barkskin, GMF, longstrider, air walk, heightened awareness
more effects:
tiger focus, bull focus
Male Half Orc (Mwangi heritage) Barbarian (scarred rager) 4 / Hunter 9 | current AC 31 T 17 FF 27 | HP 130/130 [130/130] | F +22 R +17 W +13 (+2 Fort and Will in rage) | CMD 30 | CMB +14| Init +5 | Perc +19 dv 60' | Rage (16/21) | Animal focus (6/9) | Spells (-, 5/6, 0/5, 2/4)
"Are you saying that Hestram recruited your fellow rebels to overthrow Odrian?" Kiboko asks Voss. "Are these rebels now loyal to Hestram, or do they serve him out of fear? Kiboko would prefer not to kill such people if it can be avoided. But they will not prevent us from reaching Hestram.
Where will we find Hestram and his allies? The sooner we finish him the better. Then your people will be free to find their own way."
"Are you saying that Hestram recruited your fellow rebels to overthrow Odrian?"
Kol Voss scowls. "Some of them," he answers slowly, "thought he was offering a quick way to rid ourselves of foreign oppressors. And they thought him a god, here to fight another god. If they have a chance of recanting their actions, it is in the afterlife now. Now only the most monstrous or most blind of my fellow Free Citizens follow the Beast willingly, and the rest out of fear."
Zaarah wrote:
"So how do we start this? Just run in and kill him?“
"First we meet with my few remaining loyal friends in our secret sanctum beneath the Crimson Forum. With your help, we may very well face Adril Hestram today, save my compatriots, and rid Arl of the Beast." The red-skinned man stops at a patch of empty wall, then pushes on a few of the inlaid bricks. As if on a spring, a portion of the stone pops open to reveal a series of linked chambers. Judging by their shape, they may have once held animals of some sort. Past them is an open double door made of the same reddish steel the portal atop the pyramid was constructed out of, and a dozen men and women dressed in similar skins and furs as Kol Voss.
"Φίλοι, είμαι εγώ," the warrior says quickly. "Αυτοί οι ξένοι ήρθαν επίσης να κυνηγήσουν το θηρίο Θα ανέβουμε και θα αντιμετωπίσουμε τα κατοικίδια ζώα του στο Φόρουμ και θα ορκίζομαι τους αρχαίους όρκους και θα τον προκαλέσω για το ξίφος. Σηκώστε μας και ετοιμαστείτε να ενωθείτε μαζί μας στην επιφάνεια." As the other Akitonians begin stowing both familiar and alien weaponry, Kol Voss turns back to the Pathfinders and gestures into the room past the double steel doors. "They do not speak the tongue of the Blue Planet," he explains. "We'll speak in here, in private."
Once the Seekers have finished passing through the steel doors, they are hurriedly shut and, judging by the sound of scraping metal, locked. The room falls dark, save for a sliver of light from far above that starkly illuminates Kol Voss's face. "This problem we have with Adril Hestram must be solved at once, and I know only one way to make sure it happens." Suddenly the room lurches upward, vibrating with the sound of grinding chains. A sound like tens of thousands of people cheering in unison begins to rise above the clangor, and the red-skinned warrior has to raise his voice to be heard above it all. "Above us in the Crimson Forum, King Adril himself is about to watch as several of my closest friends are torn apart by monsters. He likely has my sister at his side in chains. Together we will free my friends and then challenge Adril to combat in the arena. He must possess Odrian's symbol of power - the mighty Starsword - so I will swear the oaths of my ancient tribe and challenge him for the weapon. Should he refuse, the entire city will turn against him. Together we will slay him in combat, take the blade, and free the city and my sister from his tyranny." The roar of the crowd is almost deafening as Kol Voss pulls his shield from his back and draws his bastard sword. "PREPARE YOURSELVES - WE RISE TO FACE THINGS YOU HAVE ONLY DREAMED OF!"
You have five (5) rounds to prep before something happens. Please remember to update the Status Tracker in the slides and (if possible) your stat bar.
"If your sister were free, could she help us?" Just wondering if I should consider a course of action where I use the combat as cover to fly off invisibly to pick the lock on her chains and get her out of there.
False Life HP:1d10 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Comprehend Languages
Alchemical Allocation + Heroism
Leaves me two rounds to prepare based on his response. If we are all up for that idea, I will do Invisibility and Fly in rounds four and five.
As I re-read it, I wonder about trying to simply steal the sword and handing it off to Vol Koss. It's unlikely, but worth considering.
"These monsters you speak of, do you know of any materials they are vulnerable to or any special resistances they may have? It may help us to be better prepared."
barkskin, GMF, longstrider, air walk, heightened awareness
more effects:
tiger focus, bull focus
Male Half Orc (Mwangi heritage) Barbarian (scarred rager) 4 / Hunter 9 | current AC 31 T 17 FF 27 | HP 130/130 [130/130] | F +22 R +17 W +13 (+2 Fort and Will in rage) | CMD 30 | CMB +14| Init +5 | Perc +19 dv 60' | Rage (16/21) | Animal focus (6/9) | Spells (-, 5/6, 0/5, 2/4)
Freeing the princess and/or stealing the sword seem like good ideas, but if you have to pick locks it may take too long. Kiboko can potentially use his Shatter SLA to free her, if it wouldn't just put her at Hestram's mercy.
"You could have given us more warning of your plan, Voss. But we will fight alongside you."
Kiboko begins his preparations, and draws his sword.
Casting: Greater Magic Fang, Barkskin, Strong Jaw; all with durations split between Kiboko and Mvumbu via Improved Spell Sharing. Also Fickle Winds and finally Shield. Kiboko activates Animal Focus, selecting Tiger and Mouse for himself, Tiger and Bull for Mvumbu.
[url]Fickle Winds[/url] will cover most of the party, but not all. I can do the PCs plus Mvumbu, or Kiboko + Kramac + Beak + Mvumbu + one other PC. Will do the former, unless the party chooses differently.
Male Half-Orc M Half-Orc Normal AC: 36 Current AC: 36 T 14 FF 33 | HP 121/121| F +22 R +16 W +16 / +2 Heroism | CMD 28 | Init +5 | Perc +18(+4 On Beak)| Spells: Level 1 4/6 Level 2 5/5 Level 3 3/4 Level 4 0/1 | Bane 10/10 | Animal Focus 8/10 | Hunter Trick 4/7
Kramac will cast extended See Invisibility, extended Heroism on himself, extended Magic Circle Vs. Evil on himself, Stoneskin on Beak and Heightened Awareness on himself, which he will expend for +4 to initiative when we get into combat.
Hestram has no hope against us! He is a fool to have provoked our ire.
barkskin, GMF, longstrider, air walk, heightened awareness
more effects:
tiger focus, bull focus
Male Half Orc (Mwangi heritage) Barbarian (scarred rager) 4 / Hunter 9 | current AC 31 T 17 FF 27 | HP 130/130 [130/130] | F +22 R +17 W +13 (+2 Fort and Will in rage) | CMD 30 | CMB +14| Init +5 | Perc +19 dv 60' | Rage (16/21) | Animal focus (6/9) | Spells (-, 5/6, 0/5, 2/4)
"If you have time and can spare the charge Flyn, a Mage Armour spell is useful should Kiboko need to adopt hippopotamus shape."
Kiboko does have a wand of mage armour too, feel free to use that one on him instead - though it's CL3
"Of course. She is now the rightful ruler of the Free People, which is why the Beast has her in chains."
Fendel wrote:
"These monsters you speak of, do you know of any materials they are vulnerable to or any special resistances they may have? It may help us to be better prepared."
"Adril seems to take pleasure in watching the beasts of the wild tear his victims apart. Perhaps they know one of their own. Or perhaps his murderous heart simply enjoys the novelty - from what I've heard, he never uses the same monsters twice in the Forum."
Kramac wrote:
"Hestram has no hope against us! He is a fool to have provoked our ire."
Kol Voss grins. "THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR!" he shouts above the din. Moments later, the ceiling crashes open and the full cacophony of the crowd above washes over the Pathfinders.
The Crimson Forum (for this must be the place) is built of the same reddish stone as the pyramid and almost every other building in Arl. From the size of the stands, there must be room for almost ten thousand spectators - and there do no appear to be many empty seats today. A few ratfolk and lizard folk jostle for a view around twelve-foot tall four-armed humanoids, and a handful of strange, floating, pulsating brain-like creatures watch from overhead. The overwhelming majority of the crowd, however, is red-skinned humanoids like Kol Voss. The only one not - aside from the Seekers themselves - is a familiar figure seated in the luxury box on the northern side of the arena. At Adril's side hangs a brilliant sword of some strange metal, and seated in the other chair is a woman clothed in noble regalia. On the stadium floor, a handful of monstrous ape-like creatures with four arms focus on a set of three poles in the western edge. Five men, all chained to each pole by the wrist, huddle together behind their meager prisons and away from the monsters threatening them. A massive humanoid figure watches the sight with a wicked grin on his craggy face.
As the strangers rise up from the floor, a hush falls over the crowd. Adril leaps from his throne, knocking it over in his rush to stand. His face bulges in surprise, and his cheeks are red and angry. "My friends!" he shouts, his voice unnaturally loud. "I'm sorry to see you alive." He crams two fingers into his mouth and performs what can only be a magically-enhanced, ear-splitting whistle. The monsters stop menacing the prisoners and turn to face Adril. "King Adril, your god, wishes you to destroy these fools! Kill them all!" The crowd roars with approval.
The ape-like creatures move with supernatural speed to engage their new prey. Two of them stride forward and inhale, blowing a stream of sand across the once-chamber and its occupants. Kiboko's ward of wind whips the particulates away before they can blind the Pathfinders, though without the protection Beak and Kol Voss aren't so lucky.
It's not strictly defined in the spell that wind wall (which fickle winds is based on) would deflect this since it's not a gaseous breath weapon, but it makes sense to me that it would so that's what we're going with.
The other two step into the air as if it were solid ground, walking over the Pathfinders' heads before shaking their thick coats vigorously. Clouds of red sand fill the air around them like fog, hiding the massive creatures from view - and stinging the unwarded Beak and Kol Voss's eyes!
Again, it makes sense that fickle winds would block this for those who have it.
Twin cries of pain are met with jeers and boos from the watching crowd. Adril's magically-amplified laughter fills the stadium like thunder.
Zaarah:
Knowledge (arcana):1d20 + 22 ⇒ (18) + 22 = 40
The ape-creatures seem to be a type of girallon, an incredibly aggressive primate that tears its prey apart with all four hands. Usually they are bound to the earth like any beast, but these ones seem to be infused with a sliver of elemental power that lets them walk on air and wards them against other airborne creatures in a similar manner to that of an air elemental. Despite all this, they remain simple animals - powerful of body, but weak of mind.
They have Rend (all four claw attacks have to hit to trigger), airborne creatures attacking one take a penalty to both attack and damage rolls, lowest save is Will.
Knowledge (local):1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
You aren't certain about the red-skinned giant though.
The ape-creatures seem to be a type of girallon, an incredibly aggressive primate that tears its prey apart with all four hands. Usually they are bound to the earth like any beast, but these ones seem to be infused with a sliver of elemental power that lets them walk on air and wards them against other airborne creatures in a similar manner to that of an air elemental. It seems likely that a creature blinded by the girallon's dust cloud could regain their sight after a short time by leaving the cloud itself.
They have Rend (all four claw attacks have to hit to trigger), airborne creatures attacking one take a penalty to both attack and damage rolls, blindness from the dust cloud lasts a variable number of rounds after leaving the cloud.
The giant, on the other hand, looks to be a prime specimen of a sand giant - skin reddened perhaps as an adaptation to Akiton's harsh climate. While they are highly skilled with their long two-handed blades, these giants are also known for their ability to shape sand near them into whatever for they wish - including a massive arm and fist that slams nearby creatures independent of its creator. But like many other hazards, the sand arm itself can be cut down and the power holding its countless grains together unraveled. It does not seem to have the connection to air that the girallons have, which also makes it appear likely that it is not immune to the girallons' own sandy abilities.
Sand giant, can make independent sand arm anywhere within close range.
The ape-creatures seem to be a type of girallon, an incredibly aggressive primate that tears its prey apart with all four hands. Usually they are bound to the earth like any beast, but these ones seem to be infused with a sliver of elemental power that lets them walk on air and wards them against other airborne creatures in a similar manner to that of an air elemental.
They have Rend (all four claw attacks have to hit to trigger), airborne creatures attacking one take a penalty to both attack and damage rolls.
The ape-creatures seem to be a type of girallon, an incredibly aggressive primate that tears its prey apart with all four hands. Usually they are bound to the earth like any beast, but these ones seem to be infused with a sliver of elemental power that lets them walk on air and wards them against other airborne creatures in a similar manner to that of an air elemental.
They have Rend (all four claw attacks have to hit to trigger), airborne creatures attacking one take a penalty to both attack and damage rolls.
The giant, on the other hand, looks to be a prime specimen of a sand giant - skin reddened perhaps as an adaptation to Akiton's harsh climate. While they are highly skilled with their long two-handed blades, these giants are also known for their ability to shape sand near them into whatever for they wish - including a massive arm and fist that slams nearby creatures independent of its creator. But like many other hazards, the sand arm itself can be cut down and the power holding its countless grains together unraveled.
Sand giant, can make independent sand arm anywhere within close range.
The Crimson Forum
Round 1! Bold may act!
Blue
Yellow
Green (10 ft above ground)
Pink (10 ft above ground) Zaarah
Fendel (Invisible)
Flyn
Kramac
Beak (-9, Blinded)
Red
Kiboko
Mvumbu
Kol Voss (-19, Blinded)
Environmental Effects:
- Orange spread is dust cloud (creatures within 5 ft have concealment, creatures 10+ ft away have total concealment)
Invisibly, Fendel skims along the ground, trying to take advantage of the chaos erupting at the center of the arena. He takes a moment to survey the wall, looking for any telltale signs of a barrier between the red sand and the audience. He also looks about the crowd, guards or Adril to see if anyone is registering his presence or movement.
@Fendel - remember that intentionally searching for stimuli with Perception is a Move action.
Like a ghost, Fendel flies away from the dust cloud in the center of the Forum. As he opens his eyes to magical auras, he has to blink a few times at the brilliance of the effects surrounding him.
There are magical auras present. If you want to concentrate on an area for more information next round, just say the word.
Flyn's arrows cut through both the winds surrounding him and the storm raging beyond them to strike the girallon in the chest over and over until it finally crumples to the ground.
When Zaaraah casts her spell, two of the remaining apes shriek with glee and reach out with massive fists to smash the shrunken mage!
@Zaarah - your AC in your stat bar is different from in the Status slide, and I don't see anything in your active effects that would give you a -2 penalty to AC. I'm resolving against the higher number, but could you double-check the numbers in the Status slide for me?
One clawed hand destroys an illusionary Zaarah like a child popping a bubble and the other grabs only a handful of sand before the mage disappears from sight and flies away.
Meanwhile, Kramac unleashes his signature flurry of supernaturally-fast slices at one of the airborne girallons. It howls in pain, but refuses to fall until the fourth cut draws blood. Like a leaf on the wind, the monstrous beast floats to the ground. Kramac spins around and slices one more time at the other girallon within reach. Beak bites blindly, beak clacking on empty air.
Outside the storm, Zaarah watches as the giant man laughs and points at the center of the cloud. The ground underneath the Pathfinders trembles and quakes as if something were emerging from the sandy ground. From his elevated vantage point, Fendel sees the tip of a hand made of sand before it clenches into a fist and plunges back down to the ground!
Kiboko doesn't see the incoming hand until it blots out the dim light filtering through the storm and crushes him beneath its weight.
@Kiboko - first thing on your turn, make a Fortitude DC 24 save to avoid being stunned for 1 round.
The Crimson Forum
Round 1! Bold may act!
Blue (-126)
Yellow
Green (-27, 10 ft above ground)
Pink (-139)
Zaarah (7 images, Invisible 1/12)
Fendel (Invisible, Detect Magic 1/3, 10 ft above ground)
Flyn
Kramac
Beak (-9, Blinded)
Red
Fist Kiboko (-16, Fortitude Save)
Mvumbu
Kol Voss (-19, Blinded)
Environmental Effects:
- Orange spread is dust cloud (adjacent creatures have concealment, creatures further away have total concealment)
- Brown box is poles where the prisoners are tied up
barkskin, GMF, longstrider, air walk, heightened awareness
more effects:
tiger focus, bull focus
Male Half Orc (Mwangi heritage) Barbarian (scarred rager) 4 / Hunter 9 | current AC 31 T 17 FF 27 | HP 130/130 [130/130] | F +22 R +17 W +13 (+2 Fort and Will in rage) | CMD 30 | CMB +14| Init +5 | Perc +19 dv 60' | Rage (16/21) | Animal focus (6/9) | Spells (-, 5/6, 0/5, 2/4)
fort DC24:1d20 + 22 ⇒ (14) + 22 = 36
Kiboko withstands the crushing blow of the sand-fist.
"Voss! Can you step back a little? Mvumbu and Kiboko will crush these dull beasts!"
If Voss can move backwards, level with Kiboko's current position, that would allow Kiboko and Mvumbu to 5' step and both pack flank against Yellow. If he can't that's fine, we can still do the vital strike thing.
The Crimson Forum
Round 1! Bold may act!
Blue (-126)
Yellow
Green (-27, 10 ft above ground)
Pink (-139)
Zaarah (7 images, Invisible 1/12)
Fendel (Invisible, Detect Magic 1/3, 10 ft above ground)
Flyn
Kramac
Beak (-9, Blinded)
Red
Fist
Kol Voss (-19, Blinded)
Kiboko (-16)
Mvumbu
Environmental Effects:
- Orange spread is dust cloud (adjacent creatures have concealment, creatures further away have total concealment)
- Brown box is poles where the prisoners are tied up
barkskin, GMF, longstrider, air walk, heightened awareness
more effects:
tiger focus, bull focus
Male Half Orc (Mwangi heritage) Barbarian (scarred rager) 4 / Hunter 9 | current AC 31 T 17 FF 27 | HP 130/130 [130/130] | F +22 R +17 W +13 (+2 Fort and Will in rage) | CMD 30 | CMB +14| Init +5 | Perc +19 dv 60' | Rage (16/21) | Animal focus (6/9) | Spells (-, 5/6, 0/5, 2/4)
Was hoping maybe Voss had some tricks up his sleeve :)
Kiboko and Mvumbu engage the land-bound girallon.
Free to enter rage, free 5' step, standard to ready attack
F Hippopotamus 11HD, animal companion (lvl 13)| current AC 38 T 16 FF 34 | HP [115/115] 93/93 |CMD 30| F +15 R +14 W +7; +2 vs nonmagical disease; +1 vs fear; +2 vs haunts; devotion; evasion | Init +2(+4) | Perc +7 lowlight vision, scent| Tricks 6/6
"MOOOOAAAAAARRGGHHHHH!!!!!!"
Mvumbu bellows and follows Kiboko in to the attack... her movement may provoke, she has travelled 10'
...but the claws only scrape off her armor as she bites down hard on its leg. Her follow-up nibble only eats the ape-creature's dust - but Kiboko is ready and chops through the girallon's leg in one swipe before skewering its falling form like some strange lumberjack.
The last girallon howls in rage at the death of its packmates and swings arm after massive arm down from the sky at Kiboko, followed by a face the size of the half-orc's torso.
As the clawed hand draws her friend's blood, Mvumbu honks and grabs it with her massive jaws. Pulling the girallon down onto its knees, she rips the limb free and crunches its ribcage like a ripe mango. Kiboko and Kol Voss have to step out of the way of the massive creature's gentle descent - the latter doing so uncannily.
The Crimson Forum
Round 2! Bold may act!
Blue (-126)
Yellow (-142)
Green (-124)
Pink (-139) Zaarah (7 images, Invisible 2/12)
Fendel (Invisible, Detect Magic 1/3, 10 ft above ground)
Flyn
Kramac
Beak (-9, Blinded)
Red
Fist
Kol Voss (-19, Blinded)
Kiboko (-31)
Mvumbu
Environmental Effects:
- Orange spread is dust cloud (adjacent creatures have concealment, creatures further away have total concealment)
- Brown box is poles where the prisoners are tied up
Male Half-Orc M Half-Orc Normal AC: 36 Current AC: 36 T 14 FF 33 | HP 121/121| F +22 R +16 W +16 / +2 Heroism | CMD 28 | Init +5 | Perc +18(+4 On Beak)| Spells: Level 1 4/6 Level 2 5/5 Level 3 3/4 Level 4 0/1 | Bane 10/10 | Animal Focus 8/10 | Hunter Trick 4/7
Kramac activates a hunter trick - Chameleon step
Kramac spurs Beak, and guides the bird out of the sand cloud. Once out of the cloud he spots their remaining foe, and turns towards the hulking giant, stabbing it once to get its attention.
Hearing the explosion of violence, the detective is confident his allies have the matter well in hand. Instead, he tries to determine the nature of the magic in the area.
If there is no barrier between the arena and the crowd, Fendel will move up and over toward the princess. If there is a barrier and it is a wall, he will see if he can go over it. If it is a dome, he will fly along the barrier toward the trapped prisoners.
Flyn, Kramac, and Beak burst forth from the dust cloud - the former as swift as the arrow he launches into the giant's shoulder, the latter pair with extra care to accommodate the bird's blindness before its rider cuts the oversized calf. Overhead, only a faint breeze betrays Zaarah's position in the sky.
Fendel:
You reach out, and your suspicions are confirmed when your hand touches an unyielding and invisible wall between the arena and the stands. You rise to check its height and nearly brain yourself on a sudden ceiling 30 ft above the sandy floor below.
Rising at half-speed would give you about 20 ft of movement left with a single move action - did you want to take that towards the bound prisoners or somewhere else? And did you want to continue concentrating on detect magic or use the above roll as a Knowledge (arcana) check to identify an active spell effect? Go ahead and include your decisions in your next post.
Wounded, the giant turns its attention to Kramac. It swings a sword bigger than the half-orc...
...and the downward strike nearly cleaves Kramac in twain , though the half-orc manages to barely duck the follow-through and backswing. Then, like a falling tree in a storm, the fist of sand crashes down on him...
Fist Slam vs Kramac AC 36:1d20 + 24 ⇒ (13) + 24 = 37 Bludgeoning damage:1d8 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
...and though the blow is glancing, the sheer force threatens to stun the Seeker!
@Kramac - please roll a Fortitude DC 24 save first-thing in your next post to avoid being Stunned for 1 round.
Inside the dust cloud, Kiboko watches as Kol Voss stumbles away towards the grandstand. Zaarah looks down to see the red-skinned warrior swinging his sword at empty air, a furious look in his unseeing eyes even as tears stream down his face.
GM Screen:
2d4 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3
The Crimson Forum
Round 3! Bold may act!
Kiboko (-31)
Mvumbu Blue (-126)
Yellow (-142)
Green (-124)
Pink (-139) Zaarah (7 images, Invisible 3/12)
Fendel (Invisible, Detect Magic 2(?)/3, 10 ft above ground)
Flyn
Kramac (-98, Fortitude save)
Beak (-9, Blinded 1/??)
Red (-51)
Fist
Kol Voss (-19, Blinded 1/??)
Environmental Effects:
- Orange spread is dust cloud (adjacent creatures have concealment, creatures further away have total concealment)
- Brown box is poles where the prisoners are tied up
Seeing his friend take a savage blow, Flyn screams in rage! The Elf quickly brings his bow up, takes sure aim, and lets loose a cold iron barrage at the red giant…
With Kramac hurting, Flyn will burn a use of Perfect Strike
barkskin, GMF, longstrider, air walk, heightened awareness
more effects:
tiger focus, bull focus
Male Half Orc (Mwangi heritage) Barbarian (scarred rager) 4 / Hunter 9 | current AC 31 T 17 FF 27 | HP 130/130 [130/130] | F +22 R +17 W +13 (+2 Fort and Will in rage) | CMD 30 | CMB +14| Init +5 | Perc +19 dv 60' | Rage (16/21) | Animal focus (6/9) | Spells (-, 5/6, 0/5, 2/4)
Kiboko and Mvumbu's posts assume Flyn's arrows did not drop the giant.
"COME, MVUMBU! KRAMAC NEEDS OUR HELP!"
Protected by his wind magic, Kiboko advances on the giant.
Switch Mouse Focus to Snake for +4AC vs AoO, and switch Mvumbu's Bull focus for Snake.
F Hippopotamus 11HD, animal companion (lvl 13)| current AC 38 T 16 FF 34 | HP [115/115] 93/93 |CMD 30| F +15 R +14 W +7; +2 vs nonmagical disease; +1 vs fear; +2 vs haunts; devotion; evasion | Init +2(+4) | Perc +7 lowlight vision, scent| Tricks 6/6
"MOOOOOAAAAARRGGHHHHH!!!!"
Mvumbu answers Kiboko's call, and comes barreling into the giant.
Kramac Fortitude vs DC 24:1d20 + 24 ⇒ (19) + 24 = 43
Fendel:
The absolute smoothness of the wall reminds you of a wall of force, though you've never encountered one horizontal or joined at a corner before. Given the advanced techniques needed to create something like this (and its probable role in protecting the crowd), it's very likely to also include countermeasures against teleportation and extradimensional travel. It would also make sense that it would have a power source somewhere outside the arena, given that the designers very likely did not want it to fade in the middle of a dangerous match.
Flyn unleashes a flurry of arrows, but the giant remains standing even after the last punctures his chest. Kramac and Beak desperately move away, the half-orc pulling out a scroll and activating its healing magic to soothe both the massive cut across his chest and the dull throbbing in his shoulder thanks to his defensive headgear.
Then, from inside the storm, a furious honk echoes.
As unstoppable as a flooded river, Mvumbu grabs the giant's leg and pulls him to the ground. Without a sound, he goes limp and his terrible blade drops onto the red sand. The crowd gasps as the massive champion falls.
No need for a Slumber Hex from Zaarah - would you want to do something else or maintain your secrecy? No strike from Kiboko means Rage is still going as well.
In the silence, Kol Voss finishes wiping the sand from his eyes and raises his sword towards the grandstand. In a thundering voice he bellows what sounds like a challenge in his own tongue. The hushed crowd falls even more silent. Whispers fill the air until Adril's thrilled laughter drowns them all out.
"Well done, my little apprentices. You've bested my pets. Now face my CHAMPION!"
Beneath the luxury box, a pair of large doors open out into the arena. A human male emerges, dressed in the regalia of an Ulfen jarl. At his side are two huge, multi-legged beasts.
The crowd roars again, though this time Fendel notices different words in the chanting - though their meaning still eludes him.
Zaarah:
Knowledge (arcana):1d20 + 22 ⇒ (17) + 22 = 39
These look like behirs, but again different from the ones you've studied on Golarion. You would swear you could almost see through them at times, like an air elemental. That likely translates to at least a partial resistance to devastating attacks, and from the sparks dancing around their maws you wouldn't be surprised if they were immune to electricity as well. And speaking of those jaws - they look strong enough to grab just about anything and hold it in place for all those legs to claw at, or to just swallow its prey whole.
25% chance to avoid poison, paralysis, sleep, or stun effect; 25% chance to take no extra damage from a critical hit or sneak attack; immunity to electricity; breath weapon (electric, line); grab and constrict; rake (claws); and swallow whole.
These look like behirs, but again different from the ones you've studied on Golarion. You would swear you could almost see through them at times, like an air elemental. That likely translates to at least a partial resistance to devastating attacks. Those jaws also look strong enough to grab just about anything and hold it in place for all those legs to claw at, or to just swallow its prey whole.
25% chance to avoid poison, paralysis, sleep, or stun effect; 25% chance to take no extra damage from a critical hit or sneak attack; grab and constrict; rake (claws); and swallow whole.
The Crimson Forum
Round 4! Bold may act!
Zaarah (7 images, Invisible 4/12)
Fendel (Invisible, 10 ft above ground)
Flyn Blue
Yellow
Kramac (-35, -21 Nonlethal)
Beak (-9)
Red
Kol Voss (-19)
Kiboko (-31)
Mvumbu
Environmental Effects:
- Orange spread is dust cloud (adjacent creatures have concealment, creatures further away have total concealment)
- Brown box is poles where the prisoners are tied up
These look like behirs, but again different from the ones you've studied on Golarion. If they're anything like their terrestrial counterparts, they'll have strong jaws - strong enough to grab just about anything and hold it in place for all those legs to claw at, or to just swallow smaller prey whole.
Grab and constrict (jaws); rake (claws); and swallow whole.
Flyn's arrow flies straight into the massive creature's chest...
Fortification, 1 = Regular damage:1d4 ⇒ 1
...but the beast only shakes its head in irritation rather than scream in pain as the archer would have expected. A whisper in the air betrays Zaarah's position...
Red Will vs DC 23:1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 4 = 24
...but the man below her merely throws back his head and roars with laughter. "You'll have to work harder than that, little witch!" The crowd roars in response.
So too do the behirs. One inhales deeply, then releases a blast of air that blows the rust-colored dust cloud away. It follows, long body uncoiling like a spring as it rushes into the air above Kiboko and Mvumbu. The other darts around Kol Voss and into the air as well, though not before the red-skinned warrior can swing...
...but he catches only its wake. The jarl roars with laughter again, but this time the crowd doesn't answer in kind. Not appearing to care, the behir opens its massive jaws and releases a blast of electricity at the archer below.
Flyn dodges the worst of the blast, but the electric shock still causes his muscles to spasm painfully for a few seconds.
The Crimson Forum
Round 4! Bold may act!
Zaarah (7 images, Invisible 4/12)
Fendel (Invisible, 10 ft above ground)
Flyn (-10)
Blue (10 ft above ground)
Yellow (-19, 10 ft above ground) Kramac (-35, -21 Nonlethal)
Beak (-9)
Red
Kol Voss (-19)
Kiboko (-31)
Mvumbu
Environmental Effects:
- Brown box is poles where the prisoners are tied up
Male Half-Orc M Half-Orc Normal AC: 36 Current AC: 36 T 14 FF 33 | HP 121/121| F +22 R +16 W +16 / +2 Heroism | CMD 28 | Init +5 | Perc +18(+4 On Beak)| Spells: Level 1 4/6 Level 2 5/5 Level 3 3/4 Level 4 0/1 | Bane 10/10 | Animal Focus 8/10 | Hunter Trick 4/7
First things first - now that I am at a computer and have my character sheet, the scrolls I have are cure critical - so I am going to roll the extra d8
Extra D8 +2:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Kramac maneuvers Beak to attempt to ward the creature away from Flynn, while calling on the strength of Kurgess to mend his wounds further.
CLW:1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Give Kramac a moment to put his intestines back in and he will be back to smiting wicked creatures!
As Kramac advances on Flyn's position, so too does the jarl stalk across the sands towards Kol Voss. "Playtime's over!" the pale-skinned man yells, swinging his axe in a vicious arc...
Crimson blood spatters the sands of the arena, and the crowd roars with... anger? Adril's overwhelming chuckles drown them out for a moment, and the jarl snarls in the red-skinned warrior's face, "You couldn't even get rid of Odrian - I had to do it for you! What makes you think you can take me on, boy?"
"I am not afraid of the Beast's pet!" Kol Voss shouts back, raising his sword to the air and yelling something in his own tongue. The people in the grandstands scream back their approval as the blade descends - but the jarl is ready and his axe lashes out first!
Kol Voss falters, his face growing deathly pale beneath his ruddy skin as more of his blood decorates the sands. But still the blade in his hand continues its arc toward the invader!
The cuts across the jarl's chest seem superficial at best, though a few drops of the man's own blood water the ground as well. Above, the crowd yells excitedly, seeming to ignore the large difference in how the two combatants are faring against each other.
The Crimson Forum
Round 5! Bold may act!
Kiboko (-31)
Mvumbu
Zaarah (7 images, Invisible 5/12)
Fendel (Invisible, 10 ft above ground)
Flyn (-10)
Blue (10 ft above ground)
Yellow (-19, 10 ft above ground)
Kramac (-22, -8 Nonlethal)
Beak (-9)
Red (-36)
Kol Voss (-106)
Environmental Effects:
- Brown box is poles where the prisoners are tied up
barkskin, GMF, longstrider, air walk, heightened awareness
more effects:
tiger focus, bull focus
Male Half Orc (Mwangi heritage) Barbarian (scarred rager) 4 / Hunter 9 | current AC 31 T 17 FF 27 | HP 130/130 [130/130] | F +22 R +17 W +13 (+2 Fort and Will in rage) | CMD 30 | CMB +14| Init +5 | Perc +19 dv 60' | Rage (16/21) | Animal focus (6/9) | Spells (-, 5/6, 0/5, 2/4)
"THE ULFEN IS THE THREAT!" cries Kiboko as he and Mvumbu rush to engage the champion.
Depending on their reach, Kiboko's movement might provoke AoOs from both behirs. Should he get Grabbed, Kiboko's lesser talisman of freedom will trigger, granting 3 rounds of Freedom of Movement and enabling him to continue.
F Hippopotamus 11HD, animal companion (lvl 13)| current AC 38 T 16 FF 34 | HP [115/115] 93/93 |CMD 30| F +15 R +14 W +7; +2 vs nonmagical disease; +1 vs fear; +2 vs haunts; devotion; evasion | Init +2(+4) | Perc +7 lowlight vision, scent| Tricks 6/6
"MOOAAARRGGHHHHH!!!!"
Mvumbu honks in agreement with Kiboko, and rushes to face Hestram's champion.
Movement might also provoke from behirs, depending on reach; have to count on her AC and CMD to get her through.
F Hippopotamus 11HD, animal companion (lvl 13)| current AC 38 T 16 FF 34 | HP [115/115] 93/93 |CMD 30| F +15 R +14 W +7; +2 vs nonmagical disease; +1 vs fear; +2 vs haunts; devotion; evasion | Init +2(+4) | Perc +7 lowlight vision, scent| Tricks 6/6
Missed the edit window - doesn't look like it'll matter, but I mis-typed Mvmubu's attack bonus. Her ordinary bonus is +14, not +13, so all her results above should increase by one.
The detective slides behind the prisoners and looks to release them.
If they are bound, then he will start cutting them free. If manacled, then he begins to pick the locks.
Disable Device:1d20 + 33 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 33 + (3) + 2 = 50 Opnening a lock is a full round action.
As he works, he attempts to ease the minds of the captured men by repeatedly stating their leader's name, fearing the crowd may drown him out. "Kol Voss needs you. Support Kol Voss. Kol Voss is your leader."
Flyn drives arrow after arrow after arrow into the flying beast's sinuous torso, but it isn't until the last dull grey arrowhead finds a new home in its heart that the behir screams and falls to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Zaarah tries to cloud the mind of the remaining beast...
'Fortification', 1 = No Effect:1d4 ⇒ 3 Blue Will vs DC 23:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
...and its eyes drift shut. A massive tongue hangs between its jaws at it begins to fall from the sky. Kiboko and Mvumbu race to Kol Voss's aid before the behir can block their way - the hippo biting twice in quick succession and the half-orc swinging his blade. The jarl grins and doesn't even seem to move out of the way of the mighty blows, howling in pain and ecstasy with each strike. Both hunters feel like their attacks were less effective against the jarl's thick skin, but also like they did more damage than expected as he left his defenses wide open.
Translation: Red has DR, but also took extra damage from using a rage power.
Fendel gets to work freeing the prisoners, finding each of them chained to their pole by a complicated padlock. The first opens easily, and the malnourished woman falls to the ground. She looks up with wide eyes, not seeing where the strange voice was coming from nor seeming to understand more than a few words. "Kol Voss..." she whispers.
One down, four to go.
Blue Falling damage:1d6 ⇒ 1
Meanwhile, the behir hits the ground with a loud thud that jolts it awake. It screeches in pain and quickly rights itself, then lashes out at Mvumbu!
Blue Bite, Flanking vs Mvumbu AC 36:1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 14 + 2 = 20 Bite damage:2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 5) + 6 = 14
Mvumbu kicks the beast's jaws away from her before they can do more than scrape across her armor. Above, the crowd roars approvingly.
The Crimson Forum
Round 5! Bold may act!
Kiboko (-31)
Mvumbu
Zaarah (7 images, Invisible 5/12)
Fendel (Invisible, 10 ft above ground)
Flyn (-10)
Blue (-1)
Yellow (-109) Kramac (-22, -8 Nonlethal)
Beak (-9)
Red (-176, Entangled 1/1)
Kol Voss (-106)
Environmental Effects:
- Brown box is poles where the prisoners are tied up (1/5 freed)
Male Half-Orc M Half-Orc Normal AC: 36 Current AC: 36 T 14 FF 33 | HP 121/121| F +22 R +16 W +16 / +2 Heroism | CMD 28 | Init +5 | Perc +18(+4 On Beak)| Spells: Level 1 4/6 Level 2 5/5 Level 3 3/4 Level 4 0/1 | Bane 10/10 | Animal Focus 8/10 | Hunter Trick 4/7
With all the other enemies dealt with, Kramac spurs beak into the air and guides the bird to just above Kiboko, where Kramac will stab down at the so-called 'champion'.
Kramac delivers a mighty blow from above, but the jarl remains on his feet. It isn't until Beak grabs him and crunches down hard that the axe falls from his hands.
No joke, that brought him to -1 hitpoints.
The crowd roars a thunderous approval, and from his box Adril scowls. Kol Voss raises his blade high again and yells something to the Venture-Captain, then charges at the remaining behir.
Blue AoO vs Kol Voss:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 Bite damage:2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 = 10
The red-skinned warrior deftly dodges the beast's clumsy attack and strikes back with his sword...
barkskin, GMF, longstrider, air walk, heightened awareness
more effects:
tiger focus, bull focus
Male Half Orc (Mwangi heritage) Barbarian (scarred rager) 4 / Hunter 9 | current AC 31 T 17 FF 27 | HP 130/130 [130/130] | F +22 R +17 W +13 (+2 Fort and Will in rage) | CMD 30 | CMB +14| Init +5 | Perc +19 dv 60' | Rage (16/21) | Animal focus (6/9) | Spells (-, 5/6, 0/5, 2/4)
Kiboko nods to Kramac and Beak in approval and turns to face the last behir. Through his deep connection to Mvumbu, he urges the mighty hippo on. The pair launch their attack...
Kiboko's movement will provoke an AoO from the behir if it can take a second one. AC vs AoO is 39
