Thom grimaces as he sees his shadow, turning back toward the spearman.
[Awareness: 6 w/ Alertness Specialization, otherwise 5]
[Initiative: 5]
The spearman is mumbling, waving his spear defensively. The words are Brythonic. Could sound like a prayer, but then you don't know Brythonic.
Then there is a thud of a bowstring. from Thom's left, and the arrow, aiming for the shadown. That's an attack of 15, and Thom has a +3 from invisibility on his defense (cf [HoH:S:33]).
Sasso and Telsa have cornered the spearmaid and the archer, who now have their backs against the wall. Looking at Iago, they ask with a pleading voice, «who are you, fighting with these hellhounds?» The Brythonic is not Iago's native Welsh accent, but close enough.
This all happens while Iago straps the shield on. He has a chance to respond to the words if he wants to do that before the attack.
‘You best surrender before we cut you to ribbons you brigand dogs” states Iago
«Save us, but don't take our souls,» they say, and drop the knives.
“Call to the rest of your gang to show them selves and surrender.” Demand Iago tying them up with that ever rope is at hand.
[Thom's Defense: 0 + 3, No Botch. Thom has no weapon in hand, 0 quickness, and no combat abilities other than Brawl or Bow]
The archer made a lucky shot, and Thom is hit in the kidney for a heavy wound¹. The arrow disappears from sight with the sound of sinking into soft tissue, and the spearman gasps. Thom hears him muttering, and the archers appears from the shadows, answering somewthing. The spearman gets on his feet, and it looks as if they will be running away together.
Then somebody shouts from the other side, still Brythonic and unintelligible to Thom, but Iago understand's Glenn shouting «Hey.² We surrender! We cannot fight these demonic creatures.»
¹ I make the defense bonus +6 or +9 (either one makes the same result). It should be harder to hit,
² There should probably be a name or three in there, but at this time of day I would only be confusingly reusing old names.
Seeing as the brigands are surrendering, Sasso and Telsa tone down their snarling to a slightly less threatening demeanor. Just an occasional growl and showing of teeth.
Thom gasps in pain, collapsed, naked, and invisible on the ground, nearly unconscious from the excruciating pain. [Note: kidney injuries are notoriously painful and the high vascularity of that area of the body would cause significant blood loss. Rules Question: Would Thom's blood become visible when it leaves his body or remain invisible until sunset?]
As long as the blood stays as close as clothing to the body, it remains invisible. Thom's blood will obviously make a visible stain on the ground, but the two opponents do not hang around to observe it. They make themselves scarce and head Northeast, as fast as their wounds permit.
Only Cath'rinne will see where they are heading. She can also see the archer who was scouting up the road. Hearing the shout to surrender, she stops and hesitates, and disappears behind a rock.
The two opponents who have surrendered are quite bewildered. «Whatr do you want with us? We are just poor hunters. Not poaching. This is free land. Nobody has exclusive right here.»
Cath'rinne botches a Per+Awa check to smell Thom and is blissfully unaware of her friend's predicament.
She makes a detour to land on top of the pass, ensuring she's out of view of all bandits and that they don't suspect it's a vulture who's talking. "You - the archer who hid behind a rock." she shouts. "Come out and keep your hands well in sight if you value your life."
The two people up their pace and run away as best they can. Cath'rinne cannot see them from he hiding, but she can hear their strained breathing, and ... there is a familiar smell. They are chasing someone. Could be Thom, but not sure.
Thom feels bad, but he is not incapacitated and he hears Cath'rinne's voice.
When the two who surrendered are tied and secured, Sasso wuffs at Telsa to remain here and pads off towards the place where he left his equipment upon changing. After making sure no one is close, he changes back and picks up his stuff and re-equips himself. He then bring his sister's stuff behind some rocks and moves back to the group, where he pats his sister so she can do the same, out of sight from the group. The she-wolf slips her nose, head and then body into her leather tunic, then changes back and picks up her belongings. Soon she is back with the group as well.
When Thom hears Cath'rinne's voice, he calls out weakly, "Over here..." He is clearly not doing well and in great pain. "I'm... hurt."
Iago looks down at the two prisoners and shakes his head.
"Hunters? Hunters don't ambush people with spears and bows. How many in your gang?"
«We haven't ambushed anyone. You came upon us and shot without warning. We were .. euh .. hoping for deer. They often come through this pass. We shoot no people.»
You can roll a folk ken+perception ... difficulty ... 2 ...
Iago backhands the man across the face.
"Don't lie to me."
[Folk Ken + Per Roll: 12]
"How many of you? Where is your camp?"
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«Auh. F-f-fa-four. A-a mile or so behind those hills,» stutters the man, pointing to the West.
"Should drag yer sorry arse in to the local lord," says Iago. "Might fetch a coin or two or the good will of the locals. You can't be makin' many friends out this way."
The soldier looks about for the others, particularly the magi.