Sad to see this game come to an end, but it does seem as though the fire has at long last gone out. I know my own frenetic schedule has kept me from posting as I would have liked. It feels like the end of an era in many ways. Warmest wishes to you, and to the inn. 

Apologies for the long delay. Life swallowed me whole between moving and other responsibilites, but I'm still here if this is still going. 

Soledad pursed her lips with mild frustration as she ran a golden finger along the surface of the table they all shared now. It had never been her intention to hand their hostages over to the town questioners; she had her own means of unearthing the truth one that was far more effective and significantly less violent that the bloody means of the questioners. Human law was more depraved than the criminals it sought to apprehend. Still, further pursuit of the bandits would provide them a direction to follow and might reveal answers to questions they had not yet known to ask. 

"We are agreed then. We complete the task of dealing with the local brigands, then we shall see where our path leads next."

Sorry, I'm moving in two weeks so stretched a bit thin. I'll resume posting to the IC game thread once I'm on the otherside of this. 

That said, yes, we should go back to Ludensheim. Prisoners should be bound and taken with us. If possible, I'd like to have them brought on the cart so we can keep them bound, gagged, and blindfolded. The dead should be searched for any clues, valuebles, or usable items. I think it makes sense to report back to the Captain. Once we are back in town I would like us to question the prisoners, ideally give time for Soledad to prepare "Detect Thoughts" so that can be active while we question. 

If anybody has any other thoughts to add or edit, great. Otherwise, can we proceed with the above?

Nomad, thanks for moving things forward. Don't we have three bandit hostages? Two sleeping archers plus the woman D'Harum took out?

I'd like to suggest we take them back to town if that is a reasonable trip. We have a cart afterall. I'd also like to find a safe place for Soledad to swap prepared spells and add "Detect Thoughts" into the mix. That will be very helpful with interrogation.

Following up on the plan. If someone can help Soledad with tying up the sleeping archers, then whomever is left can watch the stinking cloud to see if anyone exits. Once the archers are tied up, Soledad can release the stinking cloud and we can take out the remaining 4. Thoughts?

Being that we are in the weird space of between combat and not, we should figure out what to do next by consensus. My thinking is two or three of us bind and gag the sleeping archers, then the rest wait by the Stinking Cloud. The mage is invisible somewhere, probably has continued fleeing but we should still be vigilant. Thoughts?

Still infuriated over the arrow that had struck her, Soledad hissed in frustration. At the very least her sleeping hex had taken hold over the wretched miscreant that shot her–she hoped dearly that the fool was caught in a nightmare. Much as she would have loved to slit the sleeping archer's throat, there were greater priorities for now. As of yet, a mage and an archer remained. While maintaining the noxious cloud that yet incapacitated the bandits, Soledad stalked toward the fleeing archer, making sure to keep close enough to the cloud to maintain it. Once within striking range, she hurled a second sleeping hex at the archer who yet stood.

((OOC: Cast Sleep at 2nd level slot, will stop at a tree for cover if available))

Beneath the cover of her ally's spell, Soledad drew primal power up through the land. Intoning a wordless incantation the witch spun the threads of all that lay hidden beneath the dirt–rotting plants and bodies, excrement and stagnation, remnants of venom–into a horrendous curse. Uttering a final note, she snapped her golden fingers and a putrescent yellow cloud of noxious fumes swallowed the lead bandits. Although they were obscured by the billowing fumes, the sounds of wretching were clearly audible bringing a cruel smile to the witch's lips.

Not waiting for a response, Soledad summoned another spell. This time she drew upon the ancient fey magic that ran through her veins to lay a web of slumber upon the two nearest archers.

((OOC: Back post for the Stinking Cloud. This round she cast Sleep using a level 2 slot to target the archers at the back of the caravan.))

Post edited to refect a number of options for spells. 

Soledad followed along close to Uthal and Thaoran, moving with fey stealth and hoping the aid of the spell would hide them until they are close enough to strike. The witch had more than a few nasty suprises for the band of bandits waiting at her fingertips. The lone woman amongst these brutes concerned her, there had been rumors of a mage and if any fit the description it would be her. She hoped those in closer proximity held their cautions as well.

...

The trio is still beyond the range of spells. Once they are close enough, Soledad will unleash offensive spells to take a number of opponents out of action. The focus will be on those directly in front of the wagon group. The goal will be to affect as many opponents as possible within the area of effect. 

Stinking Cloud - assuming she can hit nearly all opponents and avoid hitting allies

Web - if a smaller amount of opponents are within effect she will throw web anchored between the rocks. Again hit as many enemies as possible without catching allies. 

Sleep Cast at Level 2 - final option to avoid hitting allies. If combat breaks out before she is within range of those at the front she will hit the archers in the back with this. 

Sorry for the lag in communication, things have been a bit hectic on my end. I like Dragon's plan for the ambush. Let's do it!

I'm still here, just too swamped with end of semester thesis committees to think...

If we can go to the woods and start looking/wandering that would be helpful in bringing us face to face with some action.

Morning had come and Soledad joined her companions as they made their way to the Barren Woods in search of the band of bandits. Sunlight shone from above and the with drew upon it. Speaking a word a power, she wove the life-giving essence of the sun around her like a second skin to offer some protection against whatever might lay ahead. They would all be ready. 

((OOC: Mage Armor))

I'm all for us just heading off to the woods, think I've alluded to heading out several times in game posts. I don't think we know enough to come up with a plan, we don't know where the bandits are. Any sort of disguise or ambush would require us to know where they strike. I say we just head that way and start looking for signs of them. If everyone else feels we need the disguises then I'll go along, but I feel we just need to move forward. Well past time for that...

The ragtag band of companions had shifted significantly since their initial journey to Botkinburg, such was the way with those who made their life on the road. Now it seemed another would be joining their number. Soledad found herself quite intrigued by the human monk D'Harum. Their path was often a dangerous one and any with a talent for healing would be welcome among their number. In truth, the monk was no more a stranger to her than the others. Threads of chaos had brought their lives together in sudden bursts, time would tell if circumstance became trust. Introductions amongst the group had been brief, and the witch noted D'Harum's watchful perception. While Soledad was not overly fond of humans, she had to admit that the monk demonstrated some sign of intelligence, a quality that was severely lacking in most they encountered.

The time had come for the group to begin their journey to the Barren Woods...

It had been an uneventful trip to Ludensheim, although she felt the wear of their journey deep in her body. The road was a hard life, one with few comforts and even fewer luxuries. Yet, beauty must be maintained at all costs. It was her way.

The golden witch sent a tendril of fey magic into the simple tea she had been served, imbueing it with aromatic spices. A floral perfume now arose from the steaming teacup, Soledad inhaled deeply recalling the endless summer of faerie. For a time she left the brutal north and was again in the bloom of the garden... So was the evening of respose for the witch. Morning would soon come and with it the journey to the Barren Woods.

(OOC: Cast Prestidigitation)

Good to see you back, and releived we have a potential healer too.

Dragon, I also think the farms and ogres could be interesting paths. Still, I think starting with the Barren Woods is the way to go. It offers us a small income and connection to the settlement. There is a lot that is likely connected so we might find more out that way too.

What do you all think? Since we are in Ludensheim, my vote would be to deal with the bandits in Barren Wood. It's a place to start and comes with modest income too.

Let's make our way to Ludensheim, we can get things set up as a sort of home base there and see if there are any rumors to follow or jobs to pick up.

In other news, unless someone returns we are a rather small and imbalanced party. We need a theif/rogue of some sort and a melee fighter. I also wouldn't be mad about a cleric. The inn is low traffic these days...

Nomad, how shall we mitigate this? Can we have NPCs? Or should we each make a second character or something like that?

I'd like to suggest that we avoid dragons until we've got a few more levels underneath us. One dragon could easily take us out...

If we've done all we can at Botkinburg, maybe a good next step would be to go to the Ludensheim to see if we can find any leads. What do the rest of you think?

Coming up for air after preparing for the start of the semester... Yay for level 5!!

Regarding what to do next, I might suggest that we situate ourselves within reasonable proximity to a town. Thinking on this and will add to the game post soon, but for now that's where I'm leaning.

Well, it looks like we have done all we can with the caves. If nothing is coming up, I'd say we should head back to town.

Sorry to hear you are dealing with so much, Tann. Wishing you recovery and relief!!!

With the dust settled and the fight seemingly over, Soledad allowed her magical invisiblity to dissipate. As she released the spell the witch also shifted her conscious awareness to the web of magic that was ever-present and just beyond normal vision. Reattuned to detect any magics that might be present, Soledad began to carefully investigate the dead-end tunnel they now found themselves in.

((OOC: Ritual Cast Detect Magic))