You’re clearly an ace combat specialist, you’ve no doubt fought through a lot of closed-in-areas, seeing how well you’ve performed in this hideout so far, do you think you can size up their bodies and see if you think they could fit through the door if we opened it for whatever reason?

Regis gave a bemused chuckle. "Skulltulas are nimble and crafty - they could no doubt get through that door if we opened it up." He stopped for a moment, thinking. "Which begs the question - how are they taken care of? If they are fed, someone would have to come down here and feed them, and they would probably have to open the door to do so. Perhaps the Pilpherer's Phalanx has someone who is good at handling monsters like these? I'm not even sure if Skulltula can be domesticated..." He mused for moment, rubbing his chin. "Although I suppose if their food is broken down into small enough chunks, it could be fed through the bars of the cage. Still, I wonder..." He finished, trailing off as he looked around the room a little more intently, pausing only to eye Pepper's torch and take a small step back when it gets a bit too close for comfort. [Awareness Check]

As he did that, Pepper and Orpheous concluded their investigations. Pepper was unable to find anything smaller than bits of gravel inside their small protected space, but looking just outside the bars to where she could reach with her hands, she saw something startling - a bone. It was too small and broken to see exactly what kind of bone it is or what species it belongs too, but it was definitely a bone. Looking up from the immediate area, she could quickly spot the scattered, bony remains of some poor creature - possibly even another humanoid - laying on the floor close to the center of the room. The Skulltulas had been blocking their view of it at first, but as the spiders became more interested in their potential prey, they had moved a bit, allowing Pepper to see the pile of bones on the floor.

As Orpheous observed the spiders and waved his torch around, he discovered that they seemed to follow the light coming from the torch in his hand, but if he moved the torch too far away from his body, their gaze shifted back to his person. As he watched them, he could clearly tell they were hungry; drool was beginning to drip from their fanged mouths and their breathing slowly increased as Orpheous and the Skulltula stared each other down. One of them began watching Pepper, and advanced several steps towards the door when her search took her closer to the bars, though it stopped short of getting close enough to touch her. It clearly knows the boundaries of its territory.

"Ah-ha!" Said Regis suddenly, a grin beginning to form on his face. "I think I may have discerned the purpose of this room. Look up at the ceiling, there." He said, pointing towards the ceiling on the northern side of the room.
"See those support beams there?" He asked, indicating the wooden beams that run diagonally from the wall to the ceiling. "Those are only on the northern wall - there are no other such support beams along the other three walls of this room." If Orpheous or Pepper took a moment to look around the room, they would confirm this is true; an odd design flaw, perhaps?

"And look at the beams themselves. I don't think they're beams at all, but rather, part of a larger mechanical set up. I can't tell for certain from this distance, but it almost looks as if the beams don't actually join to the wall, but rather go inside of it through sets of slots in the stone. And if you look closely at the ceiling near the beams," He continued, "You can see slivers of light coming in from the floor above." This was also true; in a few places along the ceiling near the north wall, there appeared to be a few small cracks in the stonework, letting a tiny amount of light in.
"What's on the northern wall of the room just above us?" He asked rhetorically, grinning. "The levers for the door!" He exclaimed with his arms open, as if that one final fact was enough to reveal his train of thought, and he waited expectantly for Orpheous to finish it.

Orpheous
STR-3; DEF-5; AGI-3; INT-5; SPI-6; HP-42/56; SPL-48; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Staff: (base) 9 + (STR) 3 = 12
Spell Damage: (caster's level) (14) + (base class) 3 + (INT) 5 = 22
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 8
Deku Slingshot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9
-Ember Seed Shot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9 (fire-type damage)
Bomb: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 = 8
Equipment
Deku Staff
Deku Boomerang
Gerudo Training Gloves
L1 Tunic
Garlund Amulet
Bomb Bag
Ammo Bag
Ember Seed (Ammo)
Abilities
Leadership L1 - 2
Learn: Life L1 - 2
Train: Boomerang L1- 2
Learn: Elemental Burst L2 - 4
The Quill is Mightier than the Sword L1 - 2
Epic Poem L2 - 3
Master of Linguistics L1 - 1
Learn: Fire L1 - 2
Train: Slightshot L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 5 + (L1 Tunic) 10 + (AGI) 3 = 18

Pepper Pinkerton
STR-2; DEF-1; AGI-9; INT-3; SPI-7; HP-59/67; SPL-65; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Dagger: (base) 5 + (STR) 2 = 7
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 2 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 7
Bomb: (base) 5 + STR (2) = 7
Equipment
Deku Dagger
Deku Boomerang
Ocarina
L1 Jerkin
Garlund Amulet
Gerudo Training Gloves
Candle
Bomb Bag
Abilities
Train: Boomerang L1 - 1
Learn: Jump L1 - 1
Sprint L1 - 2
Play: Will of Farore L2 - 3
Play: Elegy of the Departed L1 - 3
Play: Sonata of Restoration L1 - 1
Play: Call of Din L1 - 1
Play: Spirit of Nayru L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 1 + (L1 Jerkin) 12 + (AGI) 9 = 22

Seeing the way the Skulltula was staring at Pepper and starting to advance towards her, Orpheous stepped in front of her, nearly bumping into her in the process. He knew that spidery thing wasn’t getting past the bars, but the way it stared at them all made him feel so degraded. Of course, these dumb beasts would just view them as the next meal. And he couldn’t blame them, but he had to instinctively shield the younger person from the piercing eight eyes of the monstrosity that was a testament to Ganon’s legacy. So taken aback by the Skulltula, he didn’t even hear Pepper’s ghastly utterance upon her own discovery. “B-b-bones...�

“Of course,� muttered Orpheous. Speaking a little louder, he replied to Regis. “It’s a mechanism for releasing those who pull the wrong switches to the hungry Skulltulas below. In other words, a trap door, although probably several if I’d have to guess. It would explain why these beasts look so hungry and how they are given food. I suppose it’s a good thing we got past that trap earlier, because I would have hated to full unexpectedly into these guys.�

“I know, right?� added Pepper with a chipper smile. It seemed she was over the surprise of the bones already. As she stood back up from her strange position that was being parallel to the floor, he gave them both a hearty grin. “Seems these little fellas pick whatever falls down here try to the bone. I couldn’t tell if the bones were person-sized, but given the fact that I doubt wild animals prance around and pull switches, I suspect that those are the remains of something that was intelligent before its untimely death. Perhaps several some-ones.� She wasn’t exactly smiling as she relayed this part of the information. She was somber, but only as much as necessary. Giving the moment some reverence, she added, “Perhaps when these no-good-rotten-thieves have been served their comeuppance, we might be able to give them a proper rest.�

“Agreed, Miss Pinkerton,� added Orpheous. “Still, it seems that we really don’t need to interact with these Skulltulas. If I’m proven wrong later, we’ll deal with that when we get there. Let’s go back up to the locked door.� As Orpheous the scribe led the way back up the stairs and to the kitchen area, he said aloud, “You know, that would explain why they didn’t leave behind any clues in that switch room – like obvious signs they could decipher. Being a new recruit, not falling to your death in a Skulltula pit would be motivation enough, I’d think.� Pausing for a moment to make sure his torch was re-lit, he approached the locked door and asked Regis if he could unlock it.

“...It’s a mechanism for releasing those who pull the wrong switches to the hungry Skulltulas below. In other words, a trap door, although probably several if I’d have to guess..."

"Yes! Exactly!" Regis said, a bit excited to have solved this room so quickly. "I've heard of traps that drop snakes on its victims, but this makes much more sense - there's not nearly as much clean up involved here as there would be if the spiders were dropped on us from above - imagine having to wrangle them up every time someone gets the combination wrong!"

"...It seems that we really don’t need to interact with these Skulltulas. If I’m proven wrong later, we’ll deal with that when we get there. Let’s go back up to the locked door.�

Regis nodded. "I agree... I highly doubt there will be anything worthwhile here. What would be the point? I believe the sole purpose of this room is to serve as a safeguard for anyone who isn't' supposed to be here and doesn't know the combination to get inside the hideout proper... If we opened that door, I suspect we would find nothing but a nasty fight on our hands." He finished, and listened to Orpheous as they made their way back up the stairs and to the locked door in the mess hall. When the scribe approached the door, indicating he would like Regis' permission to open it, he quickly nodded.

"There isn't anywhere else for us to explore here that I know of... let's give it a shot." He said, gesturing for Orpheous to unlock the padlock and open the door.

Orpheous
STR-3; DEF-5; AGI-3; INT-5; SPI-6; HP-42/56; SPL-48; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Staff: (base) 9 + (STR) 3 = 12
Spell Damage: (caster's level) (14) + (base class) 3 + (INT) 5 = 22
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 8
Deku Slingshot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9
-Ember Seed Shot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9 (fire-type damage)
Bomb: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 = 8
Equipment
Deku Staff
Deku Boomerang
Gerudo Training Gloves
L1 Tunic
Garlund Amulet
Bomb Bag
Ammo Bag
Ember Seed (Ammo)
Abilities
Leadership L1 - 2
Learn: Life L1 - 2
Train: Boomerang L1- 2
Learn: Elemental Burst L2 - 4
The Quill is Mightier than the Sword L1 - 2
Epic Poem L2 - 3
Master of Linguistics L1 - 1
Learn: Fire L1 - 2
Train: Slightshot L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 5 + (L1 Tunic) 10 + (AGI) 3 = 18

Pepper Pinkerton
STR-2; DEF-1; AGI-9; INT-3; SPI-7; HP-59/67; SPL-65; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Dagger: (base) 5 + (STR) 2 = 7
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 2 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 7
Bomb: (base) 5 + STR (2) = 7
Equipment
Deku Dagger
Deku Boomerang
Ocarina
L1 Jerkin
Garlund Amulet
Gerudo Training Gloves
Candle
Bomb Bag
Abilities
Train: Boomerang L1 - 1
Learn: Jump L1 - 1
Sprint L1 - 2
Play: Will of Farore L2 - 3
Play: Elegy of the Departed L1 - 3
Play: Sonata of Restoration L1 - 1
Play: Call of Din L1 - 1
Play: Spirit of Nayru L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 1 + (L1 Jerkin) 12 + (AGI) 9 = 22

Pepper, almost forgetting she snagged the key earlier, slid to the front of the group effortlessly. Even though Orpheous was right be the door and the padlock examining it, Pepper was able to stand by the door with ease and insert the key into the lock. She twisted her wrist and expectantly knew that the lock would give no resistance. Why would it? As her wrist twisted, she looked at the group with a chipper smile. “Let’s see what’s behind door number two, shall we?�

[Music: Surprise Attack!]

The instant the door knob clicked into it's unlocked position, the door was flung wide on it's hinges from the inside, and four figures leaped out of the room behind it to attack the three unsuspecting intruders on the other side.

Before anyone even had any time to react, the first Bandit's sword was already on a collision course for Pepper, who had been standing directly in front of the door. To her great fortune, her leather jerkin held up magnificently against the sudden attack, preventing the blade from breaking skin so that it dealt no damage - although she may have been bruised a bit.

The second Bandit also leaped towards Pepper, but by that point Regis had managed to recover from the shock of the surprise attack and leaped in front of her to protect her from the hit, swinging his two blades down over his head in an arc to deflect the attack completely.

The other two Bandits hung back behind the door, as the doorway was getting fairly crowded at that point, and launched arrows towards Orpheous and Regis. The first arrow found it's mark, sinking right into Orpheous' shoulder, dealing 12 damage to the scribe. The second arrow was not as lucky, and sailed just a few inches above Regis' head and harmlessly past him into the mess hall beyond.

Pilpherer's Phalanx Bandit x4
25 HP, 8 SPL
4 STR, 13 DEF, 5 AGI, 1 INT, 3 SPI
Sword: 10 base dmg,
Bow: 8 base dmg, +2 cth

<center>~ROUND RESULTS~
Pepper: 59/67 HP, 65/65 SPL
Orpheous: 30/56 HP, 48/48 SPL
Regis: 71/71 HP, 11/11 SPL

Bandit 1: 25/25 HP
Bandit 2: 25/25 HP
Bandit 3: 25/25 HP
Bandit 4: 25/25 HP
</center>

Orpheous
STR-3; DEF-5; AGI-3; INT-5; SPI-6; HP-30/56; SPL-40; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Staff: (base) 9 + (STR) 3 = 12
Spell Damage: (caster's level) (14) + (base class) 3 + (INT) 5 = 22
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 8
Deku Slingshot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9
-Ember Seed Shot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9 (fire-type damage)
Bomb: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 = 8
Equipment
Deku Staff
Deku Boomerang
Gerudo Training Gloves
L1 Tunic
Garlund Amulet
Bomb Bag
Ammo Bag
Ember Seed (Ammo)
Abilities
Leadership L1 - 2
Learn: Life L1 - 2
Train: Boomerang L1- 2
Learn: Elemental Burst L2 - 4
The Quill is Mightier than the Sword L1 - 2
Epic Poem L2 - 3
Master of Linguistics L1 - 1
Learn: Fire L1 - 2
Train: Slightshot L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 5 + (L1 Tunic) 10 + (AGI) 3 = 18

Pepper Pinkerton
STR-2; DEF-1; AGI-9; INT-3; SPI-7; HP-59/67; SPL-65; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Dagger: (base) 5 + (STR) 2 = 7
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 2 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 7
Bomb: (base) 5 + STR (2) = 7
Equipment
Deku Dagger
Deku Boomerang
Ocarina
L1 Jerkin
Garlund Amulet
Gerudo Training Gloves
Candle
Bomb Bag
Abilities
Train: Boomerang L1 - 1
Learn: Jump L1 - 1
Sprint L1 - 2
Play: Will of Farore L2 - 3
Play: Elegy of the Departed L1 - 3
Play: Sonata of Restoration L1 - 1
Play: Call of Din L1 - 1
Play: Spirit of Nayru L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 1 + (L1 Jerkin) 12 + (AGI) 9 = 22

Pepper did take a swift step back to avoid the door slamming into her face as it opened towards her in a speed she wasn’t exactly comfortable with. Unfortunately, the door distracted her from the opposition. As the sword gave her a firm thwack in the torso, the chipper young ma’am did grimace a bit, but it wasn’t long before she cracked a smile again. Knowing she wasn’t bleeding, she tried to keep in mind that the exact spot of the collision – her right side - would likely hurt for a couple of days. Once Regis had finished deflecting the attack from above, she seemed to have gathered her wits about herself again. She turned to Regis with her warm, bubbly grin. “Thanks a bunch, Regi!� Then she focused her attention back to the bandits.

“Huh?� she questioned towards the bandit. “Does this mean that I’m ‘It’ now, roguish bandit? Good thing that sword couldn’t make it past my trusty jerkin; otherwise, we’d be in a whole mess of blood right now! But, I do have to warn you, I’m the Eleven Time Hyrulean Champion when it comes to one of my favorite games – tag!� She even shouted the word tag to show her excitement. “I don’t think you and your chums are quite ready for me, so prepare yourself!�

However, by the time her speech was done, the two archers had fired as well. As Orpheous shoulder was pierced by the tip of the arrow, Pepper added. “Hey, no fair! I’m already ‘It.’ Besides, it’s cheating to use an arrow to tag somebody anyways, silly! Everybody knows that!� Perhaps the strangest thing to an outside observer would be that it was impossible to really tell whether she thought this was a game of tag or if she was just giving the group of bandits some quips to spice up her fight with them. Then again, why can’t a game of tag be messy and bloody?

As she rushed into the fray, darting back into the room, she brought about her dagger immediately, intending to retaliate for the harm they caused the party scholar. Swinging the wood about in a swirling arc, she finally brought it down against the bandit who had harmed Orpheous only moments prior [Attack – Deku Dagger at Bandit 3].

Orpheous, the injured scribe, wasn’t feeling so great. Having just received an arrow to the shoulder also reminded him of his prior wound. “Curses,� he muttered to himself. “Need to heal soon.� Still, it didn’t stop the scholar from bursting through the door at full, pathetic sprint. Knowing himself to be the squishiest of the targets, he hoped his stratagem would lead the others back into the room to focus their efforts on him. Once he was fully in the room and in a few feet, he began to cast Life on himself. [Use Life L1 on Self].

Orpheous was bathed in a white glow as his life spell took effect, completely restoring him back to full health - he was fully prepared to face whatever was next.

Pepper's dagger, hell-bent on revenge for the damage done to her companion, swung in towards the bandit at lightning fast speed towards his chest. It must have found a vital artery, as blood began spurting out of the bandit's chest when she pulled the dagger out, and the bandit screamed in pain as he sustained 18 damage. (((Crit!)))

Regis got right to work as well, and he lunged out with both blades towards Bandit 1 - the closest one he could reach. He landed two swift slashes across the bandit's torso, dealing 20 damage..

Enraged, the two bandits who had just been hit lashed out in retaliation. First to do so was Bandit 3, who dropped his bow to the ground and in one swift arcing motion, drew is sword and slashed out at Pepper. Perhaps as a result of his grizzly wound, however, he was not quite fast enough, and his attack went wide, missing her. He also sustained 1 more point of damage as his wound bled out.

Bandit 1, in turn, swung his sword around at Regis, but he was also too slow. Regis deftly brought up one of his shortswords to deflect the attack.

Bandit 2 left Regis to his companion and went after Orpheous. In a display of what seemed to be now commonplace sluggishness, he was unable to swing his weapon quickly enough to catch the scribe off guard, and his sword went sailing over Orpheous' head as he ducked to avoid the blow.

Finally, Bandit 4 backed further into the room, drawing yet another arrow and letting it fly at Pepper - but it flew just past her shoulder and landed harmlessly in the wall behind her.

<center>~ROUND RESULTS~
Pepper: 59/67 HP, 65/65 SPL
Orpheous: 56/56 HP, 40/48 SPL
Regis: 71/71 HP, 11/11 SPL

Bandit 1: 5/25 HP
Bandit 2: 25/25 HP
Bandit 3: 6/25 HP, bleeding
Bandit 4: 25/25 HP
</center>

Orpheous
STR-3; DEF-5; AGI-3; INT-5; SPI-6; HP-56/56; SPL-40/48; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Staff: (base) 9 + (STR) 3 = 12
Spell Damage: (caster's level) (14) + (base class) 3 + (INT) 5 = 22
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 8
Deku Slingshot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9
-Ember Seed Shot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9 (fire-type damage)
Bomb: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 = 8
Equipment
Deku Staff
Deku Boomerang
Gerudo Training Gloves
L1 Tunic
Garlund Amulet
Bomb Bag
Ammo Bag
Ember Seed (Ammo)
Abilities
Leadership L1 - 2
Learn: Life L1 - 2
Train: Boomerang L1- 2
Learn: Elemental Burst L2 - 4
The Quill is Mightier than the Sword L1 - 2
Epic Poem L2 - 3
Master of Linguistics L1 - 1
Learn: Fire L1 - 2
Train: Slightshot L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 5 + (L1 Tunic) 10 + (AGI) 3 = 18

Pepper Pinkerton
STR-2; DEF-1; AGI-9; INT-3; SPI-7; HP-59/67; SPL-65; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Dagger: (base) 5 + (STR) 2 = 7
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 2 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 7
Bomb: (base) 5 + STR (2) = 7
Equipment
Deku Dagger
Deku Boomerang
Ocarina
L1 Jerkin
Garlund Amulet
Gerudo Training Gloves
Candle
Bomb Bag
Abilities
Train: Boomerang L1 - 1
Learn: Jump L1 - 1
Sprint L1 - 2
Play: Will of Farore L2 - 3
Play: Elegy of the Departed L1 - 3
Play: Sonata of Restoration L1 - 1
Play: Call of Din L1 - 1
Play: Spirit of Nayru L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 1 + (L1 Jerkin) 12 + (AGI) 9 = 22

Orpheous breathed a sigh of relief as the healing energies worked their magic over him, and he sighed again as one of the bandits failed to hit him. Believe his gambit to lure them all firmly into the room had succeed, he moved himself to attempt to guard the door. As he moved, he called to his allies. “Perhaps we should try to keep this lot alive. Despite how each of us may feel about thieves, they might help us reunite the loot we find in this hideout with its proper owners. Right?� He took up his staff and attempted to swing it towards the bandit that was bleeding out, hoping to deal enough damage to remove him from the combat situation but not enough to outright kill him. After all, if that bandit kept attacking, he was likely to bleed out and die. He simply had to hope he could reach the bandit from his stance by the door [Attack – Deku Staff at Bandit 3 – Non-Lethal].

Pepper meanwhile frowned at the fourth bandit as he released an arrow towards her. Feeling the arrow fly pass her did give her a thrill of exhilaration however. She readied her Deku Dagger and charged the bandit, hoping to close the distance before he could ready his own blade. After all, she was confident their swords were longer than her dagger. Reach played a big part in combat. If she could perform a rudimentary attack and bolt back, she could return her health and avoid their retaliation. Swinging the wooden stub at the bandit foe, she prayed she would at least knock the wind out of him. Moving low, she looked up and brought her eyes to meet the bandits own. With her signature wicked grin, she brought her weapon to connect [Attack – Deku Dagger at Bandit 4].

[Music]

Orpheous' staff aimed true, and it collided with the head of Bandit 3 with a satisfying whack, causing the man to drop limply to the floor. A quick look-over by the scribe revealed that he was in fact still alive, but unconscious.

Bandit 2, seeing his comrade fall, tried to land a retaliatory blow on Orpheous, but he swung a bit too hard, and when Orpheous managed to shift just out of the way of the blade, the bandit gasped in pain as a muscle pulled in his arm. Surely his next strike would not be quite as strong. (((Crit fail, next attack that hits deals half damage)))

Pepper's dagger also found its mark, plunging deep into the side of Bandit 4, who let out a yelp of pain as the wooden blade sunk into his flesh, dealing 7 damage. He quickly tried to step back and let loose another arrow at her, but whether due to their close proximity or his recently sustained wound, was unable to aim properly and the projectile missed the deft bard.

Regis, seeing that Bandit 1 was on his last dregs of life, casually brought his swords around to deal the killing blow. However, the bandit, driven by adrenaline due to his close proximity to death, deflected the attack with his own sword, and in one strong swing, buried the edge of his sword in Regis' side for a massive 28 damage. (((Crit))) Regis yelled in agony and rage and pulled back, blood seeping from his wound and onto the cobblestone floor.

<center>~ROUND RESULTS~
Pepper: 59/67 HP, 65/65 SPL
Orpheous: 56/56 HP, 40/48 SPL
Regis: 43/71 HP, 11/11 SPL

Bandit 1: 5/25 HP
Bandit 2: 25/25 HP
Bandit 3: 0/25 HP, Unconscious
Bandit 4: 17/25 HP
</center>

Orpheous
STR-3; DEF-5; AGI-3; INT-5; SPI-6; HP-56/56; SPL-40/48; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Staff: (base) 9 + (STR) 3 = 12
Spell Damage: (caster's level) (14) + (base class) 3 + (INT) 5 = 22
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 8
Deku Slingshot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9
-Ember Seed Shot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9 (fire-type damage)
Bomb: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 = 8
Equipment
Deku Staff
Deku Boomerang
Gerudo Training Gloves
L1 Tunic
Garlund Amulet
Bomb Bag
Ammo Bag
Ember Seed (Ammo)
Abilities
Leadership L1 - 2
Learn: Life L1 - 2
Train: Boomerang L1- 2
Learn: Elemental Burst L2 - 4
The Quill is Mightier than the Sword L1 - 2
Epic Poem L2 - 3
Master of Linguistics L1 - 1
Learn: Fire L1 - 2
Train: Slightshot L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 5 + (L1 Tunic) 10 + (AGI) 3 = 18

Pepper Pinkerton
STR-2; DEF-1; AGI-9; INT-3; SPI-7; HP-59/67; SPL-65; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Dagger: (base) 5 + (STR) 2 = 7
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 2 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 7
Bomb: (base) 5 + STR (2) = 7
Equipment
Deku Dagger
Deku Boomerang
Ocarina
L1 Jerkin
Garlund Amulet
Gerudo Training Gloves
Candle
Bomb Bag
Abilities
Train: Boomerang L1 - 1
Learn: Jump L1 - 1
Sprint L1 - 2
Play: Will of Farore L2 - 3
Play: Elegy of the Departed L1 - 3
Play: Sonata of Restoration L1 - 1
Play: Call of Din L1 - 1
Play: Spirit of Nayru L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 1 + (L1 Jerkin) 12 + (AGI) 9 = 22

As he nimbly dodged the over-aiming thief, Orpheous had to think quickly. They already had knocked out one of the bandits. The fight was now three to three. The bandit who was now unconscious was bleeding out, however. They needed to treat that wound soon, because if they didn’t he would likely bleed to death where he lay. Regis had just taken a major hit too. Orpheous could guess that Regis could survive another hit of that magnitude, but not a third. And he was a heavily armored target, so assuming that he managed to properly evade and properly shrug off hits he’d probably be fine for the rest of the fight. He was really the most capable amongst them, and the ruffian had probably only gotten such a massive attack in with fantastic luck anyway. He called out to his compatriot, “Are you alright, Regis?� Listening for a reply, he turned his attention to the rest of the three bandits. Realizing that he was looming over their fallen friend, Orpheous brought his staff very close to the dying bandits head, taking a moment to look at the fragile body under him.

“Your friend is laying here dying. In case you didn’t notice earlier, I’m a fully qualified healer. Assuming we can’t just patch him up, I will give every ounce of my magic necessary to keep this one here alive.� He focused his attention back to the three. “However, I can just as easily end his life now. Lay down your weapons and you will all be spared.� He readied his staff and started to swing it down into the man’s skull. “Resist, and I’ll kill him!� Not entirely sure how he felt about murder of a man of (some) intelligence he had never met before or knew nothing about, Orpheous hoped that they would heed his advice. Of course, if they didn’t, he had a second plan. As his staff was mere inches from the man’s head, Orpheous darted to the nearest bandit (I assume bandit 2) and attempted to jab his Deku weapon at the robber’s gut [Attack Deku Staff at Nearest Bandit – Non-Lethal – Will 4].

Pepper meanwhile was engaged in a stare down with bandit who had just missed her with his arrow. Ready to deflect any oncoming attack, she listened, but did not turn her gaze away, as Orpheous began speaking to the three bandits. “He means business!� she burst in as Orpheous finished his speech. Realizing that this was the best time strike, she moved a few second before Orpheous darted for his target. Going high, she swung her small dagger down upon the bandit she had been studying these last passing moments [Attack Deku Dagger at Bandit 4 – Non-Lethal].

Regis clutched his side. "That hurt, but I'll be okay." He said through gritted teeth. "This guy won't be so lucky." He muttered darkly, and he picked up the sword he had dropped in the shock of being hit, and swung full-force at Bandit 1. However, due to the severity of the wound he had just received, his attack went wide, and the bandit avoided damage.

"Lay down your weapons and you will all be spared... Resist, and I’ll kill him!�

Orpheous challenged the thieves. His words fell on deaf ears, however, as the three remaining thieves began to laugh.
"Surrender? Yeah right." Bandit 4 retorted. "I'd rather- urk!" He said, cut off as Pepper's Dagger came in at him, catching him in the shoulder for 9 damage.

Seeing Pepper move gave bandit 2 just enough of a heads up to avoid Orpheous' incoming staff, twisting to the side so it passed him by. (Rolled a 3, sorry bro)
"Yeah, real serious about letting us live, I see." The bandit said sarcastically, and he brought his sword around in retaliation, but Orpheous just managed to bring his staff up in time to block the blow.

Bandit 4 also sought vengeance against his assailant, and as Pepper backed away, he brought his bow up, arrow ready to fly. This time, his attack was successful, and the arrow found itself lodged in the young sheikah's leg, dealing 12 damage. He grinned as his attack found its mark.

Bandit 1, breathing heavily from exhaustion and pain, doesn't waste energy on words, but rather lunges towards Regis, hoping to take advantage of his temporary disadvantage. He has his own pains to deal with, however, and his strike lacks the force it needs to penetrate the mercenary's tough jerkin.


<center>~ROUND RESULTS~
Pepper: 47/67 HP, 65/65 SPL
Orpheous: 56/56 HP, 40/48 SPL
Regis: 43/71 HP, 11/11 SPL

Bandit 1: 5/25 HP
Bandit 2: 25/25 HP
Bandit 3: 0/25 HP, Unconscious
Bandit 4: 8/25 HP
</center>

OoC: I wasn't planning on letting the bad guys surrender, but I figured I'd at least put it to a die roll and see how convincing you were... and rolled a one. They're not buying it for a second hahaha

Orpheous
STR-3; DEF-5; AGI-3; INT-5; SPI-6; HP-56/56; SPL-40/48; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Staff: (base) 9 + (STR) 3 = 12
Spell Damage: (caster's level) (14) + (base class) 3 + (INT) 5 = 22
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 8
Deku Slingshot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9
-Ember Seed Shot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9 (fire-type damage)
Bomb: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 = 8
Equipment
Deku Staff
Deku Boomerang
Gerudo Training Gloves
L1 Tunic
Garlund Amulet
Bomb Bag
Ammo Bag
Ember Seed (Ammo)
Abilities
Leadership L1 - 2
Learn: Life L1 - 2
Train: Boomerang L1- 2
Learn: Elemental Burst L2 - 4
The Quill is Mightier than the Sword L1 - 2
Epic Poem L2 - 3
Master of Linguistics L1 - 1
Learn: Fire L1 - 2
Train: Slightshot L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 5 + (L1 Tunic) 10 + (AGI) 3 = 18

Pepper Pinkerton
STR-2; DEF-1; AGI-9; INT-3; SPI-7; HP-47/67; SPL-65; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Dagger: (base) 5 + (STR) 2 = 7
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 2 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 7
Bomb: (base) 5 + STR (2) = 7
Equipment
Deku Dagger
Deku Boomerang
Ocarina
L1 Jerkin
Garlund Amulet
Gerudo Training Gloves
Candle
Bomb Bag
Abilities
Train: Boomerang L1 - 1
Learn: Jump L1 - 1
Sprint L1 - 2
Play: Will of Farore L2 - 3
Play: Elegy of the Departed L1 - 3
Play: Sonata of Restoration L1 - 1
Play: Call of Din L1 - 1
Play: Spirit of Nayru L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 1 + (L1 Jerkin) 12 + (AGI) 9 = 22

Orpheous wholeheartedly believed they had these thieves beat already, he only wished they’d be a little more eager to lay down their weapons. He also had the realization he personally didn’t feel capable of living up to their threat. Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to take any lives; no need to intimidate an opponent you’ve all but defeated. Orpheous didn’t need to keep his word to them, because come morning they’d be on their way to the Castle Town dungeons, so these ruffians survive the night, and they wouldn’t be getting go until they had served their time and the courts had refined them into upstanding citizens. Blocking the bandit who had dodged him, he glanced back at the new unconscious charge behind him. “My truthfulness will be revealed before dawn’s light.�

Glancing around, he saw what remained of the opposing forces. Seeing how they had two very injured foes still standing, Orpheous saw it fit to handle the weaker threats first. Sparing one last glance at the knocked out bandit, Orpheous wondered how long he had before the man bled out. They needed to settle this brawl briskly. If we cannot defeat them with another two attacks each, I should think I may have to resort to a more effective and magical means[i/]. With a push, Orpheous flung the bandit with no injuries away from himself, and used the split second he hoped he gained from trying to knock the bandit back to move to the side of the scoundrel who just attacked Pepper. Orpheous brought his staff in for a quick jab, hoping to hit a tender spot on the man’s torso that might knock him out [Attack Deku Staff at Bandit 4 – Non-Lethal].

Pepper, in the interim, wasn’t having a fun time with an arrow in her leg. However, it didn’t show on her face. She cracked a grin, grabbed the arrow, and yanked the projectile out of her leg. When she stood back up straight, the pain made her kind of sway for a moment. Even with her light head swimming, her smile did not fade. At this time, Orpheous came to the side of her assailant, beginning in his strike. Miss Pinkerton used this as her sign to dart off to the bandit that had tried to hit Regis. Lightning quick as she was, she spared one last instant to look her former attacker square in the eyes. There was a glint of triumph in the young Sheikah’s eyes, a chillingly calm confidence that simply told the archer ‘You’ll love what comes next!’ Appearing like swooping hawk next to her pray, probably registering as no more than a blur, she brought the arc of her wooden dagger right down the man’s middle [Attack Deku Dagger at Bandit 1 – Non-Lethal].

As Orpheous' staff came in at Bandit 4, the thief deftly brought his sword up in a sweeping motion, knocking the scribe's staff away harmlessly. He continued the momentum of his weapon, swinging the sword around quickly one more time catching Orpheous across the chest and dealing 14 damage. He grinned wickedly when his weapon finds it's mark.

Pepper had a bit more luck. Bandit 1, who had already sustained quite a bit of damage and looked about ready to pass out, did just that as Pepper's dagger slashed across his midsection. The added loss of blood proved to be too much, causing him fall to the ground, unconscious.

Regis and Bandit 2 each exchange blows in quick succession, each deflecting the other's attacks at the last possible moment, neither one landing a hit on the other.



<center>~ROUND RESULTS~
Pepper: 47/67 HP, 65/65 SPL
Orpheous: 42/56 HP, 40/48 SPL
Regis: 43/71 HP, 11/11 SPL

Bandit 1: 0/25 HP, unconscious
Bandit 2: 25/25 HP, next hit does half damage
Bandit 3: 0/25 HP, Unconscious
Bandit 4: 8/25 HP
</center>

Orpheous
STR-3; DEF-5; AGI-3; INT-5; SPI-6; HP-42/56; SPL-40/48; WILL-5
DMG
Deku Staff: (base) 9 + (STR) 3 = 12
Spell Damage: (caster's level) (14) + (base class) 3 + (INT) 5 = 22
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 8
Deku Slingshot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9
-Ember Seed Shot: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 9 (fire-type damage)
Bomb: (base) 5 + (STR) 3 = 8
Equipment
Deku Staff
Deku Boomerang
Gerudo Training Gloves
L1 Tunic
Garlund Amulet
Bomb Bag
Ammo Bag
Ember Seed (Ammo)
Abilities
Leadership L1 - 2
Learn: Life L1 - 2
Train: Boomerang L1- 2
Learn: Elemental Burst L2 - 4
The Quill is Mightier than the Sword L1 - 2
Epic Poem L2 - 3
Master of Linguistics L1 - 1
Learn: Fire L1 - 2
Train: Slightshot L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 5 + (L1 Tunic) 10 + (AGI) 3 = 18

Pepper Pinkerton
STR-2; DEF-1; AGI-9; INT-3; SPI-7; HP-47/67; SPL-65; WILL-9
DMG
Deku Dagger: (base) 5 + (STR) 2 = 7
Deku Boomerang: (base) 4 + (STR) 2 + (Gerudo Training Gloves) 1 = 7
Bomb: (base) 5 + STR (2) = 7
Equipment
Deku Dagger
Deku Boomerang
Ocarina
L1 Jerkin
Garlund Amulet
Gerudo Training Gloves
Candle
Bomb Bag
Abilities
Train: Boomerang L1 - 1
Learn: Jump L1 - 1
Sprint L1 - 2
Play: Will of Farore L2 - 3
Play: Elegy of the Departed L1 - 3
Play: Sonata of Restoration L1 - 1
Play: Call of Din L1 - 1
Play: Spirit of Nayru L1 - 1
Defense Rating
(DEF) 1 + (L1 Jerkin) 12 + (AGI) 9 = 22

The disappoint of having his staff swing so deftly knocked aside was quickly replaced in the scribe’s mind with the sensation of having a sweeping line of pain run down his chest. He had been in enough fights to know he had just been slashed, and fairly deeply too. It wasn’t going to take him out of the fight, and in a few seconds, when his eyes could actually register the blood seeping through his tunic, he would in a world of blinding pain. Pain that never failed to make part of his brain wish he was dead, just to make the pain end. He learned how to handle that pain better throughout his many adventurers, but the level of the pain never became less intense. He instead decided he was going to try to focus on the disappointment and costs of buying a new adventuring tunic. The pain was setting in now, but he glanced over to Pepper. She gave him a nod. She had this fourth bandit in the bag, Orpheous decided now was as good of a time as any. He placed the staff into the crook of his left arm as he used his left hand to press against the blood flow. He stretched out his right and towards the second bandit and envisioned magic swelling up inside himself and flowing into his raised hand. The magic was taking shape and finding its elemental affinity. A sphere of light gathered at the edge of his hand and was soon flying towards the second bandit [Attack Elemental Burst L2 - Light at Bandit 2 - Non-Lethal].

Miss Pinkerton was worried about Orpheous’ new injury, but the scribe didn’t seem too bothered with his new torso wound. Still, it was obvious to her that her friend was in no shape to land the physical attack necessary to render this foe knocked out. Orpheous strength was in his magic, not in his agility. She gave Orpheous a nod, letting him know she had this fourth bandit taken care of. Thinking back to her tag metaphor from earlier, or perhaps she had it in her mind the entire time, she readied her wooden dagger. She was well aware that Regis should technically be ‘it’ right now, but if these bandits weren’t going to play by the rules, why should she. She also heard that it was important to vocalise when striking somebody with a weapon. Shouting allowed the vocalist in question to get into the right headspace to put their full physical power into an attack. She zagged towards bandit 4 with her Sheikahn swiftness and aimed at his wounded shoulder, the one she so willingly wounded earlier. “YOU’RE IT!� Her dagger shot out from her towards his shoulder wound in one quick, stabbing motion [Attack Deku Dagger at Bandit 4 - Non-Lethal - Will 4].