Mauro ignores the fact that he's on fire, calling out "Asher, everyone on the second floor has earned arrows..". As he speaks, he moves to attack one of the faceless stalkers by the door...
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement +1 haste +1 bless
7 str* 1.5 +2 Champion spirit +1 enhancement
A beat later, his skeleton moves to attack as well...
+6 bab +2 str +1 haste
+2 str +3 occultist
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement +1 haste +1 bless
7 str* 1.5 +2 Champion spirit +1 enhancement
Asher harkens to Mauro's call and sees their opponents up in the second level gallery.
Take that, yeh deceiving bastard!
Cirok nods in appreciation of the new art work recently displayed by Asher.
Nice shoot'n!
Talath summons Desna's favored weapon to strike at Unmellow Yellow and interposes himself between the Greenie Meanie and Eliza.
✦ Talmandor's Bounty: Rescue Ramona (area P) * ˚ ✦
Mauro moves to attack the red faceless stalker, warning his allies about the ranged threats above. Together with his skeletal servant, the red faceless stalker is cut down! Talath sends his Spiritual Weapon up to the second floor, attacking the yellow colonist. However, as the blade slices into the colonist's flesh, it ripples and transforms into a faceless stalker!
Rayland swings his longsword at the blue faceless stalker! "I won't let the colony fail again!" He swings with purpose and slices into the blue faceless stalker!
Asher's first shot misses, but the second arrow lodges deep in the imposter's shoulder! All of the arrow's damage appears to go through. The imposter screeches, bleeding all over Carver's stolen clothing.
Round 1
(3 damage)
(61 damage, badly injured)
(3 damage) (Skelly 1 damage)
(Magic Circle Against Evil, Resist Energy Fire, Air Bubble)
(4 damage, on fire, Gravity Bow) [smaller](Huntress 2 damage)[/smaller]
(1 damage, Fly)
(53 damage, very dead)
(12 damage)
Party-wide Buffs: Bless, Haste: 1 round
A vial falls from the second floor, shattering on the wooden floor into a firey explosion! Mauro, Asher, and Huntress are slightly scorched from the splash!
Bold may act!
Cirok watches the eruption of faceless stalkers explode on the scene! The Rogue sizes up the targets, leaving the few on the balcony to the archer.
Smiling when he notices Talath positioning himself next to the Green stalker, Cirok strides with confidence beyond the reach of the Purple(?) and Red(?) stalkers to Flank with the cleric!
Waving at the cleric from across the Green stalker, the grinning rogue attempts to place his dagger into the temple of the murderous monster!
Mind if I cut in!
The rogue then points up at Pinky.
Getting to be a bit pac-man-like in here!
In case anyone misses what happened Talath says, "All above are enemies!"
Asher hears Talath.
Got it! Equal opportunity death-dealing all around!
Crispin will use his Sonic blast on the Blue stalker.
.
✦ Talmandor's Bounty: Rescue Ramona (area P) * ˚ ✦
Crispin blasts the blue faceless stalker with a cone of sonic damage!
The pink colonist's skin melts, revealing a faceless stalker! It tosses a vial of alchemist's fire down to the first floor. It smashes onto the floorboard, igniting the floor! The volatile liquid splashes onto Asher, the green faceless stalker, Talath, and Elisa!
Cirok sneaks behind the green faceless stalker, catching the flat-footed creature off guard. The dagger gets planted deep into the creature's belly and it collapses to the ground!
The blue faceless stalker attempts to flee, provoking an attack from Rayland! The veteran cuts down the fleeing faceless stalker, killing it!
The orange colonist's skin melts, revealing a faceless stalker! It takes a five-foot step and swings a longsword at Crispin but misses due to the thickening smoke!
Eliza moves away from the fighting and interestingly, the orange faceless stalker doesn't attack her! A barrage of Magic Missiles hit Asher!
the raging fires spread! (Image)
The fire spreads underneath Mauro!
The yellow faceless stalker moves over to Crispin and swings its longsword!
Round 2
(3 damage)
(61 damage, badly injured)
(10 damage) (Skelly 1 damage)
(Magic Circle Against Evil, Resist Energy Fire, Fly, Air Bubble)
(16 damage, on fire, Gravity Bow) (Huntress 2 damage)
(4 damage, Fly)
(53 damage, very dead)
(37 damage, dead)
(31 damage, dead)
(1 damage)
Party-wide Buffs: Bless, Haste: 1 round
Bold may act!
Becky continues to use her Naturalist ability to inspire her friends to victory. With Eliza out of the way, the teen bard casts a cure moderate wounds spell in an attempt to bring Ramona back to consciousness.
✦ Talmandor's Bounty: Rescue Ramona (area P) * ˚ ✦
Becky continues to inspire her allies while reaching down to touch Ramona. The colony leader coughs, opening her eyes. She looks around at the growing flames and assesses the situation. "Becky? We need to get out of here. This building's pure timber." Ramona stands up from prone. She's impressively calm given the situation. You can't help but admire her ability to keep a cool head in times of crisis.
"No!" Eliza screams, "my master will be most displeased!"
The purple faceless stalker moves and tosses another vial of Alchemist's Fire below! The vial shatters next to Mauro's skeleton, splashing the undead, Mauro, Huntess, and Crispin!
The imposter Carver seems to be doing something above, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to see and breathe due to the smoke. You think if you don't escape soon, you may become asphyxiated - if the flames don't burn you up first.
Round 2
(3 damage)
(61 damage, badly injured)
(4 damage) (Skelly 2 damage)
(Magic Circle Against Evil, Resist Energy Fire, Fly, Air Bubble)
(16 damage, on fire, Gravity Bow) (Huntress 3 damage)
(5 damage, Fly)
(53 damage, very dead)
(37 damage, dead)
(31 damage, dead)
(1 damage)
Party-wide Buffs: Bless, Bardic Performance
Bold may act!
Becky helps her hero to her feet , managing a nervous, relieved smile before tears start leaking out of her eyes. "I still haven't found my mom!" she whines, trying to keep the growing hysteria she feels out of her tone.
6 rank +3 trained +1 wis +2 racial +3 Skill Focus
"Warrgh" Mauro roars as the fire reaches actual flesh, and then continues "Rayland, grapple Eliza! Asher, get Carver, I think he's trying to escape!"
As he speaks, he rushes around the spreading fires and launches a blow at the faceless stalker attacking Crispin!
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement +1 bless +2 insight (Naturalist)
7 str* 1.5 +2 Champion spirit +1 enhancement
His skeleton dashes into the fray as well!
+6 bab +2 str +2 insight (Naturalist)
+2 str +3 occultist
With a satisfied glance at the toppled stalker, Cirok's icy blue eyes travel over and up to the Alchemist's Fire tossing tosser.
Better do something about that Pink fella!
The rogue--swiftly--flicks his wrist, allowing a slender wand to spring into his hand. The white-haired elf then begins manipulating the wand.
Smiling, Cirok then strides 60' up the stairs .
Once upstairs the elf glares daggers at Pinky, but then his blue eyes turn to Brown (?) .
How you doing'?
His eyes appraising the The imposter Carver, Cirok whistles at him.
Hey! Whatcha doing there, bro!
Asher coughs a bit and peers through the smoke.
Shrugging, he unloads at the Purple Stalker to stop the bomb throwing and then the fake Carver if he goes down.
Yelling at Cirok,
Take down the cur or I will!
The spiritual weapon continues to attack Unmellow Yellow.
Shouting to Becky over the sounds of combat and flames, "GO! I'll find her!"
Crispin grimaces as he is attacked and takes a 5' step away from the Orange Stalker and sends a trio of Magic missiles at it.
.
Crispin grimaces as he is attacked and takes a 5' step away from the Orange Stalker and sends a trio of Magic missiles at it.
[dice=Magic missile] 3d4 + 3; .
✦ Talmandor's Bounty: Rescue Ramona (area P) * ˚ ✦
Mauro and his skeleton attack the orange stalker. Talath's magical weapon continues to strike at the yellow faceless stalker.
Meanwhile, Talath opens the door to Ramona's office and comes face-to-face with Becky's mother, Perrell! The historian has one arm full of documents and the other is pulling more paper from the desk drawers! She looks just as shocked as you when you open the office door.
Rayland swings his longsword at the orange faceless stalker in the way between himself and Eliza.
Asher peppers the purple faceless stalker, killing it. The ranger's arrow fired at the imposter fires wide, missing.
The pink faceless stalker acts!
Cirok doubles moves to confront the imposter Carver! From his position, he can see a rope has been securely fastened to the window.
The orange faceless stalker turns to run! Rayland swings his sword, killing it.
Eliza acts! She chants and moves her hands, casting something! Then, she flees up the stairs!
A scowl passes across Rayland's face as he seems to shake off something.
¯`*•.¸,¤°´✿.｡.:*
the fires rages!
The yellow faceless stalker attempts to flee, provoking an attack of opportunity from Mauro's skeleton! Then, it climbs out the window, escaping!
Coughing, Ramona stumbles out the front doors of the Government Building, holding open the front door. "Come on! The building is going to collapse!"
The imposter Carver climbs out of the window to flee, provoking an attack from Cirok!
Round 3
(12 damage, off map)
(43 damage, dead)
(61 damage, badly injured)
(4 damage) (Skelly 2 damage)
(Magic Circle Against Evil, Resist Energy Fire, Fly, Air Bubble)
(16 damage, on fire, Gravity Bow) (Huntress 3 damage)
(5 damage, Fly)
(53 damage, very dead)
(off map)
(37 damage, dead)
(41 damage, dead)
(31 damage, dead)
(1 damage)
Party-wide Buffs: Bless, Bardic Performance
Bold may act!
Becky finds that between the smoke, growing flames, and general confusion/panic, she's barely able to function. Intending to follow after Ramona, the teen finds she's hesitated a bit too long. Throwing caution to the wind, Becky dances through the flames, trying to reach the exit. By the time she's clear of the building, she's kinda crispy (but not extra-crispy).
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Becky finds that between the smoke, growing flames, and general confusion/panic, she's barely able to function. Intending to follow after Ramona, the teen finds she's hesitated a bit too long. Throwing caution to the wind, Becky dances through the flames, trying to reach the exit. By the time she's clear of the building, she's kinda crispy (but not extra-crispy).
6 rank +3 trained +1 wis +2 racial +3 Skill Focus
6 ranks +3 trained +2 int
[dice=Perception vs DC 15]1d20+6+3+1+2+3
6 rank +3 trained +1 wis +2 racial +3 Skill Focus[dice=Spellcraft vs DC16]1d20+6+3+2
6 ranks +3 trained +2 int[dice=Damage, Skeleton, Fire Square]2d6
Mauro's skeleton tries to trip the fleeing faceless stalker...
+6 bab +2 str +2 Naturalist
Where do you think you're going?
Talath will hurry to Perrell and yell, "We must leave NOW!"
He pulls Perrell's face close to his hoping the fact she can breathe again communicates why he did so. He'll try to usher her, and perhaps grabs some documents if that helps convince her to move, towards the door to the office and out of the building.
Travel Domain
"Agile Feet (Su): As a free action, you can gain increased mobility for 1 round. For the next round, you ignore all difficult terrain and do not take any penalties for moving through it. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier."
Asher, scans the upper story.
Eliza's one of them! She tried to hex Rayland!
To Cirok: Finish him, elf!
Cirok smirks at the imposter Carver. The white-haired elf then decides to finish the job!
The rogue then jumps out the window!
Mauro steps back onto the porch goes after foolish faceless stalker that jumped out of the window...
(and if prone, AC -4 vs melee)
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement +1 bless +2 insight (Naturalist)
7 str* 1.5 +2 Champion spirit +1 enhancement
(and if prone, AC -4 vs melee)
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement +1 bless +2 insight (Naturalist)-5 iterative
7 str* 1.5 +2 Champion spirit +1 enhancement
(and if prone, AC -4 vs melee)
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement +1 bless +2 insight (Naturalist)
7 str* 1.5 +2 Champion spirit +1 enhancement
His skeleton, meanwhile, chases after the other escaping stalker , clawing at it as it climbs out the window...
(target possibly no dex due to climbing)
+6 bab +2 str +2 insight (Naturalist)
+2 str +3 occultist
(target possibly no dex due to climbing)
+6 bab +2 str +2 insight (Naturalist)
+2 str +3 occultist
(target possibly no dex due to climbing)
+6 bab +2 str +2 insight (Naturalist)
+2 str +3 occultist
The glowing Starknife of Desna continues chasing the Yella-Bellied poseur!
Since he can see what Perrell is trying to do Crispin moves outside and around to the window. "Quick, throw the documents out to me!" He calls to her.
✦ Talmandor's Bounty: Rescue Ramona (area P) * ˚ ✦
the yellow faceless stalker turns to flee and Mauro's skeleton trips it! Before falling, the yellow faceless stalker slashes out with its longsword!
Falling, the yellow faceless stalker drops the longsword and goes prone!
Becky escapes through the flames of the Government Building to the safety outside.
The imposter Carver attempts to climb the rope, provoking an attack from Cirok! The dexterous rogue taunts the escaping faceless stalker, severing its head from the torso! The head falls out the window, followed(conveniently) by his body!
Mauro races out the front doors behind Becky to cut off the pink faceless stalker who jumped. Outside, the occultist finds the pink faceless stalker prone to the fall. He's able to finish the creature off easily.
Talath yells something to Perrell, and she gets the message. Arms full of flammable documents, the scholar awkwardly follows Talath outside. Her arms are so outrageously piled with paper, that a few scrolls and a book fall off the stack into the dirt. She drops her rescued items into an already existing pile near the Barracks. "I think that's the last of it," she wipes her brow in relief.
Rayland follows Ramona's instruction and flees the burning building.
Asher looks at Eliza, one of the two surviving colonists. Her wild expression is twisted into hatred. She opens her mouth to curse something, but the ranger's arrows pierce her heart and she falls back into the raging flames, dead.
Crispin follows behind Perrell, picking up the dropped documents and ferrying them to her secured pile. "Oh, thank you, Crispin," the scholar smiles gratefully.
¯`*•.¸,¤°´✿.｡.:*
Asher and his beloved Huntress escape from the burning Government House, coughing heavily. Just as he makes it out, the building's support beams give and the roof collapses in on itself! The fires continue to lick at the destroyed structure, but it's clear that there is no putting out this inferno.
¯`*•.¸,¤°´✿.｡.:*
Luckily, as you look around the palisade, all of the other buildings appear intact. The faceless stalkers who invaded the town appear to have fled and settlers are now staggering into the town square in various states of shock and injury.
Perrell finds Becky and embraces her daughter in a tight hug. Ramona nods at Asher as if she knows what he had to do, and climbs atop the well to be at the highest vantage point. You see Rayland move to stand at her side and the guard captain you saved, Sighra Harleau, flank her on the other.
"Friends," Ramona addresses, "now is not the time to lose hope! We may have lost our jewel of Talmandor's Bounty, but we can rebuild it! Gather up all the injured and report who's missing or dead. I'll have an announcement by morning." She dexterously climbs down the roof of the well and approaches the party:
"I can't thank you enough. You saved not only my life but many others. Please, find who you need to find and get some rest - you've earned it." She crosses her arms, "at least one of us should be rested as I'll be up all night assessing the damage."
We've finished Book 2! I leveled you up early by mistake but now we are all caught up! :D
Talath tries to assemble the group including the strange new elf; he understands if Becky is otherwise engaged. He draws the group out of earshot of others and tells them, "I must tend to the wounded and then my nightly prayers to Starsong. I need you to search out the merchants who were here and see if any of them have any scrolls of the following spells. The first is called 'Glimpse of Truth' and the second is called 'True Seeing.' From what Becky has told us those spells are my best options to uncover any other imposters. They are quite expensive, particularly the second one, so I understand if they can't be purchased. I should be able to channel enough power to gain 'Glimpse of Truth' but it lasts only seconds so I may need multiple castings to 'see' who is real and who is not."
Talath will assist the injured to gather close to him and then channels the power of Desna to heal their wounds.
Becky returns her mom's hug fiercely. When she finally releases it, the teen bard looks really embarrassed but asks Perrell a question about her childhood that only her real mother would know. Then she asks Ramona a question about her early bardic training under the colony leader when they were back in Almas, and finally asks Medrinnah about the subject of the embroidered handkerchief her BFF gave her (the naga, Vriskirsa). Assuming they all give right answers (and pretty much prove they're who they appear to be), a hugfest ensues. Talath and Crispin also get hugs for rescuing her mom (and the company records) from the fire, then Asher, Mauro, and even the newcomer Cirok get hugs for their heroics in battle against the faceless stalkers. Huntress just gets a quick pat on the scaly head.
Eventually, Becky makes her way back to Asher. "I was thinking.... Maybe we should try to track the stalkers that escaped immediately," she suggests. "It may give us a valuable clue as to where those colonists who were abducted previously are being held. Or at least where they were taken. If it rains tonight, we may lose their trail."
Cirok's blue eyes watch the fire completely consume the building. The pale elf then turns to the group of adventurers that were instrumental in routing the faceless stalkers.
I agree with Miss Becky. They may have been here for some time, gathered the information that they were after and exposed their presence because of it. The escaped stalkers could be returning to wherever they call base and reporting to their master. Time does seem to be vital.
The tall elf shrugs.
As I have only just arrived, I am willing to follow your lead in this.
Cirok returns his Wand to his sheath and awaits a decision.
"Agreed, the stalkers were trying to kidnap colonists in the chaos, we saw that, and I am sure that they had some success. If we are quick on their trail we might save some of the kidnapped."
He turns to Asher "If you need help, I can conjure a tracker like I did before... but I suspect I would be wise to save my powers for combat."
Asher nods slowly as he hears the counsel of his fellows.
He also grabs the Wayfinder from the spoils of battle and drops his ioun stone into it so it no longer orbits his head.
Turning to Becky and Mauro,
This is not the first, and definitely not the last time we'll meet this filth. We need to dog their trail and eradicate them as quickly as possible to save any of our fellows that were carried off. We're also going to need a way to detect them from now on. I'll leave that part for wise heads than mine.
I should be able to pick up their trail now that I have seen so many in their native form. I'll let you know if the trail goes cold.
Asher follows the tracks to the edge of the settlement and sees if he can pick up their trail.
Wiser than her tender years, Becky explains that she and her friends will be trying to track the escaping faceless stalkers immediately, telling Ramona & her mother and Sighra & Medrinnah to pair up at all times to look out for one another. Then she casts a light spell upon her rapier and moves to accompany Asher (while keeping a safe distance from Huntress).
Before she gets too far from the center of the village, the bard has a sudden revelation. "Gaa! We should ask our friend Kalikk to scout the area from the sky!"