WAR TABLE MISSION: Evicting the Bandits from Caer Bronach

[provenforce]

WHO: Rey, Inessa, Kain, Dorian, Issa, Jamie
WHAT: Cleaning up the Crestwood mess, starting with Caer Bronach
WHEN: Firstfall 20
WHERE: Caer Bronach, Crestwood
NOTES: Bandit murders and fun for all.

Crestwood is a bit of a mess right now. Undead coming from the lake, Rift under the lake, and foul weather somehow caused by the rift. Then of course there's the whole issue of the only way to get to the rift blocked off by a keep full of bandits not particularly inclined to working with the locals.

Fortunately that is what our merry band is here for.

Comments

CLEANING HOUSE

[provenforce]

The approach to the keep is fairly straightforward. It's a path the locals used to travel regularly, after all, and still do, though at the moment they're forced to give it a wide berth. The keep itself looks very imposing, and the large door is closed and barred.

The question is, do our merry band of adventurers try to find a clever way in, or are they breaking down the fucking door and charging in?

Spoilers they're breaking down the door. No one has time for sneaking around there are zombies in the village okay.

[circleprodigy]

A supporter of 'let's find another way inside', Inessa nonetheless gets to work when it seems that they're going for the direct approach. Before the others scatter, she casts Barrier over them, then closes in a bit more before casting Chilling Array. Any bandits trying to reach her will have to cross her ice mines first. Not only that, but they'll have to get past her mabari, who's more than ready to strike.

[in_death_sacrifice]

Always more for the direct approach, Kain is glad they're not going to make some attempt to sneak around. That has its place sometimes, but the situation seems more urgent at the moment. He readies his large two-handed blade, likewise doing initial preparations, getting his Ring of Pain ready for any bandits who dare come onto what he's claimed as his area. He takes a glance around to make sure the others are also ready to charge in, not about to make a move until they are.

[wontforgetyou]

Sneaking is all fine and good, at the right time and in the right place. By and large, though, Jamie's more than happy to take the more straightforward approach, especially in a situation like this one. His preparations are simpler than some of the others, as he's no mage or Warden. The only thing even vaguely magic-like he has is the shard in his hand, and while he's happy to blast something in the face with it if need be, that's more a spur-of-the-moment thing rather than something that needs to be set up in advance. All he needs to do for right now is bring up his sword, and shift his weight at the same time so that when the others charge he can be right there with them, which he does - and when Kain looks his way, he gives the other man a brief nod. He's ready when they are.

[liberalum]

"So."

That would be Dorian, strolling through the group from the rear to an approximation of the front. The scent of magic being readied, the rustle of drawn blades, the tension. His loose limbed stride is more like that of someone preparing to head into a houseparty but isn't sure he doesn't want to be fashionably late. His armor is a light fare, the metal attachments catching the gleam of Inessa's barrier cast, and he has his staff at his shoulder.

Brings it down at a swoop, an errant crackle of electricity dancing down polished serpentstone. "Shall we knock?" he asks, cheerfully. He points his staff at the sealed doors at a gesture. "Forcibly?"

[circleprodigy]

"Indeed. There's no time like the present." Inessa smiles grimly, then casts Stonefist. There is something rather satisfying about summoning a Fade boulder and sending it flying at the fort entrance that the bandits want to keep them out of so badly. At least thanks to her barrier, everyone ought to be shielded against flying splinters.

[in_death_sacrifice]

Kain's own expression is tense and far more serious, but he still appreciates the others' enthusiasm. The Stonefist causes an impressive explosion. As the splinters of the door go flying, breaking apart in all directions, he charges forward.

He raises his large two-handed sword effortlessly, sending it flying toward the first of the bandits that he encounters. The element of surprise is still on his side, and he catches this opponent off guard at first. It's enough to really start weakening this one... but there's plenty more where he came from, and they're swarming in fast, attempting to use their strength in numbers to their advantage.

[provenforce]

Rey is near the front, lightsaber in hand. It's Obi-Wan's, she still hasn't learned enough to repair her own, but she knew her staff alone likely wouldn't be enough for this particular assignment. As soon as the door is down she runs forward too, the blade of the saber igniting. The bandits are scattered, clearly they weren't expecting an attack, and it takes them a moment to realize what's going on, though shouts and bells ringing are quickly bringing more to the yard from the bowels of the keep.

The first bandit Rey meets is no match for the plasma blade of her saber, his sword is sliced through like butter as he attempts to parry her swing, and she cuts him down in a second sweep, before he has a chance to go for the blade in his boot. The second bandit is a little smarter, having seen the first one go down he avoids getting too close to her, catching her up in a circling game to give one of his companions a chance to sneak up behind her.

[wontforgetyou]

That lightsaber is hard to miss, really. It's like a beacon, shining out for everyone to see. While Jamie's under no illusion about the fact that there's likely plenty of bandits for them all, with something that's so visible in one of their party member's hands, he's fairly sure that it'll draw a good chunk of them towards her. The best thing he thinks he can do for the moment is see what he can do about making the fight there a little more even.

Since there's no point in being quiet, as he rushes forward, he lets out his usual battle cry - the loud "Creag An Tuire" something meant to unbalance their opponents and allow him to hopefully get the drop on them. It doesn't always work, but the fact that he's rushing that second bandit at the same means the circling game isn't going to work, and both he and his sneaking buddy are going to have to change their tactics - or at least pick which of the two of them they're going to wind up facing.

[circleprodigy]

Making a mental note to ask Jamie later what his battle cry means, Inessa also contributes to his idea of evening things out a little. As Garahel leaps upon a bandit who's foolish enough to come her way, the slight elf woman casts another spell. This time, she creates a tiny rift just out of range of her allies but close enough to yank some of their enemies toward the center with enough force to elicit cries of pain. With that small group as a nice target, Inessa then casts Blizzard, summoning dark clouds and harsh winds.

[in_death_sacrifice]

Kain is focused primarily on the targets in front of him, but his allies' movements don't escape his attention. He's especially aware of their mages' positions, giving them plenty of space, accustomed to fighting beside Inessa. He's getting to know how these rifters operate. Jamie's shouting like someone who's mastered Vanguard techniques, and Rey has a weapon that's reminiscent of a spirit blade... Interesting. As for Kain, he's keeping a good pace going against the fighters he's facing. He slashes out with a hard thrust of his sword. And... there's another down.

As a couple of the bandits team up to rush in at him, Kain spins into a Whirlwind attack, the rising winds and his blade slicing through the incoming enemies. One bandit screams and falls. The other, wounded but still standing, calls for backup.

AFTERMATH

[provenforce]

All the bandits are dead, hooray! Time to clean up and wait for the rest of the Inquisition to arrive, for further orders, or poke around the keep looking for cool stuff.

Maybe burn the bodies, if zombies are a thing we don't want the douchebags coming back for round two.