<div class="floatright">(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DhNtnTaN4HLgQLt3wpnXwD-1200-80.jpg)</div><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=345577.msg16292876#msg16292876">Quote from: Kunoichi on 23-09-2022, 23:23:41</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">When she got to her master's tent, she gave him a brief report of what was going on and what she had agreed to on his behalf, a report that, admittedly, downplayed the danger somewhat in favor of focusing on the fact that Buga and his gang were outnumbered two to one and that this was an excellent opportunity to both form an adventuring company, one with at least two otherworlders in its ranks, no less, and propel that adventuring company immediately to local fame by wiping out a known menace. There would be risk, yes, but she was quite certain that the rewards were worth it.<br/><br/>The dhampir made sure to grab her own adventuring gear before escorting her master back to Lord Nyrood's tent. The 100 gold advance payment on their quest would go to her master, of course, and while she couldn't think of any further equipment she might need, she did recommend to her master that he purchase one additional healing potion for her, just in case it was needed. After that, however, she was ready to leave.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Behalf player GM rolled deception w/advantage):<strong>24</strong><del>7</del>(https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=161345)<br/>Behalf player GM rolled deception w/advantage):<strong>17</strong><del>8</del>(https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=161349)<br/><br/>Lord Balebrook did not expect a bit colored tale and Mephis was persuasive about the perks of adventuring the company and that odds were good for success for the group as a whole, Lord Balebrook decides to support Mephis suggested course of action (rolled his decision with margins determined by the above rolls) (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=161350). He leaves his tent and servants behind him (as Mephis is the only slave he owns) and goes lord Nyrood's tent to finalize the adventuring company paperwork and get a list of names and signatures for the charter (he clearly desired to meet every member personally, as own principle more so as he was now their financial patron). Everyone was asked to sign before departure and they saw the company name in the charter was listed as<em>Heroes of the Banner</em>. When asked why the company was named such, lord Balebrook replied; "Firstmost there was no adventuring company under that name in the registry, there was simple divination which Guild uses in the help of this case on registering names. Second is that your upstanding desire to go help Alana and even be willing to do it without taking her as a slave is exemplary behavior, but also banner bearers on the battlefield are honorable but also in high-risk positions as those get usually first targeted by the enemy as means disrupt and cause chaos in military formations. So I thought 'banner' fit to describe the demeanor and attitude of this company." As the time came for farewells (as lord Balebrook will not join the party in the hunt) he leans to give a kiss to Mephis and whisper<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">something to her</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Be careful and return back to me, be ready abandon this mission if things go badly."</div></div><br/><br/>Once papers are done and shopping done, Cain delivers by bringing his experienced battle slave Katarina (https://i.pinimg.com/736x/24/64/e6/2464e6fc279a731b1fbc8f56e5955b81.jpg), she was six and two inches tall woman who was decently pretty but her beauty marred horrible mauling which has removed one her eyes entirely in her face. Also, she was wearing practical armor and a large wooden bow, and beside her walked a large timber wolf. Her body was wiry and build and well tanned and she spoke in a northern (russian/slavic) accent; "I am Katarina, I will be your guide and scout in hunting Buga but I and Howl will not participate in battle as by command of my master Cain. We will match our pace by whoever is slowest in the group but we will not stop to rest." She eyes both Muula and Lalia and says; "If you feel able to, you both could carry one person in case they get tired as tired person would slow us further."<br/><br/>Once the party was ready Katarina would set out, moving with Howl in front and following mostly Alana's lead to her village which was not far (just two hours), once there Katarina and Howl set to work together and they found the tracks (28, nat 20) (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=161352) and easily followed them (28, nat 20) (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=161351). Combined with by luck and Katarina's skills she found trailblazing route which cut their journey to half to where Buga was holding camp...and despite expecting a rough treck through woods with intense pace, she managed do the journey half less time and thus no one felt tired (meaning thanks double nat 20 you avoided exhaustion check via con save :P).<br/><br/>Katarina moved as an advance scout for the group, she remains unseen (21) (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=161354) as she locates the camp and returns back and says; "Found the camp, three bugbears outside the tent and one large tent is up which I guess Buga is inside of. They were distracted by their fun so sneaking in and the ambush is highly possible but I will cast a spell that should aid you in a stealthy approach. Does not make you invisible and you do need cover where to hide, but you cannot enter the camp as they have cleared the area and illuminated it well but should allow free shots as you charge into camp. Stay close to me and keep in mind once you launch an attack this spell breaks from you. As well if you leave further than thirty feet from me."<br/><br/>Once Katarina delivered the report and once everyone was ready (doing any spells or other preparations for combat now) she chants and weaves her hand and a soft shadowy essence spreads from her, a shadowy mist, which conceals everyone and makes them much harder to detect in the dark and background foliage. Katarina then slowly walks and guides the group towards the camp.<br/><br/><em>OOC: You all benefit from Pass Without Trace, meaning you get +10 to Dexterity (Stealth checks) and magically leave no tracks nor are able tracked except by magic. Also, thanks to bugbear's 'distraction' everyone has an advantage in stealth checks. The difficulty you need to counter is bugbear's passive perception which is 10. With +10 bonus automatic success unless you roll nat 1 twice  :P</em><br/><br/>As the party advances, they start first hear loud laughter, moans...and then cries. They start seeing a large bonfire and then they see a large tent and shadows around the fire. Then they see the bugbears in having some late night fun (https://lotus.paheal.net/_images/2b11077102e5191347f489b3f44858df/3664074%20-%20Bugbear%20Dungeons_and_Dragons.jpg) with their captives. The three bugbears had each picked a girl, there were four others tied up and gagged. One of which appeared to have been 'first victim' but covered in cum and passed out laying down beside other bound prisoners who looked terrified at the spectacle but unable to leave or squirm away because their feet were tied together and connected to a solidly hammered wooden log. There is a fourth set of deep growling husky moans coming from the tent but no cries nor feminine moans or crying.<br/><br/>The bugbears were evenly spread out the bonfire, ten feet apart and each corner had a large sack of spoils they had taken quickly and grabbed besides knocking out and carrying women. Apparently, each bugbear did a 'carry two bitches and sack' policy in raiding. Also, what Alana had told the bugbear had been sneaky, fast, and struck fast any women and any defenders were quickly crushed down but they did not stay and fight but ran quickly as they could once they got the spoils. Which were mostly varied items, food, jewelry, or other clearly valuable items.<br/><br/>The bugbears did still wear hide armors, but their menacing-looking morning stars and shields lay nearby on the ground near them. So far as Katarina and others knew, bugbears were big and tough but they were primarily deadly as ambush 'predators'. Having uncanny reach and an aptitude for stealth considering their bulky and massive size.