It is obviously a trap. Where are these suppose bandits you overheard?
I suggest sending in one of the gnomes to start collecting. If they are escaped slaves as they claim, the bandits would attempt to capture the thing instead of attacking out right. When they do, we string our own trap and attack the ruffians.
If it isnt a trap, the gnomes have enough gold to pay their way back to where ever they came from.
"One does not often find gold, unattended. Have a care." She ensured a firm grip on her club, should this come to blows, for it was almost a given at this point.
Alora is very disappointed by her party's reaction to her good news "Why are you all so miserable? I found a load of gold! It's not a trick. It's scattered all over the floor. I'm going to go and get it."
Alora stomps back down the corridor and starts filling her pockets with gold pieces.
Aerie's voice cut the air with a sharpness rarely present.
"Alora is our comrade and our friend and we are not going to abandon her. Nor are we going to throw a group of gnomes who cannot fight at the mercy of these bandits."
Clutching her quarterstaff, Aerie brushed past both Anomen and Neera.
"If you insist on not helping her and putting innocents in the path of violence, then you will never be a real knight."
With that said, Aerie ran down the corridor.
OOC: If she finds the bandits in the corridor, Aerie will begin to cast Sleep. If the chamber is empty, she will exercise caution and search for Alora. Also, I am tired, and I'm sorry if I wrote anything that doesn't make sense or falls out of character. >_<;;
"Some of us should probably stay with our new friends. Since your armor has been compromised it is understandable if you volunteer for that important duty," Ajantis says to Anomen before he rushes off after Aerie and Neera.
"Come on, Minsc! Your witch is in danger!"
*Ajantis will attempt to overtake the pair and confront the danger first*
OOC: OOH, FEEL THE BURN! I think Anomen is looking mighty singed at this point… a little black around the edges…
Okay, you charge down the corridor, and see a thin cavern dominated by two plinths, and with three chests between them. One man is holding Alora, one hand wrapped around her throat, another over her mouth. She has a sword wound in her chest and she appears to be not breathing, let alone conscious. The man that holds her is… very strange looking. He is nearly naked, wearing only a loincloth, and his skin has a strange, almost… waxy sheen in the light.
Nearby is another man in the same sort of garb, and nine rather raggedly-dressed human men wearing chain mail and wielding a variety of weapons. The man nearest Alora has a blood-streaked shortsword that he has apparently just withdrawn from her chest. There are nine men, not counting the two waxy-looking ones.
Anomen stands between the casters and magic users protecting them from any in coming attacks. He will be using his mace and shield since he still has not washed off the bat poop from the armour.
OOC: Did the gnomes follow or stay where they were?
OOC: OOH, FEEL THE BURN! I think Anomen is looking mighty singed at this point… a little black around the edges
OOC: nope. In his mind, Alora got what she deserved. She put herself ahead of performing the duty she agreed to do, which was to see these gnomes out of this hell hole. It was Torm himself, driving that blade into her side when she went to collect gold instead of seeing the gnomes to freedom.
If she (and tbe rest of the party) listened to his wisdom, they would have had the jump on the bandits with a well placed sleep spell. That has now gone to hell. His duty was now to get the gnomes out, and he is looking for the safest way possible that does not endanger the rest of the party, hence the back tracking. It still performing his duty as Torm requires it. He knows Aerie, or even Ajantis can't reckon that, so any barbs about him not being a real knight, just bounce off him. He knows they are naive and ignorant to his beliefs.
But since the party went Leroy Jenkins on his ass, he has to perform another duty, protect his comrades from further danger, regardless of how reckless they are. He only grudginly follows because he is unsure what the gnomes are going to do and he is conflicted on the two duties he needs to perform. He will give everyone an earful if the gnomes die or get recaptured, or take off, or worse, join the fight against them.
Noting a distinct lack of gold scattered everywhere Ajantis warns the others, "Beware friends, all may not be what it seems here!"
Despite the uncomfortable feeling that he and the others have walked right into a trap Ajantis makes the best of the situation and attacks the nearest enemy.
Knowing that divine magic could always bring a companion back from the brink, Jaheira follows Ajantis' lead and takes whatever enemy is at his flank. "Nature's wrath be upon you," she cries out, furious with these ruffians. "And feel my cudgel!"
All right, I'm tired of waiting. Neera casts a Nahals' Reckless Dweomer And tries morphing it into a Magic Missile. She fails. Miserably. In fact, Neera disappears, and you hear an enraged chittering noise. Neera has disappeared, replaced by…a squirrel?
Aerie blesses the party. including the gnomes, who have come up behind you. Arkanis, Anomen and Ajantis miss. Minsc hits and takes down one of the bandits. Jaheira hits and takes down another bandit. The bandits, taken aback by your charge, strike back.
One of them slaps Anomen upside the head with a cudgel for 3. Another stabs Arkanis with a sword for 4. Minsc takes a mace strike to the belly for 8, while Ajantis takes a short sword strike to the arm for 4. The rest miss. The two men in the loincloths seem to stand apart, one continuing to strangle Alora.
Comments
I suggest sending in one of the gnomes to start collecting. If they are escaped slaves as they claim, the bandits would attempt to capture the thing instead of attacking out right. When they do, we string our own trap and attack the ruffians.
If it isnt a trap, the gnomes have enough gold to pay their way back to where ever they came from.
*Sniff-sniff* "Something is amiss. I smell treachary here." Arkanis grabs his axe.
Alora stomps back down the corridor and starts filling her pockets with gold pieces.
"I have weird feeling about this but. . . Hey, it's free money!"
Don't you think the gnomes need it more girl? You should not be so greedy.
"That doesn't sound like the sound of gold being put in a pocket. Anomen. You. Me. Saving Alora."
Neera grabs Anomen and drags him to wear Alora was.
The fool girl didn't listen to me. It's her own fault. I say we just backtrack the way we came and get the gnomes out that way.
"B-but Anomen! How can I tell of your glorious victory over those viscous bandits if you don't save her! I'd be swooning over your valiant efforts!"
Aerie's voice cut the air with a sharpness rarely present.
"Alora is our comrade and our friend and we are not going to abandon her. Nor are we going to throw a group of gnomes who cannot fight at the mercy of these bandits."
Clutching her quarterstaff, Aerie brushed past both Anomen and Neera.
"If you insist on not helping her and putting innocents in the path of violence, then you will never be a real knight."
With that said, Aerie ran down the corridor.
OOC: If she finds the bandits in the corridor, Aerie will begin to cast Sleep. If the chamber is empty, she will exercise caution and search for Alora. Also, I am tired, and I'm sorry if I wrote anything that doesn't make sense or falls out of character. >_<;;
"Well, I'm with her. Bye mister 'knight.'"
Neera will go with Aerie. I think my spells are expended so I'll just bash heads in with my quarterstaff.
"Come on, Minsc! Your witch is in danger!"
*Ajantis will attempt to overtake the pair and confront the danger first*
*turns to gnomes*
I highly doubt you are all innocent in this. You all can either stay here, or follow us.
*grudgingly follows everyone else down the corridor*
Okay, you charge down the corridor, and see a thin cavern dominated by two plinths, and with three chests between them. One man is holding Alora, one hand wrapped around her throat, another over her mouth. She has a sword wound in her chest and she appears to be not breathing, let alone conscious. The man that holds her is… very strange looking. He is nearly naked, wearing only a loincloth, and his skin has a strange, almost… waxy sheen in the light.
Nearby is another man in the same sort of garb, and nine rather raggedly-dressed human men wearing chain mail and wielding a variety of weapons. The man nearest Alora has a blood-streaked shortsword that he has apparently just withdrawn from her chest. There are nine men, not counting the two waxy-looking ones.
So, actions, everyone?
Also. ALORA. MY LOVE
Neera stares wide-eyed at her bestest little halfling friend probably being super dead.
"H-How dare you! Taste the powers of a wild mage you bastards!"
Neera lets loose two her nahal's reckless dweamored magic missile followed by a normal magic missile at the man that just stabbed Alora.
Once enough people are inside the cave and prepared to engage, Aerie will cast Bless on her party.
OOC: Did the gnomes follow or stay where they were?
If she (and tbe rest of the party) listened to his wisdom, they would have had the jump on the bandits with a well placed sleep spell. That has now gone to hell. His duty was now to get the gnomes out, and he is looking for the safest way possible that does not endanger the rest of the party, hence the back tracking. It still performing his duty as Torm requires it. He knows Aerie, or even Ajantis can't reckon that, so any barbs about him not being a real knight, just bounce off him. He knows they are naive and ignorant to his beliefs.
But since the party went Leroy Jenkins on his ass, he has to perform another duty, protect his comrades from further danger, regardless of how reckless they are. He only grudginly follows because he is unsure what the gnomes are going to do and he is conflicted on the two duties he needs to perform. He will give everyone an earful if the gnomes die or get recaptured, or take off, or worse, join the fight against them.
Arkanis attacks the man, who holds Alora with throwing axe, if it seems safe. Otherwise he attacks the nearest bandit.
"Eat heavy metal, scum!"
Despite the uncomfortable feeling that he and the others have walked right into a trap Ajantis makes the best of the situation and attacks the nearest enemy.
O.O
:watches, with wide eyes and bated breath, to see what happens next:
Aerie blesses the party. including the gnomes, who have come up behind you. Arkanis, Anomen and Ajantis miss. Minsc hits and takes down one of the bandits. Jaheira hits and takes down another bandit. The bandits, taken aback by your charge, strike back.
One of them slaps Anomen upside the head with a cudgel for 3. Another stabs Arkanis with a sword for 4. Minsc takes a mace strike to the belly for 8, while Ajantis takes a short sword strike to the arm for 4. The rest miss. The two men in the loincloths seem to stand apart, one continuing to strangle Alora.
Round 2, Party goes first. Actions?
Neera will try to use her little squirrel arms to pick up her staff but fail miserably.
She'll squeak angrily at the two strangling Alora and then scamper up onto Anomen's shoulder for, as Boo would put it, Butt-Kicking Goodness!