Quassine nods and then turns to Kiki, ::"Kiki go and scout when you are ready. We can start formulating a battle plan while you are away, adjust it to what information you give us, and then discuss the plan in detail so everyone knows the plan. Try to stay off the ground and/or use water to throw off any scent tracking."::
"Before you go, let's establish a channel of communication. Only use it if necessary though. It'll be much easier for them to hear the whispers than it'll be to spot or hear you sneaking about. Coming back here to chat with us is probably a better idea than using it, but it's nice to have as a contingency in case something goes wrong. Also you'll get Desna's blessing to guide your way on this stary night. That'll be fitting." Xanya proceeds to cast message and guidance on Kiki.
If Kiki leaves, while she is away Xanya sets about prepearing the necessary extracts for the battle ahead.
"Thing fly over head all the time. Though Simon is a bit bigger so I understand. I think Kiki will do fine going herself. Go now Kiki. The camp could be a trap. With the marching chant it is possible we were heard, or if they have scouts. Setting a camp at night would be a perfect distraction to circle around and attack you enemy from."
Kiki heads off over the hill cackling quietly to herself.
[dice=
Kiki is gone for a while and you start to worry but you don't hear the sounds of slaughter or battle so you wait.
Eventually she returns. She relays that there is a camp with a large bonfire, a fire giant, a bunch of orcs and two other orcish looking humanoids that she was able to see by the firelight. She also noticed several canine like creatures concealed and prowling stealthily around the perimeter of the camp. She did not get any closer for fear of them smelling her.
Quassine smiles and nods to Kiki, "Thank you Kiki, I am guessing the canine-like creatures are Hell Hounds which we saw evidence of before and there is a fire giant so that would make more sense that's what they are. What do you all think?"
Xanya claps her hands in glee. "This is good news. The group is actually similar size to the last one we fought. We should be able to handle it on our own, especially with surprise on our side. Were they awake or sleeping? An ambush would be a lot more effective if they were sleeping. With only a single fire giant I think we should be able to take it out in one go."
She turns to Simon, "Since I'll be using all my extracts for other things, could you empower me with the strength of a bull? I'm fairly confident that I should be able to take down the giant on my own with an invisible charge, even if we can't take it out while they sleep. Though I suppose it might not hurt to have someone else ready to step in, in case my damage doesn't prove sufficient."
Kiki reports that the giant appeared to be slumbering. Some of the humanoids appeared to be on watch, while some slept.
"This is all Kiki could see. If the hounds are active they will smell us coming. We will still have surprise on our side for them not seeing us, but they will be able to awake the rest of their camp. I assume there are more. This is why they were easy to track. So the question is hit them hard but get encircled by the hell hounds and what remains of their numbers after our strike. Or start the attack from a distance and draw then into an attack. If we get close enough. Three hundred feet or so. Xanya and I can try and bring down the hounds we see with the aid of the bonfire. My instincts say to strike hard and fast and fight our way out. I am confident I too can handle the giant by myself if it is no different then the other in ability, but caution would say draw them out. They could be laying a trap for us. With hounds they may already know we follow and the others lay in ambush. I still say Simon take to the sky. If he sees nothing of an ambush then we strike.
Kiki nods "I'll be back soon " and vanishes.
The Spiderling makes a circle around their own position before heading for the enemy
Kiki, when you circle your own position, you find nothing suspicious or stealthing up on your allies.
Quassine shakes his head, "Nay Brother, unless the hounds are at a downwind vector, we can sneak up from downwind and nothing will smell us Or if the hounds are spread out. Kiki, are the hounds spread out or at they packing up?"
"If you say so. I know little about tracking or stealth." He smiles.
"My instincts are as yours dear Goliath. We should hit them hard and fast then deal with the aftermath. We were deadly the last battle we were allowed to cast our spells beforehand. This will be no different. I suggest we cast our spells, turn invisible and then move forward rather rapidly then strike at once we get within distance. This would give the dogs the least possible time to sniff us out while still giving us the moment of surprise. The giant will wake up by my lance piercing his throat rather than. We should prepare with spells and get a move on before the hounds decide to roam further. For once we do start approaching I'll be able to smell the roaming hounds so we'll be able to enter in a gap in their patrols."
Quassine nods, "With them supposed Hell Hounds, a quick rush is probably the only way to kill quickly. I wish we had something for the hell hound breath weapon so prepare to get singed a little."
"I am good at dodging, but fire is a bit of a problem for me"
Quassine nods, "If I dodge correctly, I can avoid flames as well but what about our other brothers and sisters?"
Kiki advises the group that the few hellhounds she saw were spaced approximately 40' apart to overlap but optimize their detection. They didn't seem to patrol back and forth but rather remain hidden in a small area.
"Let's try to move in between them then. I suggest we sneak as carefully as possible until we are right outside their range of smell downwind then rush forward. This should let us charge shortly thereafter. Unless someone have any better ideas? But first let's cast spells and drink extracts so we are prepeared." Xanya says with furrowed brow as she tries to think of the best way to approach the situation.
Goliath Cast: Iron skin, Bull's Strength, and Shield of Faith after receiving his invisibility. Then approaches the camp with the group.
The group prepares their battle plans and moves closer to position, and then invokes their magical aid for the oncoming fight. You approach to within a minute of the camp and make your final preparations.
Goliath whispers:
"Xanya move to the north. I will try and draw the hounds down and open up a charge for you. Kiki try and advance on the sleeping one. We will attack when you slit his throat."
Taking 10 on Stealth for a 34
Quassine moves with the group until about a minute out when he casts his designated spells.
Quassine messages Xanya, ::"Sister, in the unlikely event you do not fall the giant in one strike. I will back you up. If you do, I will move on the conscripts."::
- Huzzah!
GM Rolls:
The group creeps close to the edge of the camp as safe as they can get to allow Xanya to smell the area. Unfortunately the wind is blowing the campfire smoke and smell of burning wood that direction too. Grumbling to herself that nothing ever goes as planned, she pauses then. What's that? Was that the scent of brimstone? She takes another deep inhale, her nose tuned to the smells around her. Yes, somewhere in that area ahead lurks one or more sources of the sulphur. She fixes her eyes into the darkness and the others also scour the sparse brush and shadows for enemies knowing the hellhounds are out there. Yes, there they are, well hidden, but your group is perceptive and watchful tonight. Goliath and Quassine both see them. Simon who had just taken to the air, also spots them. Wary now of the enemies lurking at the fringes, the group looks into the camp watching, but trying not to waste too much time. Acclimating to the brighter light of the campfire, there are several darker shapes in the huge tree above the campfire. Kiki had not seen these before but you notice them now. Indistinct, but there are things in the tree, concealed in the foliage.
The group readjusts its eyes to the darkness and prepares to spring its plan....
Not being detected as he moved Goliath counted in his head.
Xanya should be in position now. Let's start with that hound.
Goliath roars out as his brothers and sisters feel inspired that Goliath will protect them.
Surprise Round
Standard: Rising Zenith Strike: vs Flat Footed AC
With the roar of of Lion this Ogre appears to the south in a flash his massive blade sweeps up lobbing the hounds head from it's body. It tumbles through the air and lands near the fire blinking a few last times before the nerves stop firing.
Active Spells: Bull's Strength, Ironskin, Shield of Faith, Mage Armor, Long Arm, Defending the Pride
Current AC: 36
For Round 1 Action
"I'll sneak through between the two on the bottom left" Xanya whispers before they sets off. At first they aim to stay clear of the dogs, but that's not possible for long and soon enough Cryxial rushes between two of the dogs, then between two of the men to set up a charge on the giant. Hopefully the invisibility will be enough to hide them so they can still surprise the camp.
Surprise round.
For once trying to be silent Xanya grits her teeth as she grips her lance in both hands preparing to stab the giant. Cryxial meanwhile bursts into full speed beneath her, his instincts somehow not getting tripped up by the invisibility as they first move into the camp then charge at the giant. Xanya feels fury fills her and extends it to her compaion so they can both tear into the giant at full power.
"should I take care of whatever is in the tree? I am the only one of us that can climb"
"I will send a wispered hoot if I spot additional enemys, two if its something as dangerous as a giant or something and three if its something its something that worse, if I fly back it's time to run"
Kiki fokuses and her body takes the for of a great horned owl. After testing her wings for a bit Spiderling turned Owl takes flight, aiming for the tree.
"I will sneak between the right two"
Kiki sneaks for the two topmost sleepers , using the sparse grass and larger rocks for cover, carefull to stay in the shadows.
after carefully creeping closer to the soon to be dead enemy, Kiki raises needle and plunges down, carefully aiming the thrust to go deep into the back of the neck precisly severing the spine .
The spiderling repeats the action for each sleeping target, adapting as necesary for sleeping positions, aiming for ears or throats(rather messy stab and rip)
at the first sight of enemy detecting the group Kiki jumps at the closest enemy and atemps to stab him.
ROUND 1
When everyone is within 40', before moving to attack, Quassine charges his stunning fist. While moving to attack the Fire Giant, Quassine uses a swift action to focus in on his Stalker Art, Deadly Insight.
Quassine stops short to use his reach but since he is not use to it, he almost does not hit the giant but an instant Heroic Inspiration comes through and he connects, KIAI!!!
The giant gets hit with a one-two, first by a lance which does destructive damage from Xanya and a second hit to add more damage except this second set of damage is more physically debilitating than the first.
[STUNNING FIST ATTEMPT] - Giant Rolls SV FORT DC16
[Applying Bewildered Debilitating Injury for 1 round] - The Fire Giant becomes bewildered, taking a –2 penalty to AC. The target takes an additional –2 penalty to AC against all attacks made by Quassine.
Quassine strike partially bounces off the Giant's hard hide but nonetheless, he still causes damage.
Before Battle - We can call it Round 0
Their final magical enchancements in place, the plan together and battle stances ready, the group spreads out taking their separate routes into the camp. Kiki transforms into an owl and flies a westerly route circling around to fly quietly into the trees.
Xanya mounted on Cryxial moves ahead and tries to infiltrate between the hellhounds.
Simon waits to take wing as his flying isn't the quietest, but he will be ready to rouse your battle spirits. Aster, not invisible lies in wait about 100' southeast of the camp at beck and call for the battle.
Quassine, amped and ready to fight, moves stealthily through the middle of the camp.
Xanya moves between the hell hounds who begin growling as they catch her scent, she moves quickly, knowing her own scent ability can sense foes but is imprecise unless very very close. She pushes through the camp of mostly sleeping creatures, messaging the group when in position. The others reply with whispers when they are also in position. Quassine's movement between the hellhounds also stirs them to sniff and growl and move into the area he moved through attempting to find the source.
Goliath in position whispers his readiness via message and with a leonic roar, takes the head clear off of the nearest hellhound with his rising zenith strike.
With his position revealed, the other hellhounds give warning and Xanya, Kiki and Quassine all strike. Simon takes wing, flying invisibly overhead rousing the team courageously, as he calls in Aster.
Xanya charges and plunges her lance into the giant's back a split second before Cryxial pounces and tears into the giant. A terrible roar issues as the giant suffers a near fatal wound.
- success
The damage from Xanya and Cryxial surprisingly does not kill the giant. Quassine turns visible as his attack slams into the still prone and shocked giant. His assault also doesn't kill it, but the giant looks near death.
- success, not stunned
Kiki in the tree had returned to her normal form and crept silently along the branches. She sees three humanoid shapes, birdlike crouched in the branches. One of them seems awake. She creeps up to one of them, giving her allies a single hoot in response and stabs one of the sleepers right as Goliath attacks and her allies strike. She thinks they are harpies.
continued
Kiki strikes invisibly, stabbing the harpy as the camp stirs into chaos, the yells and screams of battle resounding. Her tiny sword drives deep and the creature shrieks in pain flapping in the tree as leaves and feathers float to the ground. The one that was awake hisses reacting.
Round 1
Kiki: 24
Goliath: 23
Quassine: 20
Xanya/Cryxial: 20 for both, convenient!
Simon: 11
Aster: 8
Monsters: 7 and lower
Seeing that the giant still haven't gone down Xanya in a burst of speed stabs at the chest of the giant yet again, hoping to take it out before it can respond.
Xanya whirls about and charges at the two orcish looking humanoids. She figures that it's likely that those are the officers of the fire-giant or somesuch. By charging around the camp quickly they can catch as many of the enemies unaware as possible before they can hurt her or her comrades. By invading these lands they condemn themselves. Those that live her deserve to be free.
Xanya figures that by now everyone in the camp has awoken. With a flick of her wrist she flings the blood staining her lance into the fire with a sizzling sound.. "Surrender now, or you'll all perish for invading here!"
THE OFFICIAL ROUND 1 - INIT 20
Since Xanya moves away, Quassine does not move to Outflank the Fire Giant. However seeing the Giant still stirring after a brutal onslaught by Xanya, Quassine, and Cryxial, Quassine immediately starts to flail on the Giant to quickly end his current "bewildered" life. On Quassine's last punch, he shouts, "KIAI!!!"
If Quassine watches the Fire Giants take his last breath, he pugilist shuffles in front of the (Dead or alive) Hobgoblin next to Xanya . He then observes the battlefield while his blue shimmering mouth tentacles are flowing excitedly as he plots his next move. Then yells to the ruckus in the Tree, "Kiki, come down here if you need help. We can't quite see you or your opponents"
Quassine Round 1 Supplemental
Round 1
Goliath continues the assault charging down the next hound containing the perimeter.
"Kiki, what are in the tree?"
"Some kind of bird woman, probably Harpys"
Kiki unleashes her inner ferocity and starts stabbing the Bird woman
{dice=acrobatics(if needed)]1d20+17[/dice]
Round 1
Kiki: 24
Goliath: 23
Quassine: 20
Xanya/Cryxial: 20 for both, convenient!
Simon: 11
Aster: 8
Monsters: 7 and lower
Kiki shouts a response about the harpies and then hisses as she assaults the bird woman, barely awake.
She misses the first harpy with her first attack but follow up twice with two more in the lower back, as blood flies, and after the rapid strikes, the creature topples from the tree unconscious.
The harpy lands on the ground and breaks its neck.
- miss
Kiki leaps to the next harpy who while awake is unprepared, and she manages to stab it once, but does not kill it.
Goliath pounces on the next hell hound, his sword a blur of cuts as the creature drops with a yelp, dead.
Quassine strikes out with a spinning kick to the prone giant's temple, it is followed by two strikes to the giant's throat. The rapid powerful barrage sounds like three quick thumps, and the giant is no more.
Xanya, seeing that Quassine has things well in hand whirls and spurs Cryxial to charge one of the humanoids. She lowers her lance and skewers him in the chest, a split second before Cryxial pounces and drops the creature in a spray of blood. (dead)
Simon flies further over the combat, invisibly, his ukulele inspiring his teammates below.
Aster charges a hellhound attacking.
- miss
The harpy that Kiki just stabbed, attacks Kiki, attempting to grab the tiny spiderling.
- hit
- success
Kiki slashes the harpy but it manages to grab the tiny spiderling.
The other harpy, which was awake, launches itself into the air from the trees, with its bow in hand, and flies out over the middle of the camp, hovering in place and fires an arrow at Quassine from its spot 30' up.
- miss
The humanoid near Xanya starts to cast a spell (defensively)
- success
Xanya feels a spell trying to overcome her.
- success
She shrugs off the magic easily and sees the brutish enemy caster scramble prone in its sleeping bedroll.
The hellhounds move and two of them run up to Quassine and release their fiery breath weapons at him.
- success, Evasion
- success, Evasion
- fail
The other hellhound moves in but does not attack. Two others come from the perimeter to menace Xanya. The orcs, seeing the giant die and also one of the other casters, scramble from the bedrolls and start to flee.
"Simon, stop the fleeing orcs with entangle!" Xanya shouts out as she stabs at the prone caster who tried to bespell her.
After Xanya stabs out Cryxial steps closer and unleashes his own barrage of attacks. Suddenly Xanya notices that her head has grown the same hard scales and sharp ridges as Cryxial. By sharing my rage, I take on some of your traits we well. She bends down to headbutt the prone figure at the same time as Cryxial does.