Chapter 2.2: First Encounters in the Dim

After a few days in Orlane, the first group of heroes to visit that village has snuck out of that settlement to report the grim state of affairs to the rest of the Dungeon Busters...and to return the body of their fallen comrade, Reptile. Making their way through the wild, untamed Dim Forest was no less perilous, what with fighting territorial boars to rescuing a Hochoch cooper named Bradley who'd been kidnapped by troglodytes. Following the ranger of the group, they've managed to link back to Cecily's Road once more.

As those heroes were leaving Orlane and heading west, another group of heroes was heading east from Hochoch on Cecily's Road. But on their first night out from leaving the Jarl family croft, they made camp in the same spot where the sorcerer Jonel had tried to camp the night before. They then were attacked by the same undead who had nearly killed Jonel: a party of adventurers that had been killed and reanimated for some fell purpose. Together, the four heroes managed to escape with their lives and find another place to rest safely. But then they confronted a disgruntled ogrillon and slew him before he could eat Rosemary. Now, finding the undead quiescent in the daytime, they retrieved their equipment and resumed their eastward journey.

By Cecily's Road, Chase gestures to the others, and Bradley, Myrtha, Theran, and Aanbo settle down in the undergrowth, halting their movement through the brush to listen intently. Now that they aren't moving, they can hear faint snatches of conversation: people are talking to each other as they approach from the west on Cecily's Road! A breeze ruffles the leaves on the trees, drowning out the sound of voices for a moment.

As their group makes their way east down Cecily's Road, Arya is expounding to Rosemary (and Jonel and Manthis, who can't not listen) about her favorite subject: Pelor. A light wind from the east soughs through the trees, making the leaves overhead rustle.

With the shift in the wind, Theran suddenly gets a whiff of sour sweat from behind them - he turns and looks back: in the forest behind their group, he catches a glimpse of furtive figures moving in between the trees. As he sees them, they notice that he's turned around. "They see us!" one yells. "Very well, boys," an authoritative voice responds. "Just get them!"

Everyone, please roll initiative.

Round one
(this was followed by round two)

The Dungeon Busters are in two groups: one coming east on Cecily's Road, the other in the trees north of the road. There are a group of hostile humanoids who were trying to sneak up on them, but Theran detected them. We'll call these hostiles collectively "bandits."Arya prays Pelor's blessing down on herself, Manthis, and Rosemary and hurries down the road, trying to talk the ambushers into peace. "Hold! In the name of Pelor, I command an immediate cessation of bloodshed!"
"We're outnumbered and wounded," says Aanbo. "I'll try and distract these bandits and give those travelers a chance to escape. Chase, can you give me some cover?" Aanbo begins rushing toward the nearest ambusher.
"You got it Aanbo." Chase slides around tree trunks, nocking an arrow, drawing, and then loosing the string as soon as he sees Three.
Three is hit for 7 piercing damage and staggers.
A moment later, Aanbo arrives, erupting out of the shrubbery to attack the wounded Three with his staff.
Three takes 10 bludgeoning damage and is out, dead or comatose.
"Things are about to get ugly, Bradley," Myrtha says, pushing the rescued cooper away from the ambush, "You head to those travellers there, and stay away from the fighting." Then Myrtha barrels through the underbrush to fling a handaxe at Two.
Two is hit for 4 slashing damage.
Theran calls upon the brotherhood of fungi that surrounds and permeates all living things.
Theran gains 8 temporary hit points and is filled with a necrotic righteousness as he imparts some of that power to his staff, which swells with vigor and new growth, spouting green shoots and dark buds. As his staff continues to bulge, blossoming with small black flowers, the druid jogs over to join Myrtha.
Manthis runs down the road, passing protectively in front of Arya, sword at the ready.Seeing the fighter's handaxe throw, Ambusher One raises a crossbow and sends a bolt at Myrtha. The bolt is lost in the foliage of the forest forever.
Staggered by the handaxe, Ambusher Two draws arrows, loosing one at Myrtha and another at Aanbo (the view of whom is partially blocked by a tree). The first skips off of the fighter's armor, the second thunks into the tree.
Ambusher Four ducks behind a tree to Hide...and disappears from view.
Ambusher Five finishes cocking his crossbow and sends a bolt at Aanbo, but the monk is too nimble and ducks.
"Don't you worry, boys!" Ambusher Six calls out, sauntering toward the Dungeon Busters, "Her power will strengthen your arms and will with supernatural might! Witness the WONDER!" With that pronouncement, a glowing club of fire appears, floating in the air by Aanbo, and swings at him. But the villain's monologue was too much warning, and the Earthshaker monk is able to leap back from the sizzling swings of the magic weapon.
Looking for the source of the arrow that hit his companion, Ambusher Seven spots Chase and sends a bolt from his crossbow at the ranger. Chase never even sees it, though he hears the whistle of its passing.

Hearing Aanbo mention 'bandits,' valiant little baker Rosemary clutches her paddle in one burly first and rushes toward the other Dungeon Busters just as they move away from her.
Jonel follows Manthis down the road, and calls to Bradley: "You there. Are you under attack?"
"YES!" Bradley shrieks, his nerves already shot from the previous ordeal. Bradley runs trustingly into the road and up to the armed heroes there. "Those people rescued me," the man points roughly in the direction of the other heroes, then points at the ambushers and adds, "and now those ruffians have ambushed us!!"

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18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (14/14)
14 - Aanbo (17/27)
13 - Myrtha (15/18)
12 - Theran (4/13, 8 temporary HP)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two (-4), Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13)
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley