The Scorched Lands (Inactive)

Game Master wicked_raygun

Decision Roll: 1d100 ⇒ 48

At Bukaru's question, Doc looks down at the just-loaded crossbow in his hands, then back at the half-elf. "I rather suspect a readied crossbow tips our hand. But if they can't see us here, your deception might still be possible. If you wish to go on ahead, I'll cover you."

Have we a map?

"It would hopefully make sense to them that we would approach a creature such as this with weapons drawn, in case it should rise up and attack us. I would rather you come with *us* (gesturing at Mel, already moving forward) to provide extra retaliation, as I am unarmed."

Also looking for anything moving above :
Notice: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

"Perhaps you're unaware," Doc replies sourly, "that I can 'provide extra retaliation' -- as you put it -- from a distance."

"Fine," he grumbles when it becomes clear his comment hasn't swayed the cleric's outlook. Loveless reaches back and pulls a few vials from his backpack, moving them to his pockets before struggling his way down from the saddle. He traps Applejack's reins under a small boulder -- just enough weight to encourage her to stay put, but still allowing her to break away if necessary -- and then retrieves his crossbow.

"Alright, let's go."

Leland takes his ease on the trip, riding comfortably atop Gizmo is a custom cushioned seat of his own design (and a very fine design it is).

At the sight of the downed dinosaur he dismounts and surveys the situation with his trail mates.

"Climbing is a little out of my area of expertise. Perhaps Gizmo might be able to scramble up there, but he's probably best suited to trip the trap."

Casts Mage armour and Message on Gizmo. He also casts Message on Dalton. "If you see anything, whisper it out loud and I'll hear ya"

Leland will stay with the caravan, but send Gizmo to investigate the 'ambush'.

Ben gave Leland a brief nod before sidling off, hopefully out of view of anyone watching.

Rough week, guys. Thanks for being so patient with me.

Now if I understand correctly. Ben and Jake climbed up the rope, and you guys are waiting on a signal before you send in Gizmo. Ben had the message spell cast on him.

Jake ascends the low cliff as easily as one might cross the street. Ben has some difficulty but manages it with some help from Jake. The two manage to spot some Orcs lying low along the cliff.

Meanwhile, the others manage to spot an orc hiding clumsily just behind the dead triceratops.

Map up here.

I'll let you roleplay and decide your next actions, before we start the slaughter.

Ben took a quick count, then ducked back. "Three orcs. Not much of an ambush. I'll look around for more," he muttered for Leland's benefit.

Easing back, he went looking for another vantage point, slinking among the rocks like a cougar, nice and quiet-like.

Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

"Oh for..." Mallory exclaims in quiet exasperation. "Damned brutes can't even be bothered..." She pulls out her gun, and nods to Loveless. "I ain't sayin' this won't be fun, but a little effort woulda been nice."

'Wait, girl.' She tells herself. 'It could still be a trap. He could be a scout, or bait. Don't be careless.'

Holstering her gun with a grumble, she instead pulls out her violin. "Cover me in case this don't work." She mutters. Beginning to move closer to the Triceratops, she begins playing a haunting melody for it. The only talk of religions she'd heard lately felt like a lifetime ago, with the priest on the train. She knew she didn't have his way with words, but tried for a song that he'd be able to preach over, were he still with them.

Using Desperado's Tune - "Fascinate". Orc behind the triceratops gets a Will Save (DC15) to resist.

Jake wasn't really "cougar-like." So he didn't even bother going after Ben. Instead, keeping low, he quietly drew his weapon, and waited for the right moment.

If the map is to scale, and Jake is only 30' away, the weapon he's drawing is his flail, and he'll charge the closest orc as soon as the fighting looks to start (i.e. Surprise round action). If the map isn't so scale, and he's more than 30' away, it's his bow, and he'll be shooting to kick the fight off.

stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 (To avoid notice until the surprise round)

"...a little effort woulda been nice."

"Said effort has already been expended, Miss Mallory," says Doc quietly, eyes roving over the scene. "The nature of these beasts is to rush in and destroy. How often have you seen orcs set up -- or even participate in -- an ambush of this sort? These are exceptional representatives of their race, I should think. Either that or something else, and possibly extraordinary, is going on here. Let's not underestimate them or the situation."

Staying with the group on the ground.

Ray, can't move my icon for some reason...

Hey, Ben. Could you position your PC where you want to go on the map.

Bukaru, try it now.

Ray, I can move now, thanks.

Assuming we have some rough idea of where the 3 Orcs are, Bukaru is not eager to "break cover" since she has no weapons, but also wants to stay close enough to Mal that she can heal her if needed.

Looking at Loveless and Leland, she says "Aren't you two going to give her...what I believe you call 'backup'? I cannot provide any means to harm the Orcs she is facing all by herself. She should not go out there alone."

Will Save vs. Fascinate DC 15: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

"Hate fiddles," the Orc growls quietly as he waits behind the dead dinosaur.

Meanwhile, the Orcs on the ridge spot the mechanical wunderkind that is the mighty Gizmo. They wait for the eidolon to approach their trap.

"Here kitty, kitty," one of them says before breaking a small ampoule in his hand. This magical item triggers the runes hidden in the sand, and then there's an explosion that sends dust and flames into the sky.

Gizmo Reflex Save DC 12: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16, Pfft! No problem. And with Evasion. Gizmo takes no damage. Mallory was not in the radius, so she's cool.

Gizmo senses something amiss and leaps aside, avoiding the blast entirely.

"Attack!" the Orcs scream in their foul, bestial language.

Ben: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Bukaru: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19
Mal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Orcs: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Leland: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Loveless: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Bold is up.

Is there a way to indicate where we in the gulch need to be for line-of-sight/fire on the various orcs? As in, if Doc wants to lob some bombs at the upper three, where would he need to stand?

Let's say 20 feet from the cliff face.

Holding, ready to cast a Channel Energy if needed...

Point of order, I believe I'm ready TO channel, as opposed to the channel has been activated (spent) and is being held in abeyance. Is that correct?

Holding, ready to cast a Channel Energy if needed...

Point of order, I believe I'm ready TO channel, as opposed to the channel has been activated (spent) and is being held in abeyance. Is that correct?

Yep, that's how "Ready an Action" works. It's like having your finger on the trigger, safety off, but haven't quite pulled it yet.

Bukaru d'Banzai wrote:

Holding, ready to cast a Channel Energy if needed...

Point of order, I believe I'm ready TO channel, as opposed to the channel has been activated (spent) and is being held in abeyance. Is that correct?

Yep, that's how "Ready an Action" works. It's like having your finger on the trigger, safety off, but haven't quite pulled it yet.

Well put, Jake. Ben and Mal are up. Bukaru is readying a channel.

Forgot to include, Jake in the initiative order. Jake you're up as well.

Jake : 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

-Posted with Wayfinder

I guess with his last Perception roll, Ben is pretty convinced there are no more orcs/whatevers as a part of this ambush? I don't think you moved him anywhere on the map, but if there's higher ground closer to the orcs he would have gone there.

Jumpy by nature, Ben's first reaction to the explosion was to attack. Dropping low behind a rock outcrop, he aimed down at the orc in the middle of the knot of ambushers and pulled the trigger in one smooth move...

pistol: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 +1 higher ground?
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 5

...a little too fast to actually hit anything. The shot buzzed past the orc and into the canyon. Ben grimaced and reloaded the way Mal had shown him, quick and efficient.

At least, I assume the orcs have a better AC than 13/14. Can Ben get any cover from the rocks?

EDIT:I keep forgetting that guns in the first range increment use Touch AC. Maybe he hit after all?

Would you have been allowed to hit him under those circumstances anyway? Way of the Gun, and all that?

I thought the opponents just had to be aware of their enemies? Or is it specifically aware of the gunslinger? Maybe I'd better check that...

Edit: The Way of the Gun says they can't be unarmed or unaware, so I guess it depends on what Ray means by "unaware." If the Way requires it, he can always yell down to the orcs before he shoots.

A yell works. Unfortunately you don't have higher ground from the Orcs at the top.

Ben yells out a challenge, and fires a bullet into the first Orc to see him. The bullet sinks deep, but doesn't quite kill it.

Mal and Jake are still up.

Jake hadn't quite known what to expect from this particular ambush, but an orc breaking a glass ampoule and causing an explosion hadn't been it. The explosion had cause him to hesitate, just a moment. Long enough for Ben to yell at the orcs, before he shot one of them.

That was stupid, Jake thought, even as he launched himself across the ground between him and his target. He wasn't sure if his criticism was for Ben's giving away their advantage of surprise, or his own hesitation - which did much the same as Ben's yell had.

Jake didn't have the time to consider further, as he collided with the enemy, his flail spinning in a deadly arc towards the Orc as Jake snapped the weapon downward, both hands firmly on the wooden handle. Unlike Ben, Jake did not let out a battle cry.

Attack with Flail(Charge): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15
Damage?: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Charged the closest Orc, AC is at 15 for this round. Map updated.

Seeing the explosion go off in front of her, Mallory swears quietly. "Explosives? Hangman take these damned cowards." Sliding her violin back into her pack, she draws her gun instead, moving to the side, but not any closer to the dinosaur carcass.

Jake smashes his flail into the same Orc Ben had shot. The flail does its damage but the Orc howls in fury and simply awkwardly returns the attack with his javelin. And Jake is ill-prepared for the strike that lands heavily.

Orc A vs Jake: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 4 = 18 Hit!
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

One of the other Orcs launches his javelin at Ben, tearing a chunk of meat out of his shoulder, while the other charges him with his falchion. The wickedly curved blade cuts deep.

Orc B vs Ben: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 Hit!
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Orc C vs Ben, charged: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 = 23 Hit!
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 = 9

Meanwhile the Orc below hears the gunfire and the signal to attack. He backs further behind the dead dinosaur, hefts his heavy mace into the sky and chants in his foul tongue.

Since he's behind the creature you can't really spellcraft here. Everyone is up again.

pistol vs touch AC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Bleeding heavily, Ben's hands were nevertheless steady as he took a step back and fired his bulky gun at the orc's face. By some manner of skill or trick of the Rustler, the orc's falchion was in place to deflect the bullet - not entirely, but enough. It only grazed the side of the orc's head.

Fingers flashing quick as lightning, Ben reloaded and raised the gun to point at the orc again - more centrally, this time. "You-all ever heard tell of Scalpin' Jack?" he asked conversationally, all the while the potion the grateful citizens of the town had given him burning a hole in his pocket. He couldn't back down from this fellow long enough to take it, though.

"The only good defense is a good offense," a smooth voice came to him from memory, making his expression darken. Bad memory, but good advice... he hoped.

Happy New Year!

Jake wasn't sure why, but he'd expected that hit to take out the orc he'd charged. He certainly hadn't expected the orc to hit him back with a javelin at point-blank range. Speaking of stupid... Especially given his own preferred method of fighting. Which reminded him....

Jake shuffled to one side, slightly away from the orc he'd been facing off with. The head of his flail spun in a defensive circle as he moved, his eyes never leaving his javelin-armed foe. Which was why (he hoped), it came as such a surprise when he turned and sent the chain to wrap around the blade of the falchion-wielding orc that had been threatening Ben.

5' step (as shown on the map) Improved Disarm attempt against the Orc Ben just shot. Note, ID = no AoO provoke.
Disarm: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Any chance we can see or hear how the battle's going up top? If Bukaru know her comrades are wounded, she would do anything to help...

Bukaru - The range of a Channel is 30 feet. So you could heal Jake if you got a bit closer to the wall. Go ahead and make a Perception check DC 10 to hear how the battle is going up top and to know they're in danger. I'll allow this as a free action.

Leland:
hp 22/22; AC 17/13T/15FF; CMD 11
+3F/+3R/+3W
Gizmo:
hp 31/31; AC 22 (18)/12T/16FF; CMD 18
+4F/+5R/+1W
Buffs: Mage Armor

Gizmo swings around the dead dino and goes for the orc.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Damage?: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Leland loads his crossbow and looks for an opening.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 = I'm hearing screams of pain from my comrades above.

Ray, run the results however you like, I'm just trying something weird here. :)

Moving closer to the edge of the cliff (and north one more square of my current position if I can occupy it, hugging the cliff wall if I have to), casting a Channel Energy and concentrating on my two comrades, trying to exclude everyone but them :

Channel Energy: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4) + 1 = 9
Not too shabby. And hopefully I didn't heal any of the Orcs.

Ben - you feel an inrush of mystical energy which revives you by 9 HP.
Jake - maybe you too, if Ray says you're within range.

CE's used : 1/6

As much as I hate to lose out on any healing, if you move up next to the cliff, I would expect that no one up top should get any healing, because the cliff would block line of effect. Additionally, Paizo has ruled that the ability to exclude targets from Channeling requires line of sight to those being excluded. So, if the healing did get up the cliff, you'd be healing the bad guys, too, sadly. All of that said, I'm not the GM. I'm just the rules lawyer who doesn't know when to shut up. ;-)

Please see Discussion...

About the Channel - See Discussion.

Gizmo's bite glances off the armor of the Orc, doing no damage. The Orc merely smiles as she continues her chant.

Concentration DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Jake manages to disarm the Orc wielding the falchion. He stares stupidly at his bare hands.

Mallory, Loveless and Bukaru are still up. Bukaru, let me know if you want to do another action or default to holding a channel. Leland, if I understood you correctly, you prepared an attack.

Nodding in approval at the viable application of explosives, Doc dashes forward at a surprising rate given his short legs. Moving 30' thanks to the boots; staying relatively close to the cliff wall, intent being to shield himself from any fire from above.

Running over to the rope and attempting to climb, at least it's only a DC 5 :

Climb: 1d20 - 7 ⇒ (20) - 7 = 13 Wow!

Hearing the screams of pain from her comrades, Bukaru's adrenaline kicks in and she scampers up the rope like a monkey.

Nuts, just noticed "3 rolls if your move is 20"...

Climb: 1d20 - 7 ⇒ (3) - 7 = -4 Ouch!

...and her adrenaline gives out halfway up.

Bukaru, you got up about ten feet before you needed to stop. And the second check didn't happen, since you had to move to the rope. So you don't fall. Next time you can get up the rest of the way with a single climb.

Anyone who knows the climbing rules, knows that I'm being generous with the distance achieved. That's because the climb rules are a bit insane when it comes to speeds. Essentially, I feel half speed should be default without taking a penalty. I do use the climb DCs though.

The Doctor can't get in a clear shot now that the Orc regrouped behind the dead triceratops. I moved the Doc according to your description. From his new position, he sees the Orc chanting a spell.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 "Dammit GM, I'm a doctor, not a magician!"

As the Doc moves past Mallory and around the dinosaur, she stares at him, expecting some kind of signal to tell her what he sees. Instead, he seems to be staring intently at whatever is on the other side. With every bone in her body telling her to go the other way, Mallory grumbles, pulls her hat lower over her head, and follows in the Doc's footsteps, thinking that he at least hadn't set off any explosions.

Sorry for the small delay. 3 Kings Day is a bit of a thing in Puerto Rico.

The Orc Priestess finishes her chant to the Whistler. And suddenly she begins to grow and grow. The bones in her body reshape and elongate, while her muscles break, stretch and heal again as she becomes a 20 foot tall behemoth of an Orc.

Now with a very visible target, Leland lets loose a bolt from his crossbow. And it streaks a line across her face.

Leland's Crossbow vs. Giant Orc: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 Hit!
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

The Giant Orc howls in rage and slams a mace the size of a small log onto Gizmo. The nimble construct manages to just barely dodge the mace, which lands with the force of a small earthquake.

Mace vs. Gizmo: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20 Miss
Damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (4, 3) + 14 = 21

***

The grievously wounded Orc attacked with his javelin again, when one of the others said, "No, you idjit! Alive! We want them alive! Like the others!" The Orc then tried to take a swing at Jake while using his javelin like a club to knock him out

Orc A vs. Jake, non-lethal, improvised weapon: 1d20 + 5 - 4 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 4 - 4 + 2 = 4 Miss.
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

The Weaponless Orc growls but tries to punch Jake. Jake, you got an AOO if you want to take it. I'll resolve this Orc's attack after yours.

The Last Orc moves in knock out Ben with the flat of his falchion. But the wounded gunslinger is too quick for him and dodges out of his way.

Orc C vs. Ben, non-lethal: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 4 = 11 Miss.
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

Everyone is up.

AoO? Why yes, I believe I will take one of those, thanks! :-)

AoO: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Dmg?(Two Handed): 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Seeing his disarmed target drop his guard and cock back an empty fist, Jake smiled, and whipped his flail around, sending the ball at the Orc's face.

When the first Orc tried (again) to hit Jake with a javelin - reversed, this time, he shook his head at the pathetic attempt. "You," he said, "need to be put outta both of our misery." On his back-swing, he attempted to do just that.

Flail attack on Orc A: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Sadly, his attempt turned out to be even more embarrassing than had the Orc's attempt to hit him.

Shut up, Jake. You know talk don't accomplish nothin' but distractin' a man. Just put them down.

That was an attempt to attack Orc A. Missed, obviously. *sigh*

Jake's flail smacks the Orc right in the face. But the orc is far too stupid to simply lay down and die, so he manages to take a swing at Jake and connect.

Orc B vs. Jake, non-lethal: 1d20 + 5 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 4 + 2 = 20 Hit! Non-lethal damage.
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Mal moves around the carcass just in time to see the Orc's frame shoot up above it and loom over them. Without even pausing for a snappy remark, she lifts her pistol and fires a shot. Though it goes wide by a mile, she barely notices, already stuffing another cartridge into the gun. "Got a plan, Doc? 'Cause I got half a mind to grab you an' start runnin'."

Leland:
hp 22/22; AC 17/13T/15FF; CMD 11
+3F/+3R/+3W
Gizmo:
hp 31/31; AC 22 (18)/12T/16FF; CMD 18
+4F/+5R/+1W
Buffs: Mage Armor

Leland double moves closer to the action.

Gizmo explodes into action:

Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage?: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Claw 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage?: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Claw 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Attempting another climb, I guess :

Climb: 1d20 - 7 ⇒ (7) - 7 = 0 Nertz

Still hanging on, or do I drop?

Ben hadn't missed that Jake had disarmed and clobbered the orc he'd been up against, and he hated to owe a man anything. Much as he hated to admit it, he didn't like the thought of leaving Jake on his own with the three orcs, though the rope they'd tied off to climb the cliff was tantalizingly close... and he was bleeding hard. His vision had gone a bit swimmy at the edges.

But he owed Lonergan.

You're a damn fool, Dalton. What good is it going to do Lonergan if you get yourself killed?

"It is my surmise that you have not heard of Scalping Jack," he heard himself say, the precise accent making him scowl even as he said it. He faced off with the falchion-carrying orc, his strange pistol aimed at its head keeping it at bay for the moment. "Allow me to enlighten you. Scalping Jack was the meanest, most cruel and unnatural creature ever to stalk the Big Drop; he must have been the horrid end of hundreds of innocent men, women and children. Part unholy servant of the Rustler and part legend, he caused grown men to quake in their boots at his mention. Let me assure you that he was quite real."

"Now, shall I allow you to guess who was the end of him?" Ben took a step back, pulling his curved elven sword free of its sheath as he went, and fired into the orc's face.

pistol vs. touch AC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 7

"One guess only, now." Ben holstered his smoking gun, taking on a pose of readiness with his sword. His hands held the grip lightly, prepared to twirl the blade in any direction. He didn't want to get any closer to the cliff - the orc might decide to push him over. Mustang hear me, I'm not going to be taken captive by a pack of orcs!

Actions: 5'step + draw sword, shoot orc, holster gun.

Reaction Roll: 1d100 ⇒ 98 Sweet. Doc's lovin' this. :o)

"Good," declares Loveless calmly as he watches the Priestess rapidly double in size. "Bigger target."

"Got a plan, Doc? 'Cause I got half a mind to grab you an' start runnin'."

"Good way to lose a hand, Miss Mallory," says Doc as he takes a step back (5' step) and drops his crossbow. (FA) "As to your question," he says as he pulls a phial from his pocket, slams the corked end against his leg and shakes the tube furiously, "my plan is carnage." He punctuates the last word by flinging the rapidly brightening cylinder at the orc. (SA to draw/mix/throw)

Fire Bomb (Splash Weapon, Ranged Touch Attack): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 Between the RTA and AC penalty for Large size, maybe that'll be enough...
Direct Damage (with Arcane Strike): 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6, 4) + 4 + 1 = 15 (DC 15 Reflex Save to half damage. Excluding Gizmo from splash damage via Precise Bombs Discovery)

Immediately after flinging the container, he digs another different-looking phial from his pocket. (MA, True Strike Extract)

If I don't drop, can I at least see Ben from my position on the rope? If so, I would attempt a Channel Energy.