Ponies & Dragons - Episode 1: A Tail of Two Cities

[Kirby Krackle]

Stealth: +7

Search: +5

[Bramble Rose]

Bramble shrugs out of his cart harness, leaving it to IronMane to keep his cart with the group. He steps into the forest with barely a sound but the wind in the trees. He doesn't go a dozen steps before Thorn Blossom is with him, staying out of sight of the ponies, though she whrufles at Bramble's mane when she recognizes Ironmane. "Strong Female returns to spend time? Perhaps is interested? Little Pony needs mate. Strong Female can protect Little Pony."

Bramble squirmed in embarassment. "I'm sure she doesn't think of me that way, Thorn, now come on. There's some very bad ponies up ahead that are ... um ... encroaching on territory." It had been the easiest way for Bramble to explain stealing to her - that ponies often carried their territory with them. Thorn Blossom thought it was foolish, but she accepted it. "We need to find these invaders before they hurt ponies. Strong Female there is part of it... the one on the other side of the wide game track there is Quiet Eyes, and the one on the cart is Burr in Mind." The expression of naming them such conveyed to Thorn exactly how he felt about them - the hope that the one could hold up in the stealthy scouting, and his frustration at the other's bossy vagueness - if there weren't ponies that needed help, he'd have quit before they'd gone half a mile. "They're both helping me, please don't eat them."

Thorn Blossom gave a rumbled assent. Bramble's hooded robe shifted into armored barding made of verdant leaves, blending into the forest around them. The two moved on into the forest, straying apart, moving swiflty and silently through the underbrush as they scouted on ahead of the group.

Bramble Rose

Perception: +7

Stealth: +6

( circumstance bonus for being camoflaged. )

Thorn Blossom

Perception: +8

Stealth: +6

( Possible stealth circumstance bonus for looking exactly like the underbrush. )

[Kirby Krackle]

Curtain Call found himself back to work, doing what he does best. As easy as drawing breath, his hooves hit the soft earth and crunching leaves with nary a sound made. Thanks to the high sun and thick forest canopy, there were plenty of patches of darkness to be found and he darted from one to the next as fast as his legs could carry him. It felt good, to once again be invisible, to be the Cloak and Dagger. But it felt good, he noticed, purely out of habit. As he scanned the landscape for foes, he found his mind wandering to the thought of his new found teammates doing the same. Were they fairing well? Were they fairing... not so well? Here's a better question to ask, he thought, why does he care so much right now? Simple! These were actual ponies, and not simply the sour gaggle of slime of which he was more accustomed. As a first, it's his usual type of cohort he's been sent to dispatch.

"Nothing wrong with a little spying in the name of what's right", he recalled Bramble Rose saying. Why think of this now, though? No matter. Best to make haste to his mystery targets and find a pony's back to insert something sharp into.

[Starburst]

While sweeping the forest with nary a sound Bramble, and then moments later Curtain call, come across a large camp of gruff looking ponies wielding weapons both large and small. The quick reflexes of Thorn blossom grab Bramble by the nape of his neck, pulling him behind a copse of trees before he stumbles obliviously into the enemy encampment. She looks up into the tree tops and a low growl comes out, warning of danger. A watchpony dressed in leathers sits comfortably in the tree, just as oblivious that there are ponies nearby as Bramble was.

In his defense however, he was busier carving a design into a block of wood than he was in keeping watch over this side of the camp. The bandits appear to be talking about something, however the large, gruff, leaderpony speaks in gruff whispers, which remain tied to the ears of those near to him.

[Kirby Krackle]

"Is he trying to get himself killed?!" he was about to scream, but oh wait, stealth mission. Nevermind. Thank goodness that the Timberwolf caught the near fatal mistake. He considered for a moment trying to creep through the gloom and brush to his teammate, but decided against it. No need to arouse any unneeded suspicion, especially when not at full force. For a time, he considered "pulling aside" one of the guard-ponies and "replacing" him. That plan was scrapped as well. The commission clearly called for calling his comrades in case the criminal camp came into view. Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing. The faux-bird call echoed through the dense forest. Not to well, he hoped. He just wanted the Paladin, not the whole bloody militia.

But what's this? Curtain Call could hear chatter. He gave his hardest listen, creeping closer only barely.

[Trilobite]

Ironmane squints, scruitining the surroundings, then turns to her companions. "I think that--" she stops, finding herself alone with the rest of the caravan, Bramble's cart unattended.

She blinks for a moment, stunned.

"The gods have truly blessed them in their arts," she says quietly. "Thank you, Princess Platinum, for allowing me to travel with such capable companions on your mission. I shall--" she shrugs into the harness and gives a quick jerk to get Bramble's cart rolling, "--endeavour to be exemplary in my role as well."

[Bramble Rose]

Bramble made his way carefully through the forest, feeling the flow of nature in this place, He thrilled at being one with the forest, threading his way through the underbrush without a noise. Ghosting through like a shadow, a whisper ... He very nearly let out a squawk as he felt Thorn's jaws close upon his neck, pulling him back, but long experience with the timber wolf allowed him to keep his silence. He followed her gaze, glancing up at the brigand in the tree. How the deuce had he gotten into the tree like that?!

He slipped away from the tree, lifting up his head to let out his own birdcall. He circled around, quietly murmuring the words for the detect magic spell, watching for any tell-tale glows of magical triplines, items, or other threats they might have to worry about from these bandits.

[Starburst]

After concentrating for a few moments, your detect magic spell reveals a dull glow from the axe on the back of the bandit whispering to the other ponies. While Curtain Call on the other hand manages to hear a bit of the conversation. You manage to make out the words "Rid, Guests, At once". After he finished speaking they turn, one of them lets out a loud whistle, and most of the bandits begin climbing up a nearby hill, heading to intercept the caravan. A few of them remain behind, and they stalk out in all directions of the forest, unsheathing knives, swords, and shields.

The bandit that was in the tree puts the carving of his into a little pouch, slips around to the other side of the trunk, and climbs along the branches until he's out of sight.

[Trilobite]

Ironmane whips her head toward the bird call, her gaze going narrow and focused. She lets out a slow steady breath as she shrugs out of the harness, and then gallops straight as an arrow toward the sound, leaping clear of a large bush and landing on the run.

[Kirby Krackle]

The caravan is officially in danger now. The Paladin is nowhere in sight. The good news, for Curtain anyway, is that finally he can have some special alone time with a bandit of his choosing now that they have split up. As they drew their weapons, so does he, and begins to stalk the pony closest to his position.

[Starburst]

Kirby sneaks among the forests and finds one of the Bandit ponies following behind the larger group of ponies leaving the forest. Ironmane gallops into the forest in the direction of the birdcall, plunging into the forest and arriving in the clearing that the bandit ponies just exited from. Bramble and his Timber wolf companion remain nearby, looking into the clearing. Some of the hidden bandit ponies emerge threateningly from the bushes and begin closing in on Ironmane, closing off her escape routes.

[Trilobite]

Ironmane, breathing deeply but steadily, turns around in a slow circle, looking first for her companions and then for the enemy. Her ear flicks up, and she whips around to face the bandits creeping in at her. Her dark purple eyes scan the group, looking for whoever may be the leader, or at least the largest, strongest-looking pony. "In the name of the Princesses and all the Higher Powers of Equestria," she calls in a ringing voice. "I call upon you to surrended your arms forthwith!"

[Bramble Rose]

Bramble and Blossom make their way silently around, watching the approach of the guards. As stealthy as Bramble was, he had no real way to do much about these thugs without making some level of noise... so he wanted to wait till Ironmane was at least in range of the battle. He murmured softly not to let these things hunt around behind Ironmane and cut her off ... Blossom would understand the hunting ways of wolves in pony form, and he watched as Blossom circled around to make sure these thugs couldn't encircle Ironmane... till the stealthy timber wolf disappeared, and even his familiar eyes couldn't see her movement in the softly wind-swept forest.

Preparing for the battle he was sure was going to begin, his lips whispered swift words, the murmured the phrases and gathered his will, feeling the pressure of the magic running through him. The spell reached out around him, took the essence of the forest, and drew it into himself, infusing his hide with the nature of the trees, toughening it till he seemed as hard as wood, himself. ( cast barkskin for +2 natural AC, total AC of 17 ) He knew Ironmane's offer of leniency would not be respected, and he felt brief pity for these bandits, who knew not what their evil ways were about to drop them into. Pity - until he reminded himself of the innocents they'd already hurt. Ironmane's straightforward and honorable approach might make some ponies laugh - but Bramble knew that honorable forwardness was backed up by a fierce ability and infatiguable spirit that, if only these brigands could surmise it, would have them surrendering en masse. After all, the numbers of all the Paladins who had gone before her stood with her in spirit, and she outnumbered them a hundred to one. Bramble just hoped he could lend his small bit of help, as well.

[Kirby Krackle]

Curtain Call's mouth went dry, his heart was racing and his mind was empty. For the slightest of moments, as he so often practices, he was simply a dagger on four legs and nothing more. His only wish, to have flesh meet steel. As he lunged, however, he did make the slightest wish that the two Unicorns weren't around to witness this.

(BAB +3, Dex +3)

[Starburst]

Some of the bandits looked at each other and snickered as they closed in. However, others also slowed their advance and glanced nervously down at their provided knives, lowering their weapons and stopping in their tracks. Their hesitancy is obvious in their movements, some of these bandits at least, know what they're doing is wrong and slow their movement. The others, undaunted by the movements of some of their bandits in arms viciously jump at Ironmane, cutting at her with their slim daggers.

Ironmane deftly manages to avoid two of the clumsier blows, the third bandit from behind however is a bit more proficient with his weapon of choice, and Ironmane spins about, using her hoofguards to knock the blade aside. Ironmane spins on her axis, plants her front hooves solidly in the ground, and cracks her hoofguards into the chest of the pony who she was forced to parry sending them sprawling into the dirt many feet away from her prior location. The pony hit by the blow looks at the sky and holds his hooves around his chest, obviously in great pain. ( 1d8+3 damage, 5 total. )

The other two bandits who took swings at Ironmane each take a step back, measuring their distances from the Paladin typhoon. But neither has enough time to react to what occurs very shortly after the devastating strike to their friends chest. A large malicious looking timber wolf bounds out of the forest from behind them and closes her jaws around the arms of one of them, wrenching his weapon from its grip and forcing him to his knees. ( 1d6+2 damage, 6 total. Successful trip attempt )

Curtain call's target, however, is completely oblivious to the approach of the much stealthier pony behind her. His dagger plunges home into the back of the pony, grabbing for his targets heart. The pony looks down disbelievingly at her chest, and slips backwards on her hooves, falling to the ground on her back. She looks pleadingly upwards at Curtain call, tears leaking from her large, round eyes. After a few moments of crying the light leaves her eyes, and the hooves grasping at her failing heart fall away to her sides, revealing a splotch of blood seeping through her leather tunic. ( 2d6 + 1d4 - 1 damage, 9 total. )

[Kirby Krackle]

Remorse. It bites him hard this time. Harder, to be precise, since this isn't an unfamiliar feeling. He watched this pony that he's never met, or even heard speak, leave this world. The Rogue's heart aches for hers and he does the honorable thing, closing her eyes and leaving her against a tree, dignified. It's the right thing to do, he assures himself, prior to guiltily picking her clean of her tunic and any other bits of distinguishable clothing. Purposely, he left the valuables. Her face, mane, coat and cutie mark he commits to memory. Half the reason is so he can hastily work with his Disguise Kit to steal the poor filly's identity. (Total for Disguise is +5). The other half is so he doesn't forget her. Ever.

Now with a new face, he does a quick survey of the forest around him (Perception is also +5), looking for any signs of his party mates, sending out another bird call, torn between intercepting the ambush or helping his...

Are they friends? He didn't know. He also wished that they never find this most recent dirty work.

[Bramble Rose]

Bramble Rose started at the noises of combat, and hurried forward a little faster. He was pleased to see Blossom and Ironmane working together again so well, but there were three more ponies ready to move in and make the fight a little more difficult. Bramble figured he'd see what he could do to discourage that - once again his lips moved in the swift words of magic, bringing the foliage to life - the grass and vines stretching, swelling verdantly, wrapping around legs and haunches, flank and shoulder, trying to make sure to get the leader of the bunch, the one with the magic axe, with a particularly tough set of vines. ( casts Entangle on the bandits not yet in battle )

[Starburst]

( Sorry I didn't answer you earlier Bramble. In an earlier post of mine: "After he finished speaking they turn, one of them lets out a loud whistle, and most of the bandits begin climbing up a nearby hill, heading to intercept the caravan. A few of them remain behind, and they stalk out in all directions of the forest, unsheathing knives, swords, and shields." The bandit leader left with the larger group to intercept the caravan. )

[Trilobite]

Ironmane turns on the pony that came at her from behind, secure in the knowledge that Thorn Blossom is with her. In a moment she measures his status, and rather than bringing down her forehooves on his head, she lowers her helmet to headbutt him in the chest, hoping to knock him down and perhaps knock him out or at least take the fight out of him.

[Bramble Rose]

(( ahhhhh. We're taking out the ponies who are going to encircle the caravan, so that the main body fo the bandits stand alone. gotcha. ))

[Starburst]

( There are two groups of bandits, one where you're at right now which consists of six, and another heading off to intercept the caravan. The one heading for the caravan is the one you aren't fighting at the moment. The clearing you're fighting in now is the original area where the bandits were gathering. You whistled near the area and Ironmane ran through part of the forest and arrived here, which drew the bandits out of hiding. )

[Trilobite]

(Which Ironmane totally doesn't realize--she thinks this *is* the main body and they're stopping the attack!)

[Starburst]

(( ahhhhh. We're taking out the ponies who are going to encircle the caravan, so that the main body fo the bandits stand alone. gotcha. ))

( The group of bandits heading towards the caravan is currently heading there without any resistance aside from curtain call. The group of bandits you were fighting were the ones who stalked outwards into the forest, upon ironmane running into the clearing they were meeting at and causing a ruckus they came out of hiding and surrounded her. )

[Bramble Rose]

(( OK. There was some confusion, but very well. It happens when you're not around the table to sketch out a quick map and go, 'You're here, you're here, and you're here." How many are in the main force, if not just these six? ))

[Kirby Krackle]

(( Of all the times to not have Photoshop installed ))