Whereworgs?
It all went awry with the minotaur seated on the log in the middle of the road with his axe out.
He was all casual about it, letting you know he was going to waylay the caravan you've been hired to protect coming in from Happy Valley, all filled with precious precious silver. He was all happy about it, too, assuring you that absolutely no one had to get hurt if you surrendered.
He pointed to the trees, where a couple of men with long-guns sat, waving cheerfully at you. They're all so cheerful. And why not? They're about to be rich, or so they thought.
He had manacles he tossed towards your wagon and everything was going great (except for the part where you were not surrendering and had absolutely no intention to do so.
He rises up to his feet and talks about how unfortunate it is that you may have to come to blows when the dust cloud erupts behind the wagon you're in with a trio of khazadi raiders from the mountains on their diggers, declaring that THIS IS A ROBBERY ANd...
"...what the hell?! This is our score!"
"No, it's not!"
"Yes it is!"
And that's where you're at right now.
Caught between two bickering groups of bandits who are arguing over whose score this is.
"I have an idea," Nasin calls out in a bright tone, her voice piercing and clear. She straightens to her full, reasonably impressive height, clad in crimson armour bearing the sigils of Kor. "You should fight it out! Let Kor pick the victory." She's already walking toward the center of the groups like a referee.
Plus the fact that there is a khazadi PALADIN IN THE WAGON. She looses her axe and straps her shield to her arm quietly as the two raider groups begin to argue. 'So a minotaur and a couple of dwarves walk into a bar. that's a joke if I ever saw one.'
Strike, who, for most of the trip has given all the indications she's about as fun as an audit, actually has a look of wry amusement about her as she indicates, "point finger finger left" She does warrant an arched brow at the armoured woman at her recommendation. She rocks her head to either side, neck cracking and looks to see which band wants to get it's ass kicked, first. <unknown>
Sargon looks between the bandits, and the other bandits. "I don't understand. This is how you survive? Banditry?" His gaze turns upon the Khazad. "Surely you must have some honor left in your hearts..."
"Screw honor," replies one of the khazadi, "I'd rather have all that silver and get my family out of their dumps."
"I'm trying to get MY family out of the dumps!"
"She has a point. We could fight over it," adds the minotar, nodding to Nasrin.
"OH, I'm sure you'd love that! It's a bunch of BULL. No offense."
"I TAKE OFFENSE."
The bickering intensifies. They're annoyted about all this.
Melora quietly....waits. She seems patient enough to wait...at least for now.
Amidst the small band in the center is an immensely tall woman with skin of pitch. Her basketed head swivels back and forth between the two groups. Her dexterous fingers flash and waggle against her chest as if she was scratching herself. "pointpoint pointpoint down finger finger thumb waggle flick finger left" Her shoulders rock as if in laughter, but no sound comes from behind her hat. From her back she removes her pack, its thick canvas wriggling as if something within was alive. Giving the bag a prod, it stiffens, and she lowers her weight onto the bag like a chair. "point down waggle thumb wave down" <unknown>
Sargon stifles a snicker at the joke. It's a delayed reaction, the words taking a few moments longer than they should to register. Then he takes a few steps away from the other adventurers, readying himself in case the bandits turn on them after all.
Strike nods, "down left right pointpoint" The half-elf grins up at the dark figure and surreptitiously leans against her staff and scratches at her thigh, where her pant leg has two slashes stitched closed rather haphazardly. She keeps on alert, but she's trying to look blase'. <unknown>
"There's honor in fighting it out anyway, "Nasrin replies, perhaps sensing the crowd goign in her favour. She lifts both hands over her head. "I will bless all of the combatants and we can all just duke it out in the middle. Survivors get to try for the cargo." She glances back at the rest of the party and takes a deep breath. "This would solve everyone's problems," she finishes. "And we even get a show. What's not to like about this plan. ANyone?"
Melora makes it a point to hold the shield *with the emblem of Althea as the Mithril lady on it* in front of her. "So...when you decide on who gets to attempt to try and rob us...know that You will fight me first."
GAME: Nasrin rolls perception: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Melora rolls perception: (6)+5: 11
GAME: Strike rolls perception: (12)+10: 22
GAME: Whuridred rolls perception: (3)+9: 12
GAME: Sargon rolls perception: (10)+9: 19
GAME: Whuridred rolls Handle animal: (20)+6: 26
GAME: Whuridred rolls 1d20+2+0: (8)+2+0: 10
Whuridred's amused attention turns away from the group of beings trying to decide who was more like the Jets. Rising to her feat she walks to the side, ignoring dorfs and taurs alike. She reaches out and strokes one of the horses. Their eyes are wide to reveal the whites, and the tug at their harnesses. A soft soothing sound comes from her basket as she looks about, hoping one of the animals might point out what she couldn't. "up pointpoint left left left wiggle" <unknown>
Strike's eyes narrow slightly, nodding as she catches Whur's gestures, and low as she can, ideally so only our heroes hear it, "There's something else out there." She adjusts the grip of her staff a little bit and looks around to see where that feeling's coming from, rubbing a forearm, getting ready to pull one of her shuriken if that becomes a necessity.
"Right. Okay. How about we team up and SPLIT the silver between the lot of us? There's a lot of it. Still enough to make us all rich, you know."
"You have a point."
"Right?"
"I dunno. There's still heavily armed adventurers here and I I don't know about you but I don't fancy getting my skull cleaved in and I don't evne know if the lot of you can fight."
"I'm a frigging minotaur! I can fight. It's in my blood."
"For all we know you could be the most cowardly of the lot. You're a bandit!"
"SO ARE YOU!"
"NOT THE POINT!"
Melora says, "I have a better option for you all. How about you all withdraw, and get to live another day. Stop your banditry and Althea may smile upon you all, especially if you decide to join the Althean clergy. However, if you persist in this...I happen to know your skull WILL get cleaved in." She says as she lifts her axe. "And I have to weapon for it." Then her eyes looks from her axe...to the bandits. "CHoose wisely.....for Althea is not a pacifist.""
Whuridred continued to stroke the horse's crest with a hand. Her fingers start working the small straps of their tack. She doesn't undo them quite all the way, but enough that a good tug would separate the whole kit-n-kaboodle. "Keep them focused on each other. And the priest. Distractions help." She keeps working her way down the line. "Can you ride? What of the others?" <handspeech>
Sargon rolls his neck to one side and then the other, easing the muscles. He turns and quickly pans his gaze across the surroundings and then returns his attention to the bandits. "He is correct," Sargon nods his head slightly towards Shrike. "There is someone else watching. Or something."
"Why would you want to team up with LOSERS?!" Nasrin asks. She raisesh er arms and lets out a roar. "You can withdraw like cowards, or team up with asshats who can't even rob a caravan or you can battle it out and /be the ones donning the behind cap!/" A beat. "That didn't come out right. My point is: Are you going to be rich or let them make you half as rich by cutting them in even though they're /losers/?"
"Or you can just leave and not get killed. If you want. That's what cowards usually do."
Strike frowns a little bit as whoever the mystery player is, she can't quite peg his vantage point. She signs a quick, "Not that I'm aware of, no." toward the silent figure and she gives a momentarily bewildered look to the woman in red. <handspeech>
"Oh, shut up! You just want us to fight for your entertainment!"
"She's a priestess of Kor, fool. CAn't you tell?"
"Oh for fucks sake. This is turning into a disaster."
And that's when the baying starts and the loping of four legged wolf-like creatures in your general direction begins.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Whirlpoopin' has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Whirlpoopin' to instruct you further. You may earn RPP by logging a scene for a GM.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 21.
It is now Minotaur bandits' turn! Sargon is next!
"Oh, come on. You gotta be kidding me. Those are worgs<" yells the minotaur, getting up off his log. He gives it a little kick.
Did the log just say 'ow?' Apparently, it did.
The bandits in the trees pop off a couiple shots at the worgs to no real impact.
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 19.
It is now Sargon's turn! Melora is next!
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 19.
It is now Melora's turn! Strike is next!
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 14.
It is now Strike's turn! Khazadi Bandits is next!
Melora tromps her way forward and raises her shield. "How about you get behind me, green skin? I think my armor can take a little more heavy blows than you can. Plus Althea protects me."
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 13.
It is now Khazadi Bandits' turn! Worgs and Garmites! is next!
"...GO UNDER! Let the worgs have them!"
The Khazadi bandits dive their diggers beneath the earth.
This is probably the smartest move they've made.
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 9.
It is now Worgs and Garmites!'s turn! Nasrin is next!
The worgs rush in, almost a handful of them followed by a pair of... oh boy..
These rather /large/ wolves are not natural. Not quite big enough to be dire, but there's somewthing quite off about them...
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 3.
It is now Nasrin's turn! Minotaur bandits is next!
Knuckles whiten around Strike's staff at the unwholesome symmetry of this ambush and another from years ago. Scowling resolutely, she moves to defend the prize from the unmounted bandits, being careful to keep the wagon between herself and the direction the Minotaur's snipers fired from.
Sargon raises his bent arms to shield his chest and abdomen and turns his side to face the archers. He tries to keep an eye on all of the various villains on the field, including the newly revealed worgs. "If you insist," he positions himself slightly behind Melora.
GAME: Nasrin casts Hold Person. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20: (17): 17
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 21.
It is now Minotaur bandits' turn! Sargon is next!
"...okay, folks. Back up." He makes a gesture towards his friends in the trees with their long guns, who are reloading but largely being ignored by the worgs so far.
Apparnetly, they don't think they hve much to fear. He's doing his level best in the meantime to put himself and his buddies on the other side of the wagong from them.
The log begins... rolling... out of the road. That way.
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 19.
It is now Sargon's turn! Melora is next!
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 19.
It is now Melora's turn! Strike is next!
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 14.
It is now Strike's turn! Khazadi Bandits is next!
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 13.
It is now Khazadi Bandits' turn! Worgs and Garmites! is next!
The khazadi leave only a bit of earth overturned where they disappear under the ground with their diggers. How do they even breathe down there?
Melora dares to stand in the way of the worgs. Stubborn dwarf.......
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 9.
It is now Worgs and Garmites!'s turn! Nasrin is next!
The worgs rush in and trigger folks readied actions.
GAME: Melora rolls weapon1: (17)+8: 25
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+5: (20)+5: 25
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+5: (12)+5: 17
GAME: Sargon rolls 9: (12)+9: 21
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 2d6+6: (5)+6: 11
GAME: Sargon rolls 1d8+5: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Melora rolls 1d10+3+1: (2)+3+1: 6
The worgs rush in towards the caravan. The wagoners are taking cover inside the horses are stamping their feet nervously. It won't take much to spook them, or the wagon...
One of the worgs crashes against Melora's shield and she simply 'smashes' it with an overhand swipe of her axe. She doesn't really strike with the edge, as much as she nailed it with a blunt part of the axe, such was her reaction to the worg bounding in.
Sargon has been waiting patiently as the creatures come closer. Waiting...waiting...then suddenly he springs into action, leaping a few feet in the air to smack the worg with an overhand punch.
And then Strike's blow lands on one of the wrogs, batterng it hard enough to knock it silly...
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+7: (4)+7: 11
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d6+4: (5)+4: 9
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23
The worgs are in the midst, now, grabbing at limbs despite the impacts. Both Sargon and Melora are pulled odwn, while two others don't quite manage to break through Nasrin's or Strike's defenses.
BEhind them, the two other wolves, the odd ones, begin to change... their forms approaching a more humanoid state that lays between wolf and man.
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 3.
It is now Nasrin's turn! Minotaur bandits is next!
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+5: (14)+5: 19
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+5: (11)+5: 16
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 21.
It is now Minotaur bandits' turn! Khazadi Bandits is next!
"...aw, come on. Bucko, be useful," says the minotaur to the .. rolling .. log...
The log begins to... melt away into a treasure chest.
Seriously.
"I SAID USEFUL," yells the minotaur at the mimic.
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 13.
It is now Khazadi Bandits' turn! Sargon is next!
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 10.
It is now Sargon's turn! Melora is next!
There is a trail of churning earth in the direction away from the wagon.
GAME: Sargon rolls 8: (9)+8: 17
GAME: Sargon rolls 8: (12)+8: 20
GAME: Sargon rolls 8: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Sargon rolls 1d8+11: (6)+11: 17
GAME: Sargon rolls 1d8+9: (4)+9: 13
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 10.
It is now Melora's turn! Strike is next!
GAME: Melora rolls weapon1-4: (7)+8+-4: 11
Sargon can't avoid the snapping jaws of the worg he's fighitng. It nips him in the leg. But beyond the sudden stinging agony, he feels it trying to pull him off of his feet. Long hours of training kick in and he shifts his weight away and into a lower, wider stance. Channeling his power he punches downward in another overhead blow, pounding the top of the beast's skull. Then he twists and punches down with his other hand, smashing it to the ground where it doesn't rise.
Melora, after being yanked by a worg, is not on her back. Rather than get up, she fights from her back and tries to chop at the worg. She doesn't do much though.
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 10.
It is now Strike's turn! Worgs and Garmites! is next!
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+5: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 9.
It is now Worgs and Garmites!'s turn! Nasrin is next!
The two werewolves, as that is what they clearly are, leap onto the back of the wagon, using the distraction of their worgish allies to their best effort. They begin to tear open the back of it to get inside hte armored interor for the precious silver.
Yes, make that THREE bands of robbers.
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+7: (3)+7: 10
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+7: (14)+7: 21
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d6+4: (5)+4: 9
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d6+4: (1)+4: 5
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+7: (11)+7: 18
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23
The worgs are staying on it.
One manages to go at Nasrin again, though it narrowly misses her while strike is bit down on, hard, and seems to be worse for the wear from it. Sargon's target lays on the ground, twitching and whining while Melora manages to scrable back from chomping teeth.
GAME: Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 3.
It is now Nasrin's turn! Minotaur bandits is next!
GAME: Nasrin rolls weapon12+1+1+1: (9)+7+1+1+1: 19
GAME: Nasrin rolls 1d12+strength+2+1+3: (3)+3+2+1+3: 12
GAME: Nasrin rolls 3d6: (6): 6
GAME: Whirlpoopin' rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpoopin' advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 21.
It is now Minotaur bandits' turn! Khazadi Bandits is next!