Once More into the Breach - GMF's Wrath of the Righteous (Inactive)

Game Master Fanguar

While the lizard was not intelligent enough for them to have to worry about an agenda beyond how it was trained, Joao wondered about how long it would take for them to search this place and remove the Mongrelmen from the premises. As he had other weapons, he was not too decided on outright killing things as they went unless they had no other choice, or it was something that was blatantly malicious. The others, perhaps they had no choice, or chose not to... It was something that he was going to have to ponder later.

For now, he readied himself for when the lizard came within range. It would be possible for him to render it unconscious before it had to die.

Delay Action until the lizard closes, acting before the lizard

Aglamore races in before the lizard can bottleneck the door, then jabs at the beast with his longspear.

longspear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 141d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

If the lizard closes, Aglamore gets an AoO.

Round 1, Initiative 12
21/21 hp; AC 15/11T/14FF; +5F/+2R/+3W

Ready Action: Whip vs. Lizard (AC 15) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
> Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Pytros steps back to set his feet properly and aims for the lizard as it starts towards them. He knows that he can lash it viciously if he times the strike correctly. His goal is to hit it just as it moves through the door, possibly confusing it or forcing it to slow or stop. The slashing whip may give the others a chance to bear down upon it before its powerful jaws brings one of them to the ground.

HP:17/17

Drop sling and charge
Charge attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Ruarc drops his sling and charges straight into the room, drawing Justice and chopping into the lizard.

Everyone carefully lays an ambush except Ruarc who charges right at the foe.
Sneak attack: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Round 1 Init 10

attack vs Ruarc: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 (miss)

Combat Round 1/2
22-12 Everyone but Maeve
10 Lizard
9 Maeve

You guys are up

Aglamore steps to the side and jabs again at the lizard.

Longspear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 171d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

I think that kills him.

"Well done Aglamore," Ruarc compliments the priest. He motions the others to come into the room, and begins looking around it and the small chamber whose door is open on the side (H3).

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Perception 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Pytros cautiously enters the room, coiling his whip as he walks. "Maeve, Aglamore - guard the door to our left." He points to the northern wall. "I'll guard this door; Joao and Ruarc, check that room for supplies." He stops a few feet from the door, cautious for makeshift and hasty traps. He stops and focuses on the door and what may lay beyond it.

Joao knew that their time was limited now, so he made haste to the door, cautious, but not expecting the Mongrelmen to have much in the way of traps. After a quick examination, he sets to on the lock (if necessary).
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24, D.Device: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Brother Aglamore does as Pytros says, leveling his spear at the left door.

It does

The lingering smells of cooked meat and rank bodies hang in the air. Ten bedrolls, each piled with coarse blankets and animal furs, surround a fire pit filled with glowing goals. Tanned hides hang stretched on the walls, each crudely painted with scenes of deformed humanoids hunting giant vermin in caves. A quick search of the area fails to find anything of interest though one of the doors to an adjacent room has been left open. A quick peek inside reveals a rack of hooks hanging from the ceiling, cured slabs of meat dangling from them and filling the room with a smoky aroma. A group of barrels appears to hold other preserved foodstuffs. Heaps of dried rations

No traps. North door or east?

Nodding quietly Maeve began to move towards the door to her left before stiffening. She was being given orders! Opening her mouth to give the rough side of her tongue to Pytros, Maeve stopped herself. Sighing she took a deep breath. "Pytros, I understand that you were a leader of men, but I was not raised in such an environment, in the future a please would go a long way towards me meeting your requests." Sniffing in a petulant pique, Maeve crossed her arms and marched towards the door in a huff. Order me around, will he!

North Door. Opened carefully with lots of weapons drawn.

It was doubtful, after that first locked door and guards, that the others were going to be locked, but Joao tested it carefully anyway, knowing that it was better safe than sorry, especially in this location. He wondered how many that they would face, given that they were invading their stronghold with the intent to remove them all. Mentally shrugging, he refocused on the present, readying himself as he tested the door once he checked it and the lock.
Perception(10)=16, D.Device(10)=20

With Joao's all clear on the door, Aglamore eases it open and gets jabbed at by a readied polearm

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Inside the room a pair of nervous looking cultists stand guard. One with a fine looking glaive and the other with a gleaming scyth.

Combat Round 1
21 Cultists
20 Joao
14 Aglamore
12 Pytros
9 Maeve
4 Ruarc

The glaive weilding cultist attacks again:
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 (miss)

and the other waits, readied to attack any who approach, (readied attack)

Everybody is up

Joao's practice at tactics was certainly getting a workout. With the position that they were holding, it would be difficult for anyone to get through the doorway without being severely injured or killed. What they needed was to find a way to disarm the cultist with the glaive, so they could safely advance. So he would have to wait.

Delay action

Round 1

HP:17/17 then 12/17

AC:23

Move action draw shield.
Move action move to move in front of Aglamore

Glaive AOO on Ruarc: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Scythe Readied attack on Ruarc: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Glaive damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"Well, we had to see that coming." Ruarc grumbles, still a bit angry that his ruse hadn't worked with the first two guards. I should have changed into one of the dead guys we found. This is all my fault. Oh well, I've got to make up for it now. Ragathiel guide my blade!

The dark knight pulls out his shield and says, "Coming through!" before hustling to move past Joao and Aglamore. I've got to make a hole for them to come through... He holds up his shield as he moves past the cleric, fully expecting to catch two pole-arms in the face.

The glaive wielder lashes out and gets past his shield, cutting through Ruarc's armor and injuring his thigh. Ruarc is expecting the scythe blow though, and catches it easily on his shield.

Round 1, Initiative 12
hp 21/21; AC 15/11T/14FF; +5F/+2R/+3W

SA: Disarm vs. Cultist #2 (CMD 12) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Pytros sidesteps until he can see the two cultists guarding the door. He takes aim with his whip, pointing his free hand where he wants it to go. He flicks the whip forward with his wrist, sending it towards the man like a sidewinder. The tip of the whip wraps around the scythe once, twice, and three times. Pytros yanks hard, ripping from his hands. It clatters on the cavern floor within his reach. If he wants his weapon back, he will have to pay a hefty price.

Round 1 Initiative 12 HP13/13

After Ruarc and Pytros act, Joao sees his chance to to enter the fight and does so, moving behind Ruarc and diving past the glaive wielder's range as he maneuvered to land behind the cultist that Ruarc was facing. He figured that they would want to question one of them, so he did not strike to kill.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Attack: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 2 = 19,Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 4) + 1 = 11

Aglamore calls upon Iomedae. "Inheritor, Stalwart Fortress of the Righteous, abjure these hurts that we may prevail in your name!"

Cure Light Wounds on Ruarc: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Thank you," Ruarc grumbles over his shoulder as he feels the healing energy hit him.

Ranged disarms are going to get old fast ;)
I'll update tomorrow if I don't here back from Maeve before then

Maeve moves forward and gives a cultist the old Evil Eye, Save vs DC15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20, but the cultist is less than impressed.

Combat Round 2
21 Cultists
20 Joao
14 Aglamore
12 Pytros
9 Maeve
4 Ruarc

"Son of a..." The cultist reposition to flank Ruarc and the one with the glaive whirls to strike at Joao. The other, nursing a sore hand and missing its favourite weapon, draws a dagger and strikes at Ruarc.

Atack vs Joao: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Attack vs Ruarc: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 2 = 14 (miss)

Joao's look of triumph at his succesful maneuver quickly turns to one of shock and pain, as the cultist neatly runs him through. (Bad luck, Joao is at 0hp)

Everyone is up.

Round 2

HP:17/17

AC:23

Attack the wounded one.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
5' step out of flanking as indicated by red line.

Ruarc whirls, trying to finish off the glaive wielder, but the angle is awkward due to dodging the dagger thrust a moment before. Ruarc misses the mongrelman completely. "Blood and s#~!!" he curses, seeing how badly Joao is wounded. He steps away from the two savages surrounding him, hoping to put his back to a wall, and let the others into the room.

As soon as Ruarc steps out of the way, Aglamore spears one of the two cultists with his longspear.

Longspear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 101d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Round 2, Initiative 12
hp 21/21; AC 15/11T/14FF; +5F/+2R/+3W

MA: move 10' right
SA: Trip vs. Glaive Cultist (CMD 12) 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 4 = 5

Pytros steps to his right, trying to get an angle through the open door around Aglamore. It is a profoundly difficult task trying to thread the needle around him with the whip. He tries to tangle the whip around the legs of the cultist who threatens Joao, but the positioning makes the whip snap back without latching on.

Round 2 Init12
HP:0/13, AC 15/13/12

Stumbling backwards, Joao did his best to play up the mortality of the wound, collapsing against the wall, hoping the others would be able to finish the pair with decidedly less damage than he took.

I know Maeve's around, but I think that been a long enough wait.

With the door clogged and no clear view of the enemy, Maeve stands around impotently.

Combat Round 3
21 Cultists
20 Joao
14 Aglamore
12 Pytros
9 Maeve
4 Ruarc

With little room to maneuver, the glaive wielding cultist withdraws back to the door and the other moves over to join her. The second cultist turns to Ruarc, "You should flee this place." Casts Command DC14 Will or flee on next turn

Everyone is up

Round 3, Initiative 12
hp 21/21; AC 15/11T/14FF; +5F/+2R/+3W

MA: Enter room to Joao
SA: Whip vs. Cleric (AC 15) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
> Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Pytros darts into the room as the cultists duck behind cover. He gets side-by-side with Joao, protecting him with his presence. "Behind me!" He lashes out with the whip, aiming at the already-wounded cultist who was casting a spell at Ruarc. Pytros takes care not to open himself up to a counterattack by the glaive-wielding enemy. The whip acts much like an edged weapon, catching the cultist's neck exposed. Blood pours out as Pytros watches his enemy fall, mortally wounded.

Cultist: -3/15

Round 3

Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 Bah, wasted 20.

Move across room, attack remaining cultist.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

HP:17/17

AC:23

Ruarc shakes off the command spell easily. He moves over to the two cultists and tries to hit the last one with Justice, but resisting the magical compulsion has him distracted and the attack is ineffective.

Brother Aglamore comes up behind Joao and, laying a gauntleted hand on the ninja's shoulder, whispers "In the name of the Inheritor, I abjure these hurts."

Convert protection from evil to cure light wounds.

CLW on Joao[/dice: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

R3, HP 6/13, AC:15/13/12

Joao had not gotten magical healing often, so being healed was a novel experience-- one that he was dearly grateful for. "My Thanks", he said with a nod, getting to his feet. Checking the wound still hurt, and he could tell that it was by no means completely healed, but at least he was not on death's door.

Maeve steps into the room and gives the evil eye to the lone, remaining cultist: Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19, but it has no effect.

Combat Round 4
21 Cultists
20 Joao
14 Aglamore
12 Pytros
9 Maeve
4 Ruarc

The cultist grabs at her holy symbol. A wave of pure blackness explodes forth, washing over all of you.

Channel Neg Eng: 1d6 ⇒ 4 (DC11 Will save for half)

Everyone is up

Round 4

Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

HP:15/17

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Ruarc grunts under the wave of negative energy before stabbing her in the chest. He wounds her badly, but she's still standing.

Round 4, Initiative 12
hp 17/21; AC 15/11T/14FF; +5F/+2R/+3W

Will save (DC 11) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Pytros grimaces as sores, cuts, and welts erupt on his skin as if he were dipped in an oily fire. They blister into painful cuts on his skin, but he soldiers through the pain.

SA: Whip vs. Cleric (AC 15) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
> Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Pytros takes a strong step forward, whipping the cultist with a vicious slash. The whip wraps around her arm, digging hard into her and drawing blood. He pulls hard on the whip while launching himself forward. He drives his knee upward, slamming into her with force in both directions. Her ribs crack and collapse, sending her face down on the cavern floor.

Combat is over
Everyone still please make their will saves when they post.

A quick search of the cultists turns up their combat gear, two mwk chain shirts, a mwk glaive and a mwk scythe. There are also two potions (DC16:PoCLW) and 20gp in coin.

The worked stone walls of this large room hold a number of shelves, each of which display the preserved bodies of dire rats, bats, rock vipers, cave lizards, and other creatures that pose in eerie stillness. A closed door lies to the east and a ladder leads up through a hole in the ceiling.

Will save (DC11) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Current HP 16/18

Wincing as her already fragile skin begins to wither and crack, Maeve grits her teeth. She had known pain. She had lived it as few had. Shaking her head back and forth she takes a deep ragged breath and opens her eyes. Her arms and hands, already scarred were covered in black blisters but not the less worse for ware. Tentatively she touched one with her hand and felt it flare up again in pain but it seemed to have already lessened.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

As the men are searched, Maeve grasps at the bottles the two cultists had, holding it up to the light. A pale blue liquid shined through the glass and it was sealed with a red wax covered cork. She felt a jolt of power run through her hand. It was similar to the same feeling she had experienced the day before when the chieftain had gifted her group with a crate of potions of healing. Nodding softly she drew the groups attention to herself. The potions will cure you. The woman said softly, like a shadow taking on form momentarily. They are the same type as the ones we have previously been given.

Placing the bottles down on the floor, Maeve backed away and crossed her arms. She waited for the groups next move.

Will Save (DC 11): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"We should carry all of these fine weapons if we can," says Brother Aglamore. [b]"And I'd like to take one of these beautiful chain shirts if no one objects. I think Ruarc and Pytros should probably take the potions."[/ooc]

He gathers everyone together and prays over them. Twice.

Channel positive energy: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (3) = 6

Pytros runs his hand over his skin as Aglamore's healing magic washes over him. He feels the tingle in his nerves as the bloody sores close and disappear. "Thank you, Aglamore." He seems a touch uncomfortable with the usage of divine magic, but not so much that he will turn down its effects. He picks up and slips one of the potions into his shirt. "We should all have sufficient potions on hand, in case the rest of the squad - the group - is unable to get into a defensive position to cover a retreat. He strips the chain shirts off the defeated foes, handing one to Aglamore. He holds the other one out in front of him to Joao. [b]"This is superior protection to leather, if you want it. If you don't, it is a superior quality to my own armor. Cultists or not, their equipment is well-forged."

Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 HP 8/13

As injured as Joao had been, he had just stood when he saw the blackness right before it hit him. A small part of his mind had the leisure to note it intellectually, and consider it a good test. He had long ago accepted that part of him was a challenge-seeker, and undoubtedly embraced pain willingly.

He probably made a noise when it hit, he would not remember. He just knew the cold and dark, the absolute absence of everything that he knew to be appreciable.. "good" even, and he found himself on his hands and knees on the floor when he regained his sense of self after that assault. Not dead yet, he forced himself to his feet out of training, shaky. If he had to think about it, whatever that blackness was tore at something in the core of him.

Pytros removed the cultist from the engagement, and Joao had time to contemplate what he had just been hit with. It was interesting. Damaging, but interesting in a detached sense. Then Aglamore prayed, and he experienced the opposite of what he had felt. Buoyant, warming, even encouraging, he tilted his head as he took the time to contemplate that as well. Interesting, and something to learn more about another day.
- - -

The armor was something that would certainly help him, given his need to be in the fight once another was, and it was looking like the extra protection would be necessary if this pattern held. "I would appreciate that", he replied, accepting the armor and then proceeding to exchange for his own, right then and there.

"I'll carry this for now," Ruarc says, picking up the well crafted glaive. He straps his shield back in place on his back, and holds the polearm in his off hand. "I'm not practiced in the use of such weapons, but we can sell it later. Someone else grab the scythe, the same thing goes for it."

Knowledge: Nature 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

While the group measures the different paths available to them, Pytros walks over to examine the preserved animals on display. He attempts to glean any information available from them. They are not too different from what he saw in the laboratories and museums of his youth. "We should clear the space above the ladder, to ensure that we are not leaving an opportunity for our enemies to ambush us from two sides at once," he says absent-mindedly while he continues his examination.

@Pytros:The animals are exceptional examples of the local subterranean fauna.

The ladder leads up to a small room with a short corridor connecting it to another room with a barricade, behind of which a trio of large rats can be seen nosing about.

Map up dated

"Aglamore, get behind me, Pytros behind him. I'll lead the way with my shield, you stab them over my shoulder priest. You whip them, Hermean," Ruarc commands. He hefts his shield into a defensive position and begins slowly advancing on the rats.

Move to the end of the hallway, fighting defensively my AC is 25. We should be able to do this with no injuries if we are patient. Let them come to me, and then Aglamore and Pytros and I shred them. Maeve can hex, and Joao can go scout/listen at the other two doors?

Sounds like a plan. Aglamore gets behind Ruarc and stabs rats over his shoulder and past his waist.

Sounds like a plan.

The size of the tunnel was going to make the fight inaccessible for him, but that was fine with Joao. He was not all that keen on potentially getting injured again, anyway. Not just yet, at least. However, given what had been going on in the other rooms, there were still two doors that they had not examined, and that was something that he could do quite easily. "I will check the other doors", he said, looking at the others.

Starting with the one that the cultists that they had fought were in, he was then intending to check the other one that was in the room with the lizard they had killed. He was not going to attempt to unlock them if they were locked, though the fight at the door to get in should have ruined their cover, he would have thought. Mindful of his wounds, he moved carefully, taking a source of light with him.

R1Door in cultist roomStealth: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 1 = 15, Listening at Door: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Door in Lizard/Firepit roomStealth: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 - 1 = 27, Listening at Door: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Will move token with the rounds.

I'll just hand wave this...

Though slow, Ruarc's plan proves safe and successful. His defensive barrier proves too stout for the rats to penetrate and they are put down.

Joao plays his roll as rear guard well. Listening to the door in the room where the cultists were dispatched, he hears the faint gurgle of water, but little else. Back in the first room, he has a little more success. From behind this closed door, he catches a few snatches of murmured conversation followed by a sharp bark to shut up.

Aglamore tightens up his grip on his spear, and waits for someone else to open the door. He has no preparations to make.

"Same formation as the rats, I'll hold the doorway, you two fight over my shoulder. Joao, you can either pop in ahead of us, or go check the door by the rats," Ruarc whispers to the others, before taking up position at the door where the ninja heard whispers.

Waiting until the others were in position, Joao checked the door to make sure that it was not locked (if locked:D.Device: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25), before moving out of the way of the others getting into position. He had been hurt recently, so heading in before them was something he was hesitant to do, especially if those in the room were expecting them. From the sounds they had been making, he was fairly certain that their presence was known, so he was going to stick around to help.