Turn Fifty ThreeDive over the hedgerow on the inner side of the bend if there is one, otherwise just take cover in the ditch that should be there - crawl toward the bend.
"We'll be slaughtered if we attempt to attack head on into a defensive position, nor can we shoot well in this dark-more likely we'll shoot each other. I suggest a tactical ret..."”What’s that?” whispers Gervedder, halfway through a sprint/salmonleap crossover move into cover.
…He lands in a shallow ditch off the road and, taking advantage of the dual cover of this and the hedgerow, crawls up to almost opposite where the bolts seem to be coming from. Almost at the bend, he figures he’s about 25 feet away from the nearest enemy, and if he squints he can make out movement in the ditch under the opposite hedgerow. He looks around and realises he’s on his own.
Action: Lady Foxglove follows Gervedder, looking for a shooting spot to hide in-waiting for the light to reveal targets.
Keep bloody firing!
Figure out how to use crossbow, follow the Lady, and aim.
"....Sir Wizzard, I believe you've got some flaming bolts prepared, correct? I suggest you show these underlings the peril of camping in dry tinder...aim at the biggest brush you see-light up this field.""Sure. Hold on…"…Like some famous general of old, Lady Foxglove barks out her orders, readies herself to charge, and suddenly wonders just where the hell everyone’s gone. Gervedder went this way, no?
She looks very briefly around.
Crap. No, he didn’t.
”Um. Chaps?""WHAT?"”Oh. Nothing. For a second then I thought- No. Nothing. Odd. Where’s Gervedder?""I DUNNO," says Medha, attempting a shouty whisper which is only just audible over the half dozen wailing drum-bangers ahead.
"WHICH END DO I POINT AT MY OPPONENT?"”The pointy end, dot- wait, are those-""THE PRETTY LIGHTS COMING UP BEHIND US? I THINK SO, YES. MMM, THEY’RE STILL PRETTY."”We’re on the wrong side of the road, we need to get back across."Another volley of bolts pours down the road,
…all but silencing the remaining drumming and wailing a little further up it.
”Or uh we could stay here, I guess.""AND FIGHT? YAY! SO, ER, THIS IS THE POINTY END, RIGHT?"…A crossbow bolt flies off somewhere into the night.
"WHOOOO! TAKE THAT, HIDEOUS… Hideous… WHO ARE WE FIGHTING?"Lady Foxglove closes her eyes and slowly breathes out. Having a bonespider must be very much like having a very very large quantity of brightly coloured sugar, she decides.
Activate Wind Step, dismount, and find some cover closer in to the action.
Follow Gervedder
"Blimey!" says a disembodied voice in the middle of the road a little later than perhaps it should have,
"Going invisible!"…Fortunately for Tackov, Whiz’s demented followers take not just the brunt but the entirety of the volley of bolts: he escapes the kobolds’ volley unscathed and disappears, literally, into the hedgerow not far from Gervedder.
Not having to slowly crawl, he soon catches up with the messenger and takes cover not far from him. He thinks he can see small creatures underneath the hedgerow on the other side of the road.
Gervedder’s a little startled, then reassured by Tackov as he announces his presence.
…Gervedder’s much more startled when he looks round and sees Bukkar crawling up behind him.
Crawling… All sensible-like…Despite the miracle of a stealthy Bukkar, Gervedder realises his position is probably about to be compromised.
But it doesn’t look like it’s really going to matter.
Do as Foxglove says.
Delayed by the balancing act of searching extensively through his considerable pockets, and bags, and pouches, and his backpack, all whilst aloft on the shoulders of his carrying serf, Whiz is ready for action.
He raises his crossbow.
He aims.
He fires, and the finely crafted crossbow bolt shoots forward, bursting into flame and flying straight into the middle of where the wizard guesses the enemy is.
…Within seconds a twenty five foot stretch of hedgerow is alight, the fire showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.
It advances down the hedgerow towards Lady Foxglove and Medha.
It sets fire to three quarters of the kobolds, who run screaming into the open road.
It burns three kobolds to a crisp, dropping blackened to the floor.
From his vantage point, and in the fierce firelight, Whiz can make out a lone non-burning kobold fleeing north across the field behind the hedgerow.
So, the apex of the slow bend in the road is, on the north/left side, a blazing bush inferno.
About sixty foot back/west, on the inferno side of the road, are Lady F and Medha. On the road and a little further forward are Whiz and the mounts.
Opposite the inferno area are Gervedder, Tackov and Bukkar.
Probably about another fifty foot back, again on the inferno side of the road, are the pretty lights.
Enemies:
8xStandard Burning Kobold
Current Players:Name: Tackov Cedtry
Class: Level 2 Wind Mage
Status: –1 to social interaction. -1 to melee. Invisible until next turn.
Health: [HP: 55/55] |
The Vomiting! |
Leprified Face! |
Severed Right Arm!Abilities: Magical Typhoon I,
Wind Blast I,
Wind Step I,
Squishy,
Sissy Slap FightInventory: Minor Mana Potion x1,
Scroll of Beginner’s Fireball x1, one memorised use of:
Gee, Mr. Whiz, You Sure Are Fast! Mouldy Wizard Hat, severed arm, severed face, You Bastard the Mangy Donkey.
Name: Whiz
Class: Level 2 Whiz Wiz(ard)
Status: -1 to lower leg damage. -1 to social interaction. +1 to balancing.
Health: [HP: 80/80] |
Giant Rat’s Tail!Abilities: Shield I,
Gee, Mr. Whiz, You Sure Are Fast! Gee, Mr. Whiz, You Sure Are Fast II,
Obviously a Powerful Wizard,
It’ll Make You Blind!Inventory: Crossbow, Unlimited Quiver,
Raider’s Dress of Shin Protection, 37 Yuros, Fancy Clothes,
Scroll of Beginner’s Fireball x1,
Middling Mana Potion x1, Cutlass, Three daggers,
Minor Health Potion x3, +1 Bolt of Accuracy x4, +1 Bolt of Burning x4, +1 Bolt of Paralysis x2,
Middling Health Potion x1, Carrying Serf.
Name: Medha Correo
Class: Level 2 Curse Crafter
Status: -1 to gut damage. +1 to chest damage.
Health: [HP: 80/80] |
Severed Rib! |
Severed Rib!Skull Spider Health: [HP: 25/25]Abilities: Opportunistic Attack,
Bad Luck Curse,
Curse of the Fool,
Wandering Asshole,
Curse of the Curse CrafterInventory: Dagger, Half a dress, 75 bandages,
Neckless of the Ribless, Small bottle of Mage blood, Dagger, Lock picking kit,
Iron Cuirass, unlit torch, 96 Yuros (real gold), Crossbow,
Brittle Jagged Groinbone Dagger of Good. Name: Gervedder Vietzo
Class: Level 2 Opportunistic Messenger
Status: -1 to gut/chest damage.
Health: [HP: 80/80]Abilities: Nimble Feet,
This Messenger Delivers,
Make Way for the Messenger! Important,
Stop For DirectionsInventory: Crossbow, Unlimited Quiver, 8 bandages, 2 Yuros,
Iron Cuirass, Crossbow, Gerald the Mule, Two weeks rations and a bedroll.
Name: Lady Foxglove Vainglorious the III
Class: Level 2 Ravenhaired Crusader
Status: Super-presentable! -1 to head damage.
Health: [HP: 80/80]Abilities: Silent as a Raven’s Wing,
Opportunistic,
Honeyed Tongue,
Vain,
Self-RelianceInventory: Minor Health Potion x1, Crossbow, Unlimited Quiver,
Masterwork Helm,
Fine horse, Travel supplies for several days.
.
Name: Bukkar Crangrom
Class: Level 2 Ragin' Mage
Status:Health: [HP: 80/80] |
The Vomiting!Abilities: Rage Lazors I,
Ass of the Flaming Foot I,
Lightning Fist I,
Always Looking For a Fight,
Always HungoverInventory: Sword of Severing! Crossbow, 400 Green Farthings, large barrel and rope.