Aylmora Mvashti |
How close are we getting to the scarecrows before we shoot them? Just wondering if it would be better for Aylmora to use her Surge Blast (ranged touch attack; 60 ft range; 2d6 damage) instead of expending her crossbow bolts.
Gob Slickarm |
Gob cuts southeast and then turns northeast to meet up with the paty.
Not sure how many rounds so just let me know when he gets to them.
When he reaches the party he lets them know he finished one, then he cuts east to continue hus guerilla ghoul hunt.
Use next stealth/perception.
Vaclav Rennet |
Ammunition is cheap and if they rush us en masse, you're going to really want the surge blast and maybe a lot of them. I'd save the it unless it is dead cheap.
Vaclav nods at the last scarecrow in view. (#6) "One more, then let's try to find Gob."
Thanadros |
I don't have a problem with getting closer, but they might move to engage us in melee at that distance.
Thanadros attacks #6.
Ranged Mwk Composite Longbow(+2) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 | Damage 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 | Crit: 20/x3
+1 to hit and damage if we are within 30 ft.
Rune_Master |
You advance within thirty feet of the scarecrow. Two arrows thud home. The figure jerks and groans, slumping forward as bright red blood runs down the arrows transfixing it and splatters on the ground.
[spoiler=-"Heal DC15"]...red blood, implies this victim was still alive when you shot him...not that he is any more...[/spoiler]
Vaclav Rennet |
Heal 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 Ignorance would have been bliss.
"Erastil forfend! They hung a live person!" Vaclav hurries forward to the wounded man.
Stabilize. Evaluate. Heal 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
If beneficial, spontaneously cast Cure light wounds in place of command.
If he survives --
"Are you all right now?" If he can answer Vaclav wants name, rank, and disposition of enemy forces.
Rune_Master |
Vaclav rushes to the man, and tears the sack from his head. His skin is grey, his flesh gaunt and sickly. He looks not unlike the physical state of Grayst Sevilla in the Asylum. Vaclav realises with horror that this man was in the last throws of ghoul fever, but somehow clinging to life in spite of the undead taint.
He is quite dead, he was very weak before he was shot, and the shock has stopped his heart. At least is suffering is over.
Thanadros |
Could it be that every ghoul we shot were hung as a human and changed while hanging? What should we do now? Should we take a more direct approach and make sure we are killing actual ghouls?"
Vaclav Rennet |
"Could be. This poor bastard just hung on longer than the rest. Walking up to them close enough to tell could be dangerous. And I've got no way to cure them anyway. We would just be leaving them to die and rise as ghouls themselves." Vaclav looks down and rubs his face with his hand. Protect the hearth.
He looks back up. "I don't know how Erastil would judge this. I'm just an old soldier and this looks like war. I say we shoot 'em first, then check them out. We can't risk being infected ourselves and we've got to squash this right now or the roads and these fields will never be safe again."
Vaclav Rennet |
"It's not easy for me either, Gornak, but I don't see a way out. These people are nearly dead. Days of exposure and disease have weakened them beyond my ability to help them. I don't think even Father Zantus could save them. He's just too far away."
Vaclav's voice trembles, "So we can leave them to suffer, die of ghoul fever, and return as walking dead, -- or we kill them now. I don't like it either. These were good people trying to protect their families. I'll do it. I'll take it on me."
Gob Slickarm |
whenever the party and Gob again meet up:
Gob pops up from nowhere beside the deliberating party with a corn stalk sticking up out of his helmet and adds his support to Vaclav's difficult stance. Raising the comparison of mercy-killing rabid animals. We have no way to help them. He agrees they should be more cautious of their targets on the off chance any are uninfected humans strung up out here.
Aylmora Mvashti |
Vaclav Rennet |
"I'd much rather give the people a fighting chance to live. But you are the expert in these matters, so I will differ to you."
"I would too, but I fear they don't have a chance." Vaclav sets his jaw stubbornly, but his eyes hold doubt. His expression darkens when Gob voices his support.
At a break in the conversation, Vaclav looks at the setting sun.
We've broken the line and split the enemy forces. Classic tactics dictate a wheeling maneuver to roll up one flank or the other. Turning left as Max suggests conforms to that. Turning right, toward the farmhouse, will minimize Vaclav's moral dilemma.
Aylmora Mvashti |
"Based on what we've seen and what Vaclav knows about ghouls, I seriously doubt there are any uninfected people strung up like scarecrows out here," Aylmora says, glancing nervously toward the setting sun. "I think Vaclav's right - we have to protect the outlying farms and make sure no ghouls or anyone so far gone from ghoul fever has a chance to spread the disease farther."
Thanadros |
Lets do this then. If we have luck on our side we will be done before night fall. Thanadros says, readying an arrow again.
Once the others are ready Thanadros shoots # 7
Focused Close Mwk Composite Longbow(+2) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 | Damage 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 | Crit: 20/x3 }Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Psionic Shot
Rune_Master |
As you approach to within ten yards of Scarecrow #7, it tugs, jerks and starts to try and rip free of the post, making a series of guttural glibbering sounds. The arrow and crossbow bolt slam into it, and it slumps down with black, dead blood dribbling down the darts that transfix it and staining the ground.
Vaclav Rennet |
True to his word, Vaclav draws his mace and steps up to dead body to examine it. He hesitates.
Standard procedure for Vaclav from here on out will be to examine each body as we kill it to make sure it's truly dead. If it's not, he'll whack it with his mace. If by a miracle, it can still speak, he'll try the stabilize, CLW routine he tried before. Then he switches back to the bow.
Oh, just to double check, did Vaclav cast the spontaneous CLW on #6?
Rune_Master |
As Thanadros approaches to within thirty feet both #8 and #9 start to struggle. His arrow strikes home on the throat of #8 and it shudders and goes limp, but #9 rips apart the baling twine that holds it in place, drops to the ground and rises to rush you...
Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Beat it's initiative to get a shot off before it charges...
Vaclav Rennet |
Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 By the 2 arrow rule. V would have shot with Thanadros at #8 anyway.
Longbow v 8 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 ... damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Vaclav watches his arrow strike home behind Thanadros' with satisfaction even though his shot was aimed at the chest, a far easier target. Thanadros shoots as if Deadeye guides his hand and eye today.
His satisfaction evaporates as the ninth ghoul tears itself free and rushes toward the group. "Aylmora!"
Calling on her 'cause hopefully she has her crossbow ready.
6 arrows down.
Rune_Master |
Ripping the hood from it's head the ghoul hurls itself at the largest hunk of meat it can see - Gornak. Gornak, you are not flat-footed and may take an AoO as the ghoul charges.
If you don't kill it:
Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
DC 13 Fort save vs Paralysis
DC 13 Fort save vs ghoul fever
Aylmora Mvashti |
Round One:
With a startled gasp, Aylmora unleashes a blast of uncontrolled phrenic energy at the ghoul attacking Gornak.
Standard action to unleash Surge Blast at the ghoul.
Surge Blast (ranged touch attack): 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 4 = 15 (penalty for firing into melee)
Surge Blast Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6
Aylmora's AC: 18
Aylmora's HP: 37/37
Rune_Master |
With one sweeping blow of his Lucern hammer, Gornak crushes the ghoul's skull and rips it clean from it's shoulders and sailing away over the tops of the corn Fore!. The body continues two steps and then collapses at Gornak's feet.
Scarecrow #10 watches the proceedings impassively. It does not move or twitch.
Thanadros |
"Impressive Gornak. Shall we continue?"
Attack Vs #12.
Focused Close Mwk Composite Longbow(+2) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 | Damage 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 | Crit: 20/x3 }Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Psionic Shot
Aylmora Mvashti |
Guess it's safe to asssume that Aylmora did NOT use surge blast on the ghoul attacking Gornak. Nice hit, Gornak!
Aylmora picks up a rock and tosses it at the unmoving scarecrow (Scarecrow #10), then (assuming it doesn't react) hefts her loaded crossbow and follows her companions as they approach the next group of scarecrows.
Following Thanadros' example, she fires her crossbow at the same scarecrow as the Shoanti (Scarecrow #12) and quickly slots another bolt into her weapon.
Crossbow Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8
Number of bolts used: 3/20
Rune_Master |
The party press south toward. Approaching to within 30 feet of #12, it starts to twitch and jerk when Aylmora drills a crossbow bolt in it's side...and so do #11, #13 and #14.
Ghoul's Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
The ghouls start to tear themselves free of their bonds.
Once again, if you can beat their initiatives, you can take shots while they are still immobilised.
Vaclav Rennet |
INit 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Aylmora was paired up with Thanadros on the shot I do believe. (See his last post) If they killed #`12, Vaclav chooses the next closest target. If they didn't, he tries to finish #12.
"It's a whole cabal of them!" Vaclav shouts as he draws and fires.
Longbow, 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16 ... damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 add 1 to hit and damage if his target is inside 30' or subtract any range penalties.