Reflex:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
In spite of a futile attempt to deflect with her shield, Marianna hisses a little as the ejecta impacts with her. "If we find Eando Kline. I have a feeling he's 3 countries away already," she grumbles in response to Nylthe's irritation, as she waits for Juis to get to her with the healing wands. "I hope that we don't go through all of our healing on this fool's errand."
With the part starting to take on scar tissue and other permanent souvenirs of their experience, they muse on the fate of Eando Kline and, if they find him, what they would say to him. Kline would need to make a lot of saves that day.
After another break for tickling each other with healing wands, the party sets out again.
[u]The eighth and ninth hours![/u]
GM screen:
hazard:1d12 ⇒ 6hazard:1d12 ⇒ 7Greater?:1d100 ⇒ 86
As you set out, you run headlong into a thick dust storm. However, by this point, and with Lebraerio's expert navigation, you're almost comforted by it. Sure it's a dust storm, but it means that it's not a emberstorm, or an explosion of flammable gasses due to lightning. You can feel the Cinderlands making you stronger and after only these nine hours you feel like a seasoned veteran of these harsh wilds. You have the scars and burns to prove it, after all!
Mortimer, the merchant behind you, still full of mirth, yells out Hey! You guys are getting good at this! You can get jobs as guides after this!
Marianna, Inira, and Lebrario stop dead in their tracks. Without saying a word, they point out what they see to the others. A very sizable dorsal fin protrudes from the ground, leaving a wake as it begins moving towards the party!
Male N Ratfolk | Swashbuckler 1, Occultist 5 | Panache 6/6 | Chaldira Reroll 1/1 | T-Shirt Reroll 1/1 | HP 67/67 | AC 23 T 16 FF 18 | CMB (Trip, Disarm, Sunder) +10, CMD 15 | F: +9, R: +10, W: +5 | Init: +5 | Bluff (Deceive) +9, Dipl. (Influence) +14, Perc +10, SM +3 Spells 1st 6/6, 2nd 3/3 | Transm. Impl. MF 3/3 | Abj. Impl. MF 7/7 | Illusion Impl. MF 2/2 | Speed 20ft (40ft on riding dog)| Active conditions:
Can we have our weapons out GM?
Tabar immediately concentrates to give his weapon the merciful condition!
Merciful weapon on Rapier via legacy weapon base power transmutation implement:
Legacy Weapon (Su) : As a standard action, you can expend 1 point of mental focus and touch a weapon to grant it an enhancement bonus. The bonus is equal to 1 + 1 for every 6 occultist levels you possess (to a maximum of +4 at 18th level). Enhancement bonuses gained by this ability stack with those of the weapon, to a maximum of +5. You can also imbue the weapon with any one weapon special ability with an equivalent enhancement bonus less than or equal to your maximum bonus by reducing the granted enhancement bonus by the appropriate amount. The item must have an enhancement bonus of at least +1 (from the item itself or from legacy weapon) to gain a weapon special ability. In either case, these bonuses last for 1 minute.
Merciful
Price +1 bonus; Weight —
Description
A merciful weapon deals an extra 1d6 points of damage, but all damage it deals is nonlethal damage. On command, the weapon suppresses this ability until told to resume it (allowing it to deal lethal damage, but without any bonus damage from this ability).
"Attack with lethal force! My Rapier will do enough nonlethal damage so that it only drops unconscious and does not die!" Tabar says.
"Very well. Scatter for now, so we can surround it. I trust that Tabar's skills will make it so we can drop it alive," Marianna directs as she moves her shield in front of her, preparing to take a charge from the monstrous beast.
Using Tactician. Everyone has Precise Strike for 5 rounds.
Inira wishes she had some blunted arrows, specifically designed to do no permanent damage. So instead, she takes out a flash of alchemists fire, and throws it over the creature, hoping to herd it back towards the group.
You know that it's a bulette, so you don't need to identify it, BUT you may still make a knowledge (arcana) check to learn, weaknesses strengths or other particulars.
Inira, do you mean over *towards* the creature? The range is way off for "over." Also, in addition to that surprise round action you and Nylthe can take your full first round turn.
Sorry - couldn't look at the map when I posted. I see it now!
"Guess I'll be the bait, eh"
Inira takes off like a flash, out to the middle of the field and starts stomping and hollering, "Hey bullette! Don't I look tasty?"
Some of you may wonder if she has simply gone insane.
Surprise round and round 1 move action: move to position on map. Also spend a ki point to add +4 dodge to AC, making it 22. Ready an action to move back up to 40' if the bullette approaches. If that isn't possible, then use total defense to increase AC another +4 to AC26.
No additional knowledge is recalled at the moment. Inira sprints out into the open, hoping to lure it closer! I think I've got it, and it looks like that supercedes the original action you posted.
Nylthe and Aconite both move up behind Inira but to the side a little bit surprise round. Nylthe then moves up behind her eidolon and emboldens him. Cast bull's strength on Aconite.
With surprising speed the rest of the creature emerges from the ground and sprints at Inira. triggering Inira's readied action to move back.
The monk gracefully retreats just as it appears to pounce at its original target location. Grunting in frustration, it continues to pursue until it stands over both Inira and Aconite!
Inira, did you move into the square you're currently in, or are you attacking there, then moving along the line? My action is dependant on knowing that.
Juis runs forward to help his team. Tabar joins him on his riding dog, and as the bulette shifts left to right trying to anticipate who will attack next, he sees an opening to plunge his rapier into.
Lebrario sends spits forth a wad of good at the creature...
Still reeling from Tabar's blade, it seems be caught off guard and the tanglefoot blob renders it stuck to the ground, in place! It tries to pick up its multiple feet with heavy, loud thuds but is unable to break free.
Inira's wild display definitely get's the beasts attention. It looks at her blankly before she thrust in with her fist and lands a hard smash against its carapace.
Marianna: That is the only way her post makes sense, so I've moved her token to the end of that path.
The hefty beast rears in place, clearly very frustrated, gathering power to attempt to smash its would-be prey.
Marianna faintly chuckles for a second as the bulette dives into the party. With a moment to spare as the others begin to surround the beast, the soldier focuses for a moment, before pointing her sword at her target. For an instant it seems she's not doing anything before she bursts into motion, filigree gleaming white as she dives forward to drive her blade into the side of the bulette.
Swift action - Challenge Bulette (+4 to AC, +2 to damage, allies get +2 to hit) Full round action - Charge(Yes, I provoke)
Attack(Bless,Charge,PA):1d20 + 11 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 29For(Challenge,PA):1d8 + 5 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 + 4 = 17 AC vs. Bulette is currently 27(which includes the -2 from Charging.)
If Juis is attacked:
Marianna leans into the oracle's path for a moment, using her shield to attempt to deflect the blow away.
Using Bodyguard to defend Juis. Aid another:1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 1 = 13 Wow.... actually doesn't work for once.
Meanwhile, Nylthe executes an invocation whose gesticulations end in her tracing a circle in the air in front of her, causing a shield of arcane force to appear in front of her. She then begins to wheel around the side of the creature, hoping to approach from behind. Cast shield, move 30'
The struggling creature then turns to return the favor to Aconite.
Marianna, noting the bulette's strength flagging, twists her blade in her hand so that she can strike with the flat of the blade instead of the actual cutting edge. Then, with a practiced step, she slips to the side of the beast, and bangs the creature with her blade, hoping that's enough to knock it silly.
5-foot Attack vs. Bulette. Taking the -4 for non-lethal
Tabar's thrust turns the Bulette's expression from desperation to the blank stare of resign. Still, it stands. Barely. It's thick legs are barely struggling to get out of the sticky goo now.
Juis prays over Aconite and the trickle of red through his fur slows considerably.
Marianna sees her chance and delivers the stunning blow. The creature drops to the ground with a mighty thud. It's entire body is now stuck in the goo.
The party waits several moments for Leb's goo to dissipate, freeing the unconscious body of the Bulette.
Looking back over your shoulders, you remember that Mortimer the Merchant is just behind with his over-sized wagon. With your help the lumbering beast is moved up onto it and secured, all of its legs restrained so that it's held in place when it regains consciousness.
GM screen:
Hours to return:1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
In two short hours, you re-enter Urglin. As the wagon slithers through the streets back towards the Bloodworks you start to gather a crowd and some amount of fanfare. You enjoy a brief period of celebrity as the normally aggressive and unwelcoming citizens gather to admire the beast and the adventurers who were strong enough to capture it. It continues to grow all the way to the Bloodworks, and by the time you reach the arena, you have an informal entourage of several hundred citizens who are as eager to the see the bulette tear apart gladiators as they are to slap one of you on the back and compliment them on their hunting prowess.
As you approach the wagon diverts to head to where the creature can be unloaded and transferred to the care of Ploog's staff.
Back in Ploog's office, the orc receives your news with a calmer mien, even cold. As he relaxes at his desk he commands one of his guards to go and fetch the guide he promised to introduce you to.
They return with a scrawny, down-on-his-luck orc wearing rags, a harness for carrying a few tools, and a set of masterwork manacles. With a nonchalant wave of his hand, Ploog introduces the newcomer. See slide 4.
This is Gulros. He was a modest merchant guard protecting caravans between Urglin and Urgir until he acquired a gambling problem. Then, due to related bad decisions, I acquired him.
Ploog catches your gaze to let that last fact sink in.
And now, I have fulfilled my part of the bargain! I have my bulette and your introduction has been made.
With a self-assured smile, Ploog states, “If you wish to purchase him, of course, I would be open to negotiating a second favor—one far less troublesome and time-consuming. Though... perhaps somewhat more dangerous. BUT, entertaining never-the-less! I would have you participate in the arena’s next event, a fight against our reigning champion, Vroth the Crusher! Even better, the winners are allowed to claim the losers’ possessions. Vroth has quite a collection. In return, the slave will be yours to do as you wish. Interested?”
The orc seems to get excited, smiling uncontrollably and raising his arms upward as he references their mighty and reigning champion. While cold and calculating, it's clear the games are in his blood.
Ploog looks all of you over expectantly.
How do you answer? What will be the exciting conclusion to this chapter of our story?
Ploog, still smiling, nods. This is an arena of deadly games. It's surface is painted with the blood of ten-thousand champions. It is not brought in from outside by buckets, I assure you.
Leb had learned from the locals that although Vroth the Crusher is powerful even for an ettin, his true strength is his cleverness.
Not content to simply bash heads together in return for meager rewards, he negotiated a rough but serviceable contract with Ploog a year ago that ensures Vroth a healthy purse of gold for each victory. There are rumblings that the deal works more to Ploog's advantage, but opinions vary.
In his free time, Vroth enjoys training fighting animals and often brings them into the arena to show off his latest pets. Most recently, he trained a pair of dire wolves.
Male Human Investigator 6 Init +3 HP 45/45 AC 19 T 14 FF 16 Fort +4 Ref+9 Will +6 Per +10+1d6 Move 30 Insp 5/5
Lebraerio gives his partners all the information he has concerning the champion gladiator, along with any relevant knowledge about ettins
Taking 10 in Know, total 17 (19 if Know Arcana/planes)+Free inspi:1d6 ⇒ 2
Maybe we should use the same tactic than against the bulette. These two headed giants are tough, and its size will allow it to strike from a farthest distance than you in close combat.Maybe we shoudl try to blind them, but we'll have to do it twice.
Quick thinking, Lebraerio will use strips of clothes to make some small bags, and fill them with sand
hoping to do at least two bags.
If one of you has a sturdy rope, maybe uses it as a way to make the ettin fall-two people running toward it with the ropes stretched- so we can dey his height advantage.
