Sylvia grinned wickedly, her mouth wider then a normal humans as she leaned around Ortlieb. She saw her target, one of the bandits was in good sight, a flick of the wrist and a moment of focus and she tossed a magic missile to go skittering towards the unfortunante bandit. Unknown how effective her attack would be she crouched down to conceal her position, should the origin of the spell be found she would wish to remain hidden and goad any brave attackers into the Half-orc druid and add her own surprise to the mix. She kept her grin though, she was going to enjoy this little party.

Junn sheathed his bow and turned back to Aria with a smirk and a fire in his eyes.

"Move your lights kiddo I'm going up"

Junn began to move to the base of one of the trees supporting the platform to then make his climb while humming happily a bloodlust in his eyes

Hearing Junn's voice, Aria nodded, briefly looking up to where the four lights shone above, and flicking her hand a bit towards the campfire. In response, the four lights immediately flew into the flames, hidden by the light. After a brief thought, she flicked her hand to her right, bringing the lights into visibly a single orb to fly into the south-west tent. Might as well paint a target on anything inside.

With that done, she shifted her posture, and walked along the edges of the dim light, briefly creeping across a divide, keeping low to the ground, moving into the darkness by where Achuak went. Firstly, in case he needed more assistance, and secondly, that being where the wannabe ambushers came, it was likely the safest position from which to ambush. Not to mention, from that point she might be able to see when one showed up that she wanted to dance with.

For a brief moment, Aria thought back to the woman she had danced with earlier. Yeah, she doubted there'd be another looker in this miserable group.

Sordin was not happy with this ambush. From what he could see from beside the tree, there was no one out in the camp. This did not bode well. With Lloyd gone with them, they should have a heavier watch than normal, and so far he hadn't seen a single one of them. He sincerely hoped that they were the ones doing the ambushing, and not the other way around. There was not much else they could do however, their best chance lay in the hope that they were better hidden than the bandits suspected to be lying out of sight.

Spinning an arrow between his fingers he leaned against the tree and looked over his shoulder towards the camp. There was no movement now, but he needed to be ready when they got the signal.

“F-FIRE! Fire in the camp! They’re already—augh!” The man was cut off short when four lights burst into existence around his post, throwing light all over the canopies and illuminating his platform as bright as day.
He heard a light thud as the man fell over onto the platform. He caught sight of the silhouettes of some figures bursting from the shadows. Making sure to keep in the shadows he moved to the east so that he could have an open shot. Once in position, he raised his bow, and pulled back the arrow from his hand. He aimed as best as he could towards one of the shadows and let the arrow fly.

Due to the recent server crash, this post has suffered a massive time skip. Should the host succeed in recovering the last three days of posts the battle leading up to this scene should be more or less intact, otherwise you have here both the near-beginning and the near-end. Conveniently enough the description of the map on Deviant Art contains a rough overview of what happened in the battle, so even if those posts are lost forever, we will always know in our hearts that Kressle could have kicked our sorry behinds if she wasn't focused down so nicely by our paladin and sorcerer.
Aria’s previous partner almost stumbled away. Again without missing a beat, she adapted her dance to the incomer. He was no better a dancer than the former, but she promised she’d deal with him later. He almost blocked her first strike, grazing him drawing a line of blood, but it left him completely unable to react to Aria’s second strike at the small of his back. He dropped in two. (-4dmg/*-9dmg* Bandit T KO) [Oops, I realized I forgot to account for halved Str on off-hand hits; either way you still got ‘im]

Sylvia threw the last of her energy for big spells into another bolt of energy at Kressle, striking the bandit leader in between the shoulders (-4dmg Kressle). Now she was down to tricks and cantrips for her arsenal. Sylvia crept into the shadow of a tree, making her way close enough that her tricks and cantrips could reach their marks.

“Kobold, move aside before I shoot!” Achuak did not need to be told twice. He did not relish the prospect of being within that woman’s reach for long. He fell back and took up a defensive stance.

Sordin found a place covered from both sources of light by trees. He recanted to himself the bandit leader’s crimes and willed his weapons charged with condemnation for her cruel ways. He hoped he had judged correctly—he didn’t have time to look into her heart to find the truth. If she was guilty, his arrows would fly true and strike deep. If not, there were other forces in play here that would demand a re-evaluation of the situation.

He drew up his bow and notched an arrow. Sordin felt the aura of power surround him, granting him the power to strike down evil. Filled with renewed confidence, he shot and saw the arrow almost take the bandit woman full in the middle of her back but for a lucky step from her that landed it just beneath her shoulder and, judging from her reaction, penetrated through the plates of her armoured jacket to the flesh beneath (-7dmg Kressle Bloodied, almost a critical hit).

Kressle looked over her shoulder to spot the archer, but she couldn’t find him among the shadows. “Somebody get that damned archer, you fools! You!” she shouted at the woman who had all but finished Ortlieb off. “Forget him! The archer!”

Ortlieb made no complaint, almost leaning on the tree beside him as he tried to put some distance between the bandit and himself. He reached out to the world of the subliminal spirits that surrounded every living thing. He should have done this first, he realized, rather than risk his neck with that mad swipe at the leader. He drew on their energy and used it to close his wounds and refill his body with vigour. There was a sharp hot sting as his flesh was melded back together and renewed, erasing the wound in his shoulder and mending his side with a feeling of tenderness remaining. He would probably still have a serious bruise later, but for now he was no longer bleeding out. (+8hp Ortlieb)

Junn called upon his own powers of smiting high in his tree. His bow took on a very faint halo of energy as he drew back his arrow and took aim at the one uncovered target. She was already worn down from her dance with the short half-elf, but Junn’s well-placed shot would have felled her anyway (-9dmg Bandit-U KO).

With Ortlieb out of trouble, all around the forest the tides were turning and bandits were dropping. Ramathu finally managed to get a good hold on the bandit, clawing and veritably shaking the sense out of him (-3/-4dmg Bandit-X Disabled). [Holy hell that’s more rolls of exactly enough damage to hit 0 than I’ve even seen before in one battle]

He stumbled back, trying to retreat into stronger numbers, but by all appearances his leader was preoccupied with something and there was no one to run to. Then he saw Junn drawing another arrow from his quiver. Realization dawned on his face and he did the only thing he could think of—he crumpled into a heap on the ground.

The woman commanded by Kressle to take care of the archer did so, but not before giving a parting ‘screw you’ to Ortlieb by way of stabbing Ramathu deep in the shoulder (-6dmg Ramathu). She turned to see about this man shooting her boss, but Ramathu wasn’t quite ready to allow her to leave without a response. He managed to scrape her arm with his nails as she turned to go (-2dmg Bandit T). She cussed him out for it, but focused on looking for this archer concealed somewhere in the darkness.

Kressle was breathing heavily now. “It won’t even matter that you’ve defeated my camp. The Stag Lord owns these lands. He will avenge the deaths of his people. You will all be made to suffer!” She was looking at Achuak for lack of a more involved listener.

She raised her axe—her left axe, the arrow in her shoulder made the other one twinge when she moved it—into the air and shouted, “Thorn Ford Camp retreat, whatever’s left of you dogs!” She ran east through the darkness, though the night vision of the elves and the kobold could still just see her as she ran.

(Wanna chase Kressle? Read below)

Aria – Kressle is in double-move range, but has concealment. Following too closely might interrupt archers’ ability. Lights still have 30s time on them, though, but giving her lights also removes her movement penalty for darkness if she is missed.

Sylvia – Lacks the vision, and nowhere near the range. Best to start dealing with the unconscious and the nearly so.

Achuak – Could snipe her without penalty if had a bolt loaded. Could chase her and keep up properly through the darkness, but this would result in having no weapons to attack with (1d4-2 is not considered ‘a weapon to fight with’ XD but you could).

Junn – Again by complete accident untold (I swear I don’t plan this s*** like this) Junn has a clear shot to her, but the distance puts it at a penalty (second range increment, -2) and the concealment lowers that chance further unless Aria lights the area.

Sordin – Unfortunately Smite Evil doesn’t make your target glow light a lightbulb or something. Sordin has suboptimal chances to hit even if he chooses the right square to attack—unless Aria lights up, in which case he’s actually somehow also got a clear shot (I TOLD you moving up closer would help with those tree cover issues).

Ortlieb – If he gave chase his vision would allow him to keep up comparatively well, but his armour would more or less even them out, and she’s got a huge headstart. Besides, he’s much more interested in the wench who just stabbed his monkey.

[Remember also that this is a dense forest, so outside of this little clearing on the map, the trees are thick enough to restrict vision to between 20 ft and 120ft. and that Kressle is much more familiar with this forest than anybody here except maybe Achuak. This means that you have probably one or two chances, depending on Aria’s lighting choices to finish her off before she’s gone or it’s midnight chase time.]

Achuak – Total Defense
Aria 7/9 – Dancing/3, Dancing Lights 5/10
Junn – Judgement of Justice
Ortlieb 8/9 – Shillelagh 4/10
Ramathu 6/16 – Bloodied
Sordin – Smite Evil [Kressle]
Sylvia –

Kressle: Injured – GTFO’in (Still visible).
Happs: ???
Lloyd: ???
Nikodim: Probably Wounded? – GTFO’in
Bandit X: Disabled – Prone
Bandit V: Barely Injured
-
Bandit Z: Disabled, Surrendered
Bandit Y: Dying
Bandit W: Dying
Bandit U: Dying
Bandit T: Dying

(I guess with all that above, there’s not much left for the Out-of-Character box here. I’ll just share with you a tidbit I learned today. It turns out there are no favoured enemy (half-elf) or (half-orc)—both are affected as if they were both humans and their alternate parent. As before, I won’t rectify my mistakes that benefit you and kill Ortlieb. Oh, and one last thing—Bandit X does not provide cover laying down like that. This *used* to be a note for Sordin, but since Kressle has moved, Junn is the one who should find this useful (hence the no cover for Kressle, though the long-distance shot))

Behold your new map, not that it will help you much. There’s not much you need to know that isn’t on here or in that bit above.

Junn heard Kressle scream for a retreat and turned his attention to her as she was fleeing the camp it was a long shot and without light it wasnt likly but he had to try adn hit her he pulled his arrow back and focused on her and her alone his world going quiet he slowed his breathing fully prepaired to shoot.

(either way hes going to just saying owen so dont assume hes not you stilly billy)

Before Kressle could outrun Aria’s keen night vision, the half-elf chased her down with her quartet of spell lights. The bandit leader was easily still within Sordin’s range and the illumination by the magical lanterns was all he needed.

Without hesitating he drew an arrow and loosed it. The hasty shot went wide, but the paladin wasn’t finish. He plucked another arrow from his quiver, led the target by a bit and shot again before she could take advantage of the dense forest for cover.

He hit. The sadistic leader of the Thorn Ford camp fell. (-7dmg Kressle KO)

It was then that Sordin remembered that he still wasn’t alone in the darkness. There was one more bandit here a moment ago before Aria moved the lights.

The absence of Aria’s lights did not delay Ortlieb any. He told Ramathu to stay and followed the bandit woman sent to Sordin. He could see both of them perfectly the pitch dark.

He cleared his throat roughly to get the bandit’s attention. She froze.

“Don’t touch my monkey.”

It took only one hit of the spell-enforced club to knock the scoundrel to the ground. (-10dmg Bandit-V KO)

Aria was already tending to the bandits who had fallen and taking prisoner in the little light that reached her. It seemed the most of the ones in her line of sight had gotten lucky enough to stabilize on their own. Without further help they would almost certainly die out here, though.

The one remaining conscious bandit besides the one by Junn started to crawl away in the darkness, but Ortlieb recommended very strongly that he set his weapons aside and come quietly.

Junn put his bow away again and started climbing down the rope ladder to inspect the bandit’s stash of treasure kept underneath that very same watch platform [probably, he could be up to other things, too, but lacking Kressle to shoot at, this is the first alternate option]

Sylvia and Achuak are up to their own things as to be determined by their following posts. Battle is over so you don’t need me to tell you what to do anymore, unless it’s to make a skill check or adjudicate physical reality.

If you give him a few minutes, Ortlieb can spot the tracks of the cart from earlier and lead the way. Until then you have a few moments to tie up loose ends from the battle as you see fit.

Achuak –
Aria 7/9 – Dancing Lights 6/10
Junn – Judgement Ended
Ortlieb 8/9 – Shillelagh 5/10
Ramathu 6/16 –
Sordin – Smite Fulfilled
Sylvia –

Happs: ???
Lloyd: ???
Nikodim: Escaped
-
Kressle: Dying.
Bandit Z: Disabled, Surrendered
Bandit Y: Dying?
Bandit X: Disabled – Prone, Surrendered
Bandit W: Dying?
Bandit V: Dying.
Bandit U: Stable
Bandit T: Stable

Achuak turned to the flames now that the bandits were dealt with. At first, the kobold was worried that the flames could start a wild fire, but his anxiety was put to rest as he observed it a little more. It would die out in a few short minutes.

The fire was no longer an important matter, so he again focused on the bandits.
"What will you do with them now that they have been brought down? That Kressle one in particular will only cause trouble if we let her live. I don't care one way or the other, so long as it is done swiftly and in honorable manner - let their death be swift if they should die."

"As for the masked one you spoke of... I did not see him this night. Where he is I could not guess, but perhaps some of these people might know? In any case, I wish to emphasize that my own people are suffering greatly - We have not captured the masked one, but can we please make our way to my tribe within the next couple days? I will continue to aid you all without hesitancy and with ever strengthened spirits knowing that my own people are saved."

The speech was slightly broken, but Achuak figured that most of the message got through. The words and phrases he did not know, he just reverted to Draconic, knowing that the Sylvia would be able to comprehend most of the language gaps between him and the others.

Sylvia strutted to the downed bandits hands on her hips looking verrrrry~ pleased. She listened intently to Achuak and smiled. "Don't worry, the masked one can live. For now, I'll savor his death all that much better when it finally does come. Again you are right that Kressle woman, the disgusting one, she needs to be dealt with. But she also might have key information we can use. The rest could prove useful to. My vote is to secure them, keep them secured stripped of all weapons, armor, valuables." She grinned at that final one. "AND we can either deal with them here, I'd love to question Kressle she seems to be juicy with information. The rest, could question them, hang them or behead them. I don't care one way or the other." Having forgotten for a moment she had to play translator she blushed and turned to Achuak fully. "As agreed, we help your people next but we need to deal with the current situation first." She spoke louder so the rest could hear. "Achuak wants us to head to his people after we deal with these bandits immediatly, I agree we promised him and as such we will hold up our end of the bargain ok?" She spoke sweetly, and before any words could be said in answer she began securing the bandits as best she could and would have someone stronger check the binds after.

Junns ears perked.and he moved to the group

"Secure then take anything worth while"

He glared slightly at syl and moved to stand infront of her

"But I will be doing the interogations I have already secured vital information to our cause and Im tired of danceing around in circles. We kill them all of them I will not have fall to the same mistakes we did at Olegs and Ill kill them myself if the rest of you are so fearful of taking a the life of vermin that not a few moments ago were out to take yours"

He spoke loudly his voice changed filled with anger and a lust for death he returned his eyes to Syl and grabed her chin lightly to move her eyes to his

"You wanted to know more of my worship.. Revenge is part of it and come hell or high water I will have mine this day"

He let her go and moved to prepair for his interogations in one of the nearby tents

"Such mindless killing seems a bit biased. Yes, there is danger if they live, but at the same time, remember, at Oleg's, when they had a chance to run, two choose not to. Revenge is supposed to be against the aggressor, isn't that right?" Aria asked, crossing her arms as she leaned back on her heels, "These particular people, here, right now, we have not met them before. What do we know of them? Not very much. That one woman," She points to where Kressle lay, "We do know is particularly dangerous, if her bloodlust was any indication, and so, reluctant as I am to say so, I can see the reasoning behind giving her a swift end."

"The others though, I think they could deserve a second chance at life. I at least am willing to give one to them. Just one." The last two words she spoke with a strangely cold emphasis. She had no issue with them right now; they were likely just order followers, hanging out with the big group. If they refused this opportunity, that would be a clear betrayal.

Junn was not the only one who was interested in revenge, but only when a situation called for it.

She nodded at Sylvia and Achuak, "Yes, I agree that should be our next destination."

Junn froze in place at Arias words a pure anger filled his eyes he drew his sword and slowly walked to Aria

"Listen you half blood abomination these idiots made their choices and as such should suffer the justice that any other would face in the real world we are here to chart this place and rid it of all the vermin that infest it and that is just what I intend to do"

He stoped a few feet away sword still poised at Aria

"If you intend to stand in my way then I will gladly cleave your head along with theirs, I let you spare there lives once agenst my better judgement I wont do it again this is my first and only warning to you their choice was made and justice will be done "

Aria shrugged, rolling her eyes, "I'm one person. You are one person. I have stated my opinion, just as you have made yours clear. Neither matters, since neither of us alone dictate the actions of the group as a whole."

"We've said our pieces. That's all there is to it." Aria absently spun one of the kukri still in her hands, "You can keep yelling about it and throwing a tantrum or you can wait patiently for the remainder to cast their votes. Personally, I'm doing the latter."

Junn blinked for a moment regaining some of the little bits of his sanity that remained and he sheathed his sword

" I have no hope for my opinion in this case child this group is filled with people who lack the will to act and whos hearts are filled with far to much compasion for creatures not even deserving of the life the have given a second chance there is a chance they could be good or they could end up like me fighting on the side of angels but being far from one of them"

He walked away breathing calmly though keeping his hand on the hilt of his blade

Ortlieb cleared his voice with a shower of boulders. "I have no care either way toward these bandits. Many places I have gone, I have been looked upon as a beast and a brute, beneath the level of those who passed me. I see these creatures who prey upon their fellows for personal gain, who think themselves distinct from 'mere' beasts. I look down on them."

Ortlieb rested the base of his club on the ground between his feet, but still in his hand. "I also see we have six members for our vote. I will abstain from casting my vote one way or the other in hopes of reaching a quick verdict."

"I think the laws of man look unfavourably upon parasites who feed on the misfortunes of others, but I have no quarrel with any of them, and they could hold more information for us. Either way, Achuak is right, whatever we choose, let us be done with it quickly. We have been here nearly a week and we have barely even begun the tasks set to us and already the pile of tasks rises."