Filename: DT/bandits Author: dcctdw %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Update %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Everything is almost all found out. * Ennomosia's body is not found, nor is her soul laid to rest. This'll literally come back to haunt Stormwatch. * The supplies inside Thersilochos' wagon was left to rot, as were the fighting equipment. * The diabolist circle was not purged. This could also lead to some problems. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The story... Setting: new moon, Wayhouse, an hour before dusk. A merchant and a plainly-dressed man scuffle up to the Wayhouse. The merchant is called Thersilochos; the other man is one of his assistant/guards, Medon. Thersilochos will describe how they were set upon by bandits -- at least eight of them! Thersilochos and Medon were on the far side of the camp when it happened. They rushed in and attacked everyone. Thersilochos had four other assistants -- Deisenor, Hippothoos, Chromios, and Asteropaios -- who were cut down by the bandits. They slowed down the bandits enough that Thersilochos and Medon could run away; Chromios was still alive (but barely) when Thersilochos and Medon returned to find the others dead and their wagon gone. Chromios died overnight. The bandits are still out there; there has to be at least 5 of them out there somewhere, just half a day's ride south..... %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The real story. Cast * A clergyman (Mesthles) and his shield grog (Glaukos) * A diabolist merchant (Thersilochos) and his diabolistic assistants/bodyguards (Medon, Deisenor, Hippothoos, Asteropaios, and Chromios) * An innocent peasant girl, Ennomosia, kidnapped by Thersilochos * Stormwatch Background Setting: New moon, a half-day ride south from Stormwatch, about half an hour's ride off the road. Thersilochos is performing a diabolistic ritual in the middle of the woods. He should've been in Thessalanica by now to perform this, but he got delayed. Nevertheless, Ennomosia is being sacrificed, so hopefully the powers of the Infernal won't mind that it's not in the usual place. Mesthles, who has True Faith, is nearby -- about an hour's crashing through the woods away. He senses the Infernal growing around him and, cross in one hand and dagger in the other, crashes through the woods to confront it. Glaukos, having no other choice, follows. The Confrontation Setting: Thersilochos and his assistants are standing on the points of a pentagram. Thersilochos is on the southern point; Medon is at SW; Deisenor at NW, Hippothoos at NE, and Asteropaios at SE. Chromios is being an attendant to Thersilochos. Ennomosia is bound in the centre of the pentagram. Mesthles bursts upon the clearing first and rushes to stand by Ennomosia. The diabolists are surprised; Glaukos, who had taken a bad stumble, is three rounds behind. The ritual is interrupted and repercussions occur: Character Interrupt Resist Delta Mesthles 2 0:7,7,8,3;0 botch Thersilochos 9 8 -1 Medon 5 7 +2 Deisenor 4 7 +3 Hippothoos 9 4 -5 Asteropaios 7 12 (1:6) +5 Ennomosia 3 8 (1:4) +5 Chromios 5 9 +4 Glaukos 8 4 -4 Right. Round Zero: * Mesthles reaches Ennomosia, lays his cross on her, utters "Christ save you", and is suddenly consumed in a column of infernal flame. * Asteropaios and Chromios are unaffected by the botched ritual. They hear Glaukos approaching and turn to deal with him. * Glaukos is unaffected but sees the column of flame, which makes him pause: he is still three rounds out. * Thersilochos is racked (but not killed) by Infernal forces. He is GMOed. * Hippothoos is consumed from the soul outwards, fire burning him from within, and dies screaming over... six rounds. * Medon and Deisenor are temporarily stunned. * Ennomosia is protected from instant annihilation by the martyring of Mesthles. Out of combat time: Mesthles (dead), Thersilochos (GMO), and Hippothoos (dead). Round One: * Asteropaios & Chromios and Glauko close. There is one round of movement separating them. * Medon and Deisenor attempt to recover: (3,1) and (5,6). Medon recovers; Deisenor is still stunned. * The Dominion battles with the Infernal over control of Ennomosia: (0,9). Ennomosia is racked by Infernal forces: 11 pain. 3 pain boxes. Round Two: * Asteropaios, Chromios, and Glaukos close to combat range. Due to darkness and stumbling about, they only finish in closing this round. * Medon's brave check: he succeeds. He decides to kill Ennomosia and closes. * Deisenor attempts to recover: fails. * Dominion/Infernal over Ennomosia: (9,2). Her bindings come undone. Round Three: * A, C, and G attack. A and C are wielding broadswords: A: +7/+7/+11/+6 C: +6/+8/+10/+5 Glaukos is weilding a 2h pole axe: G: +8/+6/+17/+4 Dodge 4 Soaks: A: 8 C: 9 G: 11 Rolls A C G (against A) First strike: 6 4 7 To hit: 0! 4 9 Damage: - 10 9 Parry: 8 2 Dodge: 5 Soak: 4 - 8 Results: + G strikes at A and connects. 26 points; 14 left. 6 boxes. A is at -3. + A strikes at G and botches. Nothing happens. + C strikes at G and connects. 20 points; 1 left. 1 box. * Deisenor attempts to recover: succeeds. He orients. * First Strike check between Ennomosia fleeing and Medon closing. Ennomosia flees. Medon chases. Last round of D/I battle: 6/4. Medon trips. Round Four: -3 A: +7/+7/+11/+6 8 C: +6/+8/+10/+5 9 G: +8/+6/+17/+4/+4 11 Rolls A C G (against A) First strike: lost 4 2 To hit: 4 7 4 Damage: 6 7 6 Parry: 7 6 Dodge: 8 Soak: 6 2 Results: + G strikes at A and connects. 23 points; 9 left. 2 boxes (2 boxes left in Heavy Wounds). + C strikes at G and connects. 17 points; 4 left. 1 box. * Medon chases Ennomosia. 1 point of close. * Deisenor closes with the battle. He is one round out. Round Five: -3 A: +7/+7/+11/+6 8 C: +6/+8/+10/+5 9 G: +8/+6/+17/+4/+4 11 Rolls A C G (against A) First strike: lost 6 0! To hit: 2 8 7 Damage: 2 8 6 Parry: 7 4 Dodge: 14 Soak: 14 20 Results: + C strikes at G and misses. + G strikes at A and connects. 23 points; 1 left. 1 box. (1 box left in Heavy Wounds). + A counterstrikes and misses. * Medon chases Ennomosia. 8 vs 1:6. Closes within 1 point. * Deisenor closes to engage. Round Six: D: +6/+8/+11/+5 8 -3 A: +7/+7/+11/+6 8 C: +6/+8/+10/+5 9 G: +8/+6/+17/+4/+4 11 Rolls A C D G (against A) First strike: lost 3 7 6 To hit: 0! 0! 9 2 Damage: 6 9 Parry: 4 8 Dodge: 7!, 7 Soak: 5 9 Results: + G strikes at A and connects. 26 points; 16 left. A drops. STA check of 6; no fatigue. + C misses. A misses. No lost conf. + D strikes and connects. 17 points; no effect. * Medon chases Ennomosia. Ennomosia puts on a burst of speed; now 4 points out. Round Seven: D: +6/+8/+11/+5 8 -3 C: +6/+8/+10/+5 9 -1 G: +8/+6/+17/+4/+4 11 Rolls C D G (against C) First strike: 4 5 6 To hit: 14 8 8 Damage: 5 10 10 Parry: 7 4 Dodge: 9 Soak: 7 3, 5 Results: + G strikes at C and connects. 27 points; 12 left. 6 boxes. C is at -3. + D strikes at G and connects. 21 points; 7 left. 3 boxes. G is at -1; has one box left in medium wounds. + C counterstrikes and connects. 16 points; no effect. * Medon and Ennomosia. Medon catches up and tackles Ennomosia. Round Eight: D: +6/+8/+11/+5 8 -3 C: +6/+8/+10/+5 9 -3 G: +8/+6/+17/+4/+4 11 Rolls C D G (against C) First strike: fails 8 7 simo To hit: 8 9 5 Damage: 8 8 2 Parry: 4 9 Dodge: 4 Soak: 12 5!, 6 Results: + G strikes at C and connects. 19 points; no effect. + D strikes at G and connects. 19 points; 1 box. + C counterstrikes and connects. 18 points; 1 box into Heavy. * Medon strikes down Ennomosia. Round Nine: D: +6/+8/+11/+5 8 -3 C: +6/+8/+10/+5 9 -3 G: +8/+6/+17/+4/+4 11 Rolls C D G (against C) First strike: fails To hit: 9 8 9 Damage: 2 9 3 Parry: 8 2 Dodge: 7 Soak: 6 5, 8 Results: + C strikes at G and connects. 9 points; no effect. + D strikes at G and connects. 20 points; 1 left. 1 box. + G strikes at C and connects. 16 points; 2 left. 1 box. C is one box into Heavy Wounds. * Medon kills Ennomosia. Round Ten: D: +6/+8/+11/+5 8 -3 C: +6/+8/+10/+5 9 -3 G: +8/+6/+17/+4/+4 11 Rolls C D G (against C) First strike: 2 8 To hit: 4 0!! 6 Damage: 3 3 Parry: 3 5 Dodge: Soak: 4 20 Results: + D stumbles; he'll be defenseless for another round. + G connects with C. 17 points; 4 left. 1 box. + C counterstrikes and connects. No effect. * Medon starts hurrying back. Fails STA check. Round Eleven: -3 D: +6/+8/+11/+5 8 -3 C: +6/+8/+10/+5 9 -3 G: +8/+6/+17/+4/+4 11 Rolls C D G (against C) First strike: 10 4 To hit: 4 8 Damage: 5 10 Parry: Dodge: 3 9 Soak: 4 8 Results: + C strikes at G and misses. + G strikes at D and connects. 24 points; 12 left. 6 boxes. * Medon returns (2/5). Fails STA check. Round Twelve: -3 D: +6/+8/+11/+5 8 -3 C: +6/+8/+10/+5 9 -3 G: +8/+6/+17/+4/+4 11 Rolls C D G (against C) First strike: 5 0! To hit: 0! 6 5 Damage: 8 2 Parry: 6 8 Dodge: Soak: 5 3 * Glaukos takes a fatigue level. Results: + C misses. + D strikes at G and connects. 16 points; 2 left. 1 box. G is one box into Heavy. + G strikes at D and misses. * Medon returns (3/5). Round Thirteen: Glaukos is 1 box into Heavy. Deisenor is 0 boxes into Heavy. Chromios is 2 boxes into Heavy. -3 D: +6/+8/+11/+5 8 -3 C: +6/+8/+10/+5 9 -3 G: +8/+6/+17/+4/+4 11 Rolls C D G (against C) First strike: fails To hit: 10 0!! autohits Damage: 14 8 Parry: Dodge: 0 Soak: 3 5 Results: + C hits G. 21 points; 5 left. 1 box. + D fumbles. + G hits D. 22 points; 11 left. 6 boxes. D is Incap. * Medon returns (4/5). Round Thirteen: Glaukos is 2 boxes into Heavy. Chromios is 2 boxes into Heavy. * Glaukos and Chromios both run away. * Medon returns to the campsite. At the end of it all... Mesthles: dead, martyred by Infernal flame Glaukos: 2 boxes into Heavy Wounds Thersilochos: racked by Infernal forces; will be "normal" by dawn. Medon: unharmed Deisenor: killed by Glaukos Hippothoos: consumed by Infernal flame Asteropaios: killed by Glaukos Chromios: 2 boxes into Heavy Wounds Ennomosia: killed by Medon %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Afterword... Glaukos crawls back to his campsite and attempts to stabilize himself. He'll be OK for awhile (8,2). He'll live another 6 days if untended. One has already passed by the time Thersilochos and company reach the Wayhouse. Thersilochos and Medon attempt to stabilize Chromios but fail. Chromios dies in his sleep.