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While the rest of the party pull hijinks, Libello starts an "Evidence" file in his notebook, wanting to be fully prepared for tomorrow's talks!
Party
Has an expert witness in Greeleep who can testify to Raike meeting with Morgroar and using magical / toxicological means to lure and subdue Bullettes
Kyra
Has tissue sample from Bullettes
Some of the creatures also show signs of having ingested a time-released, alchemical poison containing hunting spider venom, which would have made the creatures eventually grow clumsy and sluggish as they fought.
Libello
Has the zoic fetish which can be used to control Bullettes
Marta
May soo have Raike's journal / ledger of illicit business
May soon have mangical hat meant to silence Greeleep
Perusing his notes, he adjusts his glasses and says "I think we have them dead to rights" which is apparently his professional opinion...
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Party
-Has an expert witness in Greeleep who can testify to Raike meeting with Morgroar and using magical / toxicological means to lure and subdue Bullettes
-Knows Bullettes to generally be solitary creatures
Fortiva
-Saved some of Raike's "spilled" drink used to lure Bullettes
-Snagged one of the fetishes from the guard
Kyra
-Has tissue sample from Bullettes
-Some of the creatures also show signs of having ingested a time-released, alchemical poison containing hunting spider venom, which would have made the creatures eventually grow clumsy and sluggish as they fought.
Libello
-Has the zoic fetish which can be used to control Bullettes
Marta
-May soo have Raike's journal / ledger of illicit business
-May soon have magical hat of disguise used to hide Greeleep's presense
So are we ready to explain all this to Eloqui?
Marta motion for the others to wait and then silently makes herself invisible before sneaking up the ladder . If the top of the ladder is blocked she will listen. If not, she will peek into the hut before proceeding.
The trap door opens readily, covered only by furs stretched over it and the dirt. Marta spots the cloth hat, still draped over the rocks and is able to retrieve it without drawing any attention. From her vantage point, she spots the shadow of one of the Aspis guards passing by the entrance, but the human never enters and Marta easily returns down the handholds to the party below.
While Marta retrieves the hat, Fortiva checks out the stash Greeleep points out.
"If Morgroar procured some of the poison, he may have found a way to challenge Eloqi and win. Perhaps that is why he was so intent on the food preparation - not to protect his own meal, but to contaminate the lieutenant's. How well do you trust your rapport with the cook, Joli?"
Looking up the ladder to Raike's hut,she listens for sounds of movement or discussion...
Rounding the bend in the tunnels, the party hears heavy footfalls and low grunts coming out of the darkness ahead, emanating from a small alcove sporting a large, flat-topped rock littered with empty and broken vials, large ingestion capsules, and implements of the alchemical trade.
Near the center of the rock, a mug lies next to some humanoid remains. Several vats of chemicals are stacked in the corner, most bearing labels written in hobgoblin. Two notches for torches are carved on the walls.
As you come into view, a large figure looms in the alcove. It turns, revealing its large ears from which drape tufts of a distinctive wig, framing the hobgoblin's face like muttonchops. A bandolier prominently crosses his chest with a piece of red-tinted vellum lies tucked behind it.
A snarl forms on Morgroar's face as he clutches tightly to the halberd in his hand.
MEET UP WITH MORGROAR! Round One Begins!
Martin Shadestep
Jolinaxus Strangemuse
Zac Freelan 2
Morgroar
Fortiva
Kyra
Marta Sanz
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"You have a single opportunity to retain your honor" Joli wants to honestly give the hobgoblin a chance.
"We have sufficient evidence in your collusion with Raike to set up your encampment for failure, resulting in unleashing violence and death upon your own community"
Balanced between honest and unyielding - threatening with the truth perhaps? - Joli poises "If you cast down your arms here and now, we will take you in, and you will have the opportunity to plea your case and maybe seek reconciliation - so - which will it be?"
"You have a single opportunity to retain your honor" Joli wants to honestly give the hobgoblin a chance.
"We have sufficient evidence in your collusion with Raike to set up your encampment for failure, resulting in unleashing violence and death upon your own community"
Balanced between honest and unyielding - threatening with the truth perhaps? - Joli poises "If you cast down your arms here and now, we will take you in, and you will have the opportunity to plea your case and maybe seek reconciliation - so - which will it be?"
"Collusion?!" growls Morgroar. The hobgoblin gives a momentary pause, before he concludes, "Then Raike's suspicions were right. She did well to send me down here to put an end to you!"
The hobgoblin brandishes his halberd. "You may have held your own against a bulette, but now you face a true hobgoblin warrior!"
MEET UP WITH MORGROAR! Round One Begins!
Martin Shadestep
Jolinaxus Strangemuse
Zac Freelan 2
Morgroar
Fortiva
Kyra
Marta Sanz
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Too bad...
Without a moment of hesitation more, Jolinaxus rushes in, and from his belly, emits a terrible cry!
◆) Stride
◆) Enter Dragon
◆) Dragon's Roar
↺) Stand Still (if he moves) or Infernal Detonations (if he stays put)
You bellow, instilling fear in your enemies. Enemies within a 15-foot emanation must succeed at a Will save against your Intimidation DC or be frightened 1 (frightened 2 on a critical failure). When a creature frightened by the roar begins its turn adjacent to you, it can’t reduce its frightened value below 1 on that turn. Your first attack that hits a frightened creature after you roar and before the end of your next turn gains a +4 circumstance bonus to damage.
After you use Dragon Roar, you can’t use it again for 1d4 rounds. Its effects end immediately if you leave Dragon Stance. Creatures in the area of your roar are then temporarily immune for 1 minute.
The cleric is thinking: One against six... this hobgoblin is perhaps bold but also stupid.
Upon seeing a Pathfinder coming towards him, Morgroar releases a mighty battle cry!
The roar sends a shiver down the ranger's spine, but it is not enough to halt the Pathfinder's blade!
The hobgoblin manages to avoid Martin's second strike, but that merely opens him up to jab by Zac, who follows the jab with a precise slice!
As portions of the hobgoblin's tunic turn a hue matching the vellum beneath his bandolier, Jolinaxus gives a mighty cry of his own!
A twisted, toothy smiles forms on Morgroar's face. "I have no fear of your pathetic mewing, half-orc!"
"But, first, I have some elven locks to add to my weave!" The hobgoblin swings his halberd at the hated half-elf who cut him most deeply.
"Fall, curse you!" he cries as he continues his assault.
The axe blade of the hobgoblin's polearm cuts large, bloody swathes across the half-elf's body.
MEET UP WITH MORGROAR! Round One Cont'd/Round Two Begins!
Fortiva
Kyra
Marta Sanz
Martin Shadesteps
Jolinaxus Strangemuse
Zac Freelan 2 -54 HP
Morgroar -51 HP
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Around the corner from where the battle is taking place, Marta silently casts a spell.
◆ Silent Spell
◆◆ Cast a Spell (Illusory Disguise, level 3)
Suddenly the precocious young lady that was once there now looks like an aging hobgoblin the spitting image of Lieutenant Eloqi.
When she yells, the voice sounds just like Eloqi as well.
◇ Speak
"What is the meaning of this treachery Morgroar!"
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Jolinaxus inhales deeply after having emptied his breath, having roared and even breathed flame like a dragon, and now drawing his ki into his absolute center, he clears his mind, and now seeing his ally wounded, releases his bo momentarily to activate a one-handed mudra upon Zac, realigning his chakras to expel negative energy...
...but the disruption to his spirit is too great to overcome!
◇) Release bo (one hand)
◆) Battle Medicine
◆) Regrip bo
◆) Flurry of Blows
◇) Dragon's Roar reset: 0 rounds!
↺) Stand Still (if he moves) or Orc Ferocity (if he retaliates)
Re-gripping his bo, Joli leaps backwards into the air and swings his legs like giant thrashing dragon tails at Morgroar, looking to connect to knock him unconscious with a blow to the neck or head!
Connecting solidly and possibly rebounding his negative ki back upon him overwhelming his cognitive function!
The target must succeed at a Fortitude save against your class DC or be slowed 1 until the end of your next turn.
Joli Class DC 22
Instead of speaking, Joli exhales his power again in striking, then inhales once more, readying himself for the likely counterattack!
Connecting solidly and possibly rebounding his negative ki back upon him overwhelming his cognitive function!
MEET UP WITH MORGROAR! Round One Cont'd/Round Two Begins!
Fortiva
Kyra
Marta Sanz
Martin Shadesteps
Jolinaxus Strangemuse
Zac Freelan 2 -54 HP
Morgroar -73 HP
The hobgoblin bleeds even as Fortiva's blade opens a fresh, deep wound.
Steeling himself against the Pathfinders' onslaught, the hobgoblin avoids the elf's second attack as well as those of the half-elf.
MEET UP WITH MORGROAR! Round One Cont'd/Round Two Begins!
Kyra
Marta Sanz
Martin Shadesteps
Jolinaxus Strangemuse
Zac Freelan 2 -54 HP
Morgroar -111 HP
Fortiva
The clerical woman moves to get a point of view before to cast a fire spell towards the hobgoblin who shouldn't have to try to fight six pathfinders alone.
Fire Ray:
Damage
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Martin grins as Fortiva slides into a flanking position. At least someone was going to distract the monster in front of him. Martin had no illusions about this fight. He was in way over his head. If the brutish hobgoblin had chosen to go after him instead of Zac, Martin would likely be bleeding out on the ground by now. Still, needs must. So Martin sent the sisters flying at Morgroar's legs, trying to slow the behemoth down. Then maybe they could kite him around a bit.
Kyra fiery ray fails to hit its mark.
However, Martin manages a cut with his blade!
Seeing the form of Eloqi before him, Morgroar calls out to her, "Help! It is these Pathfinders who are treacherous! They have attacked me!"
The hobgoblin concentrates his gaze on the from of the Lieutenant, trying to determine whether she will come to his aid or help the Pathfinders put an end to him.
Unable to read the face of his superior, the Master Sergeant knows that his lifeblood is draining from his body and that, regardless of Lieutenant Eloqi's current disposition towards him, that the Pathfinders seem determined to see him dead. He fights on!
The wily hobgoblin goes first for the most injured--the half-elf!. "Die hated half-breed!"
As the blade flashes across his abdomen, Zac falls!
Morgroar then turns towards the full-blooded elf. "If my eyes are to soon fail me, then allow my last sight to be the spray of elven blood!"
His halberd cuts deep into the rogue's arm, even as blood continues to flow from his own wounds.
MEET UP WITH MORGROAR! Round Two Cont'd/Round Three Begins!
Fortiva -22 HP
Kyra
Marta Sanz
Martin Shadesteps
Jolinaxus Strangemuse
Zac Freelan 2
Morgroar -124 HP
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Stern but merciful, Joli keeps up the barrage. He sends his ki to direct Fortiva's next blow, as well as to deflect Morgroar's next blows.
◆) Flurry of Blows
◆) Cast Guidance on Fortiva
◆) Cast Shield (to AC 25 @ hardness 10)
↺) Stand Still (if he moves) or Shield Block (if he retaliates)
hoping the consequences of doing so - if not for humanitarian's sake - is clear as towards making their case!
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Marta wanders into full view as Eloqi.
"The nation of Oprak will be better off without you, you treacherous hobgoblin. But know in your dying breath that I am yet more treacherous still."
Stretching out her hand and uttering an arcane word, Marta causes an arc of electricity to lash out at the hobgolbin.
Realizing that both his life and legacy are on the line, Morgroar fights with desperation!
The hobgoblin avoids the human's blade and the half-orc's punches. However, Eloqi's words give him concern as Marta's electricity flies toward him!
The monstrous Morgroar remains unscathed!
"To the hells with that! You saw how easily he took Zac down. Stop pussy-footing around and drop him!"
"And you will soon see how easily I take you all down! To hells with you all!" roars Morgroar, brandishing his halberd!
"And should you wish, Lieutenant," he sneers at the illusionary hobgoblin. "You may join them! Call off your elves and dogs! If you would be rid of me, come fight me one on one!"
Though his words hold bravado, his tone is less convincing. They are a ploy, perhaps, to seek a respite from the Pathfinders' present onslaught.
MEET UP WITH MORGROAR! Round Two Cont'd/Round Three Cont'd!
Fortiva -22 HP
Kyra
Marta Sanz
Martin Shadesteps
Jolinaxus Strangemuse
Zac Freelan 2
Morgroar -124 HP
The cleric thought they could haven taken the hobgoblin down the first round. Now she has to react at Zac dying.
Heal, 2 actions, Healing hands upon Zac:
Then she draws his scimitar.
You was the fool who thought to beat us all in a party. Assume your idea now!
It is an elven blade, rather than elven blood, that is the last thing that Morgroar sees.
The Master Sergeant drops to the floor, falling atop a waiting pool of his own blood.
The gore left by the short, yet bloody battle, only adds to the horror in this small chamber.
Atop a large, flat-topped rock lie empty and broken vials, large ingestion capsules, and implements of the alchemical trade as well as a mug.
Joining them on the table are the clear remains of a humanoid.
Several vats of chemicals are stacked in the corner, most bearing labels written in hobgoblin.
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Jolinaxus kneels and checks his pulse.
He'd like to keep the Master Sergeant alive if possible - for even though the evidence for the case is overwhelmingly in their favor, he would like to see these events wrapped up by mitigating as much death as possible.
He will perform the necessary techniques to keep the hobgoblin unconscious but alive...
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Dismissing the illusion Marta's form returns to normal.
"Guess I shouldn't have telegraphed my next move quite as much."
Turning to the gruesome scene...
"Looks like a halfling's corpse, drained of its blood."
She looks at the other substances for a moment.
"I don't suppose anyone has got any alchemy tools."
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Martin looked the corpse over for a moment before moving on to the other items in the room. One of their medical experts could liekly get more from the body than he could. Martin was more interested in the alchemical items.
"Lots of alchemical stuff over here. You think this is where they brewed up those chemicals they used to attract the bulettes?"
He will perform the necessary techniques to keep the hobgoblin unconscious but alive...
Alas, Jolinaxus confirms that the hobgoblin is dead, the loss of his blood simply too great.
On his person, the hobgoblin has a halberd, half-plate armor, a composite short bow, 20 arrows, and a bandolier. Tucked beneath the bandolier is a piece of red-tinted vellum.
Marta will look over the vellum.
Marta cannot discern the meaning of the markings.
Libello will look at them.
Libello understands that the vellum missive discusses a possible alliance between Raike and Morgroar, but concludes that fully decoding it would likely require access to a detailed cypher.
When Greeleep rounds the corner, he sees Morgroar's body. He instinctively wipes his scaly brow, but says nothing more about the matter.
Clearly uncomfortable around the alchemical substances and implements, Greeleep heads further down into the passage, stopping at an opening and calls, "If you'd like, I can show you the way to Raike's hut!"
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Fortiva patches up her wounds before moving about too much.
"Did you know halflings were a bullette's favorite food? I certainly did Not. Poor sap must have been killed and turned into bait."
"The mug's got traces of someone's blood in it, plus a hefty dose of alchemical attractants, among other things. But I'm not sure if it's the halfling's blood, some of the bullette's, or perhaps another donor altogether."
"There's something to these vials, but I'm not sure what."
"I imagine Raike has the cypher. Lead on, Greeleep."
Greeleep leads Fortiva to an alcove where a pile of several, unused torches lie at the base of a wooden ladder propped against the wall. The ladder ascends to a trapdoor.
Survival:
That's the right place. Fortiva, you can go as stealthy as possible.
Then she treat Zac wounds.
Medicine. DC 20:
Damage healed:
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Fortiva slips up the ladder and thru the trapdoor into the tent.
She scans the nightstand (Who travels with a nightstand? she thinks to herself) and the cot, taking a few seconds to assure herself that Raike doesn't keep her journal under her pillow.
Satisfied, she examines the foot locker for traps () and attempts to unlock it, using her best set of picks for the job.
Fortiva slips up the ladder and thru the trapdoor into the tent.
She scans the nightstand (Who travels with a nightstand? she thinks to herself) and the cot, taking a few seconds to assure herself that Raike doesn't keep her journal under her pillow. Satisfied, she examines the foot locker for traps () and attempts to unlock it, using her best set of picks for the job.
Before setting about the work of unlocking the chest, Fortiva notices an ominous, flame-shaped rune etched into the lock--one that could only have been spotted by the eyes of an expert thief!
With a skilled, steady hand, Fortiva scratches out portions of the rune, rendering it inactive. Now, the work of disabling the lock.
Fortiva manages to slip open the lock on the footlocker, revealing a series of ledgers and maps of the Mindspin Mountains. The ledgers appear to be routine listings of merchantable goods shipped by Aspis ships. There does not appear to be anything particularly incriminating.