Thursday 12 July 1280, Afternoon (How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to feel a bandit's blade)

As the bandit finishes his monologue, Gaven immediately throws his spear at Mackey, but the bandit leader is quicker, and throws two darts, one of which strikes Varros solidly in the thigh (OOC: damage = 5), and one of which flies just over Stan's shoulder. Gaven's spear veers wide of its intended target.

Varros swoons slightly and he immediately feels a burning sensation in and around the blade embedded in his leg. He maintains consciousness however, and despite the pain and his weakened state, is able to shoot (OOC: see combat details below for current poison effect) with Duran and the hirelings.

One arrow each from Duran, Varros and Gweneth strikes Mackey. The bandit leader is severely bloodied, but does not go down. However, he staggers backward, nearly falling, with arrows protruding from arm, leg and abdomen. You don't imagine he can take much more.

Oloc ducks for cover as the arrows begin to fly.

The wounded bandit bodyguard gathers what strength he has remaining to rush to his leader's defense. Though Stan's arrows clatter harmlessly against the far wall of the cavern, one of Jack's shots pierces the bandit through the throat, dropping him before he advances five yards.

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OOC: Actions?

Normally I would simply run the next round of combat, but Varros is down to 2 hp (now squarely in the "one hit, one kill" zone), and suffering from the weakening effects of snake venom (see combat details below for effect), so I thought you should have a chance to react before moving on.

I will hold Varros' comment: "After the action phase Varros will tell Gaven that while he appreciates the Cleric's dedication to the light, sometimes those the lord of light values most are those who have walked in the shadows and find a way to return from the darkness" until after the action here ends, as  Dienekes stipulated.I'll work it in as soon as the fight ends.

Combat Details:

Initiative: Mackey = 3; Party = 1; Injured Bodyguard = 1; (Tie break between Party and Injured Bodyguard: Party = 6, Injured Bodyguard = 4); Order of actions: Mackey, Party, Injured Bodyguard.

Mackey:

Dart 1 Thrown at Varros; d20 = 20 +1 (medium range) = 21 (hit); d6 = 5; save (poison) = 5+2 (fighter bonus vs. poison) = 7 (fail, 14 needed; weakened: -1 to initiative, -1 to hit, -1 to AC, -25% to movement)

Dart 2 Thrown at Jack; d20 = 3 + 1 (medium range) = 4 (miss).

Gaven:

Spear thrown at Mackey: d20 = 9 + 1 (medium range) = 10 (miss)

Duran:

Shot 1 at Mackey: d20 = 8 + 2 (short range) = 10 (miss)

Shot 2 at Mackey: d20 = 12 + 2 (short range) = 14 (hit), d6 = 5 (wounded)

Varros:

Shot 1 at Mackey: d20 = 16 + 2 (short range) - 1 (poison) = 17 (hit); d6 = 5 (wounded)

Shot 2 at Mackey: d20 = 10 + 2 (short range) - 1 (poison) = 11 (miss)

Stan:

Shot 1 at Bodyguard: d20 = 3 + 2 (short range) = 5 (miss)

Shot 2 at Bodyguard: d20 = 8 + 2 (short range) = 10 (miss)

Jack:

Shot 1 at Bodyguard: d20 =  12 + 2 (short range) = 14 (hit); d6 = 4 (killed)

Shot 2 at Bodyguard: d20 = 1 + 2 (short range) = 3 (miss)

Gweneth:

Shot 1 at Mackey: d20 = 7 + 2 (short range) = 9 (miss)

Shot 2 at Mackey: d20 = 18 + 2 (short range) = 20 (hit); d6 = 3 (wounded)