What would have been a cautious advance by the entourage assembled in their proceedings toward the charred farmhouse turned into a sudden charge spearheaded by the fallen soldier of the realm. Overtaking and passing by the paladin, who had been leading the approach despite the pain of his leg easing in and out varying on where his boot placed itself among the soft earth of the field, it was now de Brey who started the attack. For all intents and purposes, that was what his hurried dash to the front was, and it certainly did not go unanswered as the moment he rushed the mouth of the ruined house, he too was rushed back. With suddenness, four more of the sizable rats poured from the entrance, apparently startled and at first scattered in a number of directions. It was quite possible that had de Brey not made such a headlong charge, sword heft in both hands, shouting at the top of his lungs, that Beaumont would have met the worst of the rats than he had before.

Disoriented and confused initially, the mottled grey-brown creatures snapped out of their confusion. They immediately set about their own counterattack, if one could call their behavior organized at all any longer - it certainly wasn't. One rat happened to not be far from the man leading the attack, another kept at a flank toward the following paladin, and the other two on the furthest left before them, less than a few paces from where the stead's door once stood, were by themselves. The other three, elf, goliath, and orc, were now a brisk jog away from their leading compatriot at most; only a sprint to battle or their own headless charge would catch them up. Of course, for an athletic, towering creature like Vah'lux this was no issue at all as she could simply make use of the massive glaive she bore, as was this no issue for an elf with a bow, or certainly not for an orc who had a score to settle with these creatures.

The elf's bow audibly snapped with the sound of another arrow being fired from it, loosed through the air and whizzing past all those before her. She wisely aimed for the rats who were [i]not[/i] right beside her dysfunctional compatriots at the forefront but still missed all the same. She cursed quietly to herself in frustration, her emotions starting to get the better of her.

[hider=Effects]
[b]Initiative Table[/b]
Tracan - 23
Gorosk - 17
Creatures - 11
Renault - 5
Vah'lux - 4
Quentin - 0

Quentin de Bray manages to upset a would-be surprise round by four [i]dire rats[/i] hiding inside the burned out farmhouse. They instead pour out of their hiding spots rather than have a chance to attack. Following de Bray is Beaumont, who is within 30ft of the other man, followed by Vah'lux, Gorosk, and Tracan who are all some 60ft away. For everyone but Vah'lux who is far, a charge attack - a full-round action - or a double move would be needed to close the gap. The [i]dire rats[/i] are positioned so that one is adjacent to de Bray, one is adjacent to Beaumont, and the other two are 15ft away from either and seem more confused.

Each member of the party must now make an Initiative check for combat. This interrupts and foils the previously impending attempt by Beaumont to use Search (Int) to investigate the ruined building. As a result, his search attempt for now fails although he can attempt it again after combat.

Tracan makes her attack with her bow but fails to make her mark.[/hider]
[@BangoSkank][@Hellion][@Lord Wyron][@TyrannosaursRex]