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

[Starburst]

(( 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? ))

(( You aren't sure. ))

[Trilobite]

(It also happens in battle, so I think this is actually a good element of playing by post.)

[Bramble Rose]

(( Give me an estimate? there were about another half-dozen, plus the leader. There were somewhere around 60, plus the leader. ))

[Kirby Krackle]

(( I couldn't deduce an exact number from previous posts, so I suppose that's a variable until we get intel from more Perception checks. As far as numbers go, we don't necessarily have to defeat all these dudes. ))

[Trilobite]

(On with the show!)

[Starburst]

(( Give me an estimate? there were about another half-dozen, plus the leader. There were somewhere around 60, plus the leader. ))

(( Six are here. There are about another dozen give or take a few heading off towards the caravan. ))

[Bramble Rose]

(( In that case, I'm going to save the entangle spell for the larger group, and instead... ))

Bramble tensed... he wanted to entangle the four ponies heading for Ironmane, but he might need that spell much more for the larger group moving off towards the caravan. Instead, he pulled out one of his smooth throwing-stones, tossed it into the air, and kicked it towards the pony in the back of the small group, aiming for the back of the head to try to knock her out.

(( trying to do a subdual ranged sneak-attack. She's flatfooted, I've got a +3 to hit, 1d4 + 1d6 subdual damage ))

[Starburst]

(( Nonlethal attacks with real weapons are made at a -4 penalty. ))

The rock zings by the ponies head, missing its target by a small margin. One of the other bandits makes a dramatic leaping attack, finding a seam in Ironmane's armor and drawing blood, the bandit knocked prone stands up wobbily, stumbling to his side. The final bandit flees in the direction that the other bandits left, to alert them of a possible ambush.

[Trilobite]

(I may chase after him, depending on the results of my attack above?)

[Bramble Rose]

(( You're more needed here! Thorn Blossom can easily take care of him, and has a higher move rate, anyway! ))

Blossom was ready to back Ironmane up, but then one of the bandits broke and ran for the other group. Blossom was no stranger to pack tactics, and she knew that if that pony made it to the rest of his pack, they'd have a problem. Better to fight the pack split up than all together.

She darted away into the forest, melding once more with the trees and underbrush, flitting by like a living shadow amidst the sun-dappled forest floor.

The pony ran through the trees, as she harried him, and suddenly she was before him, snarling fiercely, her normally wooden form even tougher than usual thanks to Bramble's spell, and the fierce Timber Wolf was nothing but sharp and pointy bits as she let out her terrible growl, before attacking.

[Starburst]

( What attack? An attack doesn't happen unless you roleplay it. )

Thorn blossom chases the bandit through the forest and closes quickly, appearing before him. He attempts to turn to the side and dash farther into the woods, but Thorn blossom leaps into the air and crashes into his side, pinning him to the ground before her powerful jaws finish the job. That's one less bandit pony to worry about.

[Trilobite]

( What attack? An attack doesn't happen unless you roleplay it. )

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.

Dat attack!

[Kirby Krackle]

He cursed them, those foals. He waited in vain for a return of the signal. When he listened, all he could hear was the common rustling of the forest and the distant sounds of battle. Luckily for him, the righteous bellows of a Paladin can be heard for miles. These were sure signs of danger. In the exact opposite direction though, he knew that his benefactor was just as doomed, if not more so. On the other hoof, the two Unicorns were blessed with their strength and their magic and that one Timberwolf. On the other other hoof, there was the fearsome Nightmare under Filt's command. He remembered from his bit of time spying that the largest group was off to the cart, while a number of ponies unbeknownst to him was assaulting one if not both Unicorns.

"RATS! This is not supposed to be hard!"

Finish the job or save his team?

"You two idiots better be alive", he choked out before reaching a full gallop towards the caravan.

[Starburst]

Ironmane's headbutt cracks into the other ponies face, sending him sprawling backwards into a tree, knocking him out. What tremendous strength! Curtain call heads to the caravan, outdistancing the careful bandits by a large amount. Filt sits in the brow of the golden cart, talking with the nightmare, while blowing smoke rings into the air from his pipe.

[Trilobite]

Ironmane's ear flicks back toward Thorn Blossom as the wolf runs after the fleeing coward. She turns from the unconcious pony to the other three bandits and stares them levelly in the eye. "Surrender."

[Starburst]

They drop their weapons and put their hooves on their head.. which causes them to lose their balance.

They aren't the best at standing on two hooves. It's evident that they need practice.

[Trilobite]

"March ahead of me, single file. If thoughts of escape enter your mind, recall the speed of my wolf companion. Bramble Rose! Curtain Call! I have captured the blackguards!"

[Kirby Krackle]

"Well, that's just peachy. All of Equestria must have heard that."

So, now the bad guys know how many of us there are and that some of their numbers have been taken down. Lovely. This is the prime reason why he otherwise can't stand working with holy avengers: they're loud. How is a pony supposed to think with all that prayer going on? It's embarrassing. There's no grace, no subtlety! Speaking of qualities he values, Curtains finally came across the main group, fully prepared to act the part and slip among unnoticed. He would find the head of this group and cut it off.

[Bramble Rose]

Bramble came out of hiding, and said in an undertone to Ironmane, "There's twice as many heading towards the caravan, quiet is still of the essence." He then directed the thugs to plant their forehooves against the nearest large oak. (assuming they obey) His own hoof joined them, pressing to the oak as he murmured under his breath the words of a Wood Shaping spell. The oak tree's tough hardwood flowed out over their forelegs, encasing them in wood to keep them safe and secured. (and, if any are unicorns, to encase their horns, as well) "We'll be back soon to get you out of this." he assured them. "I wouldn't recommend escape. My friend..." Thorn Blossom paced around behind Bramble, "doesn't like having to hunt things ... unless she's allowed to eat them."

[Starburst]

Curtain call manages to slip into the group relatively easily without being noticed. The large group trudges through the forest and eventually arrives at the border between the plains and the mountains. The road is far off in the distance, a good 200 yards away. The gold cart is a shimmering sparkle in the distance.

The bandits audibly gasp as the wood flows over their forelegs, trapping them inside tree parts. Thankfully, none of them are wizards. This bandit group doesn't appear to have any spellcasters. After all, who would risk their lives being a highwayman when you can perform magic? When Bramble mentions Thorn blossom wanting to chew upon their entrails, the color drains from their faces and they tense up quite nicely, one managing to rotate his head enough to see the vicious expression on the Timber wolf's Maw.

[Trilobite]

"Good work, Bramble Rose. Perhaps your sorcery can bind a large portion of the main force. I will take line with a charge, and Princesses willing, we will force the cowards to surrender or otherwise finish this business before too many are harmed. Now to the caravan, and at a gallop!" The tall, powerful mare suits word to action, galloping as fast as she can in a straight line to the caravan, helmet lowered, plowing through undergrowth and small branches.

[Bramble Rose]

Bramble Rose followed after, his hooves more silent than the wind blowing through the trees. "It would have been for naught without thy skill in arms. Our allies may already be engaged in main battle, we must be swift," he replied. Her fancy way of talking tended to bring out his Canterlot childhood. "Though we may truly have cause to pity the fools if they have the ill fortune to attack our employer!"

( And stealthy-stealthy at top speed - yay being a Druid! - is what I'll do till Starburst lets us know whether we've caught up with them in time. Fortunately the first battle took only about half a minute... )

[Kirby Krackle]

The art of deception is not successful without the use of acting. While he does have minor stage experience, Curtain Call recalled a different set of rules for acting as he blended in during the march towards their final objective. Eyes forward, Curtain thought. Look where they look. Never stalk another pony's back. That's not only suspicious but downright stupid since he's surrounded. Keeping only an approximate pace, he gradually moved forward in the herd, hoping to make it to the leader before he ever gives the order to attack.

[Starburst]

A group of four surrounds the bandit leader's back, a large axe rests on his large back. It looks capable of splitting a pony in twain if you took a good stroke of it. You can tell that it's sharpened and well maintained, as the bandit's unprotected back has a bald spot from the sharp blade shearing against the hair of his coat. As soon as they get closer to the wagon, the bandit leader yells, "Chaaaaarge!" and the ponies begin charging towards the golden cart which is moving slowly along the dirt road.

Ironmane and Bramblerose arrive at the edge of the forest shortly after the other ponies begin to charge, a large group of them is galloping at full speed towards the gold wagon.

[Kirby Krackle]

"This is bad. Oh no no no this is very bad", were words that rang out inside Curtain's head, clouding out all rational judgement other than 'stab'. Oh, he charged with them. He had to, with as much enthusiasm as he could fake, but that didn't stop him from looking around one last time to see, yet again, a lack of a team. Fine. It was officially too late to be patient. May whoever feels like it guide his blade.

(BAB +3, Dex +3. Backstabbing the bossman.)