Defense of Astengard

Game Master Nicos

It was a difficult task, but your small group could infiltrate the ice complex of Jorl the frost Tyrant. The Frost giant is in the middle is about to start a ritual sacrifice to his lord, Kostchtchie the Prince of Wrath.

Jorl is about to release his enraged polar bears upon the captives he and his tribe took from an attacked outpost.

A battalion of astengard's was quickly sent to deal with the attackers. The bulk of the troop made a diversion move to dive away the Frost giant tribe from defending their leader, and give you the opportunity to strike directly at Jorl's lair.

====================

So, to test your 10th level prowess, let's start with a fight. The enemies consist of:

- Jorl, cleric 4 frost giant
- Standard Frost Giant
- 5 Polar bear.

The battle ground is a huge ice cave. The terrain is flat, with the exception of the pit where the captives are and where the polar bears are going to be released.

Korin, the wandering tiefling warrior of kingdom-wide renown, glares at the frost giant with a mixed expression. Despite his neutral tone of voice and calm, disciplined frown, there is a glint of primal anger in his eyes.

"You will not sacrifice another innocent life, Jorl. We are here to put an end to your tyranny!"

We?, I' not seeing an army behind you!. Come and meet your death puny thing!

Do we get to prebuff?

All of the minutes/hour duration buff you want + one single round duration buff

Okay. Burrow, Ironskin, and before engaging Inspire Courage starts. Can I catch them by surprise by bursting out of the ground near Jorl?

Deadman guffaws loudly.

"Hell, boy, how new are you to this game? Nobody ever needed an army to kill some jumped up giant warlord before, and it ain't needed now."

"You should just stop talking before that mouth of yours gets you in trouble."

Barkskin ki power; Add +2 and Flaming to unarmed strikes with arcane pool; gain Lunge from martial flexibility.

Korin cracks his knuckles, sending out a small burst of fiery sparks with each *pop*.

"It is a grave mistake to underestimate us. For many, it was the last one they ever made."

Okay. Burrow, Ironskin, and before engaging Inspire Courage starts. Can I catch them by surprise by bursting out of the ground near Jorl?

CAn you burrow through rocks?

He can motor at a grand 5 feet per round. Not sure how long he can hold his breath.

Seems hard to surprise people that way. I guess we can roll perception Vs stealth

Maybe if we keep showboating long enough, it'll distract them while you slowly suffocate!

Haha, I can hold my breath for 30 rounds.

Stealth!: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (3) + 23 = 26

Uh oh, still DYNAMIC ENTRYYYY

Suddenly a small bit of ground breaks near Jorl and a burly man bursts forth bellowing at the top of his lungs.

"WRAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Surprise Attack if I caught him off guard: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21
Damage: 2d4 + 19 ⇒ (2, 3) + 19 = 24
Intimidate: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (17) + 31 = 48

uh, are you all ready?

Ye.

Jorl Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21
regular giant: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

So, Niall surprise attack starts the fight. The Frost Tyrant is 24 hp down.

Don't forget your ministats will all relevant information, including special sense, CMB/CMD, modification due to rage and etc

ROund 1

The giants will release the polar bears over the captives if you can't stop them. Koryn and Gylfir are 30 ft away from the giants.

Korin's calm scowl turns into a furious yell, as his muscles begin to grow.

"HuuuuRAAAAAAAAGH!"

He charges at the second giant, assaulting it with a wild barrage of kicks and punches.

"HATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!"

Free: Activate Rage and Lunge. Swift: Spend ki for 1 extra attack. Full-round: Pummeling Charge + Flurry, stopping 10 feet away.

Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40 Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (6, 6) + 19 = 31 Fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4 +50% = 6
Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35 Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (5, 4) + 19 = 28 Fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 6 +50% = 9
Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35 Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (1, 4) + 19 = 24 Fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 2 +50% = 3
Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27 Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (2, 1) + 19 = 22 Fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31 Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (5, 2) + 19 = 26 Fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5 +50% = 7

Confirm: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37 Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (2, 4) + 19 = 25

Jorl is 167 hp down, and almost Ko'ed but still on foot.

Niall quickly runs a hand across his blade and astengard runes begin to glow before he tries to cut down Jorl with supernatural speed.

Swift Action Giant Bane, free action Boots of Haste, full attack

Attack 1 Shatter Defenses: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 21 ⇒ (3, 2) + (6, 3) + 21 = 35

Attack 2: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 21 ⇒ (3, 2) + (6, 5) + 21 = 37

Attack 3: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 21 ⇒ (3, 4) + (6, 6) + 21 = 40

I'll 5ft and attack a nearby giant if there's any in reach if Jorl dies.

Only one attack hit,...You just make me do actual math to discover You left him with one fricking HP.

Ok, Rinjyn is taking his time, lets move a bit

Free the Bears!, send the captives souls to the abyss! - Jorl shouts to his minion

+1 unholy Greataxe Vs Niall: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (5) + 23 = 283d6 + 2d6 + 25 ⇒ (4, 5, 3) + (6, 2) + 25 = 45 - Miss
+1 unholy Greataxe Vs Niall: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 233d6 + 2d6 + 25 ⇒ (6, 1, 2) + (6, 4) + 25 = 44 - Miss
+1 unholy Greataxe Vs Niall: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 293d6 + 2d6 + 25 ⇒ (1, 6, 6) + (3, 5) + 25 = 46 - Hit

CRit?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 213d6 + 2d6 + 25 ⇒ (3, 4, 5) + (6, 3) + 25 = 46 -no

Rinjyn's character turn.

Sorry, had to retool my stat bonuses since I used the Another Step Beyond ones and finish my gear.

Buffs: Mutagen,Mage Armor (from my wand), +2 and Keen to my spear from Arcane Pool, Fly (Flight hex). UMD: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

Swift: Studied Combat, Full Round: Charge 120 feet.

Deadman lifts off with a sigh, and charges to drive his spear straight through the uppity chieftain's heart.

Spear: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (9) + 27 = 36
Damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

The chieftain's heart get pierced from side to side. THe other giant was too slow to defend his leader, but he is in time to still cause great harm. With a movement of his greataxe the giant cuts the chains that were holding the polar bears.

The enraged and hungry polar bears hurl themselves to their prey. Killing one of the captives and grievously hurting some of the others. The captive's scream of terror and agony resonates in all the cave. They try to defend or run, but without help it will be a butchery.

The polar bears and the captives are in a pit. 30 ft horizontal distance, and 30 ft down (if that matter for something). The giant is 15 ft from you, and not blocking the path toward the bears.

"Damn! The Lady will have her vengeance you monsters!" Niall swears as he diverges off from his allies and attempts to calm the Polar Bears.

Calm Animals, DC 13
Max HD I can affect: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (4, 1) + 10 = 15

Good trick

Bear 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Bear 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Bear 3: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Unfortunately only one polar bear is out of the fight, though is enough to save someone's live. 4 bears remaining.

With my 60ft fly speed, do I have a direct charging lane toward one of the bears?

Yes

Korin charges at a bear while drawing his double-chained kama. He attacks the bear with a series of kicks while swinging the chain over his head.

"COME GET SOME!"

Swift: Martial flex for Combat Reflexes and Lunge. Full-round: Charge while drawing the weapon, flurry at the bear. Free: Hold the kama in two-handed reach mode, so with Lunge I have a 15 ft reach.

Attack: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39 Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (1, 1) + 19 = 21 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Attack: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 33 Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (2, 6) + 19 = 27 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30 Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (5, 2) + 19 = 26 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28 Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (3, 2) + 19 = 24 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Confirm: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (3) + 19 = 22 Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (5, 4) + 19 = 28

Lunge ends when your turn ends.

Koring killed a bear. 3 remaining.

In that case, I'll only take Combat Reflexes.

Just realized I lack any kind of multitarget capability, and my single target isn't that great either. May need to rethink some ability choices to compensate for having a pair of melee bruisers and not much else. Potentially solved by just dropping all my weapons and focusing on shapeshifting into forms with breath weapons and such.

Edit: Though I can't use Breath Weapons until I get Monstrous Physique IV at 13th. That's a pickle.

Deadman points his finger at one of the bears and lets it feel just a hint of the pain he's felt over the years.

Agony Hex, DC 19 Fort save or be Nauseated.

Polar bear's Fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 - ....

So, Korin made one of the polar bear to explode with his falcon punch, Niall calmed one of them. But the other three remained active.

Two of the bears retaliates agaisnt the tiefling, surrounding him

Bear A: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 301d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 - hit
Bear A: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 261d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 - hit
Bear A: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 181d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 - Miss

Bear B: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 201d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 - miss
Bear B: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 311d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 - hit
Bear B: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 231d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 - miss

Bear B Crit?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 131d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 - no

I'm counting 18 hp damage. The tiefling's skin is quite resistant.

====================

Oh my god no...argh... - Polar bear C just splashed in the ground the guts of another innocent captive (basically, every turn that there is a free polar bear, somebody will die)

Surviving Giant: With Jorl dead I'll be the new favorite of Kostchtchie !

He tries to kick Niall into the pit

Giant's Bull rush Vs Niall: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 20 = 30 - Damn, you just avoid it by a inch.

Korin swings his chain at both bears as they approach him.

AOO Bear A: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20
AOO Bear B: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24

Barely noticing their attacks, he assaults them with a combo of kicks and elbow-bashes.

Flurry, starting with the less damaged one.

1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (5, 1) + 19 = 25 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2
1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (2, 4) + 19 = 25 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 6
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (2, 5) + 19 = 26 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (6, 5) + 19 = 30 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 6

They both die. Though The last one seems to be about to start enjoying another meal.

"Over my dead body!" Niall growls as he rolls out of the way of the giant's kick and comes up swinging.

Haste Attack: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 21 ⇒ (1, 2) + (5, 2) + 21 = 31
Intimidate Cornugon Smash: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (6) + 31 = 37

Attack 1 Shatter Defenses: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 21 ⇒ (2, 2) + (2, 1) + 21 = 28

Attack 2: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 21 ⇒ (1, 3) + (1, 4) + 21 = 30

Hurtful Bonus Attack as a Swift: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 21 ⇒ (3, 3) + (5, 3) + 21 = 35

Deadman zips over and tries to kill the last weirdly focused bear that doesn't seem to register threats.

Charge: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (15) + 27 = 42
Damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Ok, you win. The giant is almost near death, I can try a lucky critical to finish Nyall but meh.
====================================================================

The polar bear were obviously drugged, abused and starved in order to make them frenzy. The surviving prisoners are like traumatized for life but happy to be able to see the sun again.

Among mundane objects, Jorl had a Periapt of Protection from Curses.

Do you take the periapt?

So, you return to the city.

Astengard, the Diamond of the sout. It's imposing walls can be seens from the distance. When you pass the gate the sweet relief of a warmer and much nice climate welcomes you. The magic of the place makes live to flourish there.

The people of the city are crowded in the streets waiting for you /the army), the heroes that day after day defend Astengard against the perils of the south pole.
=============================

There are still some setting lore I have to post, in the meantime, what's your character role and rank in the army?

Yeah, we'll take the periapt.

Korin served as a Corporal in the first war against <insert name of advanced northern construct-using empire>. He was ruthless and efficient, to the point where even his fellow soldiers feared him. After the war was won, he spent the next 30 years in isolation, and returned a different man - calmer and a little more disciplined, but no less deadly in battle. When he rejoined Astengard's army, with his prowess and newfound wisdom, it wasn't long before he climbed to the rank of Lieutenant.

He now acts as a mentor to the younger soldiers, training them in somewhat underhanded combat tactics, such as poking the opponents' eyes or forcing them onto their backs. The troops know how to swing their swords just fine, but Korin believes they should also know how to gain the upper hand by any means available. Fighting honorably is all well and good for stories, but it can only lead to disaster when the enemy has giant golems and clockwork monsters at its command.

Niall began as a private in a battalion of archers and rose to Captain. He fought primarily bandits and rebels in his times of service and after becoming distinguished as a famed monster hunter is utilized more frequently in stealth operations. Setting traps, guerilla warfare, attacking supply lines and pillaging enemy camps before vanishing back into the frozen wastes with his unit. Whilst still technically a Captain, many of his "superiors" know him as the Warden of the Wastes.

His grandfather told him tales of the war against <insert name of advanced northern construct-using empire>, but otherwise has little knowledge of them.

As a Mercenary Irregular, Gylfir has no official rank, though he's worked with the Astengardian military in a specialist position for so long that the name "Deadman" carries a lot of clout, roughly equivalent to a Sergeant Major in rank.

Gylfir has primarily participated in covert ops, aiming to solve problems before they happen, working with every branch of the Astengardian military in the process doing anything from espionage to wetwork to battlefield support and sabotage.

Astengard have an annual religious celebration that takes an entire week, in reminiscence of the seven layers of Mount Celestia. The "days of ascension", as the festival is knonw, is close and you and other mid-ranks are gathered to agree on the details for the security arrangements. The reason is that sometimes evil creatures like to disrupt holy celebrations.

Captain Janne, a middle aged aasimar of skin like milk and golden hair is presenting the reports from the patrols. Since the last attack The, frost giants retreated deep into the glaciers; The Wikkawak are as numerous as always, but they still are as unorganized as always; There is an unconfirmed report of a small gathering of wendigos; There is no white dragon activity, etc.

It's worth to investigate the Wendigos activity, but otherwise it seems there are not big threats for the days of ascension- Janne says.

The door to the room opens and you can see a towering figure entering the room. It is General Porse Thunderinghammer, a quite big and bulky man in his 60's. It is said that when his lower back is not killing him, he is the most fearsome warrior in the city.

Everyone stand up to salute him. All the chairs are too small for him so he stays on foot

Porse:Gentlemen, I've heard that all the reports are positive.
However, I'm here to ask you to be especially watchful this year. - He sighs -Young prince Micael is having some nightmares related to the festival. I promised to the queen that we will double the security just to reassure her. Are we all good with that?

Is Micael known to have prophetic dreams?

The king and the queen have 3 children. The younger one is the 8 years old Micael. He is too young to know something for sure, but the queen do think he have the gift of the second sight. It could be just a mother thing, though.

Deadman frowns, but shrugs.

"It can't hurt to up security for such a big event, but it's a bad habit to get into just to make the kid feel better. If we double patrols every time the prince gets night terrors we'll be too tired to fend off any real threats."

Thunderinghammer shrugs,

Indeed, Indeed, there is no doubt about it. I'll try to talk some sense into the queen for the next time.

"I will assign some of my men to guard duty for the festival. If nothing happens, they will enjoy the break from my training. If something does happen...it will be a valuable lesson about being prepared for ambush."

Niall groans and slumps onto the meeting table. "Ahhh, I was looking forward to relaxing at the festival too."

There are mixed opinions about the topic, but in the end the orders are clear. The queens wants extra security this year.

If nobody have questions we'll jump to the festival. What your character are going to be doing those days?

Deadman is on patrol during his shifts, particularly checking in on what he knows to be the city's weak spots (any potential unorthodox entryways like sewer systems or underground tunnels). In his off hours he wanders the festival, heavily bandaged and hooded in order to avoid scaring the children enjoying the festivities.

Niall gives the impression of shirking off his duty, but he's never far from various important dignitaries in the event of a sudden attack. He boisterously enjoys the festivities and eats heartily with some of his unit's men.