Travels amongst the Border Princes (WFRP 2e) IC

[Haval]

'Have to see how he does in a proper fight.' Gabriele watches for Rickon's reaction with interest. He would be risking his neck for Stralwald in a sense, even if he got paid at some point down the line. To Severin in an innocent tone of voice, 'This works I think we'll have to trust him. Or at least as much as I trust anyone who talks as much as he does.'

[Shadowflick]

Rickon sits in the corner, his attention swapping from the conversation to his marked deck of cards, eyes occasionally flicking up until they meet Severin's...and Gabrielles. And then he looks back to his cards and thinks. They wer ejust talking about a plan that requi...oh ****.

"Ah! I see. Put the Press Ganged one as bait. How brave you are mighty defenders. Fine, I'll do it...But im running at the first sign that we might die alright? And At least try the Soup traps if Im going to be risking my life."

[dojango]

Everyone looks at the map for a while. Belisarius points out a spot about halfway between Stralwald and the bandit's camp, along the river, and says, "Boats going upriver used to stop here a lot. Especially if they weren't gonna stop at our docks. Seems as good a place as any to set up a trap."

"Very well." Sir Laurens agrees. "Send the swordsmen under Morillo to set up camp. Rickon can play captain for show. Gabrielle and Severin will lead the scouts to set up an ambush on the approaches. If they don't fall for the bait, or if they appear too strong, abandon the mission and fall back to the village. Morillo will have overall command, so co-ordinate with him."

[Haval]

"Ah! I see. Put the Press Ganged one as bait. How brave you are mighty defenders. Fine, I'll do it...But im running at the first sign that we might die alright? And At least try the Soup traps if Im going to be risking my life."

'Well since you're here. Better this then having to deal with them all together.' Gabriele will look at Rickon's clothing appraisingly, 'You got any armour? If it'll fit I've got a mail shirt I could loan you.' She had taken the shirt from Castle Bremcote but didn't think it had any obvious association with the Duke.

'They don't seem like the type to just start shooting at you when they have a chance to rough you up a bit first.' She couldn't be absolutely sure of that. 'If I'm wrong there's no point in sticking around if you get in trouble.' She'll grin at Rickon, 'Everyone's taking a risk here. For all you know one of them will trip over me in the woods.' The soup plan was a good idea if they could find something nasty enough to poison it with. 'If you can talk anyone into drinking poisoned soup I'm all for it. If we can't find anything in Stralwald I can always have a look in the woods. There's always something around that you don't want to eat.'

Gabriele has no idea what Murillo would be like as a commander, but he likely had more experience then her or Severin.

[rax]

"If they don't fall for the bait, or if they appear too strong, abandon the mission and fall back to the village."

"That's the truth of it, young sir. We're not doing this for glory, we're doing it to tip the scales in our favour for when Colten makes his attack. Getting a lot of us injured or killed isn't going to help in that regard," Severin agrees with Sir Laurens.

[dojango]

The next night passes with triple the number of guards. About noon, a few patrols go out and report no sign of enemy patrols. The halfling scouts go out first; Bert leads them towards a bend in the river. There is a large flat, stony beach littered with huge logs. There is a cut in the riverbank that leads away from the river that is the best way to get too and from the beach. The swordsmen follow an hour or so later, and set up a crude camp. Then they light bonfires, throwing damp wood on the fire to get big plumes of smoke rising into the air. Morillo gives Rickon appraising glance. "Glad you brought your fancy hat. Look almost like a foppish noble captain who's got no idea how to sail a boat. Perfect disguise. Got any ideas on how to set up the camp?"

Bert also finishes getting the halflings set up along the edge of the river bank. He poses the same question to Severin and Gabrielle. "Got the men in position. Anything you think we should do?" A thick plume of smoke is snaking up over the forest eaves.

[Haval]

Bert also finishes getting the halflings set up along the edge of the river bank. He poses the same question to Severin and Gabrielle. "Got the men in position. Anything you think we should do?" A thick plume of smoke is snaking up over the forest eaves.

Try not to get yourself killed 'Can't judge where they'll be coming from assuming they're coming at all so maybe stick to the denser parts of the forest. Can't see them checking places like that just in case and you lot...' she gestures at the Halflings that were here '...are small enough to make use of it. If anyone messes up and they see you don't stick around unless you can gang up on them. There's no point in fighting fair unless there's literally no other choice. If there's anyone really scary with them back off. Either I try to deal with him or we all use him for target practice.'

Spoiler: ooc

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I take it Gabriele's up to full wounds? I think it's been a few days since she was shot.

[rax]

"What Gabriele said," Severin replies. "If a patrol shows up and it's led by someone canny, I wager they'll try sneaking up on our boys down there and threaten them from up the riverbank, rather than march straight down the cut. If that looks like happening, we need to keep quiet and out of the way until we can get behind them and trap them. In the meantime, all eyes on the forest. We don't want any nasty surprises."

[dojango]

Down in the camp, Morillo and the men spend their time fishing, and as night falls, they are roasting a few fish on the campfire, swapping stories and singing. Up in the woods, however, the halflings are shrouded in darkness, eating jerky and staying as quiet as possible in their hiding positions. A chill wind rises from the river. The night passes quietly, with everyone getting sleep as best they can. Soon, a faint pink line starts crossing the eastern horizon as dawn slowly breaks. The early birds emerge from their nests and holes and begin to sing...

Spoiler

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roll perception tests, and try to succeed! The enemy rolled very well.

[Haval]

Hiding from someone when you knew roughly where they were was one thing, it was harder when you didn't know where or when they were coming. After arranging watches Gabriele will find some bushes to shelter in where she might hope to hear someone approaching. In the dark, with her cloak pulled over her face with any luck she'd be able to fade into the scenery.

[dojango]

The halflings are spread out along the embankment's edge, in twos and threes. A few of them are keeping lookout along the picket. Maanslieb is waning, but Morrslieb waxes high in the sky all night, bathing the world in a pale sickly green. The traitor's moon. Gabrielle listens to the dawn chorus and a faint wind rattling the branches of the trees. As the dawn slowly breaks over the horizon, Severin spies a few shadows flitting from tree to tree in the woods. Larger than a halfling. Suddenly, from the south part of the line, he hears a scream. "Help! Help!" cries one of the halflings.

[Shadowflick]

Rickon stands in the center of the fake camp, pressed into yet another thing he didnt really want to do. Life is looking up for the gambling man, but perhaps he'll find some better fortunes down the line? Of course, he wears his wide brimed feathered hat, hand on his sword as he tries his best to look the part of a milita captain. Not a role he was used to, but a coward is able to wear many faces.

"Well, one of those things is true" Rickon responds to Morillio "But lets see, Why dont we have a couple halfings start digging a latreen, another start up the soup and uhh...damn, [ Play cards in the corner until we get pelted with arrows? Lets try and look as easily takeable as possible. Like a Bretonian princess waiting for her knight in shining armor." He lowers his voice to a whisper "And lets try and keep some hidden weapons on our persons. Just in case"

Night falls and Rickon sits with the others as they fish, telling a few tall tales of his adventure, like when he tricked an orc into handing him one of his eyes, or when he lied to a Dwarf about having an iron stomach.

The Next day and the winds of the borderlands sweep through the trees. It's not the most pleasant odor, buts its one you get used to. Resting his sword on his shoulder, Rickon looks up into the woods...wondering how the other group is going

Spoiler: Rolls!

Show

(1d100)[48] Vs 47 Perception

[dojango]

It's far more comfortable down in the fake camp. While a few men are set on watches during the night, Rickon sleeps well enough in the sand of the river-beach. As the dawn is breaking, Rickon hears a scream from up on the river bank.

[Haval]

Gabriele finds Morrslieb creepy and tries to avoid looking directly at it. It would be typical if there was just enough moonlight to make properly hiding impossible. At the sound of the scream she'll scramble to her feet and move to investigate it. Presumably everyone in the woods had already heard that.

[rax]

Cursing, Severin grabs the nearest halfling and shakes him awake. "Get up and grab your sling! They're here!" he growls.

"Everybody to arms! There's bandits in the woods!" he then calls out. No time to do a proper ambush now, he thinks angrily.

OOC
Is it possible for Severin to get a bead on one of the shadows? If so, what sort of penalty would I be looking at?

[dojango]

Since you made your perception test, you can shoot at them w/o penalty.

[Haval]

With that shout Gabriele is going to head towards Severin at a run if necessary. If it wasn't immediately obvious she'll look around for signs of any attackers.

[rax]

Pulling his sling from his belt, Severin quickly loads and snaps off a shot at the closest bandit.

Spoiler: Actions

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Initiative: (1d10+62)[67]

Half action: Ready sling
Free action: Load sling
Half action: Standard attack with sling vs. BS 63 or 93 if bandit counts as unaware target (1d100)[36]
Damage (1d10+4)[10]

Ulric's Fury if applicable
(1d100)[83]
(1d10)[1]

Wounds (remaining/total): 12/12
Fortune Points (used/total): 3/3

[dojango]

Gabrielle heads over to where Severin is. There are two halflings with him, climbing out of their bedrolls. She sees six shapes running towards them in the early morning light. Light glints off of drawn swords. One of the shapes staggers as Severin hits it squarely with a stone, but it keeps coming. By now, cries of alarm are coming all up and down the line. Down in the camp below, Morillo is bellowing to his men to get up, to get in order.

[rax]

"Give 'em a volley and then fall back towards the beach!" Severin calls out in the halfling tongue while he reloads. As soon as the stone is in the sling pocket, he snaps off another shot at the same bandit. A second shot follows swiftly after the first.

Spoiler: Actions

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Attacking the same bandit until he goes down. If the first shot is enough, Severin switches to the next bandit in line of sight.

Loading/reloading are free actions.
Full action: Swift attack with sling vs. BS 63 (1d100)[5], (1d100)[72]
Damage (1d10+4)[13], (1d10+4)[6]

Ulric's Fury if applicable
(1d100)[40], (1d100)[87]
(1d10)[4], (1d10)[9]

Dodge Blow if necessary vs. Ag 62 (1d100)[56]
Pre-emptive FP re-roll (1d100)[34]

Wounds (remaining/total): 12/12
Fortune Points (used/total): 3/3

[Haval]

How was this going wrong so quickly? Gabriele will fumble for her bow and snap off a shot at the closest raider. She would likely only get one shot.

Spoiler

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Half Action - Ready Bow
Half Action - Shoot the closest.

vs. BS 57
(1d100)[44]

Any damage (1d10+3 with armour piercing)
(1d10+3)[6]

[Shadowflick]

Rickons eyes shoot open at the sound. Well, Seems the Trap Failed already he thinks to himself, partly relived by that funny twist of fate....but, he finds himself uneasy. That scream of desperation. Against his better judgement he looks to the camp "Gah....Alright Everyone Ge up! We've Got Bandits! Draw your swords!" THe Man shouts, freeing his blade and shield as he starts to run towards the commotion, even if others dont follow.

[dojango]

Severin snaps off a shot at the approaching figure, and it falls. Gabrielle also hits one with her bow before they are upon her, swords drawn. The attackers are cautiously jabbing at Severin and Gabrielle and the two halflings with them. One of them takes a wicked slice at Severin, but he dodges out of the way. The halflings have daggers drawn and are trying to defend themselves. They can hear shouting from around them as the others try and fall back, scrambling down the thorny hillside.

Rickon grabs his sword and shield and runs up the cut towards where Gabrielle and Severin are fighting. He hopes that there are men behind him... but never look back. He sees Severin and Gabrielle and two halflings fighting with five bandits.

[rax]

"You picked a fight with the wrong halfling today, longshanks," Severin growls. Ducking underneath the bandit's sword, he slips away snaps off another shot.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Spending an FP for an extra half action.

Full action: Disengage, move 8 yards back towards the beach
Free action: Reload sling
Half action: Standard attack with sling vs. BS 63 (1d100)[16]
Damage (1d10+4)[12]

Ulric's Fury if applicable
(1d100)[50]
(1d10)[8]

Dodge Blow if necessary vs. Ag 62 (1d100)[80]

Wounds (remaining/total): 12/12
Fortune Points (remaining/total): 2/3

[Haval]

Gabriele will scramble to get her sword out and clout the man in front of her. She didn't really have the time to do anything clever here.

Spoiler

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Free Action - Drop Bow
Half Action - Ready Sword
Half Action - Standard Attack

vs. WS 42
(1d100)[31]

Dodge Blow if needed
vs. Ag 48
(1d100)[73]

Any damage
(1d10+3)[9]

Any Ulric's Fury
(1d100)[39]
(1d10)[3]

FP: 2/3

[Shadowflick]

Rolls his sword wrist. A Group of Bandits... outnumbering the others to. A Worse time as ever to be a hero. So, like a Bretonian knight who hanst charged into combat before, he sprints into a gray more foolish then brave. He swings his weapon at the nearest bandit, trying to slay him swiftly

Spoiler: Rolls!

Show

(1d100)[41] vs 42
(1d10+3)[12] Damage

[roll[ 1d100[/roll] vs 52 Parry

[dojango]

Severin falls back and flings a stone, hitting the man in the chest. He he staggers, but recovers. Gabrielle manages to slash the man in front of her in the head, drawing blood and sending him reeling. He steps back to recover, only to be brought down by Rickon's overhand slash. He crumples to the floor, bleeding out. One of the bandits takes a swing at Gabrielle, making her head ring, while another of the halfings yells in pain as the bandit hits him. The other halfling manages to poke at one of the bandits with his dagger, but the man shrugs it off.

Spoiler

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Gabrielle takes (1d10+3)[4] damage to the head. Severin is not in melee, and a dozen men are charging up the cut towards the bandits.

[rax]

With Rickon aiding Gabriele, Severin continues trying to bring down the bandit he just hit.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Loading/reloading are free actions.
Full action: Swift attack with sling vs. BS 63 (1d100)[8], (1d100)[50]
Damage (1d10+4)[13], (1d10+4)[8]

Ulric's Fury if applicable
(1d100)[53], (1d100)[36]
(1d10)[8] (1d10)[2]

Dodge Blow if necessary vs. Ag 62 (1d100)[10]
FP re-roll if necessary (1d100)[58]

Wounds (remaining/total): 12/12
Fortune Points (used/total): 3/3

[Haval]

Getting smacked in the head with a sword still hurt, but not nearly as much as Gabriele was expecting. Perhaps the man had merely managed to clout her with the flat of the blade. Still feeling fairly woozy, she'll try and get on the other side of the man to Rickon so that they could finish him off. She's mostly trying not to get hit again though.

Spoiler: ooc

Show

TB 4, so no damage

Half Action - Attack
Half Action - Parrying Stance

Dodge Blow if needed
vs. Ag 48
(1d100)[68]

Parry if needed
vs. WS 42
(1d100)[91]

Attack vs. WS 42 (+10 Outnumbered)
(1d100)[10]

Any damage
(1d10+3)[13]
-13 damage on the head

Any Ulric's
(1d100)[74]
(1d10)[1]

[dojango]

Severin sends two more stones flying at the bandit, and he folds up with a groan, unmoving. Gabrielle strikes a savage blow against her assailant, who reels back with blood streaming from his head. He weakly tries to strike Gabrielle, but is unable to connect. Beside her, the two bandits strike savagely at their halfling opponents. One goes down after a savage chop to the head, the other tries to fall back, bleeding from several wounds. Then Morillo and the other swordsmen arrive. Morillo casually runs one of the bandits through, who slides off his rapier, and the others are hacked down by the swordsmen. Morillo shouts, "Bravos, go right! Cutters, go left!" and stoops to offer the wounded halfling a hand up. About half of the swordsmen head right towards where bandits are running out of the woods with drawn swords, while another half head left to relieve the halflings holding out there. He looks over at Severin and Gabrielle and says, "watch over the Cutters," before turning and running to the right after his men.