Taranis keeps his eyes focused on the drake as it passes, summoning forth a sheet of lightning and centering it behind the drake!
Toth dodges the acid and with a command from his master, darts in to protect Zed, heedless of the danger.
for
PASS
Toth's teeth find the drake's hide too thick for purchase, and the lightning only dazzles the winged beast. It snaps at Toth, achieving just as little.
MISS
Round I
1. Zed (25/33 hp)
2. Drake (16 damage, dazzled)
3. Unrak, Taranis, Augrym, Marc (30/38 hp, Reflex save)
Swiftly adding Bane to his weapon, Augrym studies this new foe and takes aim with his wrist launcher.
Unrak heaves out his sword as he closes with the monster, shouldering Zed out of harm's way. Let's get this thing Toth!!
screaming in his now-familiar primal rage, he swings with gusto.
Augrym and Unrak inflict heavy wounds upon the drake!
Round II
1. Zed (25/33 hp)
2. Drake (51 damage, dazzled)
3. Unrak, Taranis, Augrym, Marc (39/47 hp, Reflex save)
Zed tries to blind the drake with a spell of Glitterdust!
The now-gilded but otherwise unencumbered drake wings to the air again, fleeing from such formidable foes with incredible speed and diving back into the cover of the trees.
"Quickly! We must follow. That's the drake we're after!"
Taranis immediately tries to deduce its flight back, hoping to find it at its lair.
Taranis diligently follows the trail of broken branches and occasional scratches on tree trunks to find the drake's lair about an hour later. A single spell from Zed is all that is needed to end the beast!
In its lair, a tangled thicket strewn with rotting meat and cracked bones, you find the gnawed remains of a few useful items that could be repaired.
Masterwork chain shirt, broken condition (ripped)
Masterwork darkwood longbow (cosmetic damage only)
Cloak of elvenkind (bloodstained and tattered, but otherwise functional)
"Well done! Literal huntsmen. It'll be a long time before we can bring the proof home. I'll work to prepare the skull and claws. If I'm lucky I might be able to get enough hide for some armor."
"Let us also tend to wounds and clean up that gear. That cloak is a tremendous find!"
Hmm, yes good finds! Too bad we can't find a bow with a pull strong enough for a MAN to use.
Taranis harvests enough hide from the drake for an armorsmith to fashion a set of masterwork medium hide armor .
You make camp near the erstwhile drake's lair. The morning of [color=teal]12th Desnus[/color] is again rather hot.
”Perhaps a healer can check on the freshness of the blood on this cloak. Perhaps the owner is alive and the body should be returned to its family. Or buried.”
The bloodstains are dried and brown, indicating that the blood was shed days if not weeks prior.
Following Marc's suggestion, the Huntsmen head west. A half dozen miles deeper into the Narlmarches, in the early afternoon, the Hunstmen stumbles upon a promising sign.
A single, large, clear footprint in the mud by a stream.
1. Normal hide, or dragon skin?
2. I also wanted to harvest the skull for proof of its death.
"Let us follow. For those who can, it's time for fire and acid!"
Taranis helps Marc, as does Toth
Can anyone use a heavy crossbow? I’ve got one & done flame bolts but I do much more damage in melee!
Marc leads the way, following the scrapes and half-prints through the forest, with the Baron offering some help along the way. Eventually, in the late afternoon, you come to a rocky hillside cliff jutting out from the forest. At the top, a huge thrust of rock stretches into the sky far above you. A narrow path clings to the cliff face, ascending and turning out of sight.
The tracks lead up the path.
"Aye. Make sure you have fire and acid ready to go at a moment's notice."
We follow the path. If the path turns to a cave, Taranis will cast Acid Maw before entering.
As you begin the approach, from somewhere far above you a loud shout goes up in a rough language.
You hurry faster up the cliff face. The narrow path winds its way up the hill, a steep cliff face on one side and a sheer drop-off on the other. At the top, the path follows a wide ledge, where you find yourself facing worked stone, cunningly hidden from below, carved into the cliff wall -- and several arrow slits.
The ledge continues around the corner of the weathered stone building.
Unrak loads a flaming bolt in his crossbow before proceeding.
Taranis casts Acid Maw on Toth and Barkskin on himself.
Augrym casts Bloodhound on himself and turns to the group.
”Please give me a bit of a lead and I will scout ahead. Wait about 20 seconds (3 rounds) after I go invisible and then proceed. I will throw a rock in your direction to indicate that there are enemies ahead.”
And, unless someone has an issue, Augrym disappears.
Approach the door sniffing for anyone who could be around.
The heavy scent emanating from the aperture is unmistakable.
TROLLS.
Unfortunately... trolls have good noses, too. As Augrym steps to the doorway, he immediately becomes aware that a troll stands just on the other side, within immediate reach!
+2 if Surprise
The troll, pinpointing Augrym's location by smell, swipes confusedly at the visually empty doorway...
HIT HIT
...and roars angrily when its claw comes away red with blood!
Round Surprise
1. Trolls
2. Augrym (54/60 hp)
Round I
1. Unrak
2. Trolls
3. Zed, Marc, Augrym (54/60 hp), Taranis
”Battle is upon us Huntsmen!!”
Augrym knows a troll when he sees one: an large humanoid creature with wickedly sharp claws and immense strength, if not particularly bright.
Augrym's blade finds easy purchase, delivering a telling blow. Yet, now visible, his ears ring with the roars of both trolls...
Round I
1. Unrak
2. Trolls (blue @ 23 dmg)
3. Zed, Marc, Augrym (54/60 hp), Taranis
Unrak rushes forward on hearing the call, heavy crossbow at the ready. As he rounds the corner, he sees Augrym bleeding already, and can hear the 2 trolls--one immediately on the other side of teh wall he's at!
Thinking quickly, he plants the weapon at the arrow slit and lets loose on Blue!
<--6 fire
Unrak's bolt ricochets off the arrow slit wall and narrowly misses its target. TWO trolls by the door tear into Augrym with tooth and claw.
MISS
MISS
HIT
HIT
HIT
MISS
To make matters worse, a third troll comes into the room.
Round I
1. Unrak
2. Trolls (blue @ 18 dmg)
3. Zed, Marc, Augrym (30/60 hp), Taranis
Round II
1. Unrak
Taranis curses and runs after the others, ordering Toth ahead. "Augrym! Out of the way!"
Seeing the bottleneck, Unrak holds his instinct of "charge in and make carnage" and instead decides to "hold back and make carnage."
AUGRYM!! BACK OUT so we can support you!!
The Bloodrager then casts Shield on himself, drops his crossbow, and draws his huge sword. He shifts directly behind Augrym, ready to cover his retreat.
Current AC: 25
The brothers Redleaf get into better positioning.
Round I
1. Unrak
2. Trolls (blue @ 18 dmg)
3. Zed, Marc, Augrym (30/60 hp), Taranis
Round II
1. Unrak
- Round the First
- Current HPs: 39/39
Zed hurries uphill, and rounds on the group engaged in combat. He utters some words of magic...
Zed smirks and as he gazes intently at the tip of his raised index finger, a small spark ignites, then rapidly grows as a fire elemental is summoned forth from beyond. The flame quickly takes shape, shifting rapidly from a vaguely humanoid shape, to… other… shapes. This creature looks like a living, mobile bonfire, tongues of flame reaching out in search of things to burn.
Academae Graduate DC 17 (Fort) or Zed is Fatigued.
Alignment & Size: N Small (4 ft. long, 2 lbs.)
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14
hp 13
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +0
Defensive Abilities Immune elemental traits:
[list]Immunity to bleed, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning.
Not subject to critical hits or flanking. Does not take additional damage from precision-based attacks, such as sneak attack.
Proficient with natural weapons only, unless generally humanoid in form, in which case proficient with all simple weapons and any weapons mentioned in its entry.
Proficient with whatever type of armor (light, medium, or heavy) it is described as wearing, as well as all lighter types. Elementals not indicated as wearing armor are not proficient with armor. Elementals are proficient with shields if they are proficient with any form of armor.
Elementals do not breathe, eat, or sleep.
Weaknesses vulnerability to cold
Speed 50 ft.
Melee slam +6 (1d6+2) plus burn (1d4, DC 11)
Special Attacks Burn: Reflex or take 1d4 damage on your turn
Str 14, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +1; CMD 13
Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +5, Climb +6, Escape Artist+5, Intimidate +4, Knowledge (planes) +1, Perception +4
Languages Ignan
Burn: On a melee hit, opponent catches fire (DC11 Reflex negates) for 1d4 rounds, taking 1d4 damage per round. Can attempt a new save as a full-round action. Stop, drop, and roll adds +4 to the save.Movement Over Water: A fire elemental cannot enter water or any other nonflammable liquid. A body of water is an impassible barrier unless the fire elemental can step or jump over it or the water is covered with a flammable material (such as a layer of oil).
Augrym will study the two trolls who were there at the beginning, take a step back and cast Anticipate Thoughts on the troll he hit last round. DC 15 Will save please.
SUCCESS
The troll resists much of Augrym's spell. Zed brings yet another fighter to bear on the small aperture that has become the battlefield.
Round I
1. Unrak
2. Trolls (blue @ 18 dmg)
3. Zed, Marc, Augrym (30/60 hp), Taranis
Round II
1. Unrak
"Geddout the way!"
"No!"
"My turn!"
"Shut up!"
One of the trolls steps to the door and lunges awkwardly through to tear at Toth. The others hang back.
MISS
MISS
MISS
Round II
3. Zed, Marc, Augrym (30/60 hp), Taranis
Round III
1. Unrak
2. Trolls (blue @ 13 dmg)
3. Zed, Marc, Augrym (30/60 hp), Taranis
"Dammit, they're blocking the door. Toth! take one down"
Taranis has precious few Alchemist's Fires, but now seems as good a time as any: for
Toth steps in and tries to pull one down
for and
for
for
Toth lands a bite and a claw, Taranis the fire.
Round II
3. Zed, Marc, Augrym (30/60 hp), Taranis
Round III
1. Unrak
2. Trolls (blue @ 14 dmg, orange @ 19 dmg)
3. Zed, Marc, Augrym (30/60 hp), Taranis
Even with the awkward angle, Marc manages to cut deep into the troll!
Round II
3. Zed, Marc, Augrym (30/60 hp), Taranis
Round III
1. Unrak
2. Trolls (blue @ 14 dmg, orange @ 41 dmg)
3. Zed, Marc, Augrym (30/60 hp), Taranis