Chapter 3: A Search Underway

[MonkeyWrench]

I will need a 'To Hit' [1d20] roll from Gus to see just how well he managed to sever the Male Bandit's head!

Oh my...

[MonkeyWrench]

As the group travels on Stormbrow replies to Odderick in a hushed voice of his own,
"Right you are my young friend, If we are to act as a unit then we need to know the chain of command."

"Unfortunately with missions like these where people from every walk of life are allowed to join on there is a limit to this, sometimes there is just going to be conflict and things will not work."

"You learn this lesson through experience, let Gus teach you well that no matter how disciplined a leader a single person can halt everything."

"Odderick, we are only as strong as our weakest link, remember that."

[Dizlexus]

Do you want a strength check? Or a to hit? -- suppose it don't matter. Best case scenario for the bandit, according to the DMG is a +4 to hit for Gus. But probably automatic as the bandit was immobile.
("Special To Hit Bonuses" section of DMG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/223 ... a.htm#sthb)

So, I'll give you both cause I'm not sure what you want:
Str check (15 str)
[1d20] = 15
I don't know what it means when you match the ability score. I always want to see below it. I'm confused.

To Hit
to hit[1d20+1] = 19+1 = 20 damage[1d6] = 2

[PyroArrow]

Ok, the Male Bandit's head was cleanly severed by one precise, strong swing of Gus', now bloodied, short sword.

See, like if you had rolled a 'To Hit' of say 1 & didn't have a bonus, it would be like your swing was so bad you missed the target entirely as your blade eats dirt instead.
Or say you rolled a 5, your swing was off target & your blade sliced through the target's upper arm or upper back instead.
In either case, you will probably take another swing anyways...unless the blade breaks on you...

===============

Hmm, got me to thinking that say if you roll a '1' on your 'To Hit', regardless of any bonuses, the weapon you are using breaks! It would add spice however it will make things harder if weapons become scarce!!!

[Pulpatoon]

Odderick volunteers to join the Gus and Clem in escorting the the prisoners.

Linos steadfastly refuses to do so. He wants to smite, and he wants to smite now.

[PyroArrow]

Ok so now the split party line-up is looking like this:

Back to Lord Guido's Keep:
Odderick, Rondoel, Luna Cee, Bro. Clem & Gus Niminus, 1 hysterically sobbing Girl Bandit, 8 Halfling Bandits, half of them cursing Gus Niminus, the rest in silent disbelief, 1 Male Bandit Human Head

Continuing on to Caves of Chaos:
Stormbrow, Durgan, Bro. Linos, Boc Maxima, Trindon & Garbonzo, Fr. Tenebaum, Bro. Radac & Bro. Karick

[Dizlexus]

The Brothers Grim

One last bit of role play from my verbose butt today -- for the benefit of the party.

An argument erupts between the brothers on the edge of the gathering, just in earshot.
As the argument escelates, the brothers more frequently switch in and out of Common, Elvish, Gnome,
Halfling, Goblin, Hobgoblin, Orcish, and Gnoll, as they chose a language for its emphasis in a particular context or attempt to disguise the argument from the others.

They get face to face and scream at each other as only siblings can do. They even do some shoving.

This much is overheard clearly.

Clem: ". . . . should try to cooperate . . . ever use your head? . . ."

Gus: ". . . did nothing wrong . . . I thought the whole thing through . . . was going to . . ."

Clem "perhaps true enough . . . respect for the company we keep, Gus! . . who's gonna . . ."

Gus: ". . . you know that's bull crap Clem!. . . my threats are a promise, would would I be if I had not . . . and then the super hero draws his sword. . ."

Clem: ". . . stop making threats! let the lawyers in the party handle the criminals . . . a matter of respect for our company . . . calm! Get calm Gus, damn it!"

The exchange ends with Gus throwing up his hands in resignation, as if to say "fine, you win".

Clem turns to the others and offers a victorious grin.
Clem rides up to Stormbrow and Odderick and tells them:
"In the caves we will need to use Gus as a scout. However, when we are in mixed company, he'll not leave my side."

"That's a promise. Carry on gentlemen, I'll get him calm and return with some maintenance doses of mead. He'll be better if we put him on the slow dole."

[imswayze]

Garbonzo to Gus before they part ways (pointing at the severed head as he puts it in his saddle bag):

"Hey, you let me know when that bandit starts talkin'. We may still get some answers out of him yet!"

Garbonzo thinks he has Gus' good favor, but he still has no idea how crazy he is or isn't...something to continue to monitor.


Trindon and Garbonzo are forging ahead with Stormbrow and crew, currently riding on horseback....

Trindon's reaction to the drama: his hand is steady. He knows the world is probably a little better without that scoundrel.

Garbonzo is busy angling. He is a bit astonished over the execution. The slightest twinge of guilt percolates through his body...
wow, I sort of helped steer Gus toward that act. I hope no one noticed that detail.

Garbonzo takes Trindon aside: "Well friend, what I see here is a complete lack of leadership and direction at this point."

"We need to make sure we don't get ourselves in too deep if this "posse" doesn't show some signs of unification. I'm going to try and calm the goodie-goodies down. You just stay sharp."

[imswayze]

As Garbonzo rides toward Stormbrow, he passes Durgan. To Durgan, he says:

"I know Gus' act was unsavory to say the least, but there is good to come of it that will return balance by your beliefs, is there not?"

He continues on to sidle up next to Stormbrow:

"Well, I hope you know that it is a good thing that just happened. We got to see everyone react to a hairy situation."

"You are our leader. You must take that encounter, and use it to help us to become stronger as a team."

"I'm sure we are all on alert about Gus. Use this reprieve from his company to gather your wits and scheme us a way to the caves."

"I will now give you my best impression of a loyal soldier...NOW STEP UP AND LEAD, MAN!!!" (said boisterously, and meant to raise Stormbrow's chest outward, as opposed to slumping, shheepishly)

"Are we bypassing the tower now?"

[MonkeyWrench]

Durgan says nothing as Garbonzo says his piece in passing. He is confident in himself and his beliefs, a single action such as that is not enough to shake him, he will strive for balance one way or another.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Boc continues to lead the group he still keeps a cautious look on Garbonzo as he approaches Stormbrow, not forgetting that he was also an instigator of the incident. He says nothing on the matter though and continues leading the group, checking the road for any tracks and keeping an eye out on the surrounding forest for any movement.

[GreyWolfVT]

Stormbrow takes in everything the statements, actions and advice of the others. Then walks over to his group and tries to formulate a plan.

"Alright so I think we can get to the caves by a few different ways."

"But what do you think of cutting towards the lonely tower, we check it out then make a B line from there towards the direction of the caves?"

"I ask you all as I value your thoughts and opinions. A good leader not only knows how to lead but to listen."

[imswayze]

Garbonzo to Stormbrow:

"There must be something to this tower, but we best approach with grave caution."

"Those Halfling bandits sure made it seem like a booby-trap await us there."

[GreyWolfVT]

Stormbrow: "Garbonzo do you trust the word of the halflings? The were bandits after all. I think they might have been trying to lead us astray. But I will take this into consideration."

[Pulpatoon]

Linos: "The halfling asserted that there was evil at the Tower, and implied that it was powerful. Fine, evil must be sought out and punished. But the world creaks under the weight of the iniquity it bears, and we cannot cleanse it all in an afternoon."

"Do we have any reason to believe a dalliance at this Tower will aid us in rescuing the merchant folk? Let us proceed with our charge, and then, upon its completion, turn ourselves to this new threat."

[GreyWolfVT]

Stormbrow: "Alright you both make a good argument shall we then just go around the tower and to the cave."

"We can always come back to the tower after. Or does anyone else have any further compelling words to add to the discussion before we move on?"

Feeling quite the leader at the moment Stormbrow puffs out his chest a bit and looks quite confident at the moment. He looks to everyone with him and waits for any more statements before they head on.

[MonkeyWrench]

Durgan has nothing to share, simply waiting for the discussion to finish.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boc waits patiently at the front for the group to finish so that he can continue to lead them towards the caves.

[imswayze]

Garbonzo to Stormbrow:

"Of course I do not trust the word of bandits, regardless of race! What kind of a question is that?"

"The tower is on the way to the caves, and that the Halflings suggested we go there makes me suspicious...that is my logic."

Garbonzo to All: "The caves it is! Let's form up then and not lose anymore daylight!"

Trindon and Garbonzo point their horses in the direction of the caves, and begin discussing what equestrian tactics they have picked up so far.

[GreyWolfVT]

Strombrow:
"Yes to the caves it is gents. Yes I think to the tower instead of the path through the woods, would have been easier but I'd rather heed the warning of evils awaiting us at the tower for the moment. Onward before we dally any longer."

[PyroArrow]

Ok, the Rescue Party finally decide to head towards the Cave's Valley via the pre-planned route & forgo the Lonely Tower.
Again the rate of travel is 85 ft/round on horse back.

The Party heading back to the Keep will be travelling at a rate of 200 yards (600 ft) per hour.

[Nordbo]

Luna Cee, still with sling & bullets in hand, still keeps one eye on HB6+HB7, and the other on Gus, who he tries stay behind of (rather than in front of).

Luna also thinks he has voted for Odderick, but can't remember if he said it out loud before, so for now just keeps that thought for himself.