** Part I: Fire and Ash **

[TristenC]

[ooc: I thought 3/2 only referred only to the main hand. as in 3/2 when wielding 1 longsword (3 attacks over 2 rounds: 1 the first, 2 the second) then a single attack with the off-hand each round. Also, Idrys was going for the closest one to keep him from getting to the ranged-based members of the party, not rushing the leader right away. Still good with the decapitation, though ]

[spike]

Right right my bad, 2/1/2 is the sequence for dual wielding attacks with two blades.

The ones you attacked were the closest (about 11 move points forward) I usually just assume you would attack the nearest first and foremost. The leader is actually a bit aways near a weeping willow tree some 15 paces off.

[TristenC]

[OOC: Ok, thanks. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't confusing things since I'm not real familiar with 1e. ]

[Chris1234]

Karlene tries to sneak up behind the nearest unengaged foe and drop him with a fierce blow from her staff..

{OOC: MS 45%, THAC0 18, 1d6+3 dam, possible +4 to hit for a backstab giving x2 dam}

[spike]

note you cannot backstab with blunt weapons only piercing.

Karlene moves as stealthily as she could, bashing assassin #4's head in (-8 hp damage) he turns to flee providing you an attack of opportunity. Karlene rolls a 17 and strikes the same assassin for an additional -3 her quarterstaff shattering his unprotected skull. The assassin groaned 'you bitch!" then keels over dead.

[spike]

Idrys assassinates Assassin #3 plunging his sword straight through the hired killer the blade pierced out of the mans back and he went limp. The fighter fumbled (1:78%) botching his second attack as he tripped on the fallen assassins cloak (vs. dex) leaving himself exposed for an attack of opportunity.

'One shot is all I need' the tree-perched sniper muttered to himself taking a bead on Idrys firing a bolt into the fighter (-1 hp dmg), you noticed the bolt tip is covered in animal dung, possibly to cause infection.

Delilah targets the tree-sniping assassin and loosed two arrows at him. Due to the position of the foe, his AC is effectively lowered (hiding behind thick tree branches).

Two arrows thud into the hired killer (-1, -6=-7) horridly wounded he swung down a rope and onto the saddle of a horse tethered behind the massive weeping willow tree. In a rush, he pries a dagger out of his wrist and begins sawing off the reigns of the horse.

The remaining assassins begin fleeing, gaining an attack of opportunity at their flanks.

Idrys missed (6)

Kessa hurls a bola that wraps around an assassins neck, the metal ends strike the killer fully in the eyes with spiked heads, killing him instantly where he stood (critical strike)
John : you have one foe left in your sights, the mounted killer. He's about 18-19 paces distant.
Karlene (14) breaks the back of assassin #6 with a well delivered strike (-7 hp dmg) ending his existence.

The last killer, now mounted atop the horse fitted something on his wristbow and leveled it toward the party 'a little going away present' he muttered.

[TristenC]

Idrys stands, leaving his swords on the ground, and snaps up his longbow; firing at the mounted assassin targeting the party.

[Lol. So I literally got hit with a 'shit shot' ]

[spike]

Initiative:

Idrys: 6, assassin: 1

The assassin fires his wrist-bolt toward the party, it flew instead into the ground a little in front of him then detonated in a grenade-blast radius, blowing himself and his steed to smithereens. The horses head flew across the field and landed just shy of the entire party.

The party has eradicated these assassins.

Out of the corner of his peripheral vision Idrys spotted the blonde haired dandy from the night before riding off on horseback, with a permanent scowl on his face 'incompetent fools!' he hissed then rode off, disappearing.

Kessa: "Not even out the door and we've trained killers attempting to dissuade us from our course, how can this be? Or was this simply a random group of fools out to prey on unaware travelers?" she queried.

AS the fallen are searched for anything worthy of claiming, the following items are uncovered:

the leader wore a silver ring with the symbol of a bee
8 daggers
8 wrist-bows, quiver of 20 dart-sized bolts (d4). 10 bolts have a twine that latches onto the bracer mount and have grapple heads that sprout out when the bolt is fired, potential use is for climbing or dismounting enemy horse-riders, or even disarmament.

The leader has a bandolier of 10 vials, 2 appear to be filled with sulfuric acid, 2 looks to be filled with a clear resin type liquid, 10 are filled with a strong adhesive glue and is milky white.

A leather drawstring pouch with 20 platinum and a note that reads:

Shayvus: take your men and wait by the road to the Salt Marsh, there's a little white haired snot who needs to be taught a lesson in manners. I want you to break him, his friends can share in his suffering.

-Dellaros

p.s. here is half your usual fee in advance, the other half when you've succeeded in your task.

[TristenC]

The instant he sees the dandy Idrys takes a shot with his Longbow. Fool. Just some rich child throwing a tantrum.
Idrys will want a vial of acid, 2 of glue and maybe a dagger... and an even split of the cash, obviously

[spike]

(5) your arrow flew wide thuds into a distant tree.

Kessa: "Let him go, whoever he was we've got to put some distance between us and here. I wish to make the marsh soon, I'll take point to scout ahead. I will make animal noises of a hawks screech or wolf's howl if enemies are afoot, or an owls hoot if the way is clear."

The road winds through soft rolling hills and empty countryside, more weeping willows and lightening bugs, cat-tails, and tall sword grass tells you you are nearing closer to the salt marsh. Ten minutes later, and aggressive mosquitos begin making everyone uncomfortable.

After walking ankle deep through slushy muddy swamp, the party bypasses several large deposits of animal dung, recently made it was apparent.

Kessa guides the group to a rocky outcropping and a sheer cliff wall with a small thin waterfall, that is relatively dry and not so infested with insects. It appears to have been used as a campsite before.

'Tracks are mired here' she said more to herself than anyone. 'Let's make camp here and we can spread out and look for our man. We ought go in two's, then meet up back here once any clue is found" Kessa suggested. She turned to Delilah and asks 'Could you perch yourself up there on top of this cliff? Your eyes would be of great use up there"

[TristenC]

Idrys tends his wound so it doesn't get infected (before tramping through the fetid swamp)

Idrys uses his unnatural agility (high dex and parkour?) to cover as mich ground as possible without tramping throuch the muck (tree to tree?) Looking for any signs of the missing man.

[Chris1234]

Karlene stakes a claim too, "I'd the silver ring. A vial of acid, 2 of glue, too. And one of the pieces of twine and grapple might be useful. I'm not interested in the weapons. I agree on even shares for all cash."
She nods to Kessa's comments and tries to pair with Idrys for the searching.

=========

Does the Bee symbol or the names 'Shayvus' or 'Dellaros' mean anything to Karlene?

{OOC: @ Spike - Your campaign/rules of course, but my ancient 1st Ed PHB cites on p27, col 1, 13th para, "...3.Back stabbing is the striking of a blow from behind, be it with club, dagger or sword...", so I'd ask you to allow it for striking with a staff.
In passing, I recalled reading a question on this in Dragon a long time ago and looked it up:
"From The Dragon #210, 'Sage Advice': Question: Can thieves use their backstab damage multiplier when using a thrown weapon such as a dagger? Answer (Skip Williams): The rules don't say the thief has to use a melee weapon to make a backstab, but I don't recommend that you allow backstabbing with missiles-it makes the ability too easy to use." }

[TristenC]

Idrys would certainly opt to search with Karlene, giving them a chance to talk. So... I guess we have a lot to catch up on... Umm... where do you come from? What kind of work do you do for the Queen?

[Chris1234]

Karlene talks to her newly acquired brother, looking around all the while, only articulating when looking at him so that her voice doesn't travel unnecessarily far. "I guess you're right. It feels kind of weird, you know? I've always been different, am different. Don't get me wrong, I've been treated very well, all things considered. But I've always felt...so alone. Well, to answer your questions, I was born in the royal palace of Corealis. But now that I discover that I have a brother, it's tempting to wonder if all the thing's I'm told are true, well all of the truth." She shrugs, whether seen or not, "I've been a very minor part of the Queen's Court, a nobody really. But it did get me access to her libraries. So vast you could spend lifetimes reading and still not halve covered half of it." A very faint hint of bitterness crept in, "Well, human lifetimes.. And I occasionally delivered messages. I'm good at that."

She gives Idrys a measured look, "I've talked. To you. By my standards, a lot. Your turn. Tell me about you."

[TristenC]

Idrys keeps his voice low as well, while they walk. His eyes constantly scan their surroundings when not on his sister. It has been an isolated existence for me as well.. I was raised in the hilly countryside of Thaldiz Glade by a man named Bortaan… He claimed he promised mother he’d look after me. He worked with our father as well He shakes his head a little, He was the only ‘family’ I ever knew, and refused to tell me anything about our parents. Anyway, he educated me and taught me to fight and ride and a few other things. He indicates his swords and bow. Aside from puzzles, the only thing I was really ever good at was killing people… but I am good at it… He doesn’t seem upset or put out by the fact that he kills people in the slightest.

Keeping sharp eyes he goes on a bit about more recent things. After he died I went to look for the Lords of Dis. Met up with some priestess of Lor, who told me who our parents were, but not about you. She confirmed Bortaan as our father’s man, though… I might tie up with the church to find out more. They know a lot about… our kind… Anyway, she said father was a scion of House Telemvor and a knight… Mother was Lady Contessa Bianca… but that father had been turned into a vampire by some seductress… He killed her, and was with our mother one last time before… Well… before he took a walk in the sunlight… An odd mixture of determination and sadness comes over his features but is gone in a flash. I intend to find out if that last bit is true if it takes me a thousand years… He gives a single mirthless chuckle, Hells, I don’t even know if our kind lives to be a thousand years but I’ll become a wandering spirit to do it if I have to…

Another laugh with no emotion, I’m not much of a talker either… I guess this might be the longest conversation I’ve ever had… So, that staff... are you a magic-user?

Watching her for a time, he finally comes around to a different type of question. So… how do you deal with the… hunger?