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With the threat vanquished, and a clear target now in sight, the Pathfinders part ways with their fiery feline friend. It goes to the forest edge, where you manage to spare it from Nolia's arrows. She is certainly stunned by the leopard.
"I am amazed and disturbed by what is going on. I will continue with a clean up of the blight around here. Perhaps some controlled fires. Perhaps I can convince the fireball to help." She leans down and attempts some ranger skills upon it. The leopard seems to calm down in her presence.
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The day long trek back to Etran's Folly with a large bounty of coin proves fruitful. With the help of the tavern owner Delma Fulst, you manage to get well fed and patched up in time for another outing. Hulgur is able to read the orcish notes and determine a few things...
Most of the entries describe the experiments.
Earliest Entry
... It is through various experiments I have been asked to perform over the past few months. Almost all of these involve evolving permanent mutations in creatures by exposing them to energy mutagens. While many of these experiments were ultimately successful, they had an unintended side effect: the creatures became far too bestial and unreliable to use as minions.
Two Months afterwards
Something changed. Vilree stopped asking me to perform experiments. She did not even provide an explanation. Regardless, I plan on carrying on with my work anyways.
The Most Recent Entry
Failure eventually leads to success, and while many of my experiments may have escaped, I have finally found one worthy of my master. The coagulant thing is finally taking shape. It might not be what she asked for, but she is sure to be impressed! When it is ready, I will take it to Spite’s Cradle and show it to the mistress myself.
While reading over the notes, a few of you are able to pinpoint an entry over three years old with some interest.
She ordered us to capture a human and use it for experiment. While I have no qualms about this, I am uncertain what we are attempting to do. As per her instructions, we placed our test subject into the pit and then covered it with the viridian vapor. The human died in agony in less than a day. We burned his body and filled in the pit as she told.
Delma Fulst awaits anxiously for answers. "This Vilree sounds like a dangerous person, especially if she can lead orcs into alchemy-" To which the caravan boss Tamli slams her hand onto the table, shaking breakfast "Though she will pay dearly for Bort!" Delma holds a hand in a calming gesture to Tamli. "I don't think anyone but our friends can handle this fight."
Tamli looks at her in frustration, then to you all. "If you need any more supplies from the caravan, just do us a favor and make sure it is one of our weapons that ends her life."
"I should be good on supplies. Should we stock up on more healing potions or are we good?" Allania looks through the cart.
Allania tosses her shield scrap down onto the ground. With a little gold remaining she purchases a pair of new heavy steel shield, attaching a new shield boss around it.
Allania tosses one of the shields around her arm and strapping the second to her back. "Can't have that breaking again while we are out."
"I can't believe that thing was a big living puddle of blood! Ugh...I can still taste it. Glad you had that shield though." Gobil says still spitting more than usual.
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Hammering and pounding and goblin singing leads the plucky Screech to working hard and repairing Allania's original shield!
With that shield repaired, I am assuming you will just get one back up shield?
******************************************************
When the Pathfinders have all their purchases in order, they proceed off the map from the orc's encampment. Now able to use references and the terrain, it appears that this 'Vilree' lives in a cave to the west, in the foothills of the Five Kings Mountains. The directions on the map lead to one specific cave with markings that they have labelled "Spite's Cradle".
Up ahead, a wooden palisade spans the valley; a gigantic double door set into its center. Beyond this wall, a guard tower is barely visible, although it’s difficult to tell whether it is occupied.
Chewface looks out for nasty magic throughout the trek. One hand remains free for casting, the other clutches his container of the vile oily substance, as if ready to force-feed it to enemies.
The new obstacle serves to stir the goblin from his silence. "Was this on the map? Couldn't be V's. Let's find a way around."
Gobil makes sure to have his own shield ready as they near the palisade.
"Well, if we are going to head around...I will take a look at our options." Gobil says as he starts to skulk around.
Allania looks at the wall. "Would much rather fall from that wall that the mountain side. What do you think?"
Merin reaches into his bag and withdraws a grappling hook and rope, to begin to tie the two together. "I think I agree with you. Mount the wall and see if we can spring the gate for anyone that's uncomfortable with the climb?"
"Want me to go over first? I can let ya know what is over there?" Gobil asks, starting to stretch.
He will survey the area from the top of the wall and if possible sit at the top to help others get up.
Chewface looks to the more hospitable mountain faces, but instead sits down to wait for the door to open or a rope getting thrown down.
Allania finds a few handholds "Try over here Hulgur."
After spending a moment ensuring that the knot is tight, Merin creeps forward a bit. "Here goes nothing," he says as he tosses his hook and rope to the top of the palisade and goes to begin to scale the wall.
"Orcs in the tower...gotta be quick and quiet." he whispers to the group before he drops down and attempt to avoid notice.
He surveys the path to the gate and judges if he can sneak over.
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Gobil leaps over the wall, attempting to-
... Not make a lot of noise.
The orcs in the tower turn and look to see the Gnome inside their gate! They start banging on loud noises and begin bellowing!
Light Condition: None
Active Buffs: None
Active Penalties: None
Allania(-0,Fine)
Gobil Sliink(-0,Fine)
Hulgur Grimm(-0,Fine)
Merin Talusian(-0,Fine)
Screech Razorsong(-0,Fine)
Chewface(-0,Fine)
Orc Brutes(8/8 Remain,15 AC, 15 HP Each)
Lord Nar, the Big Boss Orc(0,Fine)
"Action(s): reaction
Trigger The monster is reduced to 0 HP.
Effect The monster avoids being knocked out and remains at 1 HP, but its wounded value increases by 1. When it is wounded 3, it can no longer use this ability."
[ooc}Promise I won't abuse initiative, I just don't want to roll for a fight has only 2 sides.[/ooc]
"Ah, CRAP! Sorry everyone...we aren't going to be sneaking by." Gobil says as he gets up and starts to get the gate open.
Part fear of being alone and part adrenaline, he toss the bar away and pushes the gate open.
Chewface vigorously airs out his cloak, and from it pops a little wispy creature. The goblin beckons the mephit to go inside. It scowls before doing so, following Gobil and Screech.
Allania curses as she rushes up the stairs to the tower. "We have to quiet them down before the entire place comes out here."
HP 47/47
AC 20 (22 with shield raised)
Hero Points 0/3
"Well, we're in at least," Merin says with a chagrined look on his face. As the gate creaks open, he quickly enchants Huglur's staff then bounds through the gate.
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Light Condition: None
Active Buffs: Inspire Courage (4 Rounds: Round 2 Start), Air Mephit Ally. Magic Weapon (Hulgur)
Active Penalties: None
Allania(-0,Fine)
Gobil Sliink(-0,Fine)
Hulgur Grimm(-0,Fine)
Merin Talusian(-0,Fine)
Screech Razorsong(-0,Fine)
Chewface(-0,Fine)
Orc Brutes(8/8 Remain,15 AC, 15 HP Each)
Lord Nar, the Big Boss Orc(0,Fine)
The orcs start rushing out to see what is happening, some of them looking as though they are just waking up. They do not even have their weapons drawn, save for a fat orc with an imposing scowl. He carries what looks like a large tree branch fashioned into a powerful club.
The fat orc starts bellowing orders to all the subordinate ones.
"Destroy the intruders and get the gate closed! Spare one, so we can have some fun tonight!"
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Light Condition: None
Active Buffs: Inspire Courage (4 Rounds: Round 2 Start), Air Mephit Ally. Magic Weapon (Hulgur)
Active Penalties: None
Allania(-0,Fine)
Gobil Sliink(-0,Fine)
Hulgur Grimm(-0,Fine)
Merin Talusian(-0,Fine)
Screech Razorsong(-0,Fine)
Chewface(-0,Fine)
Orc Brutes(8/8 Remain,15 AC, 15 HP Each)
Lord Nar, the Big Boss Orc(0,Fine)
Chewface is slow to catch up, as he is directing the mephit to similarly slow down the orcs' advance.
"That is a lot of orcs...I really have to practice being quiet but the time has passed!" Gobil says as he starts to grow more bestial and frog-like.
He moves up to the closest orc before reaching out, to clamp his mouth down on their arm.
Allania crashes through the room at the top of the stairs as she looks to take out the orcs in the tower.
HP 47/47
AC 20 (22 with shield raised)
Hero Points 0/3
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We're outnumbered you fools! Get out of the open! Fall back if you have to!"
Hulgur follows Allania but then continues past to occupy the other entrance.
[ooc}Unfortunately it's 55 feet of movement to get to my current position if the stairs are not difficult terrain, 70 if they are, so...[/ooc]
◆ Stride
◆ Stride
◆ Stride
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With a little bit of a heady rush, Merin decides to do something foolish. He slips toward the massing of Orcs, raises his hands and throws out a spray of fire over the group, hoping to thin the group out.
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Light Condition: None
Active Buffs: Inspire Courage (4 Rounds: Round 2 Start), Air Mephit Ally. Magic Weapon (Hulgur)
Active Penalties: None
Allania(-0,Fine)
Gobil Sliink(-0,Fine)
Hulgur Grimm(-0,Fine)
Merin Talusian(-0,Fine)
Screech Razorsong(-0,Fine)
Chewface(-0,Fine)
Orc Brutes(8/8 Remain,15 AC, 15 HP Each)
Lord Nar, the Big Boss Orc(0,Fine)
"Action(s): reaction
Trigger The monster is reduced to 0 HP.
Effect The monster avoids being knocked out and remains at 1 HP, but its wounded value increases by 1. When it is wounded 3, it can no longer use this ability."
Some orcs are already beaten into their feral state, looking absolutely worse for wear! The red orc gets scorched by fire and then thrown across the battlefield, orange looking like he has been beaten senseless by rock and frog!
With more chaos in the battlefield now, and the wind separating their might, the orcs have little choice but to engage as separate groups. The ones that moved fastest draw their weapons to attack!
The red orc stands up from his prone state and rushes to catch up to the fight! The orcs stuck in the building that is cut from the wind are uncertain what to do about such deadly magic that can throw their brother across a battlefield!
Lord Nar is having none of this today. He decides to march up the stairs aftar Allania, tree trunk club in hand, and when he reaches behind her he gives her a heavy thwack!
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Light Condition: None
Active Buffs: Inspire Courage (4 Rounds: Round 2 Start), Air Mephit Ally. Magic Weapon (Hulgur)
Active Penalties: None
Allania(-12,Fine)
Gobil Sliink(-0,Fine)
Hulgur Grimm(-0,Fine)
Merin Talusian(-9,Fine) Mephit (-8, Fine)
Screech Razorsong(-0,Fine)
Chewface(-0,Fine)
Orc Brutes(8/8 Remain,15 AC, 15 HP Each)
Lord Nar, the Big Boss Orc(0,Fine)
Orcs Damage Taken
Red 12, Yellow 6, Green 12, Teal 18 (1HP Wounded 1), Orange 17 (1HP Wounded 1)
"Ha ha!" Chewface crows as his mephit works to great effect. "See that, greenies? And you really wanna fight us?" At the goblin's instruction, the elemental spews forth a smaller, less controlled blast of air.
"Merinnnn!" Gobil croaks out, part concern and part excitement.
Still, he focuses back on the orc in front of him that is somehow still standing.
Assuming that takes the orange orc down, Gobil bounds fist first after the next orc in line, yellow.
Allania cringes in pain as she was not expecting the Orc Lord to follow her up the stairs. "We are cut off Hulgur!" She stabs at the wounded orc and then turns to slam her shield into the orc lord before raising it defensively once more.
HP 35/47
AC 20 (22 with shield raised)
Hero Points 0/3
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Light Condition: None
Active Buffs: Inspire Courage (4 Rounds: Round 2 Start), Air Mephit Ally. Magic Weapon (Hulgur)
Active Penalties: None
Allania(-12,Fine)
Gobil Sliink(-0,Fine)
Hulgur Grimm(-0,Fine)
Merin Talusian(-9,Fine)
Screech Razorsong(-0,Fine)
Chewface(-0,Fine) Mephit (-8, Fine)
Orc Brutes(6/8 Remain,15 AC, 15 HP Each)
Lord Nar, the Big Boss Orc(18,Fine)