Male Elan Cryptic 2 | HP 17/17 PP 8/8 Defense 7/7 | AC 17 T 14 FF 13 | Fort +2 Ref +7 Will +2 | CMD 15| Init +4 | Perception +4
A rifle costs 500 gp. 10 men with 500 gp rifles consists of the loot value of a large village/small city. All by itself. Bows that allow a +3 strength mod are 400 gp each. That's still insane. The archers can't fire any more than the rifles. Move action + standard action. Each ranged increment increases his to hit.
The ranged increment on a -light catapult- which is roughly what a frost giant probably is capable of doing, is 150. If not, he can pick up said catapult and use it improvised. We'd never touch him if he didn't want to come play in town. You're also leaving out the fact that maybe -he- has a giant-sized rifle, or a giant sized longbow. And if he stays at the max range of the longbows, the rifles can't even reach him. (God forgive us if he collected a ballista or catapult.)
That being said, it's -very- unlikely for someone to have the arguably strongest advanced firearm in the game. Much more realistically, is that the town's militia, if it has one, would be using muskets. That's still more than the base gold of a level 1 character, for the most part, even with the discount. (And, importantly, takes even longer to load/fire... or has a roughly equal chance of exploding as it does of hitting the giant. That's bad.) They gain a max range of 200, and touch AC out to 80 feet. I -really- don't think this is a fight we want to bring back to our town.
Giants are not stupid. They're of humanoid level intelligence. They -will- use their size and strength to perform things tactically. They're not just going to walk up a bottleneck hoping to wreck the town before dying. They're gonna climb up the cliff and rain rocks down with relative impunity.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
Even if an ordinary, rank and file archer has only a 10% chance to hit the giant, with 100 archers firing, that's 10 hits per round. Even a frost giant wouldn't survive that for more than a few rounds and he can't kill all of them in that time frame if they're widely dispersed.
Male Elan Cryptic 2 | HP 17/17 PP 8/8 Defense 7/7 | AC 17 T 14 FF 13 | Fort +2 Ref +7 Will +2 | CMD 15| Init +4 | Perception +4
But again, you guys are talking about incredibly high numbers of people being willing to risk their lives against said Frost Giant. Sure, only a couple of them are going to die, but people don't like betting their life. Also, DM never said how large our home is. Even assuming we could find 100 archers who all owned longbows or better (which is a huge amount of money for a non-adventurer), why the heck aren't they going out to find giants instead of us? Why send a bunch of level 1s to investigate giants if you have people better equipped to do so? Heck, even leaving out the arguments: "Yeah, it'd just be a couple people dead, and hey, dead frost giant!" That's... a really, really dark perspective. Shouldn't our goal be to prevent -anyone- from dying, thus attempting to prevent the giant from following us home?
Male Human Aegis 2| HP 25(27)/25(27) | AC 15(17) T 11(11) FF 14(16) | Fort +6(+7) Ref +1 Will +5| CMD 17 | Init +1 | Perception +8 | DR 2/- | Resistance 5 Cold
We arent talking about incredibly high, I used your same number of 20.. which is a militia. Also you forget that it is possible to craft items and that Advanced Firearms are mainstream/ not special in this world at all. Longbows/Rifles are standard for those who hunt. People don't go because they arent Adventurers. And even then we arent so unique classwise that there couldnt be another Gunslinger or Fghter among the masses. Just because someone can kill something doesn't mean they feel the need to put their life on the line. But when it comes to your home they are more likely to defend it, ESPECIALLY if there is a big loss for losing said home. And in any time period, casualties are part of life. In particular my character is not good so he will see a Logical point being engagement at base as a possibility if the council sees the creature as a threat/ attacks. Heck sending a group that could very well DIE is exactly the same mindset.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
I'm imagining a pretty typical setup in which every adult male is required to own some type of weapon and collectively the whole adult male population forms a militia. They're not very good, and they can't be far away from their homes, partly because they're doing their regular occupations most of the time and because they don't have the money to sustain themselves in the field. But when their home is under threat, you can round them all up to defend it, and while they're not very skilled and some of them will be cowardly, with enough numbers you can still take down a much stronger opponent. Although, on average, they won't be particularly courageous, if they know they're defending their home and they know that the whole town will see any cowardice they display, that will help to stiffen their spines. Of course, this is all speculation without some specific numbers.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
Zaralastra reacts with alarm at seeing Jin fall. Zaralastra steps fifteen feet left and manifests Ectoplasmic Sheen beneath the wolf.
By "fifteen feet left," I mean 2 squares west (left) and 1 square northwest on the map, such that I am immediately behind Elisa and Elisa is between me and the wolf. I'm not sure which square the wolf actually occupies but I assume it's not so large that it's actually occupying four squares, as it appears on the map. Ectoplasmic Sheen affects a 10 x 10 area, so 2 squares by 2 squares. I will place the Sheen such that it affects the square the wolf is in and the 2 squares it would go through if it were to proceed directly towards Lan, Elisa and me. I realize that Ectoplasmic Sheen doesn't really qualify as hitting it hard, but as a level 1 Psion, this is all I've got apart from my crossbow. I also realize this thing is likely to have a high reflex save, but my secondary purpose is to stop it from being able to charge the rest of us, as it can't charge through difficult terrain. Also, if we fight it at the edge of the Sheen, it will have to make reflex saves every round, and failing even 1 or 2 of them would help a lot.
Male Elan Cryptic 2 | HP 17/17 PP 8/8 Defense 7/7 | AC 17 T 14 FF 13 | Fort +2 Ref +7 Will +2 | CMD 15| Init +4 | Perception +4
Lan spends a full-round taking a step forward, and force-feeding Jin whichever Elixir he happens upon.
Five foot step, move action to 'draw', standard to feed it to Jin. I cannot move my piece. One space to the right, being diagonal away from the wolf with Jin between us. Vim Duration:1d5 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Male Human Aegis 2| HP 25(27)/25(27) | AC 15(17) T 11(11) FF 14(16) | Fort +6(+7) Ref +1 Will +5| CMD 17 | Init +1 | Perception +8 | DR 2/- | Resistance 5 Cold
Jin doesnt fall an anything, He just got hit and thats it..The greater 'problem' I have is that you picked this creature.. which is about the same as picking a few Wights as opposed to say.. a big zombie, because 1 hit from a wight is death.. as opposed to possibly being healed from a Giant zombie. Ah well we will see, point Is Jin is u and had the best AC.. because he had no Dex. It's basically impossible for any level 1 Party that isnt 5-6 people and have the same resources we had before to reasonably fight this.
Male Human Aegis 2| HP 25(27)/25(27) | AC 15(17) T 11(11) FF 14(16) | Fort +6(+7) Ref +1 Will +5| CMD 17 | Init +1 | Perception +8 | DR 2/- | Resistance 5 Cold
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
Alright, hold up. We've got to retcon some things here.
First off, it does indeed take up 4 squares, that's why I made him that size. Second, you can only force feed someone a potion like that if they are unconscious. Otherwise the cooperation would eat up both parties actions.
Also, apologies to Jin. I didn't realize you had diehard. I would have actually gotten a free trip attempt on you, but I thought you were down anyway so I didn't take it. I'm gonna let it pass by though, you've been having a hard enough time with my dice rolls as is lol.
The map is open now. Lets pick up with Elisa just having smashed it in the face, but Zaralastra and Lan have not yet acted.
Male Elan Cryptic 2 | HP 17/17 PP 8/8 Defense 7/7 | AC 17 T 14 FF 13 | Fort +2 Ref +7 Will +2 | CMD 15| Init +4 | Perception +4
As Lan has no idea what type of creature this is, and it'd be a full-round waste to try to guess between magical beast and animal, 5 foot step. Readied action to aid whichever person the wolf attack's armor. Aid, DC10:1d20 ⇒ 16+2 AC to whoever the wolf next attacks
You are able to identify the beast as a winter wolf. Mechanically, it's a magical beast with the cold sub-type.
Zaralastra:
Knowledge Psionics:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
You are able to identify the beast as a winter wolf. Mechanically, it's a magical beast with the cold sub-type. You also know that it has the supernatural ability to breath an icy mist that can actually harm people, and that it's vulnerable to fire.
Sorry, I had the wrong knowledge check. If these results would change anyone's actions, feel free to do so, as long as it's before the wolf goes again.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
Well if Jin is still up then I suppose I should just fire my crossbow. I can't really do much else. Before firing I will take a 5 foot step to the northeast in order to have a clear line of sight to it. My defensive abilities aren't going to help if we don't kill it quickly. I see that a winter wolf would be a fight even for our full party of 6. Against 4 of us, 1 of whom is badly injured, the odds look pretty grim. That thing has more hp than all four of us combined. And it does a minimum of 9 damage, which means a hit from that thing is virtually certain to kill any of us in a single shot.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
A winter wolf will hit Jin on an 8, and Jin has the best AC of any of us. It will kill Jin in 1 more hit, and it will kill each of us in 1 hit each. That means we'll be dead in about six rounds (assuming it rolls a couple of unlucky misses) and there is no way we are going to inflict 57 hp of damage against it in those six rounds. Oh and it has a speed of 50, so running isn't going to work either.
Male Human Aegis 2| HP 25(27)/25(27) | AC 15(17) T 11(11) FF 14(16) | Fort +6(+7) Ref +1 Will +5| CMD 17 | Init +1 | Perception +8 | DR 2/- | Resistance 5 Cold
It will not kill Jin in another hit unless it rolls REALLY high again but still. On avg it will drop a person..
Male Human Aegis 2| HP 25(27)/25(27) | AC 15(17) T 11(11) FF 14(16) | Fort +6(+7) Ref +1 Will +5| CMD 17 | Init +1 | Perception +8 | DR 2/- | Resistance 5 Cold
Now we wait for the Wolf, which Im sure will do something so the caster might be alone possibly here.
I'm waiting to see if Lan would rather do something else now that the wolfs been identified. Providing a +2 to someones AC is'nt a very good use of a turn at this point.
Don't get so discouraged Zaralastra. You don't have to do 57 damage, it only has 42 left. That's only a couple hits.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
And Elisa gets 1 shotted. Jin will be next, then Lan, then me. We're not going to do 42 points of damage before that happens.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
Actually, Lan can probably survive 2 hits by putting all his psionic power into Elan resilience and I can do the same, but I don't see how that's going to be enough.
Male Elan Cryptic 2 | HP 17/17 PP 8/8 Defense 7/7 | AC 17 T 14 FF 13 | Fort +2 Ref +7 Will +2 | CMD 15| Init +4 | Perception +4
Lan watches impassively as his ally falls, but ignores her demand to run. He slips to a space that he has a clear view of the creature's rear flanks, then hurls a bolt of solid black energy into the flank. Whatever it hits just seems to stop existing altogether... or at least, part of it.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
This is Zaralastra's round 2 action.
Zaralastra steps slightly to the right to maintain his clear view of the beast, and fires his crossbow again.
Level 1 manifester is a tough place to be. I'm surprised you didn't pick a single damaging power though. Crystal shard and mind thrust are both great powers with awesome augmentation potential.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
I was expecting to disable them while others dealt out the damage. But if we're going to be running into things that can 1-shot most of the members of the group, I'll have to reevaluate my selections at level 2.
Male Human Aegis 2| HP 25(27)/25(27) | AC 15(17) T 11(11) FF 14(16) | Fort +6(+7) Ref +1 Will +5| CMD 17 | Init +1 | Perception +8 | DR 2/- | Resistance 5 Cold
Jin, bleeding profusely and breathing haggard through his armor as the metal shards from the creature's bite lacerated the insides. He sees Elisa go down and then sees the creature aim to possibly get him or the rest of the group. His degree of Importance was minimal.. the information MUST get to the Council.
Fighting against his body's intense pain and self preservation, Jin shouts out. " THIS BATTLE IS LOST. TAKE ELISA IF YOU CAN AND RUN TO SAFETY! I SHALL GIVE YOU ALL TIME TO GET AWAY. MAY UNITY BLESS MY HAMMER AND BODY TO SEE THIS THROUGH! COME WOLF I STILL BREATHE AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE MORE THAN ME TONIGHT. "
Jin's Piston-hammer seemed heavier than what it normally felt like.. his lethal wounds most likely being the culprit. Coming from the ground he strained his own body, rushing his death as Jin swung with all his might towards the Wolf's lower jaw from the left.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
Zaralastra marvels for just an instant at the force of Jin's hammer blow, then quickly rushes to him and Elisa and does the best he can to stabilize their wounds.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
Zaralastra manages to stabilize both his fallen comrades, but they do not yet wake, and the evening grows dark and cold. You know you are close to the cabin, but transporting your friends would be difficult at best. Though the cold, dark wilderness is also difficult.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
Elisa is too heavy for me to carry and Jin looks even heavier. So it appears our options are either to drag them back to the cabin or wait here until they regain consciousness. If the cabin is close by, I suggest the former. If we stay here, we will either freeze or build a fire, and if we build a fire, we run a major risk of unwanted attention. Alternatively, if there's something in the cabin that might prove useful in this situation, such as a sled, someone can go to the cabin and return here with it. In the meantime, the wolf's body will provide warmth for a little while.
Soory Zara, I thought Jin fell if he took an action but apparently he is still standing. Good idea with the sled though. You guys could probably also make a stretcher pretty easily with a blanket and 2 branches.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
The three of us can easily carry Elisa back to the cabin. I suggest we do so without delay.
Male Human Aegis 2| HP 25(27)/25(27) | AC 15(17) T 11(11) FF 14(16) | Fort +6(+7) Ref +1 Will +5| CMD 17 | Init +1 | Perception +8 | DR 2/- | Resistance 5 Cold
Jin drops his hammer to the ground and pulls his elixir to first heal himself. Taking a slower time in his wrecked state. His arms tingled with pain as the hammer blow drained most of his strength and resonated on impact. The creature might have fallen but its body was solid. Once he imbibed his Elixir it was a simple act to use his last one on the valient Elisa. She deserved as much for such an act.
I take 1 point of damage for the action so will need to get above 0 to heal enough. Elixir Jin:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Elixir Elisa:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Once administered, Jin begins work on the Winter wolf.. as no bounty should go unused. Perhaps the Pelt and bones or Teeth could create useful items down the line.
Survival Dress:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
After which he suggest they move group along and will attempt to find some reagents from nearby trees along the way. " I'LL TAKE HER IF NEED BE. SHE SHOULD BE FINE IN A MOMENT HOWEVER. WE SHOULD MOVE TO THE COTTAGE AND UTILIZE SOME OF ITS WARMTH. OR FIND A CAVE. " He seemed to not mention the grievous wounding nor the blow of his hammer, as if they were not important.
Male Human Aegis 2| HP 25(27)/25(27) | AC 15(17) T 11(11) FF 14(16) | Fort +6(+7) Ref +1 Will +5| CMD 17 | Init +1 | Perception +8 | DR 2/- | Resistance 5 Cold
Jin picks her up by the arm and brings her to eye level on her feet. " THEY DID.. BUT SOON AFTER YOUR WERE KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS THE CREATURE FELL. " Motioning to the Wolf he was currently harvesting.
" WE NEED TO GET YOU BETTER TAKEN CARE OF AND TO A WARM PLACE. I'LL TRY AND MAKE SOMETHING FOR YOU DURING THE NIGHT. "
Male Human Aegis 2| HP 25(27)/25(27) | AC 15(17) T 11(11) FF 14(16) | Fort +6(+7) Ref +1 Will +5| CMD 17 | Init +1 | Perception +8 | DR 2/- | Resistance 5 Cold
Jin's hidden face somehow conveys his slight irritation at her standoffish nature but he doesn't react past that. " I COULD NOT RUN AND WITHOUT ME THE OTHER TWO WOULD GET LOST. WE ARE HEADING BACK BUT WILL NOT MAKE IT IN TIME WHILE THE SUN IS DOWN. WE WILL GET BACK AFTER REST. THE INFORMATION WAS MOST IMPORTANT BUT YOUR LIVES WERE THE NEXT STEP BELOW. I DID WHAT WAS NEEDED. YOU ARE NOT FINE, YOU ARE AS HURT AS I BUT WITH A LOWER TOLERANCE TO PAIN. ENOUGH COLD WEATHER COULD PUT US DOWN. "
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
We will not make it all the way back to town before sunset. But we can make it to the cabin, where we can rest and make a fire without it being visible for miles. I suggest we head there immediately after Jin is finished harvesting the useful parts of the wolf.
Male Human Aegis 2| HP 25(27)/25(27) | AC 15(17) T 11(11) FF 14(16) | Fort +6(+7) Ref +1 Will +5| CMD 17 | Init +1 | Perception +8 | DR 2/- | Resistance 5 Cold
Jin nods in agreement to Zaraslastra while removing teeth and claws from the beast as meticulously as he could. " THOUGH A LARGER BEAST THIS SHOULD NOT TAKE ANY LONGER THAN A HORSE OR SIMILAR SHAPED ANIMAL.. TOO BAD THE MEAT IS MOST LIKELY TERRIBLE BASED UPON ITS DIET "
Male Elan Cryptic 2 | HP 17/17 PP 8/8 Defense 7/7 | AC 17 T 14 FF 13 | Fort +2 Ref +7 Will +2 | CMD 15| Init +4 | Perception +4
That is a metric boatload of posts. Good thing 'Lan remains quiet' is totally a thing.
If Lan appeared impressed by the wolf being slaughtered in an instant, he wouldn't show it... for long. And once again, he wouldn't complain about the thing being field-dressed. As a point of fact, he wouldn't complain about the thing being dead or used at all. He just watched impassively for a time, while renewing his Vim a little more often than normal. After a minute or two of watching, he set off to go gather some dead wood from the nearby surroundings, slipping into the foliage quietly.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
Zaralastra manifests Circumstance Shield and Synesthete and begins to feel the light around him, in the hopes of avoiding any similar, unpleasant surprises on the way back to the cabin.
M Elan Psion 2 | HP 14 | AC 12/16 (with IA) | T 12/16 | FF 10/14 | Fort +2 Ref +3 Will +3 | CMD 12 | Init +10 | Perception +2/+4 (in range of psicrystal)
If I can't hit anything else, I can at least hit the minimum posting requirement.
