Madadh

Alfren Ker He stayed his hand, pausing to see what result the woman's words would have. The Dark Maiden did profess that the opportunity should be given to turn towards the light... Alfren had never been too good at that part of the faith, truth be told. He had been disappointed far too many times but the 'redeemed' staying that way only for the shortest of times. Actions Ready action to swing if one makes an attack

Alfren Ker "Don't think that is going to help, 'sister'. You're outnumbered... but have it your way," Alfren said, still moving sluggishly but he still lashing out with his whip in two short cracks against the growing cleric. Actions Move 15 ft out from the Biggus Clericus and attack Attack 1 Attack 2 Dmg Dmg

Alfren Ker Despite being barraged by sudden magic and gut churning waves of sickness, Alfren forced himself to keep moving taking a slow step forward and lashing out with his whip at the offending cleric. Actions 5 ft step forward, trip on cleric. 1 combat stam to add +1 to hit Trip v Cleric Dmg

So guess he needs a Will save: Will Save

Alfren Ker "Can't see a damned thing in all this," Alfren said as the guard fell. But he knew it wasn't over and losing their momentum could be fatal. So he charged straight through the fog and sliding to a stop when he spotted more guards, flashing them a wild grin as he uncoiled his whip once more. "Stand down if you know what's good for you..." Actions Straight dbl move 40 ft ahead until he sees the two guards through the fog, then will stay in position to make AOOs to disarm or trip at +20.

Alfren Ker "Really?" He gave the drow fanatic a flat look and twisted away from the blow the scrapped across the mail beneath his leathers, taking two quick steps back and lashing out with the whip to rip the weapon from the guard's hand before delivering a following slash from the opposite direction. Actions 5 ft step diagonal SE Disarm Atk 1, Regular Atk 2 Disarm Disarm Dmg Attack Attack Dmg

Alfren Ker "I have to say, faithful morons to a goddess that loathes you are about as original as the Zhents when it comes to insults," Alfren stated calmly, snapping his whip out towards the most distant guard to disarm her of her weapon before striking the closer with a flow up swipe. Actions Attack Disarm Dmg Second Attack 2nd Dmg

Alfren Ker With a burst of speed Alfren emerged from the treeline and streaked right past the first guard, skidding to a halt in the soft earth between the pair of guards and the first, whip uncoiling as he did. He kept the length of leather spinning and cracking in the air as he waited for the guards to make a move. Actions Spend 5 stamina to extend reach for with Imp Whip mastery to threaten 15 ft, Run straight line to 15 ft directly between closest guard and two farther guards. AOO pre-rolls for expediency, all Trips on any triggering action: AoO 1 AoO Dmg AoO 1 AoO Dmg AoO 1 AoO Dmg

Can you relocate Alfren to in line with the guards and on the edge of the forest for his surprise round action? So he can reach ppl in the first rnd.

So basically we get a surprise round action? I think Alfren just needs to reposition around the east to get into range of the casters.

Rolling in here for Init purposes, sorry for the delay been on the road. Init

Alfren Ker Alfren shrugged. "Our mission was to find out what was going on, but something tells me they weren't expecting us to have a polite conversation with a band of Lolth worshipers. The fact that he's talking to us instead of fighting us is a minor miracle," he said, jerking his thumb at the belligerent drow. "Once we get into it I can keep their soldiers busy if you three focus on removing the threat of the casters."

Alfren Ker "I've heard worse ideas," Alfren said grudgingly. "If they're amassing spiders of that size its only matter of time until they turn them on something nearby." He crouched, keeping his whip coiled in his hand. There wasn't much he could see happening here from a diplomatic perspective. Vhaeraun's followers were vindictive murderers but they were nothing compared to Lloth's fanatics. And if they could find evidence of their quarry working with the Lolthites it could disrupt her partnership with Jezz's faction as well.

Seems like we have a plan.

Alfren Ker "I say let's move towards the Lolthites. We have the confirmation we need about the raiders and while they're fanatics of a sort, they aren't the same breed as followers of Lolth. They're going to care more about survival than faith when push comes to shove," Alfren said. Standing he rolled his shoulders and drew his whip from his belt, keeping in coiled in his hand. Clearly one way or the other they were likely to end up in a fight before the day was out, whether it was with drow, their minions, or who knew what else was out here.

Alfren Ker "Well, that went swimmingly," Alfren said dryly, still keeping his hand near his whip in case the raider decided he was willing to die on that particular hill. After a few more moments he relaxed, if only slightly, and rolled his shoulders. "If we want to follow him we can, he's good but he's definitely more of a sneak than a woodsman. Otherwise we can worry about the other murderous cult and come back to the regular murderous raiders after we've laid eyes on the Llothites."

Alfren Ker "I tend to keep my liaisons to people that don't openly admit to they're going to kill me for coin. Personal policy," Alfren replied with a smirk of his own. "But as for treachery, ignoring the stereotypes that drow suffer from, there is something to be said for recognizing a losing deal. Since you've clearly figured our point of interest then I'm certain you've put the pieces together that Jezz's new business partner is attracting exactly the wrong sort of attention for a band like yours." His own hand hadn't strayed far from his weapon. They were walking a fine line here, raiders like these were all smiles until they drove the knife into your back. They weren't concerned about fair fights or matters of honor. Just profit, plunder, and the service of whatever vices they found most appealing. From what he knew of the man... he wouldn't kill them for fun like some would. But he would kill them without the slightest hesitation if it served his interests.

Tossing a roll in here (or trying to) K Local: Local

Alfren Ker "Likely because someone else either cleared them out... or wrangled them," Alfren said, taking his own skin out and taking a swig before speaking in a quieter tone. "Probably the one that is watching us from the treeline. At least one." "Jerky?" he asked, louder once again before continuing. He focus on the direction the observers were overtly but did his best to see if he could pick anything up now that he knew they were there. "They are trying very hard not to be seen and almost managing it. Means probably the raiders over the spider devout."

Alfren Ker The hunter shifted awkwardly at the woman's offered prayers. He'd never been much for observances, in a fight he was as agile as they came but when it came time for the more ritual dancing things had never gone nearly as smoothly. Most of his worship had been done in quiet dedication, offering his efforts in hunting those creatures that would disrupt the harmony the Dark Maiden sought to create. "My thanks," he said simply at Shizune when she completed her prayers.

Alfren Ker Alfren stretched as he walked out the door, brushing his hair back with one hand to wipe away the moisture from a quick dousing in water. His whip was at his side as always and he seemed well rested, eager to be on the move. "Do they pose an issue around here or are they mostly avoidable?" he asked the scout. "I've dealt with a nest here and there in more populated areas but never on anything of that scale."

Alfren Ker "What you don't just sleep on the floor behind the door like a proper paranoid person?" Alfren asked with a chuckle. "Wooden door is likely going to offer more protection than a pup tent and we can spare a couple hours to keep Shizune company so there's some folk awake most the night. "

Alfren Ker "I'll leave further introductions to you," Alfren said, with a tip of mug at the woman and a smirk. "You're prettier than I am, he's less likely to be mean to you." Taking another sip he contemplated what they'd been told. The spiders made sense for the Spider Queen's followers, trying to make super spiders in her image, so on and so forth. Fanatics would be fanatics. But why were the raiders here just... hanging out and buying mushrooms? "Anything else out of the ordinary going on in the forest or surrounding area? It seems odd that suddenly we've got so much happening all at once. Drow raiders aren't known for their homesteading skills after all."

Alfren Ker The hunter took a swig of his drink. "I came into this late on a request to track down a kidnapped diplomat, but this redhead seems to be the mastermind of some conspiracy. Mercenaries, Zhents, now drow?" he shook his head, gesturing with the stein at the others. "No offense, ladies, but she's not exactly keeping good company all things considered. And the fact that she is on at least speaking terms with all of them tells me she's a special kind of dangerous." Usually his jobs were much simpler than this. Deal with some bandits that thought they had a good thing going tormenting a more isolated village or deal with a troll that the local guards couldn't handle. Whatever his favor had gotten him into was turning into something far more dangerous.

Alfren Ker "Embroiled in the life of politics and conspiracies it would seem, based on sending us out here," Alfren said to the gnome, taking a seat once again backwards in the chair as he had at the elven estate. "And you have less than normal tavern guests it sounds like. So probably good she didn't just send some scouts."