For the Glory of Icathia: A Soldier's Journey [Completed] (Inactive)

Game Master Signore di Fortuna

"There are two ways to pay, Skaar: I can take the time now or you can serve it on my island. Your choice," the oracle says.

”How much time?” Skaar repeats. ”You’re avoiding the question…”

”The people livin’ here, what’s wrong with ‘em? They owe you ‘time’?”

I didn’t see a response to my question about the guards.

The attendants seem the same as the people wandering outside. You could probably break them all without a problem. They're not really guards.

"That depends on what you want to know," the oracle snaps. "Different questions are worth different amounts of time. And, yes, all these people owe me their time. They chose to spend it here because they didn't like their answers."

Ah then Skaar will be more relaxed. I was getting the feeling this was some kind of horrible trap. Everyone knows you’d never do that! =P

Skaar furrows his brow as his ponders how to best word his question.

”How much time to know where I need ta be and what I need ta do to save Zahira and her son”, he says after a long pause.

No one ever suspects the topless woman of being the threat...

"That will be five years," the oracle says stonily. "Do you really want to know?"

Skaar’s eyes go wide at the terms. Five years of servitude in exchange for the answers. Five years away from his son…

”And the others that I left with the paladins – my friends - How much to know if they’re gunna be okay without me?”

"Just a few months, two or three. Depends how in depth you'd like me to be," the oracle replies, her eyes narrowing like a cat's.

The big Orc sighs, he didn’t like how powerless he felt.

”How well do you know the waters north of here?” he says in a low tone to Corda.

”When would ya call on me to serve?”

"If you are in a hurry, I can take your time now," the dark-skinned woman says. "I don't permit loans on my information."

Skaar growls and backs up a step.

”Forget it then. I’ll find my own way. If you’re as sharp as you say you are, you know I don’t have weeks or years to spare. A woman and her boy needs me now. My friends need me now.”

The big Orc looks around the temple, studying the surroundings for the first time.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

”Is that how you got all those people serving you? How you built all of this?”

The oracle laughs rising to her feet. "I built this myself over the ages. I am older than you can imagine. A lover wanting to find her long-lost fiance who went off to war. A man wondering if his children will be wise enough to not squander is fortune. A widow wondering if she'll find love again. Question after question after question, keeping my youth and earning me slaves. You could have just given me those five years of your life, you would have squandered them anyway. But I'm afraid there is no leaving. The answers to your two questions have cost you your life."

The beautiful woman's nails elongate into sharp claws and her teeth change into fangs.

Initiative:

Oracle: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Skaar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Corda: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Round 1: Skaar, Oracle, Corda

I'm not going to use a map for this one, since it's just one opponent and you are within 10' of her already.

What are her attendants doing?

”What are you?” Skaar growls as his brawny frame settles into a fighting stance.

The hulking greenskin moves forward and tries to restrain the monstrous woman.

Grapple: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

They are merely walking about as they were before the fight started. They pay no attention to it.

The oracle pushes the orc away and slashes at him with her claws.

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22; Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31; Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"I'm afraid there are no more answers for me to give you because you have nothing left to offer."

Make two Fort Saves, Skaar, DC 16.

Round 1: Skaar, Oracle, Corda

I feel like waiting to see what Corda does might be in my best interest.

Oh, the fort saves are a result of the claw attacks hitting you.

Oh, I knew that.

Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Skaar feels his strength being sapped away by the oracle. Whatever she is, it is beyond the orc's ken. 2 pts of strength damage.

Corda stood ready for anything, but then, the Oracle changed and it caught her completely off-guard. Pulling her spear and moving behind the beast, she thrust at the thing.

Attack plus Flank: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 2 = 16

Not likely, but Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Corda's spear fails to hit the oracle. "Do you honestly think you'll win against me? Do you honestly believe this orc is your true love? The true answer is the same, regardless of what you believe."

Round 2: Skaar, Oracle, Corda

Skaar groans as the oracle-thing's claws tear through his armor and strip away some of his strength.

He taps his toe triggering his magic boots and lunges for her again.

Grapple minus strength damage plus haste and flank: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 2 = 29

Skaar wraps his arms around the oracle, who attempts to break free.

CM: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26; Success

"I know what you can do, Skaar, and I won't be caught in your arms. Hehehe."

Round 2: Skaar, Oracle, Corda

Corda took a step back, reached an open hand at Skaar and said in Ancient Orc, "Hhako u Khokmhanrh."

Edit: Just realized I didn't say what spell I was casting. Boiling Blood

Nice.

Skaar marvels as his muscles surge with strength.

"If you know so much, you know what's gunna happen when I get a good hold of you!" he grunts as he lunges again.

Grapple: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Is there anything nearby that would make a decent improvised weapon? This wrestling thing may take a long time.

CM: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14; wow...

The oracle's eyes widen as she is unable to fight out of the orc's grasp.

"No, please, I'll tell you what you want! Just let me go."

Round 3: Skaar, Oracle, Corda

Don't you love it when the dice fall in line with what's going on? Just like when Skaar picked up the ax against the Ranger.

Corda smiles, moves next to Skaar, touches his shoulder and says, "Tomha'g guunrakk gagg."

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 8) + 3 = 12

She then looked at the Oracle and said, "My vision never said anything about him loving me back. Of all people, you should know that all visions come with a price."

Yeah, that was pretty awesome.

Skaar shivers in pleasure as Corda's touch causes the bloody gashes along his torso to mend shut. He gives her a glance before tightening his grip.

"Yield and I might go easy on you", he growls.

"Corda, there's rope in my pack. Get it out."

Basically readying. If she does anything other than sit still in surrender, Skaar will squeeze her.

Grapple: 1d20 + 12 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 5 = 30
Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

I could play out this combat, but it wouldn't go in your favor.

-Posted with Wayfinder

In that case, we'll happily take her surrender. =P

That is what she offered in your last post right?

Also, shouldn't you be asleep?

Yeah she's surrendering and I'm at work, trying to stay awake.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Well that sounds like prime posting time then!

After she's bound, Skaar lets the monstrous woman drop to the ground. He takes a moment to flex a massive arm enjoying the tingling power instilled in him by Corda's spell.

"Start talkin'", he growls.

"Head northeast to the Rogue Isles. You will find Rando there," the oracle says. "As for your friends, there is no reason to go back to Zahvroma."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Skaar narrows his gaze.

"What does that mean?"

"There is nothing for you there," the woman says angrily. "While we speak, the sun bleaches the bones of your companions."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Skaar staggers back a step.

In a rage he rushes forward again and grabs her by the collar, "Yer lying! Take it back!"

"I say many things, Skaar, but never a lie."

-Posted with Wayfinder

The big Orc releases the oracle and sucks in a breath.

"Not again... How?"

"The paladin, Godrick, led them to their death. They were no match for the demon-worshippers," the oracle says, delighting in Skaar's pain.

-Posted with Wayfinder

The hulking Orc's eyes become downcast as he's flooded with emotions. This was worst than death. At least when he'd died he had fallen alongside them - protecting them. Now he was far away, chasing his unborn son and the dream he represented. They had died without him...

Not sure where to go from here.

Me either. I think we need to wait for Corda. Just a little over an hour of work left.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Corda placed a hand on Skaars shoulder, "She may not be lying, but she may be wrong. Seeing the future is like seeing shadows in a pond. Some are things are certain, others are not."

Skaar looks up from his despair.

"Is there a chance she's wrong? Could my friends be alive?"

"It is certainly possible. Fate's change all the time."

Skaar nods and turns back to the oracle.

"Let these people go. All of 'em. None of the information yer providin' is worth bein' a slave."

"They freely made the choice to accept my terms and information," the oracle says.

”And now you’re gunna let ‘em go”, Skaar says. ”You’re getting a second chance. Now you’re gunna give them one.”

Just to give you some insight, Skaar’s going to send these people back towards the party to populate our new fortress. =P

This is a toughie. I don't want the oracle to kill you (which she can), but I don't want you getting off scot-free either. I'm having a hard time figuring out something suitable.

Well I wasn’t sure what you had in mind for this encounter. We can just fight her if you’re that conflicted. That’s why I was asking about stuff to use as improvised weapons.

There aren't many humanoid females that fall into an appropriate CR for you. She's a 5 and I don't want to retcon this, but she has to have some sort of contingency plan. I'm bad at contingencies.

Oh, you mean she should be able to kill us and you don’t think this can be a suitably scary encounter without being overwhelming? From what I saw she’s capable of being scary. She’s just grappled right now. She can still attack and/or try to break out and we can resume fighting.