Unknown Claim, round 5

@ before 8 PM?

Caden & Hanalee

The thugs speed into the offensive. The group of three lob another round of daggers, but this time at Hanalee for interfering with their hostage. As she sliced the hostage's bonds and dropped her Short Sword for him, the wave of flying metal slices on by, all missing, but giving the lone thug a moment to catch Hanalee solidly in the thigh. (Hanalee 5 damage) She laughs at her success to have caught Hanalee twice so well, licking her blade in sadistic triumph.

She should have been paying attention, as Caden comes at her back and pierces her in the spleen, the point showing for a moment from the front of her abdomen. (Lone thug 7 damage). Caden throws a dagger back towards the previous 3 thugs, but misses totally. She turns back confused, and a scuffle of noise resounds from the bushes on the far side of the campfire from you now -- from where that helpful arrow came from actually. Hey, where's those lackadaisical human warriors?

"Where are you, cowards! We paid you and you ran! Professionals my ass!" A trickle of blood runs from this lone thug's mouth. She's beginning to seem like their leader? Evidently psycho at the least.

As she turns back to leer at Hanalee & the hostage, a sickening, bloody smile upon her lips, Hanalee follows up her tit for tat and slams her hammer solidly across her temple. Down she goes! (Lone thug 6 damage) "Boss!" you hear from two of the other thugs, notably female.

"That sick bitch had it coming, just like you will! Waylaying desperate travelers -- take this!" The hostage lunges forward, swipes artfully, parry, thrust, closes into the core of the cluster of three, and then drives home. Into the belly of the one who almost lost an eye to an arrow last round. (wounded thug 7 damage) "Tell your boss hi, in hell." She slips from his short sword and falls, eyes wide again for perhaps the last time.

Three versus two... you think. These are better odds. Where's those spearmen? And who was that helpful archer?

What do you do? Initiative & rolls please!

Caden will press the attack and make for the nearest opponent.

Rolled a 17 for initiative and a 20 to hit! In room of course.

'k, and do you draw another dagger for a bonus action attack? Or are you working your duel style?

And we'll need Hanalee's decision & rolls to proceed.

I will use the duelist style.

"Nice...moves," Hanalee cheers weakly to the stranger. As blood flows from her wounds, she grits her teeth and rededicates herself to ending these thugs.

(Rolled 7 initiative and 15 attack.)

Unknown Claim, round 6

Caden & Hanalee

The round begins with Caden pressing the advantage. Lifting his empty hand in an en garde pose, he spots an opening and lunges with frightening speed. Into the heart of the remaining female thug, the blow is clean and true. Everyone knows she is beyond medical help at that moment. She drops with a discreet rose upon her left breast. Breathtaking. (last female thug 20 damage)

Now outnumbered, the last thug panics, throws his dagger reflexively at Caden, just missing him to the latter's sharp reflexes. Panicking and running, he flees back to the campfire, exposing him to a free shot by the hostage. The strike connects, a swipe to the leg causing minor stumbling before regaining balance, hampering his full distancing. (last thug 4 damage)

This shift of party focus towards this last thug, and thus the campfire, has you all catching sight of the human warriors emerging from the bush with a body slung over one's shoulder. They saunter into the light, set down the body in a sitting position facing your group, and start talking:

"Well, it looks like they've evened the odds. Took them long enough."
"Honestly I'm glad the psycho is gone and I didn't have to do it myself."
"YOU THERE! WE HAVE YOUR ALLY, HE STILL LIVES! WE PARLEY TERMS TO RETURN HIM IN EXCHANGE FOR OUR ESCAPE!"

Focusing on the propped body, you see it is the grim man!

"Traitors! Is there no honor among thieves and mercenaries?!" the remaining thug shouts.

"Oh there's an honor of sorts. But your bloodthirsty leader spent it a few bodies ago," replies a human warrior.

At this opportunity Hanalee races up to the remaining thug and cracks him in the back with her warhammer, like a raven's beak into wet bread. "Gaah!" Face down into the dirt, he goes down. (last thug 10 damage)

The hostage holds back where Caden is, with Hanalee out 20' front towards the spearmen, a good 80' away. Caden, you notes he lowered his short sword. "They are real good fighters; they spared me easily when they caught me — to be in the clutches of that sick woman. I should be mad, but they also treated me fair while held. I think the threat of their presence prevented even worse tortures."

"Talking may be a good idea, on both our parts. But I throw my lot with you two who saved me."

What do you do?  Initiative & Attack/Skill Rolls?

Caden whispers through gritted teeth to Hanalee "Best we see what is going on here, no sense taking more risk than needed."

Caden moves up to where Hanalee is. "Well lets talk then" he shouts back toward the other group.

Hanalee is surprised to see the grim man again in such a circumstance. "I'll follow your lead," she tells Caden, her confidence bolstered by the support of the stranger.

"And your name?" she quickly asks the man holding her sword.

"That's close enough then, if you value your friend's life," as Caden moves up to Hanalee's same distance. You hear the hostage move up as well, just a beat after. Later you both see he has brought himself in line with you two as a trio.

"Do you mind if we hold off on the introductions for just a bit?" he whispers to Hanalee. Louder, to the spearmen, "I owe you three my body whole, bruised but not maimed. The least I can do is talk."

"Well her body part fetishes were getting to me."
"The tongues, or the ears? Or that one castration?"
"Oh, I didn't even want to remember that one."

"What in the seven hells was going on here?" Caden asks the freed hostage and the other group of warriors.

"Just mercenaries renting their services to those who have proven themselves dishonorable."
"Yeah, I wouldn't recommend the dirty details, as her and hers were crazy."
"ENOUGH! Do you take our offer? Your ally for our peaceful leave."

You note that they are close enough to reach their extra standing spears in the dirt within a round. They'd get at least a round of ranged attacks before you could reach and still be armed afterward.

Caden turns to the others "I say we take the offer, I see no reason to pick another fight."

Hanalee drops her hammer to her side. "Acceptable terms. Go in peace," she says to the warriors. She extends her free hand towards The Grim Man (TM) and motions for the mercs to hand him over.

OOC:  Heh, enjoy The Grim Man (TM)!

8 PM

Unknown Claim

Two of the human warriors go collect the trios belongings, one later separating to later light two torches. The third stands over the grim man, doing no harm, but not handing him over.

"Forgive us, we've dealt with our share of those acting in bad faith of late."
"You'll have him, and we'll be on our way. We just find distance good sense."

After 3 rounds they seem ready and start to leave, grim man propped as best as possible on the bush. They carry two torches, cautious & searching as they leave, the last walking backwards with an eye towards you all. They are heading back the way you came, to the boomtown.
----------------

As you rush to the grim man to see if he's OK, you note they did excellent work. The last blow was likely the one that left a lump on the back of his head. He'll likely be out for anywhere between first watch. (one to four hours)

"I don't know who's claim this is, but I've had enough excitement for one night to not finish walking back to town with an unconscious body in tow," says the ex-hostage.

What do you do? And where will you rest for the night?

OK, I am assuming "fade to black" rest at the unknown claim.

edit: no further wandering encounters.