Hmm's Against the Aeon Throne -- The Adventures of The Teapot!

Game Master Hmm

Pon stealths.

Dalinar slashes at Blue and the hobgar goes down in a single blow.

"Yipe!" the yellow one says as the blade goes flashing!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Round 1
Active conditions:

Pink Hobgar (-5)
Red Hobgar

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Prosper

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Blue Hobgar (DEAD)
Yellow Hobgar (it has -1 to its next attack)

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Pon
Rush (-3)
Spec
Wint (-1)
Minos
Dalinar (-4)

Click. Whirr.

Rush is GMing at his in person game tonight, so...

BOTTING RUSH

Attack Light Boneblade: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage Light Boneblade: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Rush slices straight through the Gold hobgar, and all of a sudden Red and Pink start shrieking and flee!

"YIPE! YIPE! YIIIIIIIPE!"

Wint, you may take an attack of opportunity at Red as it flees through the underbrush.

COMBAT OVER!

As suddenly as the combat set in, it's over. What do you do?

Pon quickly stashes his baton in it's place on his back, under his clothes. "I feel like I read about those somewhere before," he says as he stands up. "Alright, hopefully we've dealt with those things for now. Let's keep going."

Wint swings at the food trying to flee

to hit vs KAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 for damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

"we don't really have time to dress and cook them now, so let's take them with us for now. They look quite tasty"

there isn't a lot of information on Skittermander culture but given how young work with them I am guessing that they think of lots of things as food, even when they become adults"

Spec is a little shaken. He had never fired his weapon outside of the firing ranges on Absalom Station before. As is his custom, he deals with the stress through analysis.

C’mon professor, pull yourself together before they all see how green you are. Focus on your strengths… Learn!

Speaking rapidly ”Um, Wint? Prior to engaging in the consumption of these creatures, would you mind terribly if I took a brief study of them first? I’d like to see if they are fit for eating, as well as to try and decipher anything about them and how to deal with any more of them in the future. I’ll only take a few minutes, honest! .... at an appropriate juncture of course..”

"Gosh that was..." Prosper looks more than a little frightened at the speed and brutality of the fight. "I'm not sure if I would eat them. They looked-" He doesn't say 'cute', but he's definitely thinking it.

Turning to look in the direction of Madelon's Landing "We should go quick before we lose our element of surprise." He puffs out his chest. "I learned about that in training! Engagement strategy #8! Or... was it number 4?"

Wint manages to strike the Red hobgar, but does not manage to take it down as it flees. Your group has a discussion of whether to eat or dissect the hobgars, but then you decide to just keep going. Madelon's Landing is not far away. You travel twenty minutes longer, following the river. The river dashes and burbles beside you as you walk through the lush forest that looks pretty even on this misty morning.

Then you hear something or someone crashing towards you in the distance. It sounds like a person -- a gasping, terrified person.

A moment later, a middle-aged human man bursts out of the brush. He's got stains on his armor, prematurely grey hair, and a bruise on his cheek. His eyes widen as he spots you from the other side of the river. "Help me, please! They're after me!"

Dalinar and Prosper hear pursuit in the distance. You're about to get company. What do you do?

Map on Slide One

Pon thinks for a split second and then reacts. With a measured yell/whisper he makes himself visible to the man, "You! Get over here now!" He then turns to Wint and the others with more of a whisper, "Wint, help him hide. Professor, can you be a lookout in that tree in the middle? Everyone else, do your best to lay low. Let's go for strategy 8 or 4." As he is saying this, he flicks his collar, changing his outfit to the dirty mechanic's jumpsuit and pulls out his baton and tries to palm it.

I don't know if I can palm it, but I was thinking of it being up a sleeve or something.

He then takes a position that is not completely hidden, but facing away from the river. He then begins to quietly pant.

My goal here is to be bait. I'm not sure what skill or whatnot would be appropriate.

Palming something is a slieight of hand check.

Spec nods quickly. "Yessir Special Agent sir!" and flaps his way to said tree in the middle to try and provide lookout/overwatch.

Oh no, I have no idea what strategies 8 or 4 even are.. or any strategies with numbers... oh dear..

Minos ponders the situation. He moves down to the bank making himself obvious but away from the rest of the part. He calls very loud out in Orc

Minos hopes for two things. One, show frighten person that we are not Azlanti, and let anyone know that is following that we are not Azlanti.

How deep is the river and what would it take to cross or wade though

"Strategy 8 or 4?"

I guess I will just play it by ear. Dalinar thinks as he tries to lay low.

Stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 10

The man stumbles towards you, then his leg falls into a small crevasse hidden by the undergrowth. "Augh!" He tries to pull his leg out and then looks to you. "I'm stuck!"

He looks uncomprehending at the orcish language, but seems reassured by your diversity. "Look... you guys have to be from the Pact Worlds -- right? Tell me you're the vanguard of an invading force come to rescue us?"

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

The water is about 4 feet at its depth. You can wade through it.

Minos smiles. "Well we have a brood of squox on the ship. Otherwise it may be a while for more than us to arrive"

Minos will slowly wade across to offer aid, while others keep an eye out.

"Strategy 4? I must have missed that lecture"

Wint is, as always, glad to oblige

He heads over to the person, trying to hide himself in the brush and also trying to conceal the other person a little

Can only do 1 this turn so he will concentrate on hiding himself

"We're from the Pact worlds. We're the vanguard of an invading force that has been sent to rescue you"

stealth Wint: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Wint, how did you get over there? Did you hold your breath? Swim? Walk while activating environmental protections on your suit? Or did you catch a ride on Minos? At 4 feet, the water is a bit over your head!

Rush looks at the little fuzzball, before picking him up and placing him on his back. "Hang.... Tight." He then walks into the river into the river and floats enough on his torso to let Wint use him as a raft to hold.

"Boast: Fear not, friends! The water has no eff-eff-eff-eff-eff *KZZZZT* Effect on my circuitry! Embarrassment: Well that was a burp if I ever heard one. Excuse me!"

Wint floats in on a Wrikichee raft!

Meanwhile, the guy is still frantically trying to free his stuck leg. "Wait. I'm confused. Are you really coming with more troops or not?"

Giving Prosper a chance to position himself.

Prosper gives the man an apologetic shrug, looking about as confused as the fellow is. "Not... exactly? Or at least, I don't think so?" He looks back at Pon, just in case there's something else the secret agent didn't share.

But when that comes up negative, he approaches along the riverbank while taking a cable line out of his pack. "Here, grab this, I'll pull you free of that ditch and we'll get you away from whoever's chasing." He tosses one end of the cable line over to the trapped man.

Ranged rope toss (if needed): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Athletics check to aid him, if possible before trouble arrives: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

The cable lands near the trapped man, who starts to reach for it when three soldiers in emerald green armor burst through near the river bank. Their faces are young and very angry. "देखो, और अधिक विद्रोही मैल! मैंने तुमसे कहा था कि यह दूसरों के लिए नेतृत्व करेगा!"

One of the girls in armor nods. “दूसरों को मार डालो, लेकिन शारू चाहता है कि हत्यारा जीवित वापस लाया जाएगा।"

The middle aged man looks up, alarmed, and responds, clumsily, in the same language. "वे. मेरे साथ. हैं। नहीं। उन्हें जाने दो!! मुझे तुम चाहिए।"

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Round 1
Active conditions: River is difficult terrain

Pon
Prosper
Rush
Dalinar
Minos
Wint

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Green Cadet
Pink Cadet
Yellow Cadet

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Spec

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Athletics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Pon turns and takes a quick second to reanalyze the situation. He then runs across the bank of the 'river' and jumps to the other side.

Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Profession(Soldier): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Rush starts swimming through the river, taking advantage of the rocks to provide himself with cover until he can move in for the counter attack.

It looks to Dalinar as though laying low isn't working. So he crashes through the woods towards the stuck man drawing his weapon as he goes.

Double move. If I can I will attune to photon.

Culture: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

The most critically important question in this combat: How attractive are these cadets and the middle aged man? Any Adonises? Prosper is always on the lookout for a new appearance that brings him closer to the perfect ideal of beauty.

Prosper stares at the newcomers for a moment before saying in common "Hey, you guys are Azlanti, right? Cadets? I've heard some bad things about your empire, but I'm sure they're just exaggerations." He grins "Nice to meet you! Prosper's the name."

He crosses his fingers that the man will take the opportunity to grab the dang cable.

Bluff to create a diversion/distraction: 1d20 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 5 + (5) = 11 Lol

I will let you judge for yourself, Prosper. Check out SLIDE SEVEN. Those cadets are pretty dang gorgeous in this GM's humble opinion. Those purple eyes! That long black hair! Meanwhile, the middle aged man, Jellik, has seen better days.

Since attempting a distraction is a move action, Prosper still has a standard left over...

After a moment to take the cadets in, Prosper realizes how similar they look to one another.

'Probably around a Del-Eps-317 or so? Worth giving it a try!'

His skin ripples for no more than a second. Long enough for Prosper's appearance to be long gone, and for a carbon copy of one of the cadets to be in its place.

Disguise; standard action to Change Shape: 1d20 + 5 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 10 = 31

As Wint was carried across the water
"Thank you Rush. That was fun!!! You rock!!!!"

I'm not sure if you care, but some of the slides seem to have more information than you perhaps want us to see. For example, there is a map with labels (which I carefully tried not to see). I noticed as I went to look at slide 7)

Sorry about the movement before. I assumed that the water was so shallow that I didn't have to worry about it. Not really sure why. At any rate, my bad. And thanks for the other players for bailing me out :-)

"Are we fighting? Talking? Oh, talking. Ok. These guys look very scary to me. Almost as bad as the Vesk. I hope we don't have to fight them"

Not wanting to draw the attention of these scary Azilint to himself, Wint keeps quiet and hunkers down. Not sure if you want to keep the previous roll (12 :-() or have me roll another so, in case :
stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Edit: I should add that Wint definitely still has his weapons drawn although he is trying to conceal them (and himself).

"Gah!" The trapped man says, dropping the rope as he stares at Prosper. "आप उनमें से एक हैं!"

I'm not sure if you care, but some of the slides seem to have more information than you perhaps want us to see. For example, there is a map with labels (which I carefully tried not to see). I noticed as I went to look at slide 7)

The map with labels is information about Madelon's landing prior to the invasion. You'll note the aforementioned guard barracks with all the guns is not present on that labeled map. You might have had some colony plans in your reading material, so I left it out.

Prosper tosses her black hair and then levels a confused look at the trapped man.

'Does he not want to be pulled free or what?'

Rush remains on edge behind his rocks, waiting for the first sign that his friends are in danger before going in to strike.

Spec shakes off the shock of seeing his childhood boogeymen in the flesh and clicks over comms "Umm, guuuys? You know they just said they want to kill us right?"
He translates the Azlanti from the goons and the almost-Azlanti from the middle-aged guy
Reveal the Azlant spoilers

Slogging though the river, Minos moves up to the rock formation for more cover. He then readies to harry the first one the moves with in 25 feet.

"शापित शेपशिफ्टर!" Green says as her eyes widen with shock at Prosper's transformation.

Green imperial pacification rifle vs Prosper: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Piercing Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Her shot goes wide!

"विले मिश्रित नस्ल!" Pink says, shooting at Dalinar.

Pink imperial pacification rifle: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Piercing Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Her shot hits!

Yellow readies a shot for whomever comes at her.

Meanwhile, Minos readies a shot of his own, harrying Pink!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Round 1 / 2
Active conditions: River is difficult terrain

Pon
Prosper
Rush
Dalinar (-4)
Minos
Wint

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Green Cadet
Pink Cadet (-1 for Pink to hit things)
Yellow Cadet

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Spec

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"What is that Professor? They're going to kill us?"

Shots ring out
"Naningkamot sila sa pagpatay kanamo"

Wint moves forward a little and then ducks back into cover. He shoots the yellow one with his laser pistol

stealth for trick attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
laser pistol (EAC): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
for fire: 1d4 ⇒ 4 plus trick attack: 1d4 ⇒ 2

"Oops. I think I got too excited! I'll do better next time"

From his perch in the tree, Spec glares at the Green trooper shooting at his friend.
Culture: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
What is with these guys?

He steadies his rifle, whispers ”I’m sorry, but no” and squeezes the firing stud.
Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6 non-lethal cold

He looks disgustedly at the weapon... " I wasn't talking to you!"

Rush bursts from the water, bone blade extended, and roars his shrill challenge at the green soldier! He lunges with his weapon!
Boneblade Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Boneblade Damage Roll: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Both Wint and Spec miss, but Rush barely manages to connect with his bone blade vs green!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Round 1 / 2
Active conditions: River is difficult terrain

Pon
Prosper
Rush
Dalinar (-4)
Minos
Wint

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Green Cadet (-4)
Pink Cadet (-1 for Pink to hit things)
Yellow Cadet

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Spec

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Prosper drops the cable line and draws her flare rifle once more. "Is this what the Azlanti are like Spec? They just try to kill everyone they meet for the first time?" Prosper aims her flare rifle. "That's... really messed up."

She retaliates against the green emblazoned cadet, hoping that a bit of flare-based discouragement might cause the group to change its mind about fighting.

Dazzler Flare Rifle vs Green; vs EAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Flare rifle damage (F): 2d4 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

I've got to be more vigilant about posting first after HMM updates, so that more people can actually benefit from the harrying/covering fire.

"WILL NOT LET THEM KILL! THEY DIE FIRST! WILL NOT LET HURT FRIENDS!" Rush roars out his fury and rage.

Pon, in his dirty mechanic outfit, runs over to near the Azlanti soldiers and cowers. "I'm sorry! I'm just a mechanic! Don't hurt me!" He secretly draws hi baton.

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Dalinar continues trudging through trying to get into his effective range.

Another double move. 2 photons points. Could someone move my token to be adjacent to pink? On their right side.

"ईव ... वह झींगा चीज़ क्या है? इसने मुझे डंक मार दिया!" Green says, a grossed out look on her face.

Meanwhile, Pink looks around and realizes that you're surrounding them on all sides. "हम घिरे हैं!"

The two girls pull out survival knives.

Green stabs at Rush, but she's too put off by his eerie appearance to really focus well on the fight.

Survival Knife: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Slashing Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Pink has no such reservations when she stabs at Dalinar!

Survival Knife: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Slashing Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Nice work, guys. You've boxed in two of the guards so they can't take a guarded step away and shoot!

Meanwhile, Gold shoots at Rush as well.

Gold imperial pacification rifle: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Piercing Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

"मैं तुम से झींगा मिल जाएगा!"

But the attack just pings off Rush's shell!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Round 2 / 3
Active conditions: River is difficult terrain

Pon
Prosper
Rush
Dalinar (-8)
Minos
Wint

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Green Cadet (-4)
Pink Cadet (-1 for Pink to hit things)
Yellow Cadet

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Spec

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The shot against him only makes Rush more agitated, as he continues to stab and slash at the Green soldier.

Bone Blade Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Bone Blade Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Like any novice, Spec blames the tool and fiddles with a setting on his gun, then raises it to fire at Green again.
”.. Please work..”

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1 non-lethal cold

Well, that both worked and didn't ... darn battle is confusing..

Minos slogs forward at takes a shot at the pink Azlanti

Energy Ray (Eletric0 v EAC: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Electric Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Sparks fly all over

Dalinar stumbles a bit as the azlant knife draws blood. He grimaces as he returns to his fighting stance. His stance is a little odd looking considering he uses a longsword. He turns his body sideways and places his left fist on his hip.

"Enough," he growls as he returns in kind.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Fully photon attuned. Of course I roll max damage on a weenie attack roll.

Wint continues to duck and weave in the vegetation. Its not that he is a coward (although he'd definitely prefer to NOT be shot), it is just that he is MUCH more effective when the opponents don't know that he is there.

[i]"Better not aim into that scrum, I just can't get a clear shot with everybody blocking. I'll take on the straggler"[/b]

He sneaks forward a little to the very edge of the island in order to get a bead on yellow and fires.

stealth for trick attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
laser pistol (EAC): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 for
fire: 1d4 ⇒ 4 plus trick attack: 1d4 ⇒ 2

"Hah. Got you!!!!. Uh, I mean, uh, sorry?"