The Forgotten God (Table 3) (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

They're in the Class/Levels section... which, incidentally, is making them appear before all the other bits. XD

The bite snapped into the man's flesh, but was far from enough to kill him as he screamed and ran away, even as the oncoming prisoners continued to be whipped by their overseers - who seemed to have moved to the side opposite the captives as a way of staying away from you now that they knew you were present. The first of them were just coming into range now (Right at the second arrowhead on the lower left), and it looked like they were about ready to make the run across the area - unless there was something you could do to interrupt it.

so i have one enemy at the arrow mentioned, and how many others nearby? how are they attired and armed? drying to decide on a strategy. current ideas are to either smokebomb the place with some power or just mentally assault one or more of them

Three enemies, six captives. They look to be wearing light armor and using cutlasses - heavier armor not being popular at sea - and they're lined up so there are two captives between each pirate.

Harath, still in monster form, shoots a ray of sonic energy from his mouth at the nearest of the captors, attempting to push him into the water.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
sonic: 2d6 - 2 ⇒ (2, 6) - 2 = 6
On hit, DC 16 STR check or is pushed back 10ft. If instead he strikes a solid object, he will take 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9 damage from collision and end prone.

Harath then steps in front of the group to block their path, and attempts to intimidate the nearest one. doesnt matter whether its a noble or a captor, either should serve the purpose of slowing the movement of the group as a whole

intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
not sure if it technically matters for this, but he also has a fear aura.

Strength: 1d20 ⇒ 10

The struck pirate went shooting backwards, making a desperate attempt to grab onto the side of the pier... but he was moving too far for that, and fell right into the water instead. He could almost certainly swim, so it probably wouldn't be hard to get back to shore, but that still left the others in the area.

The next in line was indeed one of the captive nobles, and has he faltered, the next pirate lifted a whip and slapped it against his back. Torn between pain behind and fear ahead, the line's rate of movement slowed to about half.

could i get through the captives, or are they too densely packed?

You can make an Acrobatics check to safely move through their squares. This would normally be easier, but they're in motion and not able to easily move aside for you without at least the threat of getting tangled up.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Harath tries to wade through the captives to get closer to the captors.

not sure if it is my turn or theirs

You're able to move forward, but as you wade into the group, someone's leg is in just the wrong place at the wrong time, and both of you are sent tumbling to the ground. (You've become prone.)

One of the captives was shoved aside a moment later, and the next smuggler in line stabbed down with his weapon in an attempt to skewer you before you got back up.

Melee Attack: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19 for Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Crit Confirm: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9 Nope.

His strike actually managed to land on you, frighteningly accurate while you were most vulnerable, though at least you were able to avoid a critical blow. Meanwhile, a bit further back along the docks, the pirate who'd been knocked over was hauling himself out of the water, and the captives behind were abruptly shoved to the side as the other pirates started to make their way forward. It won't be long until they've gotten close enough to encircle you, and you're still lying on the ground...

Harath stands, fearing no further blows from these cretins. assuming they attack, he will expend focus to manifest Untouchable Aura as an immediate action DC 17 will, and they take -4 as it is a fear power and they are in my aura.

He will then attack the nearest one with his claws.

claw1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

claw2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Then he will once more bring his wild manifestation to bear, aiming at another with the same ray as before to knock them into the water unless he could knock one into something hard to hurt them further.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
sonic: 2d6 - 2 ⇒ (1, 4) - 2 = 3
DC 16 STR or pushed back 5ft
collision if hit: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

He will speak through his mindlink to the bossman, ::I hope your men are in position to cut them off::

Both claw attacks wind up slicing into the pirate, though they didn't seem to attack you while you were getting up - and your followup struck a second pirate dead-on, causing just a bit of pain and...

Strength: 1d20 ⇒ 3

...easily knocking him into the water. Moments later, however, three other pirates had surrounded you, and two of them were flanking you as they lashed out with their weapons.

Melee Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Melee Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Melee Attack: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Rather unfortunately for them, though, they weren't doing so well at actually hitting you... but your new boss' reply was in the affirmative, and it seemed like the few bodyguards were already in position, aiming to stop them from fleeing out of the area.

His mind now unburdened with thoughts of losing folks who decided to flee, Harath turned his thoughts to murder of his assailants.

flurry: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
1d6 + 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (6) + 4 + (1) = 11

flurry: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
1d6 + 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (1) = 6

Harath lashed out with two attacks on one of the pirates near him in an attempt to open bleeding wounds on the man. 1d4 bleed damage on hit

The first flurry blow missed, but the second managed to solidly connect with the most injured pirate, badly wounding him. He staggered back five feet even as his companions carefully maneuvered around you and swung out again, perhaps not quite realizing how difficult to strike you truly were.

Melee Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Melee Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Neither of their swings were very good, though - the cries of agony from their friend appeared to be distracting them.

The pirate Harath struck continued to bleed, and Harath shifted his assault to another pirate.
bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 3

flurry: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
1d6 + 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (3) = 10

flurry: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
1d6 + 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (3) = 11

The two blows were quite enough to drop one of the remaining pirates... and the third, seeing what was going on, turned to flee instead of continuing the fight.

Acrobatics: Avoid provoking AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

...I think you might've gotten CMB and CMD switched around in your stat line. XD That said, I don't think he's able to avoid provoking, so you can try to strike him if you'd like to do so.

oh, i sure did! haha

aoo: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
dmg: 1d6 + 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (2) = 9

The blow was a solid one, but it wasn't quite enough to bring the pirate down, and he scampered off instead of sticking around to fight to the death. He wasn't that set on victory... but a shrill scream came from a little further back. The last of the three pirates - badly injured by this point - had grabbed a young girl who looked to be the daughter of one of the captive nobles, and the edge of his weapon was right by her neck. "Haah... haah... be a shame to lose a sail, but if you don't get out of the way, then I'm gonna send her straight to Besmara's prisoner hold." he threatened, looking more than slightly unhinged in the brain as a few tears of terror trickled down the girl's face.

bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 4 to those who have been damaged

If i were to get out of the way, would this simply allow one enemy to escape (and has he been damaged and bleeding)? Or would getting out of the way mean that all the nobles are captured?

by virtue of me fighting these pirates, would the girl be considered enough of an ally for me to use dimension swap?

otherwise, my plan is to use mind thrust on him, hoping it kills him before he can kill her

This particular opponent isn't bleeding, but if you get out of the way, he will take at least some of the nobles captive and onto the ship. As for being an ally... the term isn't strictly defined, but she wants your help, you apparently want to help her, and you're in combat... yeah, for the purpose of the ability, I think we could call her an ally. ^^

Harath, sensing no other way to save the girl and being unwilling to let the pirate escape with the nobles, manifested Dimension Swap with his wild arcana, then unleashed a flurry of attacks on the knife-wielding man.

flurry: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
1d6 + 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + 4 + (2) = 8

flurry: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
1d6 + 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (1) = 9

The injured pirate shouted in surprise, but managed to deflect both of your attacks with his weapon before bringing it down in a desperate, heavy chop towards your skull. "G-get away from me, monster!"

Melee Attack: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

The best that could be said about his attack was that it was... well... average. And average wasn't even close to what was needed to hit you. Further back in the line, you could see the bodyguards your employer had brought crashing into the line, trying to take the remaining pirates down as quickly as possible.

"Pot, meet razor-clawed kettle"

unarmed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
1d6 + 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (2) = 7

bleed on previous foes: 1d4 ⇒ 3

The pirate is unable to deflect that blow, and goes down with a gurgle. Slowly, the captives seem to be realizing that the pirates might not be holding them after all, and they immediately cluster together. They're trying to hide their movements a bit, but they're not very good at it - after a few moments, it becomes clear that they're discreetly moving into a ring around one young man, sixteen years old or so. The young woman you'd saved, on the other hand, was patting her clothes a bit as she looked around, wincing at all the blood. "...C-can we go home now?" she asked hesitantly.

You've earned 1000 XP.

Harath sends the missive to the boss-man ::Not sure what your angle is in all this, but if you're trying to take credit now is the time to tell these people what's up::

And indeed, it wasn't long at all before your new boss arrived, holding a set of tools as he approached the captive nobles. "Just a minute, please!" he said cheerfully, bending down and getting to work picking some of the shackles they still had. "I'll have these off of you in just a few mo- Mister Teldas?"

That's a name you've heard in the city - Imperial Governor Markwin Teldas is the ruler of Molthune, but that's obviously not the person your employer is addressing. The young man he's talking to looks remarkably calm, however, and merely inclined his head.

"I see." Your employer said in a very different tone.

"Get their shackles off first." the young man said, indicating the captives around him before glancing over to you. "As for you, you have my thanks. It seems those pirate scum were trying to destabilize this entire region so that they could launch raids more freely... and they might have gotten away with it if you hadn't come to interfere. Would you be so good as to come up to the Imperial Castle tomorrow? My father will be more than willing to reward you as you deserve for your work here tonight."

"I surely will, young Sir." Harath said, bowing his head as the blade-like talons and teeth retreated back within his body and scales softened to skin.

The Governor's son merely nodded his head again, then began speaking quietly to the other captives, most of whom looked far more unnerved than he by the day's experiences. This had been quite a long day... but with everything settling down, it looked like you could finally head for a bed somewhere and get some shut-eye... unless there was anything else you still wanted to do.

Harath had little in the way as far as plans went, and barring any last-minute requests by his current employer, he simply made sure they got back to his employer's compound and caught up on his rest.

As you sleep, you find yourself in an endless hall. Tombs line the walls - each one created in a distinct style, and together representing tens of thousands of cultures. Some iconography is common - crowns, rods, scepters, and swords are among the most prevalent - but the entire hall is filled with a sense of... anticipation. Not for anything immediately happening, but for the far future. Eventually, however, an animal-like creature notices you, and its eye flashes just once - you see nothing more.

Aside from the strange dreams, you slept reasonably well - but you open your eyes to find Adrietta's face inches from your own as she stares at you. "...Good morning."

Sliding out from under her face and into a sitting position on the bed, Harath puts on boots and his shirt. "Uh, yeah. Do you sleep?"

"Not when I'm woken up indecently early and told to get to work." she answered, straightening back as you moved to a sitting position. Meanwhile, both her mechanical and otherworldly arms were moving, busily sewing together what looked like a nobleman's outfit. "They said to get up here and make you an outfit before breakfast. Apparently, what you're wearing now isn't appropriate attire for going to the Imperial Castle. Two hours, pfft, I coulda done it in one even with needing to take measurements." One of her mechanical arms waved a piece of rope with numerous colored markings along it. "Do you like blue or green more?"

"Blue, if i had to choose. The deeper the better. I had worried about going in my current clothes, but I figured the boy knew what he was getting into by inviting me. Do you know his official title? I don't want to make an ass of myself, do I?" Harath said, taking off the shirt that he wouldnt be wearing, after all.

Adrietta nodded, and one of her summoned arms retrieved some deeper blue material from a basket. "The important thing about Molthune is that it's a military country." the slave explained as she worked. "The Imperial Governor is at the top, but it's an appointed position, not a hereditary one. The nine General Lords are just beneath him, and they elect the leader. Governor Teldas' son is therefore not a prince in any sense, but as long as his father holds the Governorship, he is entitled to be addressed as 'Sir' due to honorary membership in one of their knighthoods." she explained as a near midnight-black piece of fabric was sewn into what she was creating. "Some businessmen - which doesn't include you - may also refer to him as Mister Teldas. Incidentally, his father is to be addressed as Governor Teldas at all times, never General or Commander. The only ones who should refer to him as 'Sir' are members of Molthune's armed force." Ah, complicated titles and social interactions... what were groups without them? Adrietta looked like she was almost done sewing, but you probably had time for a few more questions if there was anything else you wanted to ask.

"Did you read all that in a book, or have you been around here a long time? Maybe some time in the military, yourself?"

"No, it was just part of my training." the girl explained. "See, they want to sell me to an important nobleman, right? The kind of guy that the Governor might visit in-person. I had to learn how to properly address any visitors to the home, as well as anyone I might meet if my master took me outside of the house. I never managed to get into the army, though - I'm better at making weapons than swinging them."

"Ah, I see. And slavery... have you known another life? Is it a fate you were resigned to for a reason, or created for?"

"I was sold into it when I was young." she said, indicating her mechanical side. "Apparently, the people in my town were afraid of me. They didn't know what I was or how I was born, and it only got worse when I manifested these." The otherworldly arms on her fleshy side waved. "So I was sold into slavery even earlier than I can remember, passed through a couple of masters who tried to figure out what to do with me. A freak out in the world is dangerous and uncertain - a freak who's a slave is just a thing, and not something anyone is afraid of. I'm more valued now than I ever was before, especially because I'm so good at making things... I don't even know what I'd do if I was free. Run a store, maybe...?"

"Yeah, I could see that." Harath looks around. "Well, you seem more knowledgeable than slaves often are. Do you know anything about the strange dreams that have been happening in this area? That's what brought me to this area, anyway."

"Hm? Well, I've heard other people talk about it, but I can't dream myself." she said, holding up the outfit she'd made and comparing it to you before making a few more small adjustments. "If I had to guess, though, it's probably one of the nobles doing something they shouldn't have, and not knowing how to fix it. Like, you see how I've got a little line of skin right down the middle here?" She gestured to her forehead - and indeed, on close examination, you could see a very small split, just the width of a few hairs, between where her mechanical half ended and her strange, otherworldly part began. "Both halves are me, but they don't mix very well, so I have to keep them apart this way. Weird things happen when I don't do that."

"Hmm, that is interesting. Do you know why it is that way, or anything of your own origin?"

Adrietta shrugged. "Some things just aren't meant to mix." she said. "Like, I've tried making alloys down in my forge, but sometimes the result of combining two strong metals is a hunk of metal that's worth less than either by themselves. I wouldn't be surprised if all the strangeness with dreams was caused by two dream-affecting objects, or maybe even people, being in close proximity to each other. Could even be intentional, if someone's trying to study their interaction."

Harath looks thoughtful. "Now THAT is an interesting idea."

The slave nodded, seeming happy that you agreed. "Of course, you'd still have to find them, and I think most people have given up by now..." she sighed a bit. "Anyway, stand up - I need to test the fit of this and see if any more adjustments need to be made. It sounds like they want you up at the castle sooner instead of later." She held up the mostly-done outfit, allowing you to get a better look at it. It wouldn't be out-of-place in any formal setting (except those with particularly weird rules, anyway), and considering the custom fit, you'd probably get to keep it.

Harath stands, and tries the clothes on for size.

"Probably best i find the dream-alterers sooner rather than later, lest things progress in a way they hadn't imagined."

"Yeah, the long-term effects of strange magic fields tend to not be good..." Adrietta mused, taking out a needle and making a few quick adjustments to the outfit. "All right, all done!" she pronounced. "Ah, but be careful if you're eating before you leave. It's kind of a pain to clean that cloth."

"Very well. Thanks for the outfit."

Harath swings by the bossman before heading out. "I'm headed to the... castle? Manor? Can you give me directions?"

"Big building on top of the hill. You literally can't miss it." Molthune's militaristic tendencies meant that putting a castle on a hill was pretty much inevitable. "...Be careful about using any sort of magic or mental stuff up there. It's the brain of the nation's army, and they've got a lot of protections in place to thwart attempts at taking out the leadership of the military. Even harmless things might be scanned the wrong way, and they don't give security passes to one-day visitors."

"Thanks for the heads up. I'll try to remember it, sometimes I do certain things out of habit."

Harath waits a moment to see if the man has anything else to say, before heading out of the complex and towards the top of the hill. It had been some time since he last ventured into the general populace, so he remained vigilant for any changes that may have resulted from the violence the other night.

There seem to be more guards on the streets than usual, but the city itself is calm, almost relaxed. The kidnapping attempt had been thoroughly thwarted, and most people hadn't realized something was happening until after all of it was over.

As you approach the citadel, however, you're stopped by a pair of guards in heavy armor - they look human, or at least humanoid, but it's impossible to tell much more than that. "Halt. State your identification and business within the Castle." One of them said, clearly ready to draw and swing his weapon.

Harath halts, adopting a non-threatening stance. "I am here at the behest of Sir Teldas, son of Governor Teldas."

would i be wearing armor with my clothes at all? just wondering. I assume I probably didn't bring my spear, and possibly not my shield.