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Faktar jogs over to where they fight is now and leaps into the air, springing off of Ono's shoulder and the nearby wall to pinball his way up, over, and past the big angry chicken. His cape flaps majestically in the wind and all over Ono's face.
From his flanking position, he yet again stabs at the creature.
Round 4 The End of an Angry Bird
The stars aligned, the planets closed in, the very air stopped; as our heroic Agents of Edgewatch continue to do fierce battle with the shrieking and hopping mad cockatrice!
Father Emmett--painfully slowly--cocks his...err...Father, please! This is a family show! The good (and still slow) Father prepares another bolt.
Watanabe onloads yet another mental jolt to the angry chicken.
Ono stares hard at the angry bird, as it floats down beside him. The Elf swings a bit wildly. But, alas, our Ono isn't a boxer; as much as he is an archer! From barely inches from the fierce and gleaming eyes of the cockatrice, Ono takes aim and scores two hits!
The Cockatrice yells in indignation! But that moment of anger is fleeting as the swashbauckling form of Faktar appears, as if by magic, next to the arrow-ridden bird! With a precise strike, Faktar's rapier punctures the heart of the roaring chicken!
The cockatrice falls over dead!
”Excellent kill, Faktar! This will make an fine trophy to display back in the precinct. Perhaps you can hang your fashionable flaming cape from it!”
Ono sets to work preparing the cockatrice for a proper taxidermy treatment.
I think we should prepare the big chicken for thanksgiving dinner.
The Agent's joyous culinary discussion is a bit overshadowed by the continuing jostling, cries and panic screaming coming from the rest of the area.
There seems to be patrons trapped inside these market stalls...
”It would seem today still needs saving”, Ono announces as he walks over to the market stall doors. Before he pulls the doors open, he points at Canella and says, ”You leave that trophy alone! It’s NOT for eating.”
Ono then heroically pulls the doors of the market stall open to free the citizens within.
Greengrocer
Ono bravely approaches the faint sounds from within the market building. He throws open the doors to see...
The inside of this greengrocer’s shop is a mess of smashed fruit and spilled vegetables, with overturned bins and shelves scattered across the floor. A counter runs across the south end of the shop, guarding a narrow door to a back room. On the north side of the space, a huge shaggy beast with a cruelly hooked beak tears apart a display of gold wine-melons.
Miss Canella steps over to Ono.
While we are checking on greengrocer's shop, let's discuss this. You can have the head and I would like to cook the rest.
Miss Canella raises her shield if the group decides to enter.
Watanabe scowls, "The cockatrice body is evidence and neither of you will be doing anything with it until it is logged. And then it will be released to the proper owner assuming one can be found. If not then after the 14 day wait period you may eat it or stuff it or whatever. And if it comes to that I will claim the beak. "
Faktar whips his rapier around to fling any remaining cockatrice blood off of it and gives the team a winning smile. "If there's to be a 14 day wait, then my dear you'd best put it on ice" He throws a cocky smirk at Canella and as he exhales, a few snowflakes puff out of his nostrils to punctuate his quip.
"On to the grocers!"
Father Emmett uses his healing kit to treat his wounds from the devil chicken.
Much better!
It's clear to everyone that he has done a shit job as Father Emmett bleeds through his bandages despite his confident smile.
What new challenge do we face?
Watanabe says, "We really don't have time for that Father and your injuries aren't that bad!"
The strange beast is still devouring eggplant....but he may notice you soon....
Ono quietly closes the door, and whispers, ”How do you all want to handle this one? The direct approach, or something less conventional?”
Does anyone know anything about this creature? Can it be coaxed away from innocent civilians?
Greengrocer
The doors are quietly closed once again. There doesn't seem to be any other response....although...
...all seems quiet in there...
”No idea what that thing is.” Ono says in a whisper.
I think I recall something!
Father Emmett slowly watches his fellow Agents open the door to the Greengrocer. He watches as both Ono and Miss Canella turn a bit pale. He watches as Watanabe takes a look and the wizard shakes his head. The Father then decides to take a peek.
Holy f@~&! That f!+&ing thing is an owlbear! What the shit turds! The Priest almost faints when the door is closed.
OK, OK, how do we deal with this REALLY big owlbear?!? Are any of you good with handling animals? If not, do we want to lure it out with noise or food?
”Up to you all. I’ll follow your lead, but it does sound like this thing has the potential to kill all of us, assuming the good Father’s synopsis is accurate.”
Watanabe makes some clicking noises to get its attention and up pitches his voice, "Whose a nice owlbear? You are! Now follow me. Let's get you back in your cage."
Watanabe does see the mule watching them from the other side of a fence. He just shakes his head sadly....
Miss Canella just shakes her head.
I honestly don't know what to do about that huge owl. We don't want to attack and provoke it.
She scratches her head.
Doesn't it belong to someone. This is a zoo.
Miss Canella backs away from the door a little bit, as she describes her immediate future.
First, it will strike me with a claw. Ouch! Second, it will hug the shit out of me. Ouch Ouch!! And third, it will beek me to death. Ouch Ouch Ouch!!!
Faktar has nothing constructive to add. He will verbally berate the owlbear, but the incredibly clever and biting insults will fall upon adorable but insensitive ears.
"I'm seriously considering arresting that mule."
”Yes, that mule does seem like a shady character,” Ono agrees.
”In fact, I seem to remember that mule being present whenever bad things go down... perhaps the mule is orchestrating all of this? A little prison break for his buddies? At least willful obstruction of justice!”
Ono’s voice quiets some as he seems to continue on to himself.
”That mule should definitely be punished. Mule sinew makes an excellent composite bow, and have you ever gripped properly treated mule leather?!?”
Ono snaps back to it, realizing where he’s at and says, ”Errrr... no.... we would just... um... FINE the mule! Yeah, what else would we do with it? We would just fine it, of course!”
”Also, I don’t think that’s a proper owlbear call. Then again, I’ve never heard one in the wild. Let’s see what happens! Good luck, Watanabe!”
The Mule patiently awaits some decisions from our Agents....
As Ren opens the door, Faktar zips into action, skidding between the wizard's legs and ruffling his bathrobe to take the massive owlbear by surprise!
Miss Canella moves behind Watanabe.
He looks dangerous. Good luck Watanabe.
Greengrocer Shenanigans!
Across the darkening sky flies a lone bird. It floats a bit downward on the light breeze, blowing across the market. The bird seems to be contemplating on the strange goings-ons by these weirdly dressed (even got one in a bathrobe!) humanoids. The bird's eyes light up once it views the--must be courageous?--one wearing a bathrobe open up the door to the grocer.....
Round 1
The door reopens. The owlbear seems to still be eating his eggplant. He seems to have added a robust wedge salad. Suddenly, it stops chewing. It's beak begins rising, turning toward the brave, brave Agents standing in the doorway.
Red beady little eyes gaze reaches the doorway. He screeches like a banshee!
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature is frightened 1.
Failure The creature is frightened 2.
Critical Failure The creature is fleeing for 1 round and frightened 3.
The Owlbear then attempts to rake a big claw at our brave Faktar!
Source Bestiary pg. 343
Requirements The monster's last action was a success with a Strike that lists Grab in its damage entry, or it has a creature grabbed using this action. Effect The monster automatically Grabs the target until the end of the monster's next turn. The creature is grabbed by whichever body part the monster attacked with, and that body part can't be used to Strike creatures until the grab is ended.
Using Grab extends the duration of the monster's Grab until the end of its next turn for all creatures grabbed by it. A grabbed creature can use the Escape action to get out of the grab, and the Grab ends for a grabbed creatures if the monster moves away from it.
The talon takes a critical hit on Faktar!
And the owlbear grabs him in its powerful claw....
....but, wait! What is this? Miss Canella reacts to the unfriendly touching by the vegetarian beast!
Liberating Step Reaction
Champion
Source Core Rulebook pg. 107 2.0
Trigger An enemy damages, Grabs, or Grapples your ally, and both are within 15 feet of you.
You free an ally from restraint. If the trigger was an ally taking damage, the ally gains resistance to all damage against the triggering damage equal to 2 + your level. The ally can attempt to break free of effects grabbing, restraining, immobilizing, or paralyzing them. They either attempt a new save against one such effect that allows a save, or attempt to Escape from one effect as a free action. If they can move, the ally can Step as a free action, even if they didn’t need to escape.
And, as it has the Swashbuckler Grabbed, the owlbear attempts to disembowel him!
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target is sickened 1.
Failure The target is sickened 1 and slowed 1 as long as it remains sickened.
The owlbear screeches with viscous joy!
Watanabe cringes as Faktar is mauled in his stead. He does his thing, "D-d-d-daze! S-s-shield!"
Faktar, unperturbed, skillfully slips out of the owlbear's grasp and then attemps to cartwheel around it.
Then he'll attempt to stab the beastie with a confident finisher!
And lastly, he'll raise his shield.
Ono attempts to take aim at the owlbear as he shakes with fear. He quietly whispers, ”Aim, please be true today.” before releasing a quick barrage of arrows.
Miss Canella strides next to the big owl to flank with Faktar.
She is going to attempt to hit the big owl with her rapier and
raises her shield.
Father Emmett steps forward and sees that Faktar has taken some damage. He summons the divine power of Dammerich to heal his friend.
Hit Points back to Faktar.
Round 1
The once peaceful (and notoriously nutritious) Greengrocer explodes into loud violence. Not the type of loud violence that one may find at, say, a sale on avocados. But, one of a ferocious owlbear disturbed at his garden variety buffet!
Watanabe messages his pained head a bit; sending out its mental wave of pain to the angry owlbear.
Faktar the magnificent tumbles, slides, dances around the Greengrocer; never a ripe banana peel stepped upon! His rapier strikes out like a fancy-top hat wearing cobra, scoring a nasty bite!
Ono (a bit unnerved by the owlbear; truth be told) takes careful aim at the roaring beast! The initial arrow strikes true! The others fall about the produce piled about.
Miss Canella--unperturbed by a bit of screeching--stalks her prey, flanking with Faktar. Unfortunately, her aim is a bit off (mostly due to a bit of light shining on a wall!).
Father Emmett gathers his knickers with a courageous purpose. He casts his Heal spell on the previously injure Faktar.
Round 2
The Owlbear again attempts to rake a big claw at our brave Faktar!
plus grab
And the owlbear grabs him in its powerful claw....
....but, wait! What is this? Miss Canella reacts to the unfriendly touching by the vegetarian beast!
And, as it has the Swashbuckler Grabbed, the owlbear attempts to disembowel him!
Gnaw Single Action Requirements The owlbear has a creature grabbed with its talons. Effect The owlbear attempts to disembowel the creature with a beak Strike. If the Strike hits, the target must attempt a DC 22 Will save.
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target is sickened 1.
Failure The target is sickened 1 and slowed 1 as long as it remains sickened.
The owlbear screeches with viscous joy!
With its last action, the roaring owlbear attempts to grab Miss Canella!
From the back of the grocer, the Agents hear a voice pleading for help!