Omega Team Orders from the Gate PFS PBP Gameday V (Inactive)

Game Master Curaigh

Both the remaining orcs continue to fight. The warlord relentlessly chops at the elf with his wickedly curved blade. "I'll eat the coward who refuses to fight and any opponent who doesn't!"

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13, 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

R4
Fenrik : cuts up orc warlord
Lieutenant Orc (23): shoots at Alistina
Fatima (19): hits orc warlord
Allistina (18): smashes orc Lt.
Ruprecht (16): stabs orc warlord
Warlords (17): slashes (uselessly) at Ruprecht
Tavarius (11): <-- here now
Fenrik (R5): <-- here now

Tavarius, looks over his shoulder and sees little threat from the orc attacking his party instead focuses on aiding the Hellknights.

"You there hold the right flank, Manius and Budra push left, Stranglus is in trouble!"

Tavarius will use Inspiring Command on 3 of the Hellknights.

+2 insight bonus on attack rolls, AC, combat maneuver defense, and skill checks for 1 round.

ADS1+PA: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14...DMG: 1d8 + 12 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 6 = 21

ADS2+PA: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23...DMG: 1d8 + 12 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 6 = 24

Fenrik strikes out at the orc to his front with his sword...

Fenrik strikes out at the orc to his front with his sword.

The Hellknights are all still standing, a growing wall of dead orcs at their feet, in part due to the

The archer drops his bow and immediately begins slicing the dwarf with his battle axe, laughing in utter joy with each ring of steel.

battle Axe: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 4 = 27, battle Axe: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 4 = 16 one hit: 1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 4 = 14

R5
Fenrik : strikes orc warlord
Lieutenant Orc (23): shoots at Alistina
Fatima (19): <-- here now
Allistina (18): <-- here now
Ruprecht (16): <-- here now
Warlords (17):
Tavarius (11):

Someone correct me if I am wrong please: ferocity rule trumps non-lethal damage rule.

Aye, like I said, piss poor warlord.
Allistina relentlessly hammers with her warhammer
1st swing: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20 damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
BOF swing: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14 damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
2nd swing: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
2nd swing confirm: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Bid bad green children playing at war, thas all you are.

Ru keeps slashing with his magical spear at the orc that closed with him.

Ill take +2 to Attack and AC this round.

Attack 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Damage 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Though it seems he has no mind the warlord keeps hitting the alchemist with only a slight lesson of ferocity.

The Lt. on the other hand literally has no mind, the ruins of his are splashed on the ground, on Alistina, and on Alistina's warhammer.

Lt is down down. Fatima's turn is up.

Fatima continues her onslaught.

Piranha Strike, Arcane Strike, Spell Combat with Arcane Mark. Extra attack from BoF

Attack: 1d20 + 16 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 16 - 2 - 2 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 8 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 2 + 4 = 16

Arcane Mark: 1d20 + 16 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 16 - 2 - 2 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 8 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 + 4 = 17

BoF: 1d20 + 16 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 16 - 2 - 2 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 8 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 + 4 = 20

Attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 - 2 - 2 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 8 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 + 4 = 20

Fatima's blade disappears in a red haze, but after a few heartbeats the haze coalesces into drops of blood. These fall to the ground and bits of orc flesh splash into the puddles they make.

With the last of the front orcs destroyed, the pathfinders are free to join the Hellknights. The orc horde is massive, but is too chaotic to resist the combined might of a Hellknight squad and a Pathfinder band.

This leaves the orcs who sought sanctuary, who immediately surrender and quickly thank you for saving them. end of combat

Allistina moves away from the fallen who might be injured and channels to heal.
channel pos: 5d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 4, 3) = 15
Torag heal these warriors with your blessed light that they may live to fight another day.
Might as well go again
channel pos: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 5, 6, 3) = 22
Blessed forge father bind our wounds.

The Hellknights also see to the wounded. And are soon back to fighting order. anything else?

The captured orcs who were fleeing from their kin cower and grovel on the grounds. "We promise. We'll be good!" Most of these orcs have no runes on their flesh, though one of them does. "Give mercy, and we will tell you everything we know."

Ru saw no reason to kill these poor orcs. They were hardly a threat to anyone. "Be sure we have all the magic from those other orcs. Those are our spoils of war!"

"Who wants to question these orcs? They need to tell us everything to earn their place with us?"

"Someone should speak to these prisoners and get whatever information is useful from them. I could but I am not very persuasive."

The captured orcs who were fleeing from their kin cower and grovel on the grounds. "We promise. We'll be good! We will tell you everything we know." (no persuasion necessary :)

Tavarius takes charge.

"Dispater will hear your pleas, speak clearly and present your information."

diplomacy take 10: 10 + 15 = 25
If any of them are secretly devils I get an extra +2

Fatima quietly cleans her blade. She whispers to Alistina, "Do you think we can trust the Hellknights to honor the orcs' surrender?"

They may be harsh, but from my past dealings, I've seen them to be fair. Worst case, they keep them prisoner until they're tried for other crimes, though I canna think of any crimes this lot may have committed.

"For all their faults, Hellknights follow the law. I think as long as the prisoner behave themselves they should be fine."

Indeed these are the orcs Signifier Karva came all this way to question. Please, ask ask what you would like to know. If it helps, please check the mission briefing on the first page.

So what's your tribe been up to then?

Tavarious clears his throat "Perhaps you did not hear me the first time orcs, speak! We know there are forces of chaos at work in these mountains. Tell us all you know."

After their response...

"Good, now tell us about the Temple of the Sky. In case that is not the name you know it by, it has many inscribed pillars and is within marching distance of the gap."

"Our shaman summoned a beast to help us with the war, but then it ate him. It is a terrible beast, summoned from other places—dark places. Now the shaman’s apprentice Olgrahk serves the creature and commands us all to carve our sins. That Which—” The orc stammers, “I can’t say its name. It hates mortal sin and wants to end all signs of mortal life."

"We are not shamans and we do not know the truth of dark beasts. It is a great creature, with tentacles and slime. Worms and bugs come when it beckons. It can talk inside our heads and make us do things. It carries a magic wand, which it uses to enchant the sins of our flesh." the one orc with runes on his arm begins to wipe at them, but the runes do not go away.

“Olgrahk is on his way to destroy the Temple of the Sky now. We seldom go there because ancient men, who worshiped the sky, cursed the temple. They say the ancient men summoned spirits of the air to write down wisdom onto pillars there. In the past, some of our shamans read the pillars and gained strange powers.“

Kava asks: Where is this beast now?

The beast has two plans. It hates signs of mortal life. So first it ordered Olgrahk and his orcs into the mountains to destroy all
ruins lefts behind by men. They are on their way to the Temple of the Sky now. Second, now that it has finished reminding the Severed Hand orcs of their sinfulness, it wants to spread out and kill other humanoids in the mountains. It has started a ritual to summon more of its kind here, and then they will attack. Preparations started
when we left, so the ritual should begin soon.”

"Is the temple closer to our current position, or is the site of the summoning ritual closer to us?"

Tavarius will prod the orcs "Answer his question."
Tavarius will then glare at them until they do.

Don't prod, don't prod! I'll tell you," squeals one orc. "Severed Hand is one hour that way," she says pointing back they way came. "The temple is one hour that way," she points in the exact opposite direction.

"I planned to rest the night, but this sound dire," Signifier Kava says. "We will have to move on now to reach the village before dark." For her there is no choice, but for the Pathfinders....

"Pathifnders which choice do we make? Do we separate from the Hellknights and trust them to take care of their business, or do we go with them?"

Once away from the Hellknights a few steps "I see no reason to doubt the Hellknight's drive and ability to accomplish their tasks. I think we should cover the other location."

"I would prefer to leave the Hellknights to their own agendas... multiple goals can be accomplished then... and our air will smell better..."

Yee may be right, but we were sent specifically to respond to the hellknights call for aid. I would hate to see important lore lost to blind destruction, but the Venture Captain mentioned offer aid first.

How about we vote?

"We were told to follow the Hellknight's orders. If they command, we should go with them. If they release us from their service, I would prefer to go our separate ways."

Do we have any long-term buffs we can give them before they go?

That seems reasonable.

Throwing his hands up in the air Fenrik relents..."Alright fine have it your way... but it would be better if we part ways with them... just saying..."

Ru nods. "Hellknights, what's the plan? Our mission was to assist you. Do you want our help or not? You make the call."

Signifier Karva remarks, "There isn’t time for both. A ritual of such power is likely to seal off the area around it, making entry impossible if we do not travel to the ritual site as quickly as possible."

I would hate to see important lore lost to blind destruction.

Most have you done so already, but I would like everyone to weigh in in-character on what's next please. If the choice has not changed since your previous post that's fine. OOC is also helpful & their is no wrong answer. :)

Know. Arcana 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Know. Arcana 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

knowledge(planes): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
knowledge(planes): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
I spent too much time tromping through the worldwound bashing beasties to let some horror come through a portal here. It pains me, but if the hellknights need our support on this, then I say we go with them.

Ru nods. "Hellknights, what's the plan? Our mission was to assist you. Do you want our help or not? You make the call."

I just realized I didn't answer this directly, only indirectly.

Signifier Karva considers the Pathfinders under her command. Wanting help or not isn't a part of the question. She has given an order: get to the summoning ritual and defeat the cause of the chaos.

Tavarius nods at her order and prepares to move out.

Orders are order, lets go stop the ritual. Tavarius feels strongly that the orders should be followed. OOC I'm interested in either way the story might end and will gladly acquiesce to the party if they prefer the other way.

With 5 charisma, Fatima is not keen on confrontation. She'll follow the orders, even though she's uncomfortable around Chelaxians.

Arcana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Planes: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Arcana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Planes: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

"It's likely we wouldn't have time to save the temple before the ritual destroyed it anyway."

Ru agrees with the others to follow their orders. He was ready to proceed.

Once the journey gets started, Fatima uses her wands of Mage Armor and Longstrider.

UMD (MA): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21

UMD (LS): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

[ooc]Crap. No Longstrider for me! Anyone else who wants to use and can is free to, though.

Fenrik agrees with the weak and rude female magic swordsman...

wow low str and cha.. must be tough and impressive. did not realize that about your character.

I'll buff as well hold out on a few until we think we are close. Ill post specifics a bit later

What is the plan with the orcs?

At the mention of splitting the party, Signifiar Karva gives a terse and negative response. “A unit of battle is one body. Any division in the unit is a rift into chaos, a cancer that proliferates until the unit dies. You gave your word that you would assist us. We go together and with honor.”

Signifer Karva thanks you for your stalwart behavior and leaves for the Severed Hand tribal home immediately. She orders the Hellknights to mount up and several start casting spells. Shortly there are magical mounts for the Hellknights and the Pathfinders.

Signs of chaotic taint fill the landscape on the march to the orc lair. The terrain is twisted into hellish forms and pits of writhing worms dot the mountainside. Orc totems, including piles of skulls and pillars of bones, line the path to the orc warrens.

The party stops to prepare combat spells. Then continues.

The mountain path dead-ends here inside of a box canyon. Crude carvings and ancient paintings cover the canyon’s walls, marking
this as the ancestral home of an orc tribe. Scattered across the canyon floor are large piles of stacked skulls. Four sets of carved stairs lead to yawning caves in the sides of the canyon.

In the center of the canyon is a sprawling pit of worms and writhing insects. A narrow stone path leads to a small island in the pit of worms, where an altar made of bone rests surrounded by a circle of glowing runes.

Bless
air walk
, extended shield of faith,
recall with pearl of power to give someone else extended shield of faith (+3).
Protection from evil
, extended bulls strength.
Invisibility purge if no one objects,
and finally magic circle against evil on someone who isnt me.

Fenrik reluctantly goes with the Hellknights but is cognizant not to be first in line.

Ru pulls several of his extracts and drinks them down.

Fly, Heroism, See Invisibility, Barkskin, Bull's Strength and Shield.

He moves to the front of the group and carefully searches for traps.

Perception 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 18 + 2 = 36

AC 29 with Barksin and Shield.
+4 to hit, +2 to damage.

Tavarius will take the orcs a as his wards for now.

As they approach Tavarious will cast Freedom of Movement on himself as well as communal resist fire on the group once they approach the canyon.

Resist 20 fire for all PCs

Tavarious will also take his familiar out of his satchel and lets the invisible imp fly around.

If stealth entering the canyon is preferred I will need to retcon, but as you are traveling with a lot of Hellknights I am going to assume a guns blazing entrance.

Hundreds of Severed Hands orc still live in the warrens and they begin pouring out of the caves in an attempt to mob the party.*

Signifer Karva rallies the Hellknights. "Fend off the orc hordes. Pathfinder take care of those three." She points to three orcs in the pool's island. The first is the largest Severed Hand orc you have yet seen, and judging from the hands around his belt he might just be the tribe's chieftain.** If possible he grows even larger as he bellows a furious challenge at the party. The other two are in robes instead of armors and are chanting at the center of the pool of writhing worms.

*I used a single orc, at the entrances and a single Hellknight to represent the whole of them.
**In fact we shall call him the chieftain.

chieftain: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
that which peels flesh: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 +20
mystics: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6

Time for Initiative! Post an action if you beat a 6.
R1
Chieftain (26):
murder hobos:
Mystic (6):

[Perception DC 35]That which peals flesh isn't really in this room, but I figured someone was wondering why I rolled a die for him.