"Aye." With a swift nod, Nuri whips out two of the "borrowed" Pacification Rifles and kneels behind a pile of boxes. Taking aim at the indicated Azlanti patrolman, she fires.
Initiative checks:
Nuri ->
Duncan ->
Enslig ->
Ivris-mu ->
Jahn ->
Duncan sets the cages to open automatically, giving him precious little time to get down and deal with the threat of the soldiers.
DC 15 to avoid nonlethal damage from last 10 feet of fall:
Duncan lands inelegantly, slightly twisting his back, and ends up on his side.
He calls out from the ground, engaging his helmet transmitter, <Ùn tirate micca! Sò cun voi!>
The two Azlanti hold their fire. You can't tell what their expressions are, because their faces are hidden by their helmets. They do look male, though. They don't look female at all.
Thats when the freed Hobgars latch on to them with their electric shocks!
The soldiers run from the hobgars, going in the opposite direction that they came.
Yep. Two hobgars go after you!
As the Azlanti soldiers fled and the hobgars began to threaten Duncan and the others, he drew his semi-auto pistol and pointed it at the nearest one. As the pest started to accelerate toward him, he triggered one of his devices attached to his wrist, which began to emit strange insect-like sounds while a golden light blinked on and off. This distracted the hobgar, and Duncan fired when the animal was not expecting an attack.
Success = target is flat-footed against the attack (-2 to AC).
If the attack hits, target takes extra damage as well.
(range 30 ft.)
The bullet went right through the creatures head.
As the Azlanti soldiers fled and the hobgars began to threaten Duncan and the others, he drew his semi-auto pistol and pointed it at the nearest one. As the pest started to accelerate toward him, he triggered one of his devices attached to his wrist, which began to emit strange insect-like sounds while a golden light blinked on and off. This distracted the hobgar, and Duncan fired when the animal was not expecting an attack.
** spoiler omitted **
The bullet went right through the creatures head.
Yep, you killed the hobgar.
Seeing the hobgars enter the fight, Ivris-mu shakes its head in frustration. What type of limited sentience do they have? Why not run from danger? it thinks as it assess the battle. The android regrets not asking the townspeople earlier if all the invaders speak Basic.
"Continue against that one," Ivris-mu calls out indicating the same Azlanti soldier as before. It aims and fires its pistol at the soldier.
Enslig moves towards the second hobgar, and gives Jagare an standard action.
Jagare moves to the hobgar, as well, flanking with Enslig, and attacks:
Enslig moves towards the second hobgar, and gives Jagare an standard action.
Jagare moves to the hobgar, as well, flanking with Enslig, and attacks:
[dice=Jagare’s bite vs. Hobgar’s KAC, plus flanking]1d20+2+2
[dice=Piercing damage]1d4+2
You also draw blood. Besides that, you feel a slight electrical shock when biting the hobgar's flesh.
Here's a map that should clarify a few things. In the middle of the town is the Azlanti garrison. The patrolling Azlanti are going back there. Your group is at the cage. You were attacked by two hobgars, but you killed one and one escaped.
There are five hobgars, two Azlanti soldiers, and the Azlantis are attacking the four hobgars that are attacking them, the hobgars are making their way to the Azlanti garrison. They seem to be fifty feet apart from you.
Duncan turns off the transmitter in his Azlanti helmet for a moment and says to his allies, "Run back to Aibretta's shop! I'll pretend to chase you."
While he's doing this, Duncan stands, holstering his handgun as he does so. He takes the Azlanti rifle and points it in the rest of his group , reactivates his transmitter, and yells, <Topi culunisti! Torna quì!>
He fires his rifle, taking care to aim high, and runs after them once they have a head start.
”Run!” Ivris-mu calls out to his companions, taking Duncan’s cue. The android fires its pistol at the Azlanti soldier then runs in the opposite direction from which the Azlanti are going.
With one last shot in the direction of the Azlanti, Nuri retreats towards the scrapyard. “Aye”
After taking a last look to see how the hobgars are doing against the soldiers, Duncan runs into the mist as if chasing the colonists. He listens for chatter from the soldiers communicating with each other and the garrison, hoping to learn more about their command and control operation.
Enslig and Jagare retreat with the group.
You all are retreating to the cemetery. The aeon cadets are retreating to the garrison, and people are trying to stay out of the hobgars' way.
Once at the cemetery, Ivris-mu stands next to Duncan, ”Did those two report our group? Or were they trying to contact the one Rendell Tace killed? If they are going to send out people to find us, maybe we should try to set an ambush.”
You hear the following in Azlanti:
"The hobgars are loose!""Well, who let them loose? One of the colonists?"
"We don't think it was a colonist, sir."
"Shall we go forward with the execution?"
"Yes. By all means, the colonists must know that we mean business."
As Duncan joins the group in the cemetary, his scowl betrays bad news coming. He turns off the radio and says, "The carty bawbags'r gonna execute a colonist! I'm thinkin' they'll doue it oeutside where oethers kin see it! Let's circle the garrison at a safe distance an' see if we kin stoep it!"
He switches the radio on to listen for more chatter that might indicate where the execution is taking place but starts trotting toward the area of the moisture collector with an aim of using the building between it and the garrison as cover. He'll peer around a corner to spy on the open area east of the garrison.
Jahn nods, grimacing at Duncan's words and follows.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Looks like Jahn was distracted, although he moves silently enough to prevent the Azlanti from hearing him.
Following along with Duncan, Nuri states, Well then, let's go keep those civi's alive.
Thinking worriedly to herself, she wonders, Let's just hope we're not trading our own lives.
Enslig and Jagare follow along.
If nothing seems to be going on to the east of the garrison, Duncan will lead the group clockwise around the garrison, keeping other buildings in between the group and the garrison whenever possible. He'll pause at each building edge to peer around cautiously before moving on.
Aibretta comes to you, still shaken. This is what she says, “They’ve got him! The Azlanti, I mean. They’ve got Jellik. The idiot snuck out for some ill-advised sabotage, and a pair of those damned soldiers caught him. They’re not going to imprison him—they’re going to execute him any minute, just to the southwest of here. I think they’ll wait only long enough for a small crowd to gather, and then make a lesson out of him. Please hurry, rescue that damned fool.”
Duncan nods. "Aye. It's no crime ta be a dunderheid. Let's teach it ta the Zlants!"
He pushes on toward the buildings to the SW of the garrison, watching and listening for signs of a crowd. As he moves, he slings the rifle over his shoulder in favor of his sidearm. To preserve a moment of surprise, he keeps the weapon hidden behind his back, hoping to catch the soldiers off guard thinking he is one of them.
"Were we gone for that long?!" Enslig expresses his surprise, as they move towards the next challenge.
Ivris-mu lowers its head with Aibretta’s words about the imminent execution. It exhales slowly. ”Do you know how many Azlanti will be there? Where should we hide Jellik once he is rescued?”
Before they depart, the android reports about the water elemental. ”Is there anyone in the colony that can speak with it?”
As they walk towards the execution site, Ivris-mu talks to his companions. ”We could attack them from two different directions, try to pull them away from Jellik. Or we could have Duncan march us into the area, as if he caught us. That might allow us to get close to the soldiers -- less risk of colonists getting hurt. Any vehicles we could borrow to escape? Any other suggestions for rescuing Jellik?”
"You can take him to my junk shop," Aibretta explained. "That's what it is, a water elemental?"
"Ah'm feart we don't have time fer plannin'. Let's see how many devils'r in the details an' go from there. You might hide yer weapons an' pretend ta be colonists. I'll engage 'em ta let ye get in closer."
Duncan kept his voice as low as he could as they moved through the fog.
Reaching the public execution site, you find two Azlanti with whips and Jellik chained up by his wrists, with one black eye and reddened cheeks. You also notice that the Azlanti garrison is behind him.
”Do any of them look capable of magic?” Ivris-mu whispers to his companions.
OOps, I meant the building.
Do any of the soldiers have heavy weapons, or are they armed with rifles?
Except for the two with whips, they have rifles.
Jellik is chained to the wall. And as far as I can see, you have it correct. Except that the two executioners are on either side of Jellik. The bystanders are mostly correct as well. Just need some adjustments. ;)
The fog is a misty fog, and it will allow you to see Jellik chained up with the two executioners standing where they are. You cannot see all of the bystanders.
Duncan rushes around to a point where he can see the guards and Jellic. As he moves, he pulls out his comm unit in his off hand, keeping his pistol behind his back. Seeing Jellic has been injured, he decides it is past the time for diplomacy. He says in Azlanti, "Piantà. U cumandante vole chì questu sia arregistratu."
He holds up the comm unit as if starting to position it to use as a camera, but then sets off his distraction devices and fires at the nearest guard with his semi-automatic pistol.
[DC = 20 + target's CR]
Success = + target is flat-footed against the attack (-2 to AC).
(range 30 ft.)