. It's not just a trick of reflected light and elven eyes adapted to darkness; there's actually a red -glow- coming from them, all the more obvious as the forest grows denser and darker. That glow doesn't seem to help her with the simple task of wilderness maneuvers, though -- at one point she trips over a root and very nearly falls on her face, only barely managing to stay on her feet. Several muttered phrases in harsh, Charn-accented Sildanyari can be heard; choice comments about "stupid forest, stupid goats and stupid Temple with their stupid lessons in stupid humility", if you understand Elvish. Still, the shadow elf paladin seems willing enough to follow whoever seems to know where they're going, even if she seems to be stomping right on top of the tracks they're following most of the time.
<OOC> Kade says, "You are pretty sure that the left path, if it kept on it's current direction (which it looks like it does for at least a hundred yards before winding around a large stone outcropping) will lead one one of the main north/south trade roads."
"Well, I can't find where the trail goes, but they're somewhere on this path," admits Kojot. "Either they're off towards one of the trade roads - possibly setting up for a caravan ambush - or they're the other way, which might lead to their camp." Okay, so it's a bit of a wild guess, but given the terrain and the fact that it's bandits...
Radek points his rifle to the left first, and then the right, looking down the path to see where it goes. He grunts faintly as he spots nothing that appears to be a threat. He seems comfortable in the woods and pushing through the trees, or perhaps he just doesn't show signs of annoyance as easily as elves.
Aegremar walks the distance through the woods without complaint using a wide-palm or the flat of his sword to push away any low hanging limbs which might impede his movements through the woods.
When Faiza falls he stops abruptly and gives a low sound, as if to slow their progress, before turning to regard the woman over his shoulder with a grim-faced expression though he says nothing. When she's on her feet again he continues his own trek his heavy boots carrying him all the way to the end of the path and then to the side of the road where they must choose.
He turns slowly to regard the path to the left and then draws his gaze along its expanse until he's looking right. If he has an opinion on their choice he does not offer it.
Temarie stays with Faiza, and even helps her to her feet, should she require the help. Otherwise, she simply continues to follow Kojot, giving a look to Aegremar as they walk. She gives another look to Faiza, to make sure she's okay before continuing to clank down the path.
"What use would a goat be upon a trade road?" Aegremar asks aloud, "A goat is food. Take us to where they eat."
GAME: Kojot rolls Perception: (8)+6: 14
GAME: Kojot rolls Reflex: (8)+4: 12
GAME: Aegremar rolls reflex+1: (15)+3+1: 19
GAME: Kade rolls 1d6: (2): 2
GAME: Kade rolls 1d6: (6): 6
GAME: Kade rolls 1d4: (1): 1
GAME: Kade rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Kade rolls 1d20+10: (19)+10: 29
GAME: Kade rolls 1d20+10: (3)+10: 13
GAME: Kade rolls 1d20+10: (1)+10: 11
GAME: Kade rolls 1d4+2: (1)+2: 3
GAME: Kade damaged Aegremar for 5 points. 31 remaining.
GAME: Kade damaged Kojot for 6 points. 27 remaining.
The general consensus is to go further into the forest to find the bandit camp, so right it is. The tracks aren't showing, but there is general signs of usage on this old trail (possibly a logging or mining road given the two divots worn into the ground). The trail continues on for another mile, starting to wind upwards at a slight grade. But looking for tracks isn't quite the same thing as looking for traps, and the two leads stumble across a rather nasty pitfall. With a horrible crack of breaking branches, the ground collaspes beneath their feet. The wooden stakes at the bottom snap on Kojot's armor, but one happens to jab it's way into Aegremar's calf. In the aftermath, you can all hear the frantic baying of a hound in the distance.
Radek knows that the best tactic is to attack after your opponent first is confused by your trap, so he moves over to a nearby tree and raises his rifle to point down the trail. He looks around quickly, expecting a fight at any moment, and apparently not moving to assist those in the pit, perhaps he feels they are safe for now if they aren't dead.
Kojot yelps in surprise as the ground gives way under him. "Well, I'd say we're on the right path," the half-orc says with a wry expression as he gets to his feet, expecting a fight.
Faiza, to her credit, reacts immediately to the aid of her comrades: scrambling forward, she lays down on the ground and reaches out a hand down to the fallen. "Someone grab my legs, hold me in place." To the ones below: "Grab my hand. We'll get you out!"
Temarie clanks her way up to the pit and sighs a bit. Without much hesitation, she Makes her way to the pit and grabs onto Faiza's legs. Seems those two have worked together before. "Gotch. Just let me know when you need a boost up."
<SNAP> <CRACK> <POP>
The sounds herald danger and Aegremar tenses reflexively as the ground beneath him gives way, "It is a trap.." He manages before the entire thing gives way plunging him ten feet downward onto a series of spikes.
He takes one through the calf and, face knotting with rage, he sheathes the sword he somehow managed to carry down with him and simply breaks the sharpened pole in two before pulling it bloodily from his black leg with a grimace of pain.
The Oruch glares at Kojot with a purpose then and shifts to stand while interlacing his fingers together, "I will boost you out."
The sound of a large hound baying grows closer as Kojot clambers out of the pit, along with the sounds of boots hitting the dirt. A few moments later, three ragged, unsavory looking types in studded leather with crossbows in hand shields and blades across their back burst into view around the corner. The one in the lead has a large leather-barded mastiff on a leash with his free hand, which he releases as he brings his crossbow to bear.
Current Initiative Order ====
23 Radek
23 Kojot
17 Temarie
16 Bandits
8 Aegremar
3 Faiza
==================
GAME: Radek rolls ranged: (7)+6: 13
GAME: Radek rolls 1d12: (5): 5
Radek shifts around his tree, moving forward quickly through the brush, he struggles a moment but gets closer. As soon as the dog is released he raises his rifle and fires, the sound loud in the forest. The bullet strikes true, and Radek is already reloading his weapon, his hands a blur.
GAME: Kojot rolls LongbowAtk: aliased to Ranged+1: (16)+7+1: 24
GAME: Kojot rolls LongbowDmg: aliased to 1d8+2: (5)+2: 7
Kojot pulls out his longbow as he moves to close the distance, focusing his fire on the bandit Radek wounded. The arrow flies true, severely wounding the foe. "Worth every silver," the half-orc grins.
Making a bit of a face, Temarie lets go of Faiza's legs and makes her way to go around. She makes her way around the pit, but she's able to get her shield up and her sword drawn along the way. Let them come to her for now.
GAME: Kade rolls 1d20+4: (2)+4: 6
GAME: Kade rolls 1d20+4: (2)+4: 6
GAME: Kade rolls 1d20+5: (14)+5: 19
GAME: Kade rolls 1d20+5: (13)+5: 18
The bandits explode into action. They seem at least somewhat competent, at least until they actually start attacking. The wounded bandit's bolt flies wild as he takes a pot shot and lurches behind a tree, gasping as he snaps the arrow in his gut off. The remaining two fire at Kojot and Temarie, but their bolts shatter against armor and shield, while the mastiff finds little purchase in Temarie's greaves.
GAME: Aegremar rolls climb+2: (7)+4+2: 13
Aegremar turns upon his unwounded leg and reaches upwards whilst straining to his tip-toes. Tall as he is, the black orc's hands very nearly come out of the pit at this action but he opts instead to grab one of the roots near the top and with a mighty pull he puts his feet against the wall and bounds out into the middle of the battle.
The Warden's jaw sets itself and glares at the cadre of bandits with murderous intent. His long strides carry him faster than his armor should allow and reaching to the wicked blade Orcish blade upon his back he draws it free.
His face contorts as he devours the distance between he and his foes, "Submit to the light - or die." The Oruch snarls with true anger reading his weapon into both of his strong hands - there will be no further parley.
GAME: Faiza rolls weapon3: (12)+6: 18
GAME: Faiza rolls 1d8: (5): 5
Seeing the rest pretty much managing without her help, Faiza simply gets to her feet and fishes behind her back for something... and brings out a smallish crossbow. A paladin with a ranged weapon? Amazing! There's a solid *TWANG!*, and a white-fletched bolt buries itself in the leg of one of the bow-wielding bandits. "Surrender now!" Her voice is surprisingly loud for such a small woman. "Or suffer the consequences!"
GAME: Radek rolls ranged+1: (11)+6+1: 18
GAME: Radek rolls 1d12: (7): 7
Radek moves forward again, this time looking for a tree to take cover behind. He raises his rifle again, having already reloaded the weapon, a moment is taken to aim and he squeezes the trigger. A thunderous blast sounds out and another
GAME: Temarie rolls weapon1-2: (3)+8+-2: 9
GAME: Temarie rolls weapon2-2: (9)+0+-2: 7
GAME: Temarie rolls 1d4+1: (1)+1: 2
Temarie grumbles at the mutt biteing at her greaves, but she knows dogs won't stop attacking unless they're called off or killed. So she swings at the dog with her sword, but the shield's spike stabs into the dog with little effort. She keeps the shield up after the shield bash though.
GAME: Kojot rolls MainClawAtk+2: aliased to Finesse+2+2: (2)+7+2+2: 13
Kojot dashes forward, slashing the wounded foe. Doesn't quite hit flesh, but the bandit undoubtely sees his doom approaching.
GAME: Kade rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12
GAME: Kade rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16
GAME: Kade rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5
The hound yelps in pain as the shield punches a hole in it's side, but presses the attack to little effect. Meanwhile, the first wounded bandit chooses to try and escape, clutching his gut as he ambles out of sight down the trail. The remaining two, faced with an angry, well-armed yrch in their midst, don't have that luxury. They abandon their crossbows and draw blade, which is stopped by Kojot's armor and his own incompetence, respectively.
GAME: Aegremar rolls me.ra.pa: aliased to melee+2+1-1: (18)+7+2+1+-1: 27
GAME: Aegremar rolls me.ra.pa: aliased to melee+2+1-1: (3)+7+2+1+-1: 12
GAME: Aegremar rolls dam.ra.pa: aliased to 2d4+9+3: (8)+9+3: 20
The black orc's gait is a rapid jog beneath the cumbersome breastplate. Shifting his grip upon the hooked Orcush blade he draws both arms back and then increases his foot speed quickly nearing Temarie and the dog.
The animal leaps and bites its muzzle a feral snarl as it clamps the air near the Hobgoblin.
A sharp sound -- the unmistakable cry of a wounded animal -- as hooked blade catches it upon its soft-underbelly mid-air and tears it open to spill its steaming intestines cleanly upon the ground.
The Orc spares Temarie a look before jerking his head and pressing the bandits under his cruel gaze.
Letting the crossbow drop back down behind her cloak - she's apparently got it hanging on a strap from her belt, clever - the black-skinned Mul'niessa draws her sword and shield and maneuvers around the pit, angling herself so that she'll end up sandwiching one of the bandits between herself and Kojot. She's holding her sword in her left hand, it might be noted. Ginger, shadow elf paladin -and- she's a leftie? It's almost too much. "Really," she says reasonably, even giving the bandit a pleasant smile. "Do feel free to surrender. You'll be brought to justice, of course, but you won't be dead."
GAME: Radek rolls ranged+1-4: (12)+6+1+-4: 15
GAME: Radek rolls 1d12+1: (3)+1: 4
Radek starts to take aim at the one fleeing, then decides to let him go, they can trail his blood to the lair. He turns, shifting his barrel towards one of the ones in a fight, a deep breath is taken as he waits a moment until there is a clear shot, and then he squeezes the trigger. The bullet flies true, hitting the bandit in the head and tearing into the skull. The bandit staggers back a second and falls to the ground, the last sound he heard the roar of the rifle.
GAME: Kojot rolls MainClawAtk+TWF+2: aliased to Finesse+2-2+2: (8)+7+2+-2+2: 17
GAME: Kojot rolls OffClawAtk+TWF+2: aliased to Finesse+2-2+2: (20)+7+2+-2+2: 29
GAME: Kojot rolls OffClawAtk+TWF+2: aliased to Finesse+2-2+2: (4)+7+2+-2+2: 13
GAME: Kojot rolls MainClawDmg+OffClawDmg: aliased to 1d6+4+1d6+4: (2)+4+(5)+4: 15
Kojot catches the bandit with both claws, just missing an artery... but given how wounded the foe is, the claws themselves are enough to drop him.
Radek steps out from behind the tree he was using for cover, then looks back. "We are all alive yes?" He then looks back down the trail, and points with his rifle, "We can follow the wounded to thier lair, find what they stole.....maybe goat is alive." He chuckles at the last bit, a deep rumbling sound.
Temarie looks down at the doog and huffs at it before walking her way towards the two remaining and starts kicking away their weapons into the pit.
Radek steps out from behind the tree he was using for cover, then looks back. "We are all alive yes?" He then looks back down the trail, and points with his rifle, "We can follow the wounded to thier lair, find what they stole.....maybe goat is alive." He chuckles at the last bit, a deep rumbling sound.
Temarie looks down at the doog and huffs at it before walking her way towards the two remaining and starts kicking away their weapons into the pit.
Aegremar had begun towards the bandits but stops as Kojot splits the final one opening. His burned features contort themselves into a twisted grimace and he starts towards the nearest one which was disabled and places a boot upon the fellow's chest and then lowers his blade to the side of the man's neck.
"They were given a choice: Submit to the light - or die." He glares at Faiza in particular, "They have chosen to die."
With a slightly aggrieved sigh, Faiza sheathes her sword as the last bandit drops, clutching his belly. "See," she grumbles, "you made it difficult. We're still taking you in, though." Glancing over at the others, she's all business. "If anyone's got any rope, help tie these up, I'll see to their wounds." And then she pauses, looking up at Aegremar with a peculiarly piercing gaze. "No. They are defeated. Justice will be brought to them, but we are not judges nor executioners. Now move aside and let me see to his wounds." Her tone brooks no argument, even as she pulls out bandages, salves and ointments and sets about deftly binding wounds.
Kojot keeps an eye on the trail, just in case more bandits approach.
Radek shakes his head a moment, looking down the path. "We must hope it was only this many bandits, the one who ran could bring more." He quickly reloads his rifle, movements that show he has done this countless times and by memory.
Gently grabbing the arm of Aegremar, Temarie gently, but firmly, tugs on Aegremar's arm. "There's no need for that. There is no submission to the light. They must be shown the error of their ways, Aegremar. Even the Maiden of Battle doesn't strike down those who have been defeated in battle. Show them kindness and they may return it in time...." She almost sounds like a paladin....
Aegremar lifts his chin with defiance, "In this place, I am both." He replies flatly to her words and then glances downward upon the man who bleeds beneath his boot heel. However, it is Radek's words which take his attention further down the trail.
He is warm beneath Temarie's touch, flush from the rage, but feeling her hands he gives an ugly look and pulls away.
"If they flee justice.." He says, obviously for Faiza, "I will prove this to you." He remarks taking his foot off of the man and then setting down the trail with the others.
The two bandits subdued and resuccitated, they trip over themselves to sell the other out first, all denying involvement, claiming that Rourn charmed them with mind magic and they have kids and and and and every other excuse. They lead you to their camp, which isn't too far away. The smell of smoke hits you before sight of the camp does. A clearing with two large tents, flaps open, a smouldering campfire littered with bones (No rescue for the goat, sadly), and a small cave that has smoke pouring out of it. No other bandits, but it looks like it was abandoned in a hurry. The two prisoners clam up, but claim they don't know what the bodies were for! Further interrogation yields up that Rourn made them take the bodies of the guards and merchants and he would do things to them in the cave and then take them down river on a barge. He had a lab in there as well, which currently appears to be burning. Fighting back flames, a few things are salvaged, including two well embalmed bodies and some partially scorched papers. Following the blood trail takes you on another path that leads to the edge of a river. It appears the bandit leader and the remaining bandits made their escape. Whatever was going on, it wasn't wholesome. But still, the bandits and corpsemongers are routed, and that's good enough for Grishnak and the authorities.
Faiza's red eyes merely flashed with anger, quickly suppressed, as she finished stabilising the two bandits. It seems she's decided to, at some point, probably have Words with the Oruch. But not now.
At the conclusion and discovery of the cave and its grisly contents, the Mul'niessa paladin merely nods, makes mental notes for followup investigation, and sets about preparing her report for the Temple. Ritual sites, and that's what it seems it could be, are of particular interest to the clergy of Eluna, even burnt ones.