"If we can't get through, retreat through the water. "
Rehil slides his sword from its sheath as he stands and then dashes toward the other party members.
Being unsuited to long range combat, Vaard will double-move towards Rehil.
"Enemy mage," grates the warforged corporal, "Neutralise."
As arrows whistle over his head, more come seeking Rehil as he sprints cross the open ground. The human commander takes out a wand, squints towards Wultram, and fires a magic bolt.
Ashshar sprints after Rehil.
As the flashes of light produced by the artillery show him the scene, Otto remembers his vision A lichen-splotched obelisk stands in a clearing in the jungle. A ruined city, covered in creepers, crumbles into a lake of startling blue...The Cathedral of the Silver Flame in Thaliost burns out of control, the high tower collapsing in ruins.
Inflamed by the certainty of destiny and his own desire to change it he starts praying to the top of his lungs, throwing verses from the Sovereign Host's scriptures to motivate his companions.
"Pray be the Host! Redouble your efforts, my brethren!"
Eshsheth focus for a moment and let's the power of the ancestors flow before walking towards the tower.
Cole steps forward and slings his shield into place, trying to create a line for his teammates to fall back to.
"This is a killing field now," he grunts. "We should fall back to the trees and go around or breach one of these towers to take up a position to kill from."
The two humans affected by Wultram's spell panic and head back into the tower at speed. Those left on the tower seem confused as their commander departs - including, fortunately, the self-firing ballista.
But the warforged on top of the other tower still have their marbles, and are well-trained. They carry on trying the "neutralise the enemy mage".
"Cole, grab Wultram!"
Rehil continues running for the forest. Reaching the edge, he sheathes his sword and arcs his bow to string it.
Nalverren moves to AA39 by stepping out of jungle then ducking back in it.
He then casts Web at the intersection between W11 and W9 and the squares behind them. A 20ft radius of web erupts, hopefully slowing the advance of the troops in that area.
Seeing the advantage the towers give, Vaard pivots and runs back towards the east tower's entrance, swinging his claws at the foes blocking him.
[spoiler=Flurry Strike]Discipline: Broken Blade (Strike); Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant
DESCRIPTION
The disciple of the Broken Blade learns to maximize openings in his opponent's defenses and makes lightning fast attacks whenever possible. As a standard action, the initiator may make two attacks at his full base attack bonus.
Vaard hits one of the warforged with his claw.
More warforged rain death from above. "Rapid fire!" growls the warforged corporal.
The troops caught in the web try their best to extricate themselves. Two drop their bows and battle Vaard hand-to-hand.
"Eshsheth! Flank them, go for the ballista! Fight!" yells Ashshar encouraging his brother
Seeing that Skelly and Vaard have his right flank covered, he dashes to the remaining warforged and clubs him with his morningstar.
"Dieeee! Shhhhh!
Ashshar thumps the warforged so hard he dents its chestplate and it rocks back on its feet.
The troops on the far tower move into position.
Eshsheth readies his spear and charges the warforged attacking Vaard, trying to level the fight.
"Cole! Three coming on your right. One on your left!"
Preparing for an onslaught of arrows. Otto casts shield of faith on himself, and maintains Inspire Courage.
Race
HP 30/51 :: AC 14/10/14 CMD 15 :: Fort +6 Ref +1 Will +7 :: IC 1/14 :: DF 0/10, Heroism
About Otto ir'Kaspardt
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OTTO IR’KASPARDT
Male Human (Thrane) Cleric (Evangelist) (5) of Dol Arrah
LG, M, Humanoid
Init +4; Senses Perception +7
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14 (armor +4)
HP 51 (5d8 +5 (Toughness) + 10 (Con) +5 (FC)); DR --
Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +7
Immune
Resist
Spcl Def. Countersong, Fascinate, Channel (5 / day, 2d6).
OFFENSE
Speed 30 (Light Armor)
Melee Longspear +5 (1d8+3; 20/x3, P) reach
Melee Halberd +5 (1d10+3; 20/x3, P and S) brace, trip
Range Javelin +3 (1d6+2; 20/x2 inc. 30 ft, P)
Spcl Att. Inspire Courage +2 (StA, hit and damage competence, charm and fear morale, 14 rounds per day), Spellcasting (CL 4, Concentration +7).
Memorized Spells
3 (1+1+1, DC 16): xcure serious wounds + heroism // tongues
2 (2+1+1, DC 15): xmuffle sound, silence, cure moderate wounds + bless weapon // enthrall
1 (3+1+1, DC 14): remove fear, cure light wounds, divine favor, bless + shield of faith // command
0 (4, DC 13): detect magic, light, spark, purify food and drink
OTHER
Str 15, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 14; (25 pt buy, Human +2 Wis, level 4: +1 Str)
BAB +3 ; CMB +5; CMD 15
Feats H-Fast Learner, 1-Toughness, 3-Power Attack, 5-Improved Initiative.
Traits Fate’s Favored (+1 luck bonus), Fast-Talker.
Skills (Cleric 2, Human 1, Intelligence 2, Fast Learner 1) x 5
ACP
Bluff (Cha) +10 = 4+2+3+1* trait
Diplomacy (Cha) +10 = 5+2+3*
Heal (Wis) +7 = 1+3+3*
Knowledge (local) (Int) +7 = 2+2+3*
Knowledge (religion) (Int) +8 = 3+2+3*
Linguistics (Chr) tr
Perception (Wis) +8 = 5+3
Perform (Oratory) (Chr) +3 = 1+2+3*
Profession (Wis) (Diplomat) +7 = 1+3+3*
Sense Motive (Wis) +10 = 4+3+3*
Spellcraft (Int) +9 = 4+2+3*
* cleric class skills
Languages Common, Draconic, Celestial.
SQ Orisons, Domains (Heroism), Touch of Glory (StA, +lvl on Chr check, one hour max, 3+Wis/day), Bardic Performance (StA; 4+Chr+2/lvl (10) rounds / day; Countersong, Fascinate, Inspire Courage +2).
EQUIPMENT
Spent: 160.54 GP
Worn or carried gear
-Chainshirt (100 gp, 25 lbs)
-Longspear (5 GP, 9 lbs)
-Halberd (10 GP, 12 lbs)
-Javelin (5) (5 GP, 10 lbs)
-Signal whistle (8 SP, -)
-Wooden Holy Symbol (1 gp. —)
-Traveler’s Outfit (1 GP, 5 lbs)
Pouch, Belt (1 gp, 0.5 lb)
-4 GP
-4 SP
-6 CP
Backpack (2 gp, 2 lbs)
-Waterproof Bag (0.5 gp, 0.5 lb)
-Chalk (0.01 gp)
-Earplugs (0.03 gp)
-Flint and steel (1 gp)
-Tobacco (1 sp, 0.2 lb)
-Smoking Pipe (5 sp)
-Bedroll (0.1 gp, 5 lbs)
-Rations (3 days) (1.5 gp, 3 lbs)
-Waterskin (1 gp, 4 lbs)
-Backup Wooden Holy Symbol (1 gp. —)
-Scroll Case (1 gp, 0.5 lb)
-Scroll of Cure Light Wounds (50 gp) [2]
Scrolls: One can remove curses, next one imbues shield or armor with magic for added protection, another heals and the final one reveals invisible opponents in the imidiate proxity.
DESCRIPTION
Otto is a polished man. He carries with him in his manners, in his clothing, the reverent ways of Thrane. His hair shows the sign of early aging, no doubt brought forth by the trials of the Last War and the tribulations surrounding the Treaty of Thronehold, but his eyes remain fiery and inquisitive, filled with the zeal of faith.
In contrast, his voice is warm and welcoming, though it can also speak with authority, or roar and cut through the elements in times of need.
He prefers simple and functional garments of ecru, usually a short vest crossed over a white shirt, and strong brown leather boots. He carries a small pendant representing the sun over the ocean, the sign of his faith, around his neck.
An idealist, Otto has come to believe, through his studies and his experience, that bringing back the ways of ancient Galifar is the best cure for the wounds that fester among the Five Nations.
The last few weeks have been hard though and his appearance has suffered. His eyes wander a lot when he speaks or listens, as though he’s distracted by something, or someone.
BACKGROUND
Otto is the first son of Fried ir’Kaspardt, a renowned priest of Thaliost. Sponsored by his father, he joined the Church of the Sovereign Host and avoided the worst of the war by working in the foreign services as a diplomat and a mediator in Thaliost, mediating between the Thranish occupying forces and the Aundairean loyalists. Though he avoided the fields of carnage, the Last War nevertheless took a heavy toll on him, as he witnessed, despite his best efforts, inner guerrilla wars and national hatred cut through the hope of his city.
When the war ended, Otto had built a great reputation and was invited to join the negotiations in Thronehold, in particular to determine the fate of Thaliost. For two years he toiled at bringing some purpose to that futile war. The result was a fragile peace treaty, a lost Thaliost, a shattered reputation, and a sour resentment for the legacy of the Last War.
Disillusioned, Otto, still carrying with him the dream of a strong and liberating Galifar, opted to use his savings to buy himself a voyage to distant Newthrone in Q’barra, where he had heard the ancient ideals were kept alive.
But his airship was attacked and crashed in the jungle. Hunted by mercenaries, his group of survivors were murdered, one by one. Isolated, he struggled to survive for weeks, until he stumbled upon an abandoned temple. Tired and delusional, he hid there, only to see his sanity shred further by the terrible denizens of the temple.
He managed to escape the temple, unsure whether this was all in his head, but got captured a few days later by a tribe of lizardfolk. His fate was sealed, until he reached out and healed, in a final gesture of compassion, one of the warriors he had grievously wounded. The hunters decided to bring him back alive, and their witch doctor, uncertain about the power of this strange man and the wishes of the spirits, opted to keep him alive.
For now.
Notes:
Vision: A lichen-splotched obelisk stands in a clearing in the jungle. A ruined city, covered in creepers, crumbles into a lake of startling blue. An ice cave, glittering icicles hanging like stalactites, opens on to a howling blizzard. The Cathedral of the Silver Flame in Thaliost burns out of control, the high tower collapsing in ruins. A dark shape - bat wings, long snaking neck and tail - flies low over the forest. And, ever present, a formless dread. And the sound of hissing serpents...
“On it!” Cole yells back to Rehil as he scans the situation. As always, things were falling apart. The crystalline shape was like an anchor in his pocket. He had to protect the others.
“Keep moving!” Cole roars as he rushes from cover, his great internal churning to life as he drops his shoulder to slam it into one of the warforged who’d just cleared the webbing. “Stick together! Stay alive! Get to the target!”
"Keeping alive might be easier if we didn't run toward the enemy, Cole." Rehil mutters and grins.
"Nalverren, shoot to Cole's left. I'll shoot right. Then break from cover together."
Eshsheth collides with his foe, the spear digging deeply. But it is Wultram's skeletal servant who takes down the first enemy, its claws ripping through the warforged's woody core.
Meanwhile, Cole lands a punch that would kill a mule. Its warforged recipient staggers but stays upright - barely.
On top of a tower, the lone warforged directs the semi-sentient ballista. "Neutralise enemy mage," rumbles a hollow voice as the ballista pivots towards its target.
On the other tower, the warforged send down more arrows, trying to mop up the opposition.