"Be careful, Elisani. The cat might not appreciate even if you're trying to help." Sherman warns the half-elf.
But Shalelu's warning makes him nervous, and he starts scanning the environments as well. Although if her elven eyes see nothing, what changes do I have...
And then, just in case, he prays for protection from the divines.
Estella grips her spear and braces herself. While she doesn't expect to spot anyone before Shalelu either, if anything does show up, she'll be ready.
Elisani prepares herself and moves into the clearing. She moves quieter than a mouse in a hawk's nest, but is seen as there is no cover to hide her body. The cat stops yowling as she approaches, and starts to whine, trying to put the trapped leg between it and Elisani. It isn't hissing or backing away as far as it can, it is like it is showing you the problem.
@Elisani: You are able to make it all the way to the animal, which appears to have a broken leg due to the force of the jaws closing. You notice the trap is staked to the ground rather deeply. All the tugging this fire-pelt cougar has done hasn't budged it at all.
You also notice that the metal on the trap is poorly made, not steel but pig-iron. Still sharp, still metal, but not as good as pure ore and beginning to rust.
You think you could pick this trap apart (disable device) easier than prying it open (STR check).
Looking around, you don't see anyone else (besides you teammates). But tracking isn't a strong suit of yours.
Elisani hears a sibilant whisper, "Does Elisani want Tarphrex help with trap?"
Interesting, the cat isn't trying to attack her. Elisani expected it to lash out in fear; maybe Shalelu did something to communicate with it that they're trying to help. This will make her job easier. She retrieves her thieves' tools from her backpack and crouches down to examine the trap. Shoddy workmanship and cheap materials. The ogres must have made it themselves.
Elisani hears a sibilant whisper, "Does Elisani want Tarphrex help with trap?"
"I will try it myself, and if that does not work, we can try again together." Traps are a sort of puzzle, and she likes puzzles. The detective picks out a pair of wire cutters from her roll of tools and begins working on the spring holding the trap shut.
Tarphrex whispers, ”Elisani-friend know how to open trap. She open, let kitty go.”
He settles in, staring at the tree line and listening for ogre-feet.
The trap falls apart under Elisani's expert hand, and the firepelt cougar shakes its leg once released. It tests the leg, putting weight on it, but quickly pulls it back up. It limps over to Elisani, sniffs her, then hobbles south, limping towards where the group is hiding.
It gets about half-way there when the sound of dogs barking cuts through the silence. Those of you listening can also hear the sounds of something big pushing through the trees, likely at the edge of the copse. Shalelu's eyes whip in that direction, her bow coming up.
What do you do? Run? Fight? Ambush?
If you run, do you leave the cougar to its fate? Otherwise you'll have to carry it.
"Something big is coming... An ogre?" Sherman whispers to his closest allies.
Well, they came here to deal with an ogre-problem... Sherman doesn't know much about ogres, except that they are big. Perhaps this would be good opportunity to study what kind of enemies they are facing in the fort.
Tarphrex prepares to cast a spell.
No one had looked back at Cev as he began to glow ... and then shot into the sky about 50' above their hiding place. He looked down at the bobcat-sized firepelt, extended his hand, and engulfed it in aether as he caused it to rise up to where he was floating.
Casts Self-Telekinesis
Casts Telekinetic Haul
The cougar is Small sized; on the lower end of small sized. A full grown one would be on the lower end of medium sized.
When Ceven shoots up into the air, the cougar yelps in surprise as it is lifted up. The sounds of stomping feet stop for a moment, then grow louder as whatever it is starts running toward you. The barking grows louder as well. Shalelu somehow seems to aim harder.
One round of actions for everyone, then we go into initiative. That's one full round, not a surprise round.
Map has been updated (page 2), figures are at my best guess (from yesterday).
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Elisani prides herself on her stoic, unflappable demeanor. But she was not prepared for their new companion to start floating- without casting a spell!- and lift the cougar the same way. The half-elf stares for a moment, then pulls out her mutagen and knocks it back like a shot of liquor. Her body shifts and mutates as she sprints for the treeline, turning unnaturally thin with rough, leathery skin. Moving while the mutagen takes effect isn't exactly pleasant, but this is far from the first time Elisani has had to do so.
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Tarphrex looks up at the hovering human. Too far…
But that one has tricks, doesn’t need Tarphrex probably. As Elisani slides into a hiding spot, he casts on the ground-bound allies. ”Friends go fast, get away!”
He tries to hide once the spell takes effect.
Tarphrex looks up at the hovering human. Too far…
But that one has tricks, doesn’t need Tarphrex probably. As Elisani slides into a hiding spot, he casts on the ground-bound allies. ”Friends go fast, get away!”
He tries to hide once the spell takes effect.
[dice=Stealth]1d20 + 11
"Smart thinking friend ..."
Ceven looks out at the little cougar with concern; even he was disoriented when he first levitated. He scanned the ground for Shalelu, worried.
"Shal! Help me! Can you talk to the cat? Where can I put her!?"
”Tarphrex think put kitty in tree too high for dog, too high for ogre. Get kitty down later.”
”Tarphrex think put kitty in tree too high for dog, too high for ogre. Get kitty down later.”
"Again with the smart thinking ..."
Cev turns away from where they are hiding, and looks a little beyond where he believes they will be fighting. There's a perfect spot for the kitty to rest on a branch; a big branch which will certainly hold for a while. He sets the cat down, retracts the field of aether, and makes some 'good kitty' sounds.
"I will be right back for you, okay? Stay here, stay safe. I will be RIGHT back!"
Estella lets out a delighted laugh at seeing Ceven hover up in the air. "Nice trick!"
She follows the kobold's example and stays still in the brush for now, ready to strike when the opportunity presents itself.
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With the cougar out of harm's way, Sherman shares a blessing of the divines to help out in the moment to come.
Then he follow the example of the others, and tries to hide in the bushes. No small feat with his aching joints.
__________
Crashing through the tree line, comes a spear wielding ogre(?), lead by a pack of hunting dogs. Dogs and humanoid alike look dirty, unkempt, disgusting. The ogre type thing is smaller than most ogres, with an undersized head and one hand that ends in a single, overgrown finger.
The humanoid looks around the clearing....
...most of the dogs, and the Hunter, look directly towards the crowd of you gathered at the southern end of the clearing. The hunter points your direction, shouting "Ower der. Go get 'em." The dogs dig in their heels to charge your way, and Initiative is rolled.
But Shalelu was prepared, and shots at the ogre before turn order is set...
________________
INITIATIVE!
So we'll have Ceven, Elisani, Estella, and Ain all act.
Then the enemy.
Then Tarphrex and Sherman, and Shalelu
______________
Map is updated. Page 2 under the link.
To know about the ogre...
AND/OR...
And the dogs....
"He's... he's mostly ogre, but also part human!"
Estella moves up a bit, placing her at a spot to hit at the first dog to draw close.
Once she moves, she briefly plants her lance into the ground, allowing the flag to billow.
We face the hunter who would harm this forest's denizens with cruel traps and violence! Let us retaliate!"
Controlled Inspired Rage: +2 Morale Bonus to strength.
Lesser Spirit Totem: Small spirits surround every party member and make one slam attack (+9 to hit, 1d4+4 damage, these modifiers are static and can't be buffed) every round against a living foe adjacent to a party member. Other players can do these on their turn, or I can keep track of them, whatever is most convenient.
Spirit Totem: Any ranged attacks and melee attacks made by non-adjacent enemies (reach for example) have a 20% miss chance
The following boost only applies if the party member is within 30ft and can see the banner. As of writing this means Ceven and Elisani are out of range.
Flagbearer: +1 Morale Bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, and saving throws against fear and charm effects. Only within a range of 30ft and if you can see the banner.
Allow me to thin the ranks friends Ain holds a finger out towards the pack of dogs and ogre, a small ball of fire builds into a larger ball, eventually turning blue.
aimed at the red dog enemy, 20 radius to avoid hitting us if possible
Allow me to thin the ranks friends Ain holds a finger out towards the pack of dogs and ogre, a small ball of fire builds into a larger ball, eventually turning blue.
"Thin the ranks". By this he means, decimate the ranks. I don't even have to roll for the dogs (of which I added one to account for the extra PC's. They can't survive that damage roll even at half damage. Fantastic use of a fireball...
... And the ogre takes it full to the face.
Flames superheat the air around you all, a dome of fire expanding out, growing uncomfortably close to Estella before collapsing back in on itself. When the flames clear, the smoldering corpses of the dogs lie in ruins on the charred grass. The ogre hunter looks down in surprise, surprise that flashes to rage. "Nah my doggos! I KILL YOU!!!" he screams out, spittle flying from his mouth. He is badly burned, but undettered by the pain or by Estella's resolute stance.
Elisani blinks rapidly at the brilliant flash of Ain's fireball, analyzing the angry and scorched ogre left standing in the ashes. Tall and strong, but not particularly fast or observant. Circle around behind and aim for the kidneys or femoral artery. She takes off at full speed, aided by Tarphrex's magic, and dashes around to the ogre's back to stab at his vitals.
Elisani into the hunter, driving her blade in deep. The hunter howls in pain, birds taking flight as the sound echoes thorugh the trees.
Looking around for the largest possible tree to hurl the ogre into, Ceven again reaches out with his aether, and hurls the creature to the northeast.
DC 16
Element aether; Type form infusion; Level 3; Burn 2
Associated Blasts telekinetic
Saving Throw Fortitude negates; see text
Your telekinetic blast can throw a Large or smaller creature instead of an unattended object; you can increase the burn cost by 1 to affect a creature of a larger size. If the creature you attempt to throw succeeds at a Fortitude save, it negates the blast entirely. Otherwise, if your blast hits, both the thrown creature and the target take the full amount of damage from your telekinetic blast, and the thrown creature falls prone in the last unoccupied space along its path. If your blast misses, the thrown creature can choose to occupy any space within 30 feet of the target, it doesn’t fall prone, and it takes half the normal amount of damage from your blast. The movement doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity.
___________________
The hunter staggers. It has been stabbed, burned, shot, it's bleeding, and all its dogs are dead. So it runs, moving away from Elisani south before turning back west and running. It screams out as it goes...
"MOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!"
The forest is difficult terrain, so it doesn't get far, but it does have cover due to the dense vegetation.
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INITIATIVE!
Ain Initiative: 24
Ceven Initiative: 18
Elisani Initiative: 23
Estella Initiative: 4
Sherman Initiative: 5
Tarphrex Initiative: 4
Enemy Initiative: 11
So we'll have Ceven, Elisani, Estella, and Ain all act.
Then the enemy.
Then Tarphrex and Sherman, and Shalelu
So it's Tarphrex, Sherman, and Shalelu to go. I'll have Shalelu go after the other two.
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Tarphrex hustles out of the trees to where Elisani stands. Knowing she speaks Draconic, he uses that tongue.
Then he casts a spell and the Small-sized investigator disappears from view.
Sherman wonders how the dogs will react when their master is running away. Nevertheless, he conjures a shower of darkness upon the dogs in hopes of tiring the beasts.
[dice=Fort Save]1d20+12
___________________
The hunter staggers. It has been stabbed, burned, shot, it's bleeding, and . So it runs, moving away from Elisani south before turning back west and running. It screams out as it goes...
"MOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!"The forest is difficult terrain, so it doesn't get far, but it does have cover due to the dense vegetation.
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Shalelu takes aim and fires 3 shots in rapid succession...
...two of the arrows whiz past the hunter's ears, the third sinks into its meaty thigh. It yelps in pain, but is still ready to run.
_____________________
INITIATIVE!
Ain Initiative: 24
Ceven Initiative: 18
Elisani Initiative: 23
Estella Initiative: 4
Sherman Initiative: 5
Tarphrex Initiative: 4
Enemy Initiative: 11
So we'll have Ceven, Elisani, Estella, and Ain all act.
Then the enemy.
This will make positioning herself effectively much easier. Elisani sprints after the ogre, slipping around to place him between herself and the rest of the party. The kobold-sized detective blinks back into view as she lunges at the enemy.
** spoiler omitted **
This will make positioning herself effectively much easier. Elisani sprints after the ogre, slipping around to place him between herself and the rest of the party. The kobold-sized detective blinks back into view as she lunges at the enemy.
Ceven flies after Elisani, staying behind just enough to see her ruse come to pass; as she attacks the ogre head on, Ceven stops to blast the ogre point blank from behind.
Elisani appears, blade already thrust into this creature's oversized gut. It staggers, barely keeping its feet, weeping in pain and fear. As the private eye pulls her blade out, a blast of energy smashes into the back of the hunter, sending it hurtling to the ground, unmoving, its cries silenced.
Combat is over, the enemy is dead.
What do you now?
The firepelt cougar is mewling from the tree that it's in. It seems to want down, but doesn't know how to climb down with its broken leg.
Tarphrex barely hears the cat and cannot help it, anyway. He goes to make sure that each of the scorched dogs is not suffering.
He murmurs,
He uses his tiny dagger to make sure each dog is dead.
Elisani appears, blade already thrust into this creature's oversized gut. It staggers, barely keeping its feet, weeping in pain and fear. As the private eye pulls her blade out, a blast of energy smashes into the back of the hunter, sending it hurtling to the ground, unmoving, its cries silenced.
Combat is over, the enemy is dead.
What do you now?
The firepelt cougar is mewling from the tree that it's in. It seems to want down, but doesn't know how to climb down with its broken leg.
Hovering up above Elisani, hoping the creature stayed down, Ceven gets a quizical look at the sound ... the cat!
"Elisani, you're okay? I should probably go get the cat out of the tree; she was limping from being in the trap."
Ceven pivots in midair, and heads back to the tree where he placed the wayward wildcat. "Hi - I'm Cev, I am sorry I was not able to speak to you earlier. I am going to hold you again, and take you to my friend who can help you." VERY slowly this time, Ceven reaches out with aether to enclose her and gently float over to Shalelu.
Turning to the elf, he asks, "Where should I place her now? I am not sure if there is more you can do for her."
Elisani nods, retrieving a rag from one of her many coat pockets to clean her rapier. "I am well, thank you for asking." Since Ceven and Shalelu are taking care of the cougar, the detective begins searching the ogre's body.
With the fight over, Sherman scrambles up from his hiding place. He looks at the smoldered corpses of the dogs, and wrinkles his nose. Then he joins Elisani in investigating the ogre.
"I can't say I'm much of an expert on the matter, but I thought ogres were bigger than this?" he says, first time taking a closer look at the creature.
Estella takes a deep breath as she calms her senses and puts away her spear. She then joins Elisani and Sherman.
"I'm not an expert either, but I can tell you this isn't a full ogre. There's human blood in there, I wager. Maybe about three generations removed, but it's there. That could explain the small size."
Tarphrex heads over to Shalelu to check on the wounded cat. ”Can Shalelu help kitty?”
@Tarphrex: "Luckily" your dagger stays clean this day. The dogs were dead fast enough to feel no pain.
@Ceven: The cougar just blinks at you, and meows again. But doesn't resist when you pick it up. Bringing it to Shalelu, she likewise doesn't say anything, just motions for you to place it in front of her while she slings her bow. She kneels down, taking the cat by the cheeks and scratching them. She looks to Sherman Blake, makes eye contact, then nudges her head towards the back (broken) leg of the cougar.
@Elisani: The ogre-kin had very little on him. The loin clothe is tattered and dirty, but the belt looped through it is of exceptional quality and seems to repel the filth.
His spear is likewise of high quality and surprisingly free of rust. Surprising when compared to the rust spotted and chipped blade of the skinning knife he also carries.
Lastly, wrapped around the back of the belt, a blanket. Just as filthy as the loin clothe, it is ragged and threadbare. And has several patches sewn into it, patches of an arrow done in black thread.
But, that is a super high perception, so here's another clue. There's a fabric burn on his left shoulder, as though he had held a coarse fabric something there and then let it go quickly. You think if you followed his trail back, you'd find a heavy bag of something.
@Tarphrex 2: She doesn't look at you when she answers, "No. But I'll keep her calm while your friends help."
"Hmm. Sherman, Tarphrex, would you cast detect magic? Look at his spear and his belt. The rest of his equipment is of poor quality and in disrepair, but these two items are both high quality and intact." Elisani heaves the corpse over onto its stomach so she can examine the back. "It appears he was carrying something on his back. A sack, maybe. If we follow his trail, we might find it."