The Company began to move.
They all knew it would not be long before Harizän brought down his vengeance upon the trading town.
At the moment, the weather and the time of day had the majority of the town unaware of what was going on and Dirnhael did not know if that was for the better or worse. If the Easterlings decided to bring down their wrath upon Ilanin's citizens now, then they would catch most of the townsfolk sleeping.
Fortunately, most of the Sagath would be busy trying to extinguish the fires and certainly, in this stormy night, Harizän would be greatly challenged to organize any kind of retaliation. The Dúnadan knight would have to put his faith into that, or he and his comrades would need to try to rouse the town - a seemingly near-impossible task.
The Sindar's voice brought the companions' attention away from the glowing horizon, "Look!"
The others, save Fengel, had a hard time distinguishing what the keen-eyed Elf was pointing out and so Edrahil verbalized it, "Many Sagath are beginning to swim the river. It seems that whomever caused the pyre also saw to tying all the barges to this side of the ford. Wise."
Durgil peered to where the Easterling camp that they had invaded the night before glowed with its own campfires. The young noble could see a large shadowed figure silhouetted by the glow. He stood and looked across the river towards the burning wains. Unbeknownst to the Dúnadan, Edrahil was watching him too.
"I believe that Harizän will make Ilanin pay for Patrel's rebellion. He certainly must be enraged still from Fengel's success last night..."
"We must make haste then and strike now while they are disorganized and in disarray! If we can defeat much of his force before he can rejoin to lead them, we will have the upper hand. I can attempt once more to persuade the mayor to act responsibly instead of cower; at least more of his captains would be responsive if they have any sense of duty or honor."
"Edrahil, can you see if Patrel has mustered arms to meet the Sagath as they come across?!" Fengel spoke with excitement as he scanned the scene as well.
Observe (spot) test
Roll(2d6)+6: 3,2,+6 Total:11 Night-eyed -2 to penalty.
Quote from: GandalfOfBorg on Mar 22, 2008, 07:24 AM
"We must make haste then and strike now while they are disorganized and in disarray! If we can defeat much of his force before he can rejoin to lead them, we will have the upper hand. I can attempt once more to persuade the mayor to act responsibly instead of cower; at least more of his captains would be responsive if they have any sense of duty or honor."
"That seems wise," Dirnhael said. "Perhaps if his own welfare is at risk, he may be prodded into action."
Dirnhael paused for a moment to consider their own actions.
"We must move now; head toward the flames to find Patrel and his men; seize this opportunity. Durgil - muster whatever strength you can to help, and meet us as soon as you can."
He smiled and his voice was twinged with doubt - an attempt at gallows humor.
"I suspect that we will not be hard to find."
"I am off then. Save a few of those heads for me, don't want your arm to cramp in the middle of battle!" With that, the young Dunadan was out the door and on his way to the Mayor with all speed.
And so the Company split in two once more, Durgil running north up the muddy street that ran parallel to the Carnen. To his right the river flowed and glittered from the lamps and torchlights that burned on either side of the river and the noble could now see the Sagath splashing across the ford. It was deep enough to force them to swim and slow the down, but not enough to stop them.
What Durgil did not notice was the group of shadows that had been watching him and his other companions as they had entered the Flo. The largest shadow made a gesture and two of three forms flitted off to follow the Dúnadan. The remaining shapes broke free of the alley in which they hid and moeved quickly in chase of the others.
Fengel led Dirnhael and Edrahil as they raced towards the burning glow, using it to guide them along the darkened, unfamiliar streets. The way was winding, as the thinner streets, on the south end of the town, came to sudden ends, or left or right turns, warehouses and homes blocking.
Fengel went left to go around a leaning wreck of a two-story building, trying to lead his friends out of the maze and out onto the surrounding fields where the Easterlings had made their bivuoac. The road went into a cul-de-sac that had but two exits, the one they came from and one to the north-west. While the trio moved to the north Koskas and his troop emerged from the shadowed alley.
"Dúnadan! I have been smelling your blood in this city since you came! You die this night!"
Dirnhael skidded to a stop to see the mage-beast in his awful trans-form, a wolf standing erect like a man. Beside Koskas, Sagath warriors advanced with weapons along with another great warg beast.
Not far away, Durgil too was set upon by the Easterlings.
[OOC:] To be fair here, I will give you guys a Observe test TN 20 to try to have detected Koskas and his raiders before you all split up.
Understand that there is a -7 due to darkness and rain.
Edrahil - Observe (Spot) [img alt=]http://roleplay.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice.gif[/img] Roll (2d6)-1:
3,3,-1 Total:5
TN 20, Observe +4, Keen-eyed +2, Mods -7
Results: FAILED
Edrahil - Observe (Sense Power) [img alt=]http://roleplay.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice.gif[/img] Roll (2d6)+6:
2,4,+6 Total:12
TN 15, Observe +4, Specialty +2
Results: FAILED
Observe (spot) TN20 -7penalty
Roll(2d6)+6: 5,2,+6 Total:13 -5(night-eyed) = 8 FAILED
[OOC:] We will be going into combat rounds, so go ahead and finish up any narrative/dialogue you want here. Also, give me your first round Initiative rolls.
Edrahil - Initiative [img alt=]http://roleplay.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice.gif[/img] Roll (2d6)+2:
4,2,+2 Total:8
TN n/a, Swiftness +2
Results: n/a
Koskas - Initiative [img alt=]http://roleplay.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice.gif[/img] Roll (2d6)+4:
1,6,+4 Total:11
TN n/a, Swiftness +4
Results: n/a
Warg (W1) - Initiative [img alt=]http://roleplay.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice.gif[/img] Roll (2d6)+4:
4,6,+4 Total:14
TN n/a, Swiftness +4
Results: n/a
Sagath (S1-S5) - Initiative [img alt=]http://roleplay.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice.gif[/img] Roll (2d6)+2:
4,6,+2 Total:12
TN n/a, Swiftness +2
Results: n/a
TN 20 Observe - (1+1)+5-7=0 FAILED
Initiative - (5+3)+2=10
Observe test (TN 20)
Observe (Spot) +6, -7 penalties = -1
(I don't see the dice roller, so I'm using the one from Wizards.com)
Roll(2d6)-1:4,6,-1 Total:9 - FAIL
Initiative roll:
Roll(2d6)+5: 1,3,+5 Total:9
***
Dirnhael knew this moment would come - in fact, he would have to admit that he looked forward to it - but his blood ran cold at the sound and sight of Koskas nevertheless.
He regretted that Thermon was not with them; the rogue had saved his life in the last encounter with Koskas; they had almost had the wolf that night at the Three Tears. He knew he might not be able to defeat the wolf, man to beast - he would most likely need the assistance of his companions, but he intended to at least hold Koskas off until Fengel and Edrahil could finish the Sagath rabble that accompanied him.
Dirnhael gritted his teeth and said nothing; his only reply was the song sung by Vorandur as the sword lifted from its scabbard with a metallic ring that pierced the rainy night.