Unless trapped or locked, the Mariner nods ready to everyone and opens the door.
The Watchmen approach the final room of the fort, and Mariner kicks in the door ready to fight. He’s not disappointed.
Furnished with a double bed, two chests of drawers, a small table, and a couple of stools, the Magistrate’s room also contains a bulky steel safe, its door standing open. A cold replace occupies the northeast corner of the chamber. The shutters of the three windows here have been torn from their hinges and lie broken on the oor. The smell of briny water is strong in the still air.
Three skum wait here on alert. The sorcerer Deggorhbaatha, whom you have faced before, stands in the far side of the room. Itsqaal-Thoal, the leader of the skum, stands on the near side of the bed with another grey-skinned skum that seems to be a bodyguard.
Reacting perhaps faster than expected Itsqaal-Thoal leaps toward the door and swipes at the Mariner with a claw before he can get his polearm ready. Luckily his armor is enough to prevent injury.
INITIATIVE
INITIATIVE
Itsqaal-Thoal
Cats (38/38)
Mariner (71/71)
Skum bodyguard
Deggorhbaatha
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
Round 1, Init 7
"Uh, great," Cats fires twice at red.
to hit;
damage.
to hit;
damage.
AC: 17
HP: 38/38
[ dice]1d20+9+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS)
[ dice]1d8+3+1[/dice] damage.
Mini Smite: 0/1: Once per day as a swift action, you can add your Charisma bonus to your attack rolls and deal 1 additional point of damage for each class level you have against evil creatures for 1 round. You must have a good alignment to take this trait.
+4 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid=+6/+6 to hit
+2 Str +1 magic +4 DA+1 PBS = +8 damage
"Well well well", confronting the school of skum, the Mariner drops the polearm and shoulder draws his magical sword in one skillful move. "This time...I did't forget the tartar SAUCE!"
Cats puts an arrow in the skum leader’s shoulder and the Mariner gives him a deep slash to the chest, but he’s tough and doesn’t go down.
Behind him his bodyguard readies to get into the fight, and Deggorhbaatha incants a spell.
INITIATIVE
Itsqaal-Thoal (-27)
Skum bodyguard
Cats (38/38)
Mariner (71/71)
Deggorhbaatha
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
Fearless tries to find a way past but the stairwell is too enclosed.
"Push through Mariner!"
HP 28/34
AC 18 (22 w/ covering fire; 22 w/ mental barrier)
Spells: 1st 0/4 | 2nd 0/2
Inspiration 0/5
Tactician 0/1 (Rounds 0/3)
Challenge 0/1
Phrenic Pool 0/2
Fearless and Brother Butterfly wait for an opportunity to get in the fight.
Itsqaal-Thoal tears into the Mariner like a shark in a frenzy, then jumps back to let his bodyguard step forward.
Clenching its claws, the bodyguard slams them into the Mariner with brute strength.
Behind them Deggorhbaatha gurgles with glee.
INITIATIVE
Itsqaal-Thoal (-27)
Skum bodyguard
Cats (38/38)
Mariner (20/71) *Rage 30/81
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
Deggorhbaatha
Round 2, Init 7
Cats fires twice then steps aside for someone else to catch Mariner's spleen as it falls out of his body.
to hit;
damage.
to hit;
damage.
AC: 17
HP: 38/38
[ dice]1d20+9+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS)
[ dice]1d8+3+1[/dice] damage.
Mini Smite: 0/1: Once per day as a swift action, you can add your Charisma bonus to your attack rolls and deal 1 additional point of damage for each class level you have against evil creatures for 1 round. You must have a good alignment to take this trait.
+4 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid=+6/+6 to hit
+2 Str +1 magic +4 DA+1 PBS = +8 damage
Where the hell did all this blood come from? The Mariner either slips on his spleen and fell forward or actually attempts to push back the assault and leave room for the reserves to come in.
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Cats fires an arrow into the bodyguard. As the creature looks stupidly at the shaft sticking from its chest the Mariner slams it backwards.
INITIATIVE
Itsqaal-Thoal (-27)
Skum bodyguard
Cats (38/38)
Mariner (20/71) *Rage 30/81
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
Deggorhbaatha
Fearless moves in behind Mariner and tosses his dagger to help cover the raging man, that smells of the ocean.
And the skum are too quick for him.
This was a bad idea...
***
Fearless hangs back, twirling his dagger in his hands. "What's going on in there. We should back them into the narrow hallway. Take them on one at a time!"
HP 28/34
AC 18 (22 w/ covering fire; 22 w/ mental barrier)
Spells: 1st 0/4 | 2nd 0/2
Inspiration 0/5
Tactician 0/1 (Rounds 0/3)
Challenge 0/1
Phrenic Pool 0/2
The Mariner gets the fish off him for a moment, "Back up! Back up!"
Seeing that they are retreating a small bit Fearless turns and pushes past Brother Butterfly. "Fishman needs you up there!" He quickly rounds the corner.
The Watchmen scramble back down the stairs, trying to form some kind of plan. Brother Butterfly is about to climb up past Cats but the Mariner comes down to him instead, bleeding from a half dozen wounds.
The skum grumble in the room above and Deggorhbadatha appears at the doorway and casts a spell. Suddenly the stairs are coated in some kind of magical grease!
The bodyguard then steps out and marches down the stairs to slam a fist at Cats.
INITIATIVE
Deggorhbadatha
Itsqaal-Thoal (-27)
Skum bodyguard (-16)
Cats (31/38)
Mariner (25/71) *Rage 35/81
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
Round 3, Init 7
Reflex
Cats drops his bow and draws his elven curveblade, wishing that Fearless over there instead of over here.
"Oh yeah, I got this. Don't you worry about a cat!" Cats swings with his blade, a two handed slash that...
to hit;
damage.
...clatters brilliantly against the wall rather than his opponent.
AC: 17
HP: 31/38
[ dice]1d20+9+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS)
[ dice]1d8+3+1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+6[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+8[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+9[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+6+2d6[/dice] damage.
Mini Smite: 0/1: Once per day as a swift action, you can add your Charisma bonus to your attack rolls and deal 1 additional point of damage for each class level you have against evil creatures for 1 round. You must have a good alignment to take this trait.
+4 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid=+6/+6 to hit
+2 Str +1 magic +4 DA+1 PBS = +8 damage
The Mariner gargles down a potion and urges for Brother with the wand.
While the walls are waits high for some, they nearly come up to Fearless' short neck. Though he can still see and that is all that matters as he chucks his dagger over the wall.
HP 28/34
AC 18 (22 w/ covering fire; 22 w/ mental barrier)
Spells: 1st 0/4 | 2nd 0/2
Inspiration 0/5
Tactician 0/1 (Rounds 0/3)
Challenge 0/1
Phrenic Pool 0/2
|
Brother Butterfly has his knee buckle. Both knees actually. and he does an almost pratfall to the uneven stairs. With his shield strapped to one arm, he is lucky and gets that down before the weight of his mass comes crashing down. The shield actually absorbs some of the shock of the fall. But he is down. Flat. On the stairs.
With his other hand he reaches out and touches The Mariner with his wand.
Schmetterling The wand glows at the tip and helps knit some of Mariner's wounds.
But even the fast that he's flat, and immobile can't stop his greatest weapon from being used. No - a grease spell can't stop this weapon.
Mariner, your work in the gambit was perfect. Keep this one occupied. Now for part 2 of our strategy.
Brother looks out to the side - to the empty open air and yells.
Taking out his blade, Cats tries to fend off the skum. Behind him the Mariner guzzles a healing potion and gets additional aid from Brother Butterfly. Fearless hurls his dagger and the blade sinks into the bodyguard for a moment before pulling out and spinning back to the halfling’s hand.
Deggorhbadatha looks curiously at Brother Butterfly’s outburst, but does not seem taken by it. Instead, he raises a claw and sends a flurry of magical missiles at Cats that cut him up pretty good.
The bodyguard doesn’t react at all and continues slamming Cats with its fists, cracking ribs and nearly knocking the wind out of him.
INITIATIVE
Deggorhbadatha
Itsqaal-Thoal (-27)
Skum bodyguard (-21)
Cats (4/38)
Mariner (43/71) *Rage 53/81
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
Round 4, Init 7
"It's okay. I cat this," Cats muffles after he is struck repeatedly by the foe who doesn't miss. He swings back...
to hit;
damage.
...and lands a good blow. He calls to Catrenrae for help.
LoH
He 5' steps back if he can...and will tumble back if Mariner needs the room.
Acrobatics to tumble
AC: 17
HP: 16/38
LoH: 1/3 used
[ dice]1d20+9+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS)
[ dice]1d8+3+1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+6[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+8[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+9[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+6+2d6[/dice] damage.
Mini Smite: 0/1: Once per day as a swift action, you can add your Charisma bonus to your attack rolls and deal 1 additional point of damage for each class level you have against evil creatures for 1 round. You must have a good alignment to take this trait.
+4 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid=+6/+6 to hit
+2 Str +1 magic +4 DA+1 PBS = +8 damage
The Mariner switches to the frontlines, pulling Cats back for some triage. Taking up the fore, he lays into the bodyguard.
Cats tries to jump away after slashing the bodyguard, but ends up slipping and sliding down the stairs instead. Luckily the fist swung in his wake is ill-aimed.
Feeling a lot better, the Mariner steps up and lays open the skum’s belly. Instead of blood, however, some sort of pale white goo spurts out.
The skum bodyguard is a type of ooze called a Doppeldrek.
In their natural form, doppeldreks are pale blobs, with an appearance akin to sea foam. However, doppeldreks habitually mimic other creatures that they detect with their blindsense, taking on not only their shapes but also some of their innate abilities, and even some of their intelligence. A doppeldrek using its change shape ability believes itself to be whatever type of creature it is currently mimicking, and its behavior matches the behavior typical of that type of creature, as far as its intelligence allows. When a doppeldrek attempts to copy a creature with substantially greater intelligence, such as the average humanoid, it attempts to follow the creature around, constantly copying its behavior and making vocalizations that are too imprecise to be recognizable as speech. An isolated doppeldrek eventually reverts to its natural form.
INITIATIVE
Deggorhbadatha
Itsqaal-Thoal (-27)
Skum bodyguard (-49)
Cats (31/38)
Mariner (43/71) *Rage 53/81
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
|
|
Brother attempts to step back up.
And shows some uncanny spring to his step. He must have used some of Cat's help while Cats was moving past him- because Butrterfly is anything BUT a Butterfly in his movements. He's normally clunky, but even a broken clock is right twice a day!
Standing tall, he uses the wand on his nearest companion - Mariner. Speaking the words that bring health, healing, and vigor back to his raging friend.
Schmetterling!
Any Bonus for Planes or Religion knowledge? also, you have Cat's HP too high. He's at 4 HP.
Lastly, Sense Motive.
DRAT! I had a great feint, and they don't even speak common.... it's just like - Paradise Lost. Cats, we may need to switch spots soon, so I can help Mariner.
Butterfly steps gingerly up behind Mariner and heals him. Cats takes Mariner’s place as “the bloodiest Watchman.”
INITIATIVE
Deggorhbadatha
Itsqaal-Thoal (-27)
Skum bodyguard (-49)
Cats (4/38)
Mariner (49/71) *Rage 59/81
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
Fearless watches as Cat's stumbles. "F@#~! Cat's back out of there."
Seeing the wounded man slowly shamble past down the stairs he breathes a sigh of relief. "You'll be alright back here. Shapeshifter! Cat's needs your help. I'll keep Mariner covered for a bit."
Fearless peeks up and gets a better look at the bodyguard. His brow furrows in confusion. "That's not a Skum!? It looks like something mimicking one."
Fearless mentally tosses his dagger at the guard to provide a bit of covering fire for Mariner.
HP 28/34
AC 18 (22 w/ covering fire; 22 w/ mental barrier)
Spells: 1st 0/4 | 2nd 0/2
Inspiration 0/5
Tactician 0/1 (Rounds 0/3)
Challenge 0/1
Phrenic Pool 0/2
Fearless throws his dagger and injures the bodyguard as it’s about to slam the Mariner.
Deggorhbadatha Gurgles with glee and hurls more magic missiles, this time at the Mariner.
Itsqaal-Thoa emerges from the room with a wand in hand and waves it over the bodyguard, healing it a little.
INITIATIVE
Bodyguard (-56)
Deggorhbadatha
Itsqaal-Thoal (-27)
Cats (4/38)
Mariner (8/71) *Rage 18/81
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
"Skum, not skum, is it dying?!" the Mariner is close to a long dirt nap if the tide doesn't turn in the next moments.
Hmm that floor sure looks nice and comfy
Fearless continues to throw his dagger over the low wall. He is amazed at how hard the skum strikes. Though they are too far, there is no backing out now without losing someone.
HP 28/34
AC 18 (22 w/ covering fire; 22 w/ mental barrier)
Spells: 1st 0/4 | 2nd 0/2
Inspiration 0/5
Tactician 0/1 (Rounds 0/3)
Challenge 0/1
Phrenic Pool 0/2
Round 5, Init 7
A battered Cats bleeds a bit more, trying to get his bearings.
LoH
"No, I got this," Cats staggers on his feet. "I cat do this!" Blood runs from Cats' head, chest, and legs.
He puts away his blade and picks up his be-greased bow.
"I'm fine, I think. I'm cat to go." Cats says, barely standing.
AC: 17
HP: 8/38
LoH: 2/3 used
[ dice]1d20+9+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS)
[ dice]1d8+3+1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+6[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+8[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+9[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+6+2d6[/dice] damage.
Mini Smite: 0/1: Once per day as a swift action, you can add your Charisma bonus to your attack rolls and deal 1 additional point of damage for each class level you have against evil creatures for 1 round. You must have a good alignment to take this trait.
+4 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid=+6/+6 to hit
+2 Str +1 magic +4 DA+1 PBS = +8 damage
Cats heals himself and recovers his bow.
The Mariner and Fearless continue cutting pieces away from the bodyguard. Any normal creature would probably be dead, but this thing seems to have no vital organs, and what’s more the injuries seem to be slowly healing over time.
Brother Butterfly heals the Mariner, or tries to. His wand is just not de-cutting it.
It must be something in the air, because Itsqaal-Thoal uses his wand again to heal his bodyguard and seems even less effective.
Deggorhbadatha singles out Cats and his ranged weapon and casts another grease spell, this time focused on Cats’ bow.
The bodyguard has the Mariner on the ropes and swings his fists again, but is unable to connect with both.
INITIATIVE
Itsqaal-Thoal (-27)
Deggorhbadatha
Skum bodyguard (-75)
Cats (9/38)
Mariner (6/71) *Rage 16/81
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
Round 6, Init 7
Reflex
Cats catches his breath again, readies his greasy bow, and fires again...and again.
LoH
to hit;
damage.
to hit;
damage.
"That'll cat you a lesson good!"
AC: 17
HP: 10/38
LoH: 3/3 used
[ dice]1d20+9+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS)
[ dice]1d8+3+1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+6[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+8[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+9[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+6+2d6[/dice] damage.
Mini Smite: 0/1: Once per day as a swift action, you can add your Charisma bonus to your attack rolls and deal 1 additional point of damage for each class level you have against evil creatures for 1 round. You must have a good alignment to take this trait.
+4 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid=+6/+6 to hit
+2 Str +1 magic +4 DA+1 PBS = +8 damage
Fearless continues to twirl the dagger tthrough the air.
His mind becomes a muddles mess with all that has happened through the day. His weariness begins to take it's toll.
HP 28/34
AC 18 (22 w/ covering fire; 22 w/ mental barrier)
Spells: 1st 0/4 | 2nd 0/2
Inspiration 0/5
Tactician 0/1 (Rounds 0/3)
Challenge 0/1
Phrenic Pool 0/2
Cats first shot passes right through the bodyguard’s head. The creature quivers then looses its shape, collapsing into pale ooze on the stairs. With an opening to Itsqaal-Thoa above, he fires a second shot that takes the skum leader in the shoulder.
Fearless hurls his dagger again, but his focus is off and it misses.
INITIATIVE
Itsqaal-Thoal (-42)
Deggorhbadatha
Skum bodyguard (-86)
Cats (10/38)
Mariner (6/71) *Rage 16/81
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
The Mariner is not even sure which enemy is in front of him, but he throws everything he has into the swing, at least he'll die in battle and not of old age.
Lost in a berserker rage the Mariner abandons retreat and presses forward up the stairs and buries his sword into Itsqaal-Thoal. The skum leader croaks and falls!
Unfortunately the mad fisherman is now a handful of greasy steps away from Brother Butterfly.
INITIATIVE
Deggorhbadatha
Skum bodyguard (-86)
Cats (10/38)
Mariner (6/71) *Rage 16/81
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp)
|
|
With his feet firmly planted on the stairs, the grease everywhere around him, except under the soles of his corpse borrowed shoes. He bends his knees and then - like a fat kid jumping into a lake off a boat dock, he launchs himself into the air. Getting only the height of a weeble off the stone stair ledge, it appears just enough to clear a stair or two and get him closer to The Mariner. In mid-quasi-air BB brings his magic wand down - almost like a mace strike - to touch Mariner and speak the words of empowerment.
schmetterling.
Well, the above was what he WANTED to do.
He thinks: THIS IS SOOOOOO OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE.
Instead, he is just running in place, the lack of having QUALITY RED BOOTS gives him no purchase to actually bend and "explode" onto the next step of stairs. He drops the shield and pulls out the pearl of power. Recalling his Goddess's blessing to cure people and fills it into the pearl.
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Brother Butterfly makes a heroic attempt to get to the Mariner, but crossing 5 feet of grease may as well be like crossing the Eye of Abendego in a dinghy. From the ground he uses his pearl to recover a spell for later.
With his allies defeated, Deggorhbadatha backs into the room above and gurgles something that might be a spell.
INITIATIVE
Deggorhbadatha
Skum bodyguard (-86)
Cats (10/38)
Mariner (6/71) *Rage 16/81
Fearless (28/34)
Butterfly (46/46) *Scale mail (23/25 hp) - Prone!
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Round 7, Init 7
Cats, showing the catlike agility of his namesake, moves at full speed up the stairs...
Reflex
...and falls on his face (or on Brother's face), clattering down the stairs.
Cats considers staying here to die, laying in grease upon a fat man...but no, he rises.
AC: 17
HP: 13/38
LoH: 3/3 used
[ dice]1d20+9+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS)
[ dice]1d8+3+1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+6[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+8[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+9[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+6+2d6[/dice] damage.
Mini Smite: 0/1: Once per day as a swift action, you can add your Charisma bonus to your attack rolls and deal 1 additional point of damage for each class level you have against evil creatures for 1 round. You must have a good alignment to take this trait.
+4 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid=+6/+6 to hit
+2 Str +1 magic +4 DA+1 PBS = +8 damage