Lion's Way

Sheemish shakes his head with a wry smile as Wirrow backs away from Runeson. "Do not mind some of us as we are new to this experience and to strangers. The home we come from is somehow diverse but secluded at the same time. But I'm glad to know we have some experienced hands to join us." He gives a nod of respect to Dieter.

Speaking to the group but not to anyone in particular, a tactic he has grown to realize works better with some of the women in the group. "Is anyone else familiar with these Gibberlings? Do they have weaknesses or strengths we should be aware?"

The companions start off on the Lion’s Path, eyes peeled for anything that might pose a threat. Those with the keenest vision spot a far-off hippogriff circling in the air, but it seems more interested in fishing off the coast than in causing any trouble for the group.

They make good time on the horses, and in just a few hours they come upon the site of the gibberling battle. The wagon is there, just where Koveras’ guards left it. The gibberlings are nowhere in sight, but the earth all about the area is torn up from their burrowing. The ground is stained muddy red in a few places, marking where guards and gibberlings met their end.

Within the covered wagon are crates of iron ore untouched by the gibberlings.

At Dieter’s ushering, the group forms a wary perimeter around Sheemish and Runeson as they begin to fit the new axle onto the wagon and hitch up the draft horses. So the companions are alert when a group of rough-clad men approach from the east.

Round 1 Player Phase!

Fighting bandits was definitely not what Sheemish was expecting on a salvage trip! What on earth were he and the others thinking! Hoping his friends have some secrets he doesn't know about, Sheemish unleashes one of his. Thrusting out a gauntleted hand, Sheemish gestures to a fallen treelimb close by. A barbed chain shoots from his wrist and wraps around the limb. The enhanced contraption easily adds to his strength and with surprising momentum Sheemish swings the large branch at the second Thug.

Thug 2 must make a Dex 13 saving through or take 17 damage

A half-dozen highwaymen charge forward, with two hanging back to level crossbows at the companions. The front ranks collide with a clash of metal on metal as Dieter and Runeson determinedly hold their ground. Dieter catches the bandit leader in the shoulder with his pike, but the brawny man continues forward all the same, landing two heavy hits on the young warrior (Dieter takes 9 bludg. dmg). At the same time, another thug smashes at Runeson with a mace, but the paladin easily sidesteps the blow.

Arrows and crossbow bolts whistle through the air, and one of the bandits in the back rank drops dead with Stella’s arrow in his side and Wirrow’s through his heart. At the end of the exchange, Wirrow finds that a bolt has painfully grazed her hip (Wirrow takes 4 piercing dmg).

Then, suddenly, an entire tree branch flies through the air, guided by Sheemish’s chain. It slams ione of the tougher bandits right in the chest, who gasps as the air is blasted from his lungs (Thug 2 takes 17 bludg. dmg).

The tough thug quickly recovers and swings his mace at Aiwe’s head hard enough to crack her skull, but somehow she ducks under the weapon. A drumbeat like thunder causes the ground to shake, and both the thug and one of his smaller allies fall to the ground, clutching at legs nearly broken by the localized tremor (Thug 2 and Bandit 1 each take 3 dmg and fall prone). One of the bandits manages to slash her shoulder with a curved sword, but she hardly seems slowed by the wound (Aiwe takes 2 slashing dmg).

Seeing Dieter and the bandit leader engaged in mortal combat, Runeson focuses on slowing down the rest of the bandits joining the battle. He focuses on fighting defensively (Dodge action), but two of the bandits pull some dirty tricks. One throws a handful of dirt into his visor while the other rams him from the side, and the paladin falls to the ground. Some quick knife work, and Runeson is left bleeding in the dirt (Runeson takes 12 slashing dmg and is dying).

Round 2 Player Phase!!

Seeing Runeson collapse, Sheemish makes a split second decision and swings his barbed chain at the bandit hovering over his unconscious companion. The chain wraps wickedly around the brutes arm slicing into the flesh and with a tug the bandit is yanked towards Sheemish instead.

B2 takes 6 damage and is yanked at least 10 ft towards Sheemish. B2 is not grappled in any way, just hit and moved away from Runeson hopefully taking his attention away from the dying hero

HP: 7/12
AC: 16

I regain consciousness with a start, commanded by words that I vaguely recognize.
I stand up while shouting, "You will pay for that!" Gripping my warhammer in both hands, I close the distance to the only bandit remaining standing and swing it once I am close enough to the bandit. The swing hits, the force of my blow makes the bandit cry out in pain, as I feel his body absorb the blow.
That has to hurt.

bandit 3 has 1 hp remaining.