The sorceress lands neatly on her feet and abandons her horse, which struggles to its hooves shakily. It limps off, heading away from the charging warriors. Maria Marioni, or at least the wispy flames surrounding her, bolt for the forest. She’ll reach it within twenty seconds, and she’s got a lead of about eighty yards on both Harald and Solsken. Taye looses a bolt from his crossbow (anything other than a flat-out run will allow her to gain ground) and is gratified to see his bolt sink into her upper arm.
As Aji tightens his grip on Umberto’s neck, Giacomo steps up, swings his sap around twice, and smashes it into Umberto’s head. The man goes limp and sags to the ground.
All respect to Aji, but I’d like to do a search on Umberto as well, in case Aji misses anything. Also, I think we should tie and gag the sorcerer, so he won’t start casting spells if he comes to.
You know what ? Plow it. I’ve seen Solsken’s fireworks last for bloody ever before and I bet I’m hardier than some dolled up, pansy, city-dwellin’, court intringuin’, fancy livin’ southern broad. Plus Solsken’s got that go-fasta magick of his going too.
“Let’s race her to exhaustion, see how she likes it ! Bet you 5 florins she drops before I do, by Skadi !”
The sorceress sprints hard and disappears into the thick underbrush of the wood, stooping to grab a long branch as she runs. Solsken and Harald crash in after her, and notice leaves still moving violently in three places: to the left, across a small brook, straight ahead, along a faint game trail, and to the right, above the fallen trunk of a young aspen.
Aji swings the now-limp body of Umberto Marioni onto his wide shoulder, and trots off toward the wood, followed by Joseph, Zachary, and Giacomo. Taye swings down from the tree and trots off toward the copse of trees a couple hundred feet away where the horses are hidden.
I’m going to try and use my Survival skill to find tracks of her passing - footprints, torn clothing… or to spot which of the three movements are made by animals/wind/whatnot (yay, usefulness beyond bashing people’s heads in !)
Taye will bring the horses for everyone that doesn’t take his own. Once I get close enough, I’ll give the horse to its owner or keep it and protect it from being stolen in case Maria tries to circle around us.
Once that is done I’ll cast Detect Magic and try to determine which way she fled.
“If we do not find the sorceress soon, we should return to town, to present the doge with our captive and claim our reward. It would be unwise to drag him with us on a long and difficult chase.”
A quick glance around reveals Maria’s footprints in the bed of the brook, and the water is still swirling with churned up sediment. You think she went that way.
Done.
You’re not yet in range, unless Maria has doubled back, so you spur your horse toward the wood.
With a Perception check at a penalty, yes. Your falcon fails the first check, though, and is flying off in the direction opposite that Harald has just crashed off in.
“She either crossed the stream or doubled back ! Come on Sol’, this way ! The laggards will catch her if she’s turned around.”
I’ll keep chasing, keep spotting for purple flames and keep Surviving to see whether we’re on the right track. If the trail ends abruptly, I’ll instead race back to where I think Aji and our quarry are.
Giacomo goes to the edge of the wood where the sorceress disappeared. He observes the place where she entered, and tries to ascertain where she would be most likely to emerge if she doubles back. He will conceal himself there, to lie in wait, and, if he has anyrope left from binding Umberto, will try to construct a trap to trip her horse.
Perception check to try to find a likely place for her to emerge, stealth check to hide, craft trap to make trap, prayer to Saint Nicholas that it will be the sorceress whose horse falls, not one of his companions. Why didn’t I build a trap for the first ambush? because I’m an idiot, that’s why.
Giacomo also turns to Aji, who is still carrying the bound and unconscious Umberto. “Careful, my large friend. Make sure you keep a hold of that sorcerer no matter what happens. Better we lose the sorceress than lose both.”