Charlie is Scouting
(Scout)
(Search)
(Stealth)
(Search)
As the voices emerge from the trees, they easily spot the party and move to react! Each of the creatures looks like some kind of atavistic biped with scaly dull gray hide. Their frames resemble that of a cave lizard, with a long tail and crests on the head and back.
Round 1:
Charlie: Go
Hostile grunts: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Hostile Leader: TBD
Chark: TBD
Dendillion: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Charlie moves forward along the woodline a bit, digging through his pack he pulls out a small beartrap and sets it into the grass. He tries to be as quiet as possible as he sets it in place, cranking the teeth open. "Let them come."
HP 52/52
AC 21 (23 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare
Focus 1/1
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 40/40)
AC 18
Charlie lowers the snare without ever looking down at his work. The creatures give a ululating cry as they close with clubs.
As soon as they come in, a stomach churning musk assails Charlie's senses. It's not long before the others feel it too. It makes the eyes water.
The lead creature makes a line for Charlie and steps RIGHT on the snare. for . It's warcry turns to a scream as blood sprays everywhere! He's not dead, but he is at Charlie's mercy.
The other three make powerful swings!
MISS
for
for
Round 1:
Charlie: Snare FORT
Hostile grunts: ATK
Tiny: Go + FORT
Hostile Leader: TBD
Chark: TBD
Dendillion: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Blue: 17
Tiny coughs and sputters for a moment, his furry friend equally effected.
After that Tiny drops into his fighting stance, and points to the opposite side of the close by foul smelling critter and growls.
Þóðᛞrekkr bounds into position, trying to clam down with its jaws.
Tiny then flurries with his own claws.
Þóðᛞrekkr's teeth dig right into the reptilian's flank, tearing away a scary amount of flesh .
Tiny can't seem to follow up though as his attacks strike only air.
The leader dashes into the trees, headed.... somewhere.
Round 1:
Charlie: Snare FORT
Hostile grunts: ATK
Tiny: Crit + miss
Hostile Leader: Skulking
Chark: Go
Dendillion: Go
Haldan: Go
Blue: 17
White 18
Chark has smelled worse than this among the throng at the midway, so she shakes off the sickness. Still, she knows that the one running off means more are soon to arrive. She lets fly with a blazing band of orange-white fire arcing through the air at White.
She then moves forward.
Chark manages to not shout her breakfast onto the battlefield. Her Fire Ray strikes the wounded creature in the chest and completely immolates him!
Round 1:
Charlie: Snare FORT
Hostile grunts: ATK
Tiny: Crit + miss
Hostile Leader: Skulking
Chark: Kill
Dendillion: Go
Haldan: Go
Blue: 17
White 18
Action 1: Inspire Courage
Action 2: Inspire Defense
Action 3: Seek
The bard strums a series of chords, letting the inspirational sounds fill his friends with courage. He let's the notes ring out, adding a flourish to the progression.
When it doesn't quite have the linger effect he was after, he weaves in a series of staccato notes, giving the song the feel of a march. He once more adds a flourish, the sound ringing out.
He then scans about into the shrubbery, looking for the hiding brigand.
With an eye to the trees, Dendillion begins a jaunty tune. Unfortunately he doesn't spy the skulk!
Round 1:
Charlie: Snare FORT
Hostile grunts: ATK
Tiny: Crit + miss
Hostile Leader: Skulking
Chark: Kill
Dendillion: Bard
Haldan: Go
Round 2:
Charlie: Go
Hostile grunts: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Hostile Leader: TBD
Chark: TBD
Dendillion: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Blue: 17
White 18
Goliath's body begins to rock back and forth as the bear begins to heave from the smell. Charlie rushes back, drawing his bow as he hunts the stinky cave lizard.
HP 47/52
AC 21 (23 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare
Focus 1/1
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 31/40)
AC 18
Haldan moves into permission and launches a card from under sleeve, guiding it with telekinetic force.
Stride, Telekinetic Strike.
"Hmmm, it would seem that this tactic needs more practice."
Haldan's card is way off target. Meanwhile Charlie and Goliath megin a methodical approach to the fight.
Not great tacticians without orders from their erstwhile leader, each of the lizard creatures attacks a different foe.
Blue v. Chark:
MISS
MISS
Black v. Þóðᛞrekkr:
MISS
MISS
Green v. Goliath:
MISS
for
Round 2:
Charlie: Prep
Hostile grunts: TBD
Tiny: Go
Hostile Leader: TBD
Chark: TBD
Dendillion: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Blue: 17
White 18
1d20 ⇒ 20
Tiny weaves between his foes, setting up a flank for Þóðᛞrekkr.
Crits give d4bleed, somethingsomething stunning fist almost certainty doesn't matter here
Þóðᛞrekkr and Tiny team up to bring down the first of the enemy. Tiny then quickly takes aim and barely misses the other.
Without hint of preview, the leader jumps out of the wooded area with gnashing teeth, trying to bite Haldan's throat out!
for
Round 2:
Charlie: Prep
Hostile grunts: TBD
Tiny: Kill
Hostile Leader:
Chark: Go
Dendillion: Go
Haldan: Go
Blue: 17
White 18
1d20 ⇒ 20
Chark steps away from Blue while conjuring a yellow-white ball of flame, which she flings at the beast! Unfortunately, her aim is off due to the creature's proximity.
Haldan clutches at his neck wound and limps away from the melee. He turns and coughs up the verbal components of the spell and waves the somatic components with his free hand that isn’t currently holding in the rest of his lifeblood.
With adrenaline pumping, Haldan puts a little something extra into this spell. Instead of the comical joy buzzer he normally pulls out, his eyes glow blue as electricity surges all around him.
Hermann looks to Haldan, finding himself concerned for the first time with Haldan’s safety.
”Maybe this ponse ain’t so bad after all.”
Chark's flame is way off target, but Haldan lets fly a sudden bolt of electricity! . the jolt immediately and completely electrocutes the lizard creature!
Round 2:
Charlie: Prep
Hostile grunts: TBD
Tiny: Kill
Hostile Leader:
Chark: Miss
Dendillion: Go
Haldan: Kill
Blue: 17
White 18
1d20 ⇒ 20
Action 1: Inspire Courage
Action 2-3: Telekinetic Projectile
With his echoing march still bolstering the crew, Dendillion weaves music atop music to both inspire the others and animate a nearby stone. The stone becomes a projectile, flying straight at the nearby foe.
Dendillion catches an opening and hurls a stone right into the throat of the warrior! He drops with a collapsed windpipe.
The reamaining foe looks ready to bolt!
Round 3:
Charlie: Go
Hostile grunts: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Chark: TBD
Dendillion: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Blue: 17
Charlie shifts his focus as he fires a shot at the remaining cave lizard. "D...d..don't let it escape."
HP 47/52
AC 21 (23 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare
Focus 1/1
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 31/40)
AC 18
Charlie makes good on his own words. Goliath cuts the creature down before it can flee!
Dendillion takes a moment to study one of the creatures, trying to figure out just what they are.
"What were they Dendillion?" Charlie rests a hand on Goliath, scratching his fur as he plugs his nose, looking to see if they had anything interesting.
Tiny looks to Dendillion as well "And maybe more importantly why did they attack us?"
Dendillion looks at the bodies, but it's the smell that rings a bell. They're xulgaths, a primitive reptilian race. Called troglodyte in Old Taldane, they are one of the oldest of intelligent races, and ruins found in some remote caverns testify to the fact that their empire was once among the largest in the world. While some are exceptional, what you just faced was typical for the species.
The Erran Tower is just ahead. It is a pyramidal structure with steep sides and a flat summit. It is composed of mud-brick, but rather than being created like a traditional structure. The aeon orb that circles the top of the Erran Tower is about 3 feet in diameter and sheds light visible for miles. Although the orb never approaches closer than within 40 feet of the tower’s summit, it illuminates the summit. IT seems strange that you didn't see it until now....
The entrance to the Erran Tower is a landing located 40 feet up the western side of the tower. A switchback ramp leads up to this landing, but it is made of the same smooth mudbrick as the rest of the tower.
Charlie rubs his stubble as he look up to the top. "Suppose you don't have an easier way up there?" He looks exhausted at the thought of having to climb so many flights of stairs, or rather getting Goliath to climb them all.
Drawing his bow he begins to scout ahead.
"Look at the bright side, Charlie. At least there's stairs. It could have been a mud-slick trail," Dendillion says, likewise ready. He strums his lute, hoping a bit of music will raise their spirits.
The journey of a thousand steps begins with the first one, Chark says, heading toward the tower. Of course, I hope it's not actually a thousand steps...
The party begins their ascent. The tower itself feels old. The ramp is steep, but not too bad. As the party approaches, a pair of stone gargoyles begin to move, ready to protect the tower!
Round 1:
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Chark: Go
Haldan: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Charlie is Scouting
(Scout)
(Search)
(Detect Magic)
(Seek, Keen Eyes)
(Search)
Charlie is startled as the pair of statues begins to move. He whistles and nods his head over to the northern statue while Charlie backs into the corner of the room.
HP 47/52
AC 21 (23 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare
Focus 1/1
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 31/40)
AC 18
By the flame of the Dawnflower! Chark exclaims. What are these things?!?
On the way up, Dendillion works on his latest composition. It is as yet unnamed.
Action 1: Recall Knowledge
Action 2: Inspire Courage
Action 3: Inspire Defense
Dendillion thinks for a second, studying the gargoyles. He shares what he recalls from the folktales people tell.
Regardless, he plays several inspirational chords layering a march atop it. The magic within each sonic echo instills the group with courage and discipline.
Goliath's jaws bounce of the stony hide of the creature as Charlie moves into a better position.
Dendillion recognizes these as gargoyles, creatures of earth whose hides resist anything but the hardest of starmetals.
Round 1:
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Bard-fu
Chark: Go
Haldan: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Tiny: TBD
[spoiler=DM]
Chark hears Dendillion's assessment. Tough skins, eh? she muses aloud. Makes sense, coming from statues. Let's see how they feel about this!
She conjures a shimmering scimitar bathed in flame and directs it against Grey.
She then whips up a disk of force for her own protection.
Chark wastes no time and uses her spiritual weapon to immediately and potent effect! The wound is deep, and in no time at all the gargoyle looks the worse for wear.
Round 1:
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Bard-fu
Chark: Crit!
Haldan: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Grey: 22
Haldan strides into the room and launches a card at the gargoyle.
Haldan hurls a card, and strikes the same gargoyle. It snarls at the halfling and then slies forth to slash him to ribbons:
for
for
To the north the other lays into Goliath!
for
Miss
for
Round 1:
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Bard-fu
Chark: Crit!
Haldan: Hit
Hostiles: ATK
Tiny: Go
Round 2:
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Chark: Go
Haldan: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Grey: 22
Tiny commands Þóðᛞrekkr to assault the black gargoyle.
Tiny fires his crossbow at the grey gargogle before dropping into his stance.
Charlie grimaces as Goliath slumps to the ground once more. "You're okay buddy. Stay up, just for a bit longer."
Goliath barely gets back to his feet as he bites at the gargoyle's dense stone.
HP 47/52
AC 21 (23 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare
Focus 0/1
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 24/40; Wounded 1)
AC 18
Þóðᛞrekkr bites down on the other gargoyle, though it's stony hide is good protection from the worst of it. Tiny's arrow simply bounces off.
Meanwhile Charlie provides some much needed healing to Goliath, who also gets another bite in.
Round 2:
Charlie: Heal and bear
Dendillion: Go
Chark: Go
Haldan: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Grey: 27
Black: 6
Chark keeps her spell around a while longer, using it to slash at Grey some more.
She then whips up a disk of force for her own protection.
Chark's spell strikes true, perfectly placed and a lethal hit! The gargoyle falls to the ground, shattering into a million pieces.
Round 2:
Charlie: Heal and bear
Dendillion: Go
Chark: Kill
Haldan: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Black: 6
Action 1: Inspire Courage
Action 2-3: Soothe
Dendillion continues to strum his lute, the inspirational tones instilling courage in the group.
He weaves in a soothing riff atop the ringing chords, each note filled with magic that he directs towards the wounded card sharp.
Chark redirects her spell as Dendillion does what he can for Haldan.
Round 2:
Charlie: Heal and bear
Dendillion: Go
Chark: Kill
Haldan: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Black: 6
Shocking Grasp and stride.
Haldan moves up and reaches out with his "buzzer" but is just a little too slow to connect.
Pinned in by the animals, the gargoyle takes to the air
the gargoyle lands next to Dendillion, a squishy target with an annoying song. It shrieks before biting down on him and grabbing him with a granite-hard claw:
But the bard's tempo is too allegro.
Round 2:
Charlie: Heal and bear
Dendillion: Bard
Chark: Kill
Haldan: Miss
Hostiles: ATK
Tiny: Go
Round 3:
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Chark: Go
Haldan: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Black: 6
Chark sustains her spell, moving it to the elusive gargoyle. Not so fast, my friend.
She conjures up a disc of force for protection as she moves near the steps, letting her hardier companions jump in.