[ Here we go, folks. ^_^ ] [ It's the morning after the last night. No, really. What happened last night? Well, you set up camp after arriving on top of a cute little hill. Everyone was doing extra picket duty, since you were most definitely under the threat of enemy action, what with 'the enemy' being all around you. ] [ This morning, things have been pretty quiet. Apparently, both sides are happy to go ahead and try to get the best position before they commit to an attack; what this means for you, the common soldier, is a lot of maneuvering, very little fighting, and a lot of sitting and waiting. ] [ The sitting and waiting part is what you've been doing for the eight hours since you woke up. But everyone insists it won't last much longer. ] [ Session start! ] * Ada sits and waits and looks irritable. Very irritable. * Sei yawns slightly. * Ethan eyes the enemy forces across the soon-to-be battlefield. "Bah. Should've flanked 'em during the night." Or blown them up. Flanked them, then blown them up. [ Rascha has a spy glass out and has been looking around with it, practically giving you a play by play. "In a way, Ethan, we did. Why do you think they had us take this hill?" ] * Nebrinel looks fairly calm. "Because of the beautiful scenery." Yeah, but it's a flank in plain sight. Good flanking maneuver has you coming up where they least expect it, confusing the hell out of 'em and allowing your main force to bust through their line. (Nobody expects the Elvish Inquisition.) * Fyril sits looking mostly away from the enemy. He still doesn't look all that happy. [ Rascha chuckles. "No, no." She gestures off to the east a ways. "See that group of pikemen? We're here to threaten their flank. As long as we keep doing so, they can't risk doing certain things we don't want them to. Such as, say, advancing on some of our other forces." ] * Ethan nods. "War as chess. Never was patient enough for chess." *grins* [ Rascha smirks. "You would be if you were an Elf. Trust me." ] * Sei grins. You don't have to be an elf to be good at Chess. But not being Ethan helps. * Nebrinel chuckles faintly. [ Rascha gives that a good laugh. Napper sneers. ] * Ethan laughs. "Was always my biggest flaw in terms of tactics. I've got less patience than a doctor with an axe fetish." * Ada tries imagining Sei with an axe fetish and snickers. * Nebrinel raises an eyebrow, and says with a smirk, "So Sadira is a doctor too?" Her? Doctor? Would you trust someone with THAT laugh to treat your wounds? I've known far worse doctors... ... I'll be sticking with Doctor Sei, I think. * Ethan pokepokes at his ribs. "Sure coulda used a healer like you back home. Wound like that woulda taken a few weeks to heal right." * Sei smiles. "Thanks." [ Rasha frowns at something she spies with her little eye, and calls a corporal over to look at it. They discuss it for a while, make some gestures that are probably sorcery, and then the corporal heads off in the direction of the Captain's tent. ] Something interesting going on? [ Possibly. I definitely think we'll be moving soon. ] [ Napper grunts, but it sounds almost excited. ] Hrm. Why? * Ethan adjusts his pack, and brings his glaive out of his holster. He then starts munching on a donut. [ Rashca points to a hill. "There's some troops starting to gather over on that hill. Not enough to threaten our position, but more than enough to make problems if we leave this spot to do something." ] * Ada nods. [ "We can't just ignore them, and I don't think there's any other forces that can threaten them for us at the moment." ] ... so it's up to us to go and spit on their shoes? *grin* * Ada stands and stretches, letting out a yawn. * Nebrinel stretches as well. "How many are we talking here?" [ "More or less. If they're stubborn, we might have to kill them." ] Well, let's hope they're so intimidated by my manly goatee that they just lay down their weapons and run. * Ada rolls her eyes. "It's a wonder we haven't." * Fyril rolls his eyes. "They may just see it, feel envious, and try to kill you to make themselves feel better." [ For the record, there aren't that many troops there. Say, one or two hundered, tops. ] * Ethan sticks out his tongue at Ada, then grins at Fyril. "That'd work too. They'd all come after me, and I'd distract 'em while you guys sneak up behind them and do your things." * Nebrinel lets out a sharp laugh. "More likely, they'll just try to cut it and your throat at the same time." Exactly. They'll try. *wink* * Ethan eyes the opposition. What kinda troops, and what kinda formation? * Fyril looks away off at the opposing troops, blanches a bit, and then looks off again. "That's not really something to look forward to." [ Light infantry, mostly setting up camp, right now. They seem pretty disorganized. ] * Ethan talks without looking back. "I don't look foward to it, personally. s'just what I do. I'm a soldier." * Nebrinel eyes across the way as well. "They seem ripe for a spell, to me." A faint grin accompanies the statement. Hmm, yes. [ "Don't bet on it," says Rascha. ] * Ada watches them. "Well, if we're going to act, it'll probably be soon. We'll see." * Fyril shifts in his seat uneasily, and looks off towards the captain's tent. ... hey, Rascha. Can I borrow your spyglass for a sec? [ Rascha blinks, then frowns. But she eventually says 'sure' and carefully hands the thing to Ethan. "Careful with it. Those're expensive." ] * Ethan sets down his glaive and carefully takes it. "I'm a goofball, not a klutz." *grin* * Ethan peers through the spyglass for a minute or so... "... hot damn. I was right." * Nebrinel rolls her eyes, and glances towards Fyril briefly, before brushing her hair back with her fingers. "Mmm?" * Ethan hands the spyglass back to Rascha, and grins. "Could tell they were disorganized from here, but wasn't quite sure why. Now I know. Rascha, look over at their position. See how the officers are having to go around shouting at the troops for every little movement? No way those are professional troops... prolly conscripts." [ Rascha accepts the spyglass, and gives it a quick cleaning with a dry cloth. "Yeah, that was my guess. It's good, because we won't have to send as much of a force to chase them off. Unless they have some really mean officers."] * Ethan nods. "I don't suppose the officers would walk out for a duel if challenged?" *biggrin* [ Rascha smirks. "For you? No. If the Captain challenged 'em, prolly, but I doubt she will." ] Bah. Just scared I'd kick their asses. * Ethan shakes his fist at the opposing forces. "Buncha weenies!" [ Rascha chuckles. "Yeah, that must be it." And then the juice-drum starts up it's rattle and bang. ] [ It's a tune that you don't recognize, this time. ] [ Rascha looks thoughtful, but Napper jumps to his feet and starts grinning; this means you probably won't like whatever it is. ] * Ethan gets up. "So what's this one mean? Time to sing obscene songs about their mothers?" * Ada looks at Napper and frowns faintly. [ "Nope," says Rascha, "Although you can if you want. That ditty's called 'Time To Be Alive'. It means to form up for a charge." ] * Nebrinel smiles faintly, and stands. "I like it already." Ah, the ol' head-on charge. Been a while since I did one of those... and there're no damned archers this time. * Sei sighs, and stretches. Really, Ethan. You and archers. [ And that's what the people around you start doing; lining up elbow to elbow in a single rank, getting their weapons ready, stretching and popping joints, that sort of thing. The Captain comes along on her horse. "Now, these are conscripts, so they should break if we make things hot enough for them. Give 'em a good shout as you go up to greet them." She motions with her sword, which turns out to be really big, and you all start marching. ] * Ethan shrugs, a slight grin on his face. "What can I say? My area of expertise is melee range. Don't like people lobbing sharp sticks at me while I'm busy trying to poke them." [ "Well, they'll probably have javelins," offers Rascha helpfully. "Don't matter," grunts Napper. ] * Fyril pushes smoothly off of the ground, scoops up his satchel, looks around worriedly, and stops by the captain. "Um... you have a minute now?" * Ethan marches. "Sei, Ada, Fyril... when we hit the line, you might wanna be a step or two behind the first wave..." [ The captain is riding along and eyes Fyril. "Yes? Oh. You can stay in the back, if you need. Are you any good with healing magic?" ] * Sei nods. "I'll lag behind, and just watch for injuries." [ Some of you suddenly notice that your company is the only one from the hill you were on that is leaving. ] * Nebrinel marchy marches, and draws Plaguebringer. "Sei? Do you have that odd dual-edged morganti blade handy?" Yes, I do. * Ada notices and doesn't seem terribly surprised. * Ethan looks around. "Oh look. We're special." *chuckles* * Fyril shakes his head sheepishly. "I don't really know any. I could try to learn, but that won't be helpful here." * Nebrinel reaches out a hand. "There's nothing like Morganti to put the fear of death in someone." She chuckles darkly. * Sei looks at Nebrinel. "Um..." * Ada adjusts her rapier. "Is something wrong, Sei?" [ The Captain frowns and works her jaw. "Just... try not to get killed. You can stay behind the others and make jabs at the enemy line if you want." * Sei shrugs, and hands the sword to Nebrinel. "All right." * Nebrinel grabs it, and shifts it around in her off hand. * Sei casts a spell, and is surrounded by his usual shield of wind. "Actually, Nebrinel? Fyril could use it to heal." * Ethan motions to the flanged mace hanging from his pack. "Need a backup weapon, Sei?" * Fyril nods somewhat sadly at the captain, and trudges along to the back of the line. * Sei gets his staff ready. "I've got this, but thanks, Ethan." Don't worry, Fyril. I'll have 'em so distracted that you can just sneak in and pull down their pants or something. * Nebrinel looks back for Fyril. "You're right." She wanders back to him. * Sei heads partway back, too. * Nebrinel holds out the blade to Fyril, and says, "Here... you can use this to heal if anyone around you falls." * Fyril looks up, blinks, and takes it gingerly. "This... isn't this Sei's sword?" * Ethan marches over next to Ada, a slight smirk on his face. "Ready to be mildly to somewhat impressed with my fighting skills?" * Nebrinel nods. "Yeah, but he wasn't going to be using it anyway." She winks. "Just use the right edge, okay?" * Ada looks Ethan over and gives him a small grin. "Maaaaaybe." * Ethan salutes with his free hand. "I'll give it my best then, Fearless Leader." [ So the hundred or so of you march towards the two hundred or so of them. You reach the hill they're on, and as you start up you quicken your pace, which leaves you jogging up a hill that's a lot steeper than it looked from your hill, and oh dear those are javelins they're chucking at you, aren't they? ] * Fyril turns the sword over in his hands, and looks at it oddly. "OK. Hopefully, it won't come to that." [ Everyone needs ranged defense rolls! ] 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ada (2d6-4) and gets 7. (Nope.) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fyril (2d6) and gets 6. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sei (2d6-1) and gets 5. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (2d6-2) and gets 6. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nebrinel (2d6-2) and gets 4. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (2d6-2) and gets 1. [ The javelins fall into your formation, taking down a few people. Fyril catches one in his thigh, Sei's windy deflects another, and one is knocked out of the air in front of Ada by Ethan and Pantryfiller. ] [ Another round, please. ^_^ ] 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nebrinel (2d6-2) and gets 5. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (2d6-2) and gets 4. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sei (2d6-1) and gets 4. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ada (2d6-4) and gets -2, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "My momma always said, you gotta take the good with the bad. Here's some good." (... I win!) [ The javelins come flying again, and Sei's shield defects another one, although it's starting to fade. Ada almost gets hit by one, but it's snared by her evil hair and thrown to the ground. For some reason, you all fail to notice this happening. ] (>.>) (... That's just freaky.) (<_<) ( ^_^_v ) That the best you got? My grandma throws a better javalin than that! And she uses a warhammer! * Sei looks back, and starts heading back towards Fyril. [ As an official aside, that thing with the hair didn't REALLY happen. Just being silly. You can calm down now. ;P ] (;_;) (Sei's sad. Next girl he tries to have sex with should have evil hair.) ( Okay. I hope you like a little pain with your pleasure. *whipcrack* ) (...) (Tries, Ada? *Tries?*) (When was the last time you got laid, boy? ^_~) ( Back when you were staying at the Angry Porcupine, probably. ) (Probably.) (We're not playing FATAL here. ^_-) [ Aaaanyway. You reach the top of the hill! And now you have all these people with swords and shields to worry about! Roll initiative! ] d6+8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (d6+8) and gets 10. d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fyril (d6+5) and gets 11. d6+9 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nebrinel (d6+9) and gets 13. SPLEEEEEEEEEEEN! ( ... ) d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sei (d6+5) and gets 11. d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ada (d6+7) and gets 8. * Nebrinel goes with the battle cry, but makes it incoherent. Her Morganti blade is more than enough fear for any kid. [ The soldiers, amazingly, hold their ground before your formidable imposing mightiness. ] [ Go, Nebby! For death and gory mayhem! ] * Nebrinel makes her first hit count, dragging her sword across her body and continuing her scream, a sickeningly colored wave of purple energy flying from her sword. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nebrinel (2d6-5) and gets 3. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nebrinel (2d6-5) and gets 3. [ Nebby's attack streaks forward, and then is intersected by what must be the sorcerous defenses of the company mages. There's a lot of fireworks, but when they clear, the soldiers are untouched. Scared shitless, but unharmed. ] [ Fyril, go! For great cowardice! ] * Fyril is still standing back where he got hit by the javelin. He stares at his leg in mute horror and shock, then realizes with a start that he's still holding the sword, and whacks at his leg with it. Fortunately, he uses the right side, even though he wasn't really paying attention. ( ... okay, I just pictured Fyril as Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura 2, with the spear lodged in each thigh. ) [ Fyril is healed! Go, Sei! ] (Never saw the movie, and am a happy gal for it.) (Oh god, Jesse.) * Sei sees Fyril heal, nods, and then heads back toward the line. [ Go, Ethan! ] * Ethan shakes his head as Nebby's attack fizzles, then goes to do things the old fashioned way... he jumps at one guy with a overhand slash, pivots, and rakes his glaive horizontally across the torso of another. SPLEEEEEEEEEEN! 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (2d6-3) and gets 6. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (2d6-3) and gets 4. [ Ethan slices and dices; two soldiers fall beyond his strangely-worded onslaught. Maybe they were trying to remember what a spleen is. ] [ Go, Ada! ] (Sei addresses the enemy, pointing instructively at their fallen. "That right there. See?") ( I thought that was the pancreas? No, that's this one over here. Ooooooh. ) * Ada narrows her eyes, then grins nastily. She snaps her hands apart, black energy crackling between, and hurls it at where Nebrinel's spell stopped. "Void Spike!" 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ada (2d6-4) and gets 5. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ada (2d6-4) and gets 4. [ Ada's spell seems to do nothing at all; it doesn't kill anyone, and it certainly doesn't set off fireworks like Nebby's spell did. ] [ The soldiers, who are, oddly enough, not shaking in their boots as you'd expect, begin defending themselves as you reach them. Ethan and Nebby need two melee defense rolls each. ] 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nebrinel (2d6-3) and gets 8. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nebrinel (2d6-1) and gets 7. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (2d6-3) and gets 6. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (2d6-3) and gets 8. [ Ethan and Nebby are cut! The conscripts seem to be pretty good with their swords, too, oddly enough. ] * Ethan grunts as he gets slashed lightly across the leg, but ignores it and presses on. [ And it's Nebby's turn, again! Go, Nebby! ] * Nebrinel grits her teeth as the blood pours from her cut and she says, "Ada! Try again!" (Holding action.) It's down *now*! (Ha! Shortest hold in history!) (Is it ever. ^^) * Nebrinel yells, "Death's Wave!" and the same sort of wave of energy screams forth from Plaguebringer. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nebrinel (2d6-5) and gets 4. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nebrinel (2d6-5) and gets 2. [ This time the energy mows down lots and lots of Them, who immediately begin scrambling to fill the hole left by Nebby's attack. Go, FyrilandSeiunlessyoudon'twantto! ] * Fyril doesn't move for a second, then for another. In fact, he doesn't move at all. [ Sei? ] * Sei casts Cure on Nebrinel. 2d6+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sei (2d6+3) and gets 9. ( That'd normally be a 3, which means you made it easy. ) [ Nebrinel is-ah HEALED! Can ah get an ay-men? ] (Ay-fuckin'-men.) [ Meanthile, it's Ethan's turn! ] * Ethan busts into the hole the enemy troops are trying to fill, stabbing high at one guy on his left, then spinning and attacking one on his right with a rising diagonal slash. You want some spleen, huh? Do ya? COME GET SOME FREAKIN' SPLEEN! 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (2d6-3) and gets 5. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (2d6-3) and gets 7. [ Hakkity hack, troops fall back. Ada's turn! ] * Ada holds her pendant with one hand and starts chanting softly. [ The soldiers rush together to form a new defensive line, although in the confusion they don't manage to make any attacks against you that really need consideration. Nebby's turn! ] [ ...Nebby? C'mon, dear, we don't have all night. ^^; ] * Nebrinel sees what Ada is doing, and resorts to conserving her energy with a simple slash-to-the-soldier. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nebrinel (2d6-4) and gets 5. [ Some poor guy dies screaming on the edge of Nebby's sword. Fyril's turn! ] * Fyril does nothing. What, you expected something different? [ Sei's turn! ] * Sei casts Cure on Ethan, this time. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sei (2d6-3) and gets 2. [ Ethan is healed! ] [ Speaking of Ethan, it's his turn! And let's hope he's not too dumb to forget what it means when Ada starts chanting. ] * Ethan notices Ada out of the corner of his eye, stabs high at one of the soldiers filling the gap, then hops back a bit into a defensive stance to keep them from disturbing Ada. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (2d6-3) and gets 0. [ Ethan turns a soldier dead. And now, it's Ada's turn! ] * Ada continues chanting under her breath, the heat building around her. She pushes one hand forward and says in that same soft voice, "Inferno." 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ada (2d6-4) and gets 0. (Oh. That's gotta hurt.) (Boom!) ( Boom, baby! ) [ There's a mighty explosion that arcs out and up, and then spirals rapidly in on itself, consuming a great many enemy troops in flame. Then the smoke clears - and there's a lot of it - there's only a few dozen of Them left, and those are easily routed by the remainder of your company. ] ... AND GET A HAIRCUT! [ And you can call it a cliffhanger, but I'm late and it's tired, so I'm calling the game at this point. z.z ] [ Session End! ]