Chapter 2.2: First Encounters in the Dim

After a few days in Orlane, the first group of heroes to visit that village has snuck out of that settlement to report the grim state of affairs to the rest of the Dungeon Busters...and to return the body of their fallen comrade, Reptile. Making their way through the wild, untamed Dim Forest was no less perilous, what with fighting territorial boars to rescuing a Hochoch cooper named Bradley who'd been kidnapped by troglodytes. Following the ranger of the group (and finding a place to ford the Realstream River), they've managed to link back to Cecily's Road once more.

As those heroes were leaving Orlane and heading west, another group of heroes was heading east from Hochoch on Cecily's Road. But on their first night out from leaving the Jarl family croft, they made camp in the same spot where the sorcerer Jonel had tried to camp the night before. They then were attacked by the same undead who had nearly killed Jonel: a party of adventurers that had been killed and reanimated for some fell purpose. Together, the four heroes managed to escape with their lives and find another place to rest safely. But then they confronted a disgruntled ogrillon and slew him before he could eat Rosemary. Now, finding the undead quiescent in the daytime, they retrieved their equipment and resumed their eastward journey.

By Cecily's Road, Chase gestures to the others, and Bradley, Myrtha, Theran, and Aanbo settle down in the undergrowth, halting their movement through the brush to listen intently. Now that they aren't moving, they can hear faint snatches of conversation: people are talking to each other as they approach from the west on Cecily's Road! A breeze ruffles the leaves on the trees, drowning out the sound of voices for a moment.

As their group makes their way east down Cecily's Road, Arya is expounding to Rosemary (and Jonel and Manthis, who can't not listen) about her favorite subject: Pelor. A light wind from the east soughs through the trees, making the leaves overhead rustle.

With the shift in the wind, Theran suddenly gets a whiff of sour sweat from behind them - he turns and looks back: in the forest behind their group, he catches a glimpse of furtive figures moving in between the trees. As he sees them, they notice that he's turned around. "They see us!" one yells. "Very well, boys," an authoritative voice responds. "Just get them!"

Everyone, please roll initiative.

Round one
(this was followed by round two)

The Dungeon Busters are in two groups: one coming east on Cecily's Road, the other in the trees north of the road. There are a group of hostile humanoids who were trying to sneak up on them, but Theran detected them. We'll call these hostiles collectively "bandits."Arya prays Pelor's blessing down on herself, Manthis, and Rosemary and hurries down the road, trying to talk the ambushers into peace. "Hold! In the name of Pelor, I command an immediate cessation of bloodshed!"
"We're outnumbered and wounded," says Aanbo. "I'll try and distract these bandits and give those travelers a chance to escape. Chase, can you give me some cover?" Aanbo begins rushing toward the nearest ambusher.
"You got it Aanbo." Chase slides around tree trunks, nocking an arrow, drawing, and then loosing the string as soon as he sees Three.
Three is hit for 7 piercing damage and staggers.
A moment later, Aanbo arrives, erupting out of the shrubbery to attack the wounded Three with his staff.
Three takes 10 bludgeoning damage and is out, dead or comatose.
"Things are about to get ugly, Bradley," Myrtha says, pushing the rescued cooper away from the ambush, "You head to those travellers there, and stay away from the fighting." Then Myrtha barrels through the underbrush to fling a handaxe at Two.
Two is hit for 4 slashing damage.
Theran calls upon the brotherhood of fungi that surrounds and permeates all living things.
Theran gains 8 temporary hit points and is filled with a necrotic righteousness as he imparts some of that power to his staff, which swells with vigor and new growth, spouting green shoots and dark buds. As his staff continues to bulge, blossoming with small black flowers, the druid jogs over to join Myrtha.
Manthis runs down the road, passing protectively in front of Arya, sword at the ready.Seeing the fighter's handaxe throw, Ambusher One raises a crossbow and sends a bolt at Myrtha. The bolt is lost in the foliage of the forest forever.
Staggered by the handaxe, Ambusher Two draws arrows, loosing one at Myrtha and another at Aanbo (the view of whom is partially blocked by a tree). The first skips off of the fighter's armor, the second thunks into the tree.
Ambusher Four ducks behind a tree to Hide...and disappears from view.
Ambusher Five finishes cocking his crossbow and sends a bolt at Aanbo, but the monk is too nimble and ducks.
"Don't you worry, boys!" Ambusher Six calls out, sauntering toward the Dungeon Busters, "Her power will strengthen your arms and will with supernatural might! Witness the WONDER!" With that pronouncement, a glowing club of fire appears, floating in the air by Aanbo, and swings at him. But the villain's monologue was too much warning, and the Earthshaker monk is able to leap back from the sizzling swings of the magic weapon.
Looking for the source of the arrow that hit his companion, Ambusher Seven spots Chase and sends a bolt from his crossbow at the ranger. Chase never even sees it, though he hears the whistle of its passing.

Hearing Aanbo mention 'bandits,' valiant little baker Rosemary clutches her paddle in one burly first and rushes toward the other Dungeon Busters just as they move away from her.
Jonel follows Manthis down the road, and calls to Bradley: "You there. Are you under attack?"
"YES!" Bradley shrieks, his nerves already shot from the previous ordeal. Bradley runs trustingly into the road and up to the armed heroes there. "Those people rescued me," the man points roughly in the direction of the other heroes, then points at the ambushers and adds, "and now those ruffians have ambushed us!!"

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (14/14)
14 - Aanbo (17/27)
13 - Myrtha (15/18)
12 - Theran (4/13, 8 temporary HP)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two (-4), Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13)
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Round one, continued...

Arya prays Pelor's blessing down on herself, Manthis, and Rosemary and hurries down the road, trying to talk the ambushers into peace. "Hold! In the name of Pelor, I command an immediate cessation of bloodshed!"
"We're outnumbered and wounded," says Aanbo. "I'll try and distract these bandits and give those travelers a chance to escape. Chase, can you give me some cover?" Aanbo begins rushing toward the nearest ambusher.
"You got it Aanbo." Chase slides around tree trunks, nocking an arrow, drawing, and then loosing the string as soon as he sees Three.
Three is hit for 7 piercing damage and staggers.
A moment later, Aanbo arrives, erupting out of the shrubbery to attack the wounded Three with his staff.
Three takes 10 bludgeoning damage and is out, dead or comatose.
"Things are about to get ugly, Bradley," Myrtha says, pushing the rescued cooper away from the ambush, "You head to those travellers there, and stay away from the fighting." Then Myrtha barrels through the underbrush to fling a handaxe at Two.
Two is hit for 4 slashing damage.
Theran calls upon the brotherhood of fungi that surrounds and permeates all living things.
Theran gains 8 temporary hit points and is filled with a necrotic righteousness as he imparts some of that power to his staff, which swells with vigor and new growth, spouting green shoots and dark buds. As his staff continues to bulge, blossoming with small black flowers, the druid jogs over to join Myrtha.
Manthis runs down the road, passing protectively in front of Arya, sword at the ready.

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (14/14)
14 - Aanbo (17/27)
13 - Myrtha (15/18)
12 - Theran (4/13, 8 temporary HP)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two (-4), Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13)
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Round one, continued...

Seeing the fighter's handaxe throw, Ambusher One raises a crossbow and sends a bolt at Myrtha. The bolt is lost in the foliage of the forest forever.
Staggered by the handaxe, Ambusher Two draws arrows, loosing one at Myrtha and another at Aanbo (the view of whom is partially blocked by a tree). The first skips off of Myrtha's armor, the second thunks into the tree.
Ambusher Four ducks behind a tree to Hide...and disappears from view.
Ambusher Five finishes cocking his crossbow and sends a bolt at Aanbo, but the monk is too nimble and ducks.
"Don't you worry, boys!" Ambusher Six calls out, sauntering toward the Dungeon Busters, "Her power will strengthen your arms and will with supernatural might! Witness the WONDER!" With that pronouncement, a glowing club of fire appears, floating in the air by Aanbo, and swings at him. But the villain's monologue was too much warning, and the Earthshaker monk is able to leap back from the sizzling swings of the magic weapon.
Looking for the source of the arrow that hit his companion, Ambusher Seven spots Chase and sends a bolt from his crossbow at the ranger. Chase never even sees it, though he hears the whistle of its passing.

Hearing Aanbo mention 'bandits,' valiant little baker Rosemary clutches her paddle in one burly first and rushes toward the other Dungeon Busters just as they move away from her.
Jonel follows Manthis down the road, and calls to Bradley: "You there. Are you under attack?"
"YES!" Bradley shrieks, his nerves already shot from the previous ordeal. Bradley runs trustingly into the road and up to the armed heroes there. "Those people rescued me," the man points roughly in the direction of the other heroes, then points at the ambushers and adds, "and now those ruffians have ambushed us!!"

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (14/14)
14 - Aanbo (17/27)
13 - Myrtha (15/18)
12 - Theran (4/13, 8 temporary HP)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two (-4), Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13)
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Round two
(this was preceded by round one, followed by round three)

Arya yells "Ah, we're with the Dungeon Busters, too! Let's deal with these bandits first; we can sort out the rest later!" while running to join the others in the trees.
Chase pulls, nocks, draws, and releases a shaft at Ambusher Six.
Ambusher Six is hit for 11 piercing damage.
Aanbo dodges past the glowing club and rushes Ambusher Six, striking with his staff!
Ambusher Six takes 8 bludgeoning damage.
Myrtha runs up, bulling past Ambusher Two and slashes at Ambusher Six with her sword!
Ambusher Six takes 7 slashing damage.
Theran moves to flank Ambusher Two and attacks, battering the villain with his dark-blooming shillelagh!
Ambusher Two takes 4 bludgeoning and 5 necrotic damage!
Manthis runs forward, yelling "Begone bandits!" as he rushes to solidly confront Ambusher Two.



Ambusher One loads his crossbow and looses a bolt at Chase! Again, the aim fails.
Ambusher Two whips out a short sword and attacks Myrtha! His attack is thrown off by Theran's savagery, and he misses!
Having hidden from view, Ambusher Four has snuck through the undergrowth unseen and springs out to attack Theran! The short sword bites deep into the druid!
Theran takes 10 piercing damage!
Ambusher Five coughs on Theran's spores!
Ambusher Five takes 2 necrotic damage!
Then Five looses a bolt at Arya, but it whizzes harmlessly past her head!
Having been hit by a fusillade of blows, Ambusher Six yells "I'm in trouble, boys! HELP!" but it is clear that he is speaking not just to his fellow ruffians, but to unseen evil spirits. A cloud of such spirits answers his call, erupting from the air to swirl around their friend, attacking those hostile to him.
Aanbo, Myrtha, Theran, and Manthis are all caught within the cloud; each of them needs to roll a WIS saving throw at the start of their next turns if they are still in the area of the spell (if this happens, they will then take 20 necrotic damage on a fail, or 10 on a success).
The glowing club pursues Aanbo and strikes him from behind!
Aanbo takes 8 bludgeoning damage!
Ambusher Seven looses a bolt at Chase! This time, the attacker hits his mark!
Chase takes 8 piercing damage!
Rosemary runs forward after Arya, feeling the rage building within her. When Ambusher Four leaps out to attack Theran, she flings a javelin at the villain. Even at that extreme distance, she manages to throw true!
Ambusher Four takes 2 piercing damage.
Jonel runs toward the fighting, keeping low to make a smaller target for the crossbowmen. He runs up to Arya and, seeing the demonic spirits whirling nearby, yells: "We have to do something before they die in there!"



Rescued cooper Bradley runs down Cecily's Road a ways, then turns back, torn between the desire to get away and the fear of being along in the dangerous forest.

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (6/14)
14 - Aanbo (9/27)
13 - Myrtha (15/18)
12 - Theran (2/13)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two (-13), Three, Four (-2), Five (-2), Six (-26), Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13)
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Round two, continued...Theran moves to flank Ambusher Two and attacks, battering the villain with his dark-blooming shillelagh!
Ambusher Two takes 4 bludgeoning and 5 necrotic damage!
Ambusher One loads his crossbow and looses a bolt at Chase! Again, the aim fails.
Ambusher Two whips out a short sword and attacks Myrtha! His attack is thrown off by Theran's savagery, and he misses!
Having hidden from view, Ambusher Four has snuck through the undergrowth unseen and springs out to attack Theran! The short sword bites deep into the druid!
Theran takes 10 piercing damage!
Ambusher Five coughs on Theran's spores!
Ambusher Five takes 2 necrotic damage!
Then Five looses a bolt at Arya, but it whizzes harmlessly past her head!
Having been hit by a fusillade of blows, Ambusher Six yells "I'm in trouble, boys! HELP!" but it is clear that he is speaking not just to his fellow ruffians, but to unseen evil spirits. A cloud of such spirits answers his call, erupting from the air to swirl around their friend, attacking those hostile to him.
Aanbo, Myrtha, Theran, and Manthis are all caught within the cloud; each of them needs to roll a WIS saving throw at the start of their next turns if they are still in the area of the spell. They will take 20 necrotic damage on a fail, or 10 on a success.
The glowing club pursues Aanbo and strikes him from behind!
Aanbo takes 8 bludgeoning damage!
Ambusher Seven looses a bolt at Chase! This time, the attacker hits his mark!
Chase takes 8 piercing damage!
Rosemary runs forward after Arya, feeling the rage building within her. When Ambusher Four leaps out to attack Theran, she flings a javelin at the villain. Even at that extreme distance, she manages to throw true!
Ambusher Four takes 2 piercing damage.
Jonel runs toward the fighting, keeping low to make a smaller target for the crossbowmen. He runs up to Arya and, seeing the demonic spirits whirling nearby, yells: "We have to do something before they die in there!"

@KidEnnui - as a human, Jonel's move is 30. That corresponds to 6 five-foot squares. I've moved Jonel six spaces; he can now use his action for something else. It could be to move further, it could be to attack, it could be something else. Post how you'd like to use Jonel's action now. If you were to attack, I'd recommend targeting Six with an attack!



Rescued cooper Bradley runs down Cecily's Road a ways, then turns back, torn between the desire to get away and the fear of being along in the dangerous forest.

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (6/14)
14 - Aanbo (9/27)
13 - Myrtha (15/18)
12 - Theran (2/13)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two (-13), Three, Four, Five (-2), Six (-26), Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13)
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Jonel recognizes that the spell that has been cast is a summoning of spirits that has the following characteristics:
- it is maintained by the caster's concentration
- it makes all the terrain within its area Difficult Terrain
- characters who enter the area are immediately affected when they enter
- each character in the spell's area is affected again at the start of their turn
- the demonic spirits ravage the affected people with necrotic damage (3d8 necrotic damage)
- the damage can be reduced with a strong will (that is to say, a successful WIS save halves the damage).

Round three
(this was preceded by round two, followed by round four)

As round three begins, Arya, Jonel, Rosemary, and Chase are all watching in horror as their other four teammates - Aanbo, Manthis, Myrtha, and Theran - are engulfed in swirling demonic spirits that will surely kill them if nothing is done to stop the spirits (or the spell that Six has cast to summon them). There are, of course, five other ambushers as well (One, Two, Four, Five, and Seven).



Arya yanks out her crossbow, cocks it, loads a quarrel, and, with a cry resounding with Pelor's wrath, triggers the release. The crossbow leaps in her hands, and a bolt sinks into Six's chest, blood blossoming on his robes.
Ambusher Six takes 3 piercing damage! "No...!" he yells.
With a shriek of the host of damned souls, the demonic spirits dissipate like smoke as Six loses concentration on his spell.
Refusing to be distracted by his own injuries, Chase pulls another arrow from his quiver, nocks, draws on the inhale, aims, and releases with the exhale. Like Arya's before this, the ranger's aim is true: a feathered shaft appears in Six's breastbone.
Ambusher Six takes 9 piercing damage and dies. The glowing club winks out of existence like a snuffed candle flame.Seeing the enemy priest feathered with arrows, Aanbo moves to the next target and attacks with his staff, swinging hard at Ambusher Two's legs. Two leaps over the staff, and Aanbo kicks him hard in the gut while he's in midair. Two lands on his side and does not get up again.
Two takes 6 damage and is out.
Seeing that Aanbo has that enemy handled, Myrtha rushes over to help badly-injured Theran and attacks Ambusher Four, who manages to dodge the incoming sword.
Swinging his swollen staff as funky dust cascades off of him, Theran attacks Ambusher Four as well, but the crafty bandit ducks and weaves with a smirk.Nobly Manthis runs up and attempts to cleave into Ambusher Four...but like with all the others, Four is able to evade his attacks with a ever-more-contemptuous grin.

Ambusher One draws a scimitar and runs toward the closest hero - Theran - attempting to disembowel him. Myrtha interposes her shield to defend her druid companion, knocking the blade aside before it can sink into Theran's back.
"You thought you'd gang up on me, eh?" Ambusher Four, short sword still dripping with Theran's blood, chuckles, then is wracked with coughing as the druid's spores rip into the lining of his lungs.
Ambusher Four takes 7 necrotic damage.
Through his coughing, he tries to put a brave face on things, with a wheezing laugh. "You did me a favor - now I'll lead this squad! Too bad I've got to kill you all!" whereupon Four attacks both Myrtha and Manthis.
Manthis is able to deflect the blow, but Myrtha, leaning to defend Theran, is too exposed. The blade bites deep.
Myrtha takes 16 piercing damage and falls, dying.
Four cackles and then disengages with the heroes and backpedals away from them. "You know what she told us, boys! NO MERCY!"
"Slade! No!" Ambusher Five is distressed at Aanbo's dispatching his friend, Two (who was apparently called 'Slade'); Five draws a scimitar and runs forward, intending to get revenge for Slade's death by killing the monk. His swings are wild, and the dwarf easily avoids the blade with minimal effort.
"You don't need to tell ME," Ambusher Seven shakes his head in response to Four's shout. "I know my job." As usual, though, his companions are ignoring the real threat of the ranged attackers. He hurries forward, slotting another bolt in his crossbow, and attacks the one who first shot their leader, Six: Arya. The crossbow bolt stops an inch short of Arya's face, punched halfway through her shield.

Rosemary yells and runs toward Ambusher Four. She doesn't know Myrtha yet, but she recognizes bad guys, she saw how Four attacked Manthis, AND she heard Four's yell about "No Mercy!"As yet unnoticed by Ambusher Four, pulse pounding in her ears, raging Rosemary runs up and hits him cleanly at the base of the skull with the side of her paddle.
Ambusher Four takes 14 bludgeoning damage and dies instantly, his dreams of leading this band extinguished.

"Let's clean up this mess!" Jonel says to Arya, releasing a searing gout of flame from his outstretched hand, which jets across the forest in between the trees, to scorch Ambusher Seven.
Ambusher Seven takes 10 fire damage. He screams but remains standing.
Bradley watches in horrified fascination as, once again, the heroes who rescued him massacre what initially seemed like an overwhelming threat.

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (6/14)
14 - Aanbo (9/27)
13 - Myrtha (0/18) Dying
12 - Theran (2/13)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two, Three, Four, Five (-2), Six, Seven (-10)
9 - Rosemary (8/13) Raging
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Round three, continued...

Arya yanks out her crossbow, cocks it, loads a quarrel, and, with a cry resounding with Pelor's wrath, triggers the release. The crossbow leaps in her hands, and a bolt sinks into Six's chest, blood blossoming on his robes.
Ambusher Six takes 3 piercing damage! "No...!" he yells.
With a shriek of the host of damned souls, the demonic spirits dissipate like smoke as Six loses concentration on his spell.
Refusing to be distracted by his own injuries, Chase pulls another arrow from his quiver, nocks, draws on the inhale, aims, and releases with the exhale. Like Arya's before this, the ranger's aim is true: a feathered shaft appears in Six's breastbone.
Ambusher Six takes 9 piercing damage and dies. The glowing club winks out of existence like a snuffed candle flame.

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (6/14)
14 - Aanbo (9/27)
13 - Myrtha (15/18)
12 - Theran (2/13)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two (-13), Three, Four (-2), Five (-2), Six, Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13)
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Round three, continued...

Seeing the enemy priest feathered with arrows, Aanbo moves to the next target and attacks with his staff, swinging hard at Ambusher Two's legs. Two leaps over the staff, and Aanbo kicks him hard in the gut while he's in midair. Two lands on his side and does not get up again.
Two takes 6 damage and is out.
Seeing that Aanbo has that enemy handled, Myrtha rushes over to help badly-injured Theran and attacks Ambusher Four, who manages to dodge the incoming sword.
Swinging his swollen staff as funky dust cascades off of him, Theran attacks Ambusher Four as well, but the crafty bandit ducks and weaves with a smirk.

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (6/14)
14 - Aanbo (9/27)
13 - Myrtha (15/18)
12 - Theran (2/13)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two, Three, Four (-2), Five (-2), Six, Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13)
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Round three, continued...

Nobly Manthis runs up and attempts to cleave into Ambusher Four...but like with all the others, Four is able to evade his attacks with a ever-more-contemptuous grin.

Ambusher One draws a scimitar and runs toward the closest hero - Theran - attempting to disembowel him. Myrtha interposes her shield to defend her druid companion, knocking the blade aside before it can sink into Theran's back.
"You thought you'd gang up on me, eh?" Ambusher Four, short sword still dripping with Theran's blood, chuckles, then is wracked with coughing as the druid's spores rip into the lining of his lungs.
Ambusher Four takes 7 necrotic damage.
Through his coughing, he tries to put a brave face on things, with a wheezing laugh. "You did me a favor - now I'll lead this squad! Too bad I've got to kill you all!" whereupon Four attacks both Myrtha and Manthis.
Manthis is able to deflect the blow, but Myrtha, leaning to defend Theran, is too exposed. The blade bites deep.
Myrtha takes 16 piercing damage and falls, dying.
Four cackles and then disengages with the heroes and backpedals away from them. "You know what she told us, boys! NO MERCY!"
"Slade! No!" Ambusher Five is distressed at Aanbo's dispatching his friend, Two (who was apparently called 'Slade'); Five draws a scimitar and runs forward, intending to get revenge for Slade's death by killing the monk. His swings are wild, and the dwarf easily avoids the blade with minimal effort.
"You don't need to tell ME," Ambusher Seven shakes his head in response to Four's shout. "I know my job." As usual, though, his companions are ignoring the real threat of the ranged attackers. He hurries forward, slotting another bolt in his crossbow, and attacks the one who first shot their leader, Six: Arya. The crossbow bolt stops an inch short of Arya's face, punched halfway through her shield.

Rosemary yells and runs toward Ambusher Four. She doesn't know Myrtha yet, but she recognizes bad guys, she saw how Four attacked Manthis, AND she heard Four's yell about "No Mercy!"

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (6/14)
14 - Aanbo (9/27)
13 - Myrtha (0/18) Dying
12 - Theran (2/13)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two, Three, Four (-9), Five (-2), Six, Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13) Raging
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Round three, continued...As yet unnoticed by Ambusher Four, pulse pounding in her ears, raging Rosemary hits him cleanly at the base of the skull with the side of her paddle.
Ambusher Four takes 14 bludgeoning damage and dies instantly, his dreams of leading this band extinguished.

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (6/14)
14 - Aanbo (9/27)
13 - Myrtha (0/18) Dying
12 - Theran (2/13)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two, Three, Four, Five (-2), Six, Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13) Raging
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Round three, continued...

"Let's clean up this mess!" Jonel says to Arya, releasing a searing gout of flame from his outstretched hand, which jets across the forest in between the trees, to scorch Ambusher Seven.
Ambusher Seven takes 10 fire damage. He screams but remains standing.
Bradley watches in horrified fascination as, once again, the heroes who rescued him massacre what initially seemed like an overwhelming threat.

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (6/14)
14 - Aanbo (9/27)
13 - Myrtha (0/18) Dying
12 - Theran (2/13)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two, Three, Four, Five (-2), Six, Seven (-10)
9 - Rosemary (8/13) Raging
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Round four
(this was preceded by round three)

Shaken by the ferocity and brutality, Arya nevertheless runs forward to aid the fallen warrior, Myrtha. "Great Pelor," Arya cries out, crouching to press her hands against Myrtha's gushing wounds, "lend your divine light! Heal this brave warrior's wounds, that her fight against the encroaching darkness may continue in your glorious name!" Pelor hears her prayer.
Myrtha is healed for 9 HP and is no longer dying. Her vision clears and she finds herself prone with a kindly stranger leaning over her.

Chase pulls, nocks, draws, aims, and releases, but the arrow just misses Ambusher Seven.



"You have our thanks, traveler," Aanbo thanks Arya while retaliating against Bandit Five with staff blows and fierce kicks.
Bandit Five takes 7 bludgeoning damage.

Myrtha blinks groggily as she feels her flesh begin to heal. "Thank you" she says to Arya's concerned face leaning over her as the fighter's hand reflexively reaches out and finds her sword grip. The act of finding her voice and holding her sword strengthens her resolve.
Myrtha gains 8 more HP from Second Wind.
Grateful that Aanbo has kept the enemy busy during all this, Myrtha then rolls over to stand up and attack Ambusher Five all in one motion. The sword, coming from an unexpected direction, slides under his defenses and in between his ribs.
Ambusher Five takes 11 damage and falls dead.

Swaying on his feet, Theran taps into the the pulsing life force of the mycelium network beneath his feet and feels vigor restored to his body.
Theran gains 4 HP.

Manthis growls low in his throat, both hands tight on the grip of his greatsword, and stomps toward Ambusher One, swinging the long blade in whistling arcs over his head. Ambusher One sees his doom in those fierce eyes and attempts to defend himself with his scimitar. But Manthis' scything blade knocks the much-smaller blade aside, and the next rotation brings the sword cleaving into the bandit's ribcase with a crunch.
Ambusher One takes 13 slashing damage and dies instantly.

If he weren't in the thick of battle, Ambusher Seven might realize the predicament that he's in, but at the moment, all the sees is that Rosemary has knocked down his buddy and expected leader, Four (he's a little slow on the uptake and didn't see where the fire that scorched him came from). So he loads his crossbow and attempts to get some payback against the little barbarian. The bolt whistles over her head.

As he is fumbling for the next bolt to slot into his crossbow, furious Rosemary is already upon him, clubbing him with her paddle in the knees, the gut, and across the head.
Ambusher Seven takes 6 bludgeoning damage.

Jonel squints and aims as he draws back his hands, marshalling the energy from within. His hands ignite, and then he thrusts them forward, hurling another gout of fire searing across the forest and over Rosemary's head to engulf Ambusher Seven in flames!
Ambusher Seven takes 10 fire damage and dies screaming.



There is a lull as the assorted heroes look around for any remaining threats: there are none, and all of them are alive and victorious.

"Wonderful!" Bradley cheers from his vantage point a little ways down Cecily's Road. "You Dungeon Busters are incredible!!"

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (6/14)
14 - Aanbo (9/27)
13 - Myrtha (17/18)
12 - Theran (6/13)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13)
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

Round four, continued...

"You have our thanks, traveler," Aanbo thanks Arya while retaliating against Bandit Five with staff blows and fierce kicks.
Bandit Five takes 7 bludgeoning damage.

Round four, continued...

Myrtha blinks groggily as she feels her flesh begin to heal. "Thank you" she says to Arya's concerned face leaning over her as the fighter's hand reflexively reaches out and finds her sword grip. The act of finding her voice and holding her sword strengthens her resolve.
Myrtha gains 8 more HP from Second Wind.
Grateful that Aanbo has kept the enemy busy during all this, Myrtha then rolls over to stand up and attack Ambusher Five all in one motion. The sword, coming from an unexpected direction, slides under his defenses and in between his ribs.
Ambusher Five takes 11 damage and falls dead.

Round four, completed...

Swaying on his feet, Theran taps into the the pulsing life force of the mycelium network beneath his feet and feels vigor restored to his body.
Theran gains 4 HP.

Manthis growls low in his throat, both hands tight on the grip of his greatsword, and stomps toward Ambusher One, swinging the long blade in whistling arcs over his head. Ambusher One sees his doom in those fierce eyes and attempts to defend himself with his scimitar. But Manthis' scything blade knocks the much-smaller blade aside, and the next rotation brings the sword cleaving into the bandit's ribcase with a crunch.
Ambusher One takes 13 slashing damage and dies instantly.

If he weren't in the thick of battle, Ambusher Seven might realize the predicament that he's in, but at the moment, all the sees is that Rosemary has knocked down his buddy and expected leader, Four (he's a little slow on the uptake and didn't see where the fire that scorched him came from). So he loads his crossbow and attempts to get some payback against the little barbarian. The bolt whistles over her head.

As he is fumbling for the next bolt to slot into his crossbow, furious Rosemary is already upon him, clubbing him with her paddle in the knees, the gut, and across the head.
Ambusher Seven takes 6 bludgeoning damage.

Jonel squints and aims as he draws back his hands, marshalling the energy from within. His hands ignite, and then he thrusts them forward, hurling another gout of fire searing across the forest and over Rosemary's head to engulf Ambusher Seven in flames!
Ambusher Seven takes 10 fire damage and dies screaming.



There is a lull as the assorted heroes look around for any remaining threats: there are none, and all of them are alive and victorious.

"Wonderful!" Bradley cheers from his vantage point a little ways down Cecily's Road. "You Dungeon Busters are incredible!!"

As the heroes consider what to do next, each PC gains 115 XP.

---

18 - Arya (10/10)
17 - Chase (6/14)
14 - Aanbo (9/27)
13 - Myrtha (17/18)
12 - Theran (6/13)
11- Manthis (11/11)
10 - Bandits One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven
9 - Rosemary (8/13)
0 - Jonel (7/7)
0 - Bradley

The corpse of the priest who led the raiders (the one we called "Six") has a livid scar from a spiral brand that was burned into his skin on his chest long enough ago to have healed completely. He also bore a small silver holy symbol of the harvest goddess, Merikka: two crossed sheaves of grain. The hunter (the one we called "Two") had a good longbow and a quiver with 9 brown-feathered arrows (Chase figures they're probably hawk feathers), a serviceable short sword, a wallet with a couple of recently-killed partridges, and a spiral pendant carved of olivine, jade, or some other greenish precious stone, hung on a silken cord. The second-in-command (the one we called "Four") had a silver ring on each hand, a similar spiral pendant hung on braided copped wire, and a pretty good short sword. All the others had no spiral marking or ornaments, but had swords, knives, and crossbows. Chase makes a pile of these things in front of the others as Myrtha retrieves the travois with Reptile's stiff body strapped to it: there are six short swords, a holy symbol of Merikka, three light crossbows (a fourth one was broken when the bandit fell dead on it), two silver rings, four small quivers containing a total of 18 crossbow bolts, a long quiver with 9 arrows, two dead partridges, a longbow, seven small knives, and two green spiral pendants.

In examining the bodies and stripping them of everything valuable, Chase is struck by two things:
1) All of them were lean to the point of being malnourished
and
2) None of them had any money, despite having pouches that could be used to carry cash. Normal people tend to carry money on their persons: villages and towns rarely have banks, so people either carry their money with them or squirrel it away in their homes. But even when they hide it, they usually keep some coins on their person to be able to buy a meal or a drink when away from home. None of these men carried any money on them.

It is mid-afternoon now. Both parties have been hiking for more than half a day (and the group coming from Orlane was both dragging Reptile and not using the Road).
There are (at least) these three things to decide as a group:
1) how to divide the spoils of the bandits: who is going to carry what?
2) will you look for a place to camp, or try to push through and hike all night to arrive in Hochoch sooner? There is a day and a half of travel - about 24 hours of solid marching - to get back to Hochoch.
3) will you swing by the previous campsite to pick up the rest of the loot left by the undead on the way back west?

The party heads out west On Cecily's Road, Manthis pulling one travois and Myrtha pulling the other. Fleet in his natural element, Chase roves ahead and finds a fine place for camping, a little bit to the south of the Road (the campsite with all the dead bodies and undead gear would still be three hours' further hike west). Heading back east, he meets the rest of the group on the Road and gives directions on how to spot the blazes he's left for them to follow to get to the campsite. Then, bidding them good fortune, he leaves the group and continues east until he finds their most recent battlefield. From there, he backtracks, easily finding the path they took through the Forest by the drag track of Reptile's travois. It's easy for him to see that the bandits just followed their obvious track. But periodically he stops and examines the area in greater detail, confirming that it's the same number of followers rather than a larger group where some people had split off to create trouble for them later. He does not find trace of that, but as the sun is setting, he discovers the point where the bandits joined their trail.
At around the same time, the rest of the Dungeon Busters arrive at the campsite with Theran (who is best able to identify the blazes that Chase has made) leading the way and Aanbo bringing up the rear, ready to help anyone who might stumble in the growing darkness. Chase had already arranged a circle of stones to make a fire ring with a pile of tinder and kindling in the center.

Chase follows the tracks for some time; on first glance, it seems that they were just wandering through the Dim Forest when they happened upon the Dungeon Busters' trail. But Chase is experienced enough to recognize that the wandering was spread out enough that it seems that they were systematically searching the forest. Unfortunately, soon after this it grows too dark for the ranger to detect the tracks anymore. He's faced with a decision: does he ignite a light source, or does he continue in the darkness?

Chase is confident that he can find his way back to the Road even in the deep nighttime darkness of these woods, but if he wanted to continue tracking, he'd need light.

Feeling a bit more comfortable with one another after their hours of hiking and sharing stories together, the two groups of adventurers settle down around the campfire, cooking boar meat and sharing more anecdotes. They begin to feel a bit more like a single team. With the story of the undead that attacked Jonel and then Arya, Manthis, and Rosemary, they are particularly careful to post a guard rotation, with careful instructions on how Chase will identify himself when he returns.

With the torch lit, Chase is able to continue tracking the bandits' path back through the forest. It does meander, going back and forth, but it is pretty clear that they were making their way west, searching for something. This, coupled with the presence of the spiral pendants/brand, strongly suggest that they are affiliated with the group in Orlane.

Chase stops suddenly, his hackles rising, the sense of being observed is very strong. Casting his eyes slowly about within the small sphere of torchlight, he faintly sees a humanoid figure standing motionless just outside the light. He waits for a long moment, but the figure does not move or react in any way, neither to greet or to challenge.

Meanwhile, further east in the Dim Forest...

Chase calls out to the motionless figure, and it turns toward him, moving slowly forward. As it moves closer, the flickering torchlight reveals the features of a slack-jawed woman dressed in leather armor caked with mud. She holds her arms limply at her sides as she stumbles forward, the only noise the crunching of bracken under her feet.

Bradley is almost comically eager to help in any way he can. He tends to chat just to fill the silence (and to talk a lot about barrels - who knew there was so much to know about barrels?), but he is a quick study and is able to help with the simple tasks that Rosemary might entrust to him in preparing the meal beyond grilling the pork that the others are already doing.

Having agreed to the watch rotation, Bradley and Rosemary stay up as the others settle down to rest after the meal. "...and that's why Jim has me make all his brandy casks." Bradley finishes, speaking now in a lower voice. "What about you? When did you give up on baking and become a Dungeon Buster?"

Chase realizes two things simultaneously:
1) the woman approaching him is dead. She's not breathing, and there is a bit of fletching visible in her open mouth, probably from the arrow that killed her.
2) There is more motion in the forest around him: crunching of leaves, snapping of twigs.

The dead woman is moving slowly, awkwardly. He realizes that she's dead when she enters the light from the torch, so she's 35' away from him.

Having given the dead woman (and whatever else may have been moving in the area) the slip, Chase makes his way back through the forest in complete darkness. It takes him some time; he arrives at the camp site just at the end of the second watch, as Manthis and Theran have roused Jonel and Myrtha to start their shift.