GM TOP Skulk of Foxes (Troubles in Otari, PFS2) (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

Cursing their scrawny little legs, Akimi rushes onto the shore and loads their crossbow, snorting derisively at the leader. "Equal distribution? That's rich. Do we get equal portions too? No? Didn't think so." They watch Ellen snap an orc's neck and pause, feeling a little green around the gills for a moment. Okay, that was... intense. They force themself to ignore it and focus on picking a target.

Stupid boat being so far from the stupid fight. XP

♦♦ Stride 40 ft.
♦ Load crossbow.

The chef takes their time, moving into position and pulling back the string to load a bolt. First Mate Dev mixes some magic and a bit of sharp spinning death to leave a decent wound on an orc. Jacques does a bit more than that, gashing hard another and boasting Finley’s magic away. The sword seems happy to be of use.

Two orcs move into flanking and the third waits to see if any foxes are injured before picking his target.

Yellow Axe vs FF Ellen: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Iterative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Blue Axe vs FF Jacques: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 - 1 = 19 for Slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Iterative: 1d20 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 - 1 = 9

Only Jacques is hit from all the swings, so the third foe screams in his face and unleashes two more attacks!

Demoralize vs Jacques: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Green Axe vs FF Jacques: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 for Slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Iterative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Another hit! And the might swordsman is feeling a little concerned too. At least for one round.

Round 2: Combat, finally!
Buffs: NA
Red Orc Boss (-4 HP)
Akimi
Dev (mirror images)
Jacques (-17 HP, panache, Frightened 1)
Blue Orc (-20 HP)
Green Orc (-8 HP)
Yellow Orc
Ellen

Bold may act! Society is the Recall Knowledge skill here, but as usual it takes an action to complete (unless you can bypass that with a class ability).

Bon Mot vs. Blue: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"I'm having trouble thinking of a good joke for you guys," sighs Ellen. "I'm worried that not everyone will get it!"

And then she punches green-hat a bunch.

Punch: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Elbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Knee: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

If 18 manages to hit...???
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 6) + 2 = 10
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 2 = 4

As a reminder: Bon Mot is vs. Will DC, a basic success does -2 to Perception and Will saves, yadda yadda yadda.

Ellen cracks a joke! It’s about time, jeeze. The blue cloaked Orc chuckles, then realizes it was at his expense. ”HEY! Not cool.”

Ellen follows the crack with two more, to the face. Her foe seems a bit woozy, but still stands.

The boss rallies her troops, ”Drive them into the sea and we will see if their failed economic policies can keep them from drowning in debt!!!”

She steps up and swings at the bloodied Jacques.

Red Maul vs Frightened Jacques: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 1 = 24 for Bludg: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

She cracks him hard on his bean.

Round 3: Combat, finally!
Buffs: Battle Cry for Orcs
Red Orc Boss (-4 HP)
Akimi
Dev (mirror images)
Jacques (-28 HP, panache, Frightened 1)
Blue Orc (-20 HP, bon motted 1m)
Green Orc (-20 HP)
Yellow Orc
Ellen

Bold may act! Society is the Recall Knowledge skill here, but as usual it takes an action to complete (unless you can bypass that with a class ability).

Akimi is momentarily stunned by Ellen's brilliance, only to come back to the reality of Jacques being on the verge of death. Instead of doing a cool Holmesian crack-shot, they grumble under their breath and hustle past Ellen to stand next to the fox and do their level best to patch up all the leaking holes in him. They then pause to examine the leader in an attempt to suss out what their whole deal is.

Assurance to hit a 16 Medicine automatically for Battle Medicine on Jacques, who is now immune for 1 hour.

♦ Stride 20ft.
♦ Heal @Jacques: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (8, 3) + 4 = 15
♦ Recall Knowledge (Society) vs Leader (Red?)

Huzzah! Jacques is mostly healed.

The young doctor moves up and patches wounds expertly. Jacques has a nasty headache but is doing better (-13 HP).

For some reason I thought Jacques was at -17, which is why I said he was mostly healed. I don't know why I thought that, but I promise I'm not that bad at math! Just blind! :D

Did Jacques' attempt to Demoralize the orc on his last turn succeed? I'm not sure which orc it was (Blue?) because they didn't have color coding yet when I posted. If it did work: a) it might have caused some of their attacks to miss; b) he would have used his Invigorating Fear reaction to gain temp hp (3 or its level, whichever is higher); c) if it didn't work then Jacques would still have his reaction available to make an Opportune Riposte attack vs Blue's iterative, which is a critical miss; d) if the Demoralize succeeded then Jacques currently has panache.

Presuming that I'm starting the round with panache...

Jacques laughs a bit more nervously than usual as he is skewered several times. Perhaps his new responsibilities as the father of a spider horde are giving him a newfound sense that hungry mouths are depending on him. Or perhaps he simply doesn't like being bashed. Regardless, he pokes again at the blue revolutionary before tumbling away.

◆ Confident Finisher
Finley, frightened: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 1 = 20
P dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 + Precision dmg: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5
Jacques no longer has panache. If that is a miss (I presume it is) it still does 2 points of dmg to Blue from Confident Finisher

◆ Acrobatics to Tumble Through vs Green's Reflex DC, frightened: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 - 1 = 23
If that succeeds, Jacques gains panache and will move as shown on the map. If it fails, he'll try again.

Finally, he raises his buckler as he glares at Yellow. ◆ Raise Shield

You had panache and the demoralize worked. I had both in the tracker. I included the -1 from frightened on the attack that hit you so it still hits. Using your reaction for the a temp HP will put you at -10, I’ll adjust on the next update.

Jacques strikes blue, almost taking him down but the enemy barely stands (used a reaction for ferocity). He tumbles and spins and twirls like a beautiful dancer, avoiding all sorts of imagined dangers. His god smiles upon him (panache gained).

Dev is up!

The magus sees no reason to change his tactics yet and throws a second shuriken.

Enspelled Shuriken vs GREEN: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (2, 2) + 2 = 11
Fort save DC 17

Chill Touch: Siphoning negative energy into yourself, your hand radiates a pale darkness. Your touch weakens the living and disorients undead, possibly even causing them to flee. The effect depends on whether the target is living or undead.
Living Creature The spell deals negative damage equal to 1d4 plus your spellcasting modifier. The target attempts a basic Fortitude save, but is also enfeebled 1 for 1 round on a critical failure.
Heightened (+1) The negative damage to living creatures increases by 1d4.

The first mate recharges his magical reservoir and ensorcels another shuriken, whipping it just past an orc’s head as an obvious warning shot.

The blue cloaked one glares at Ellen, then doubly at Akimi for chuckling. ”I don’t like people laughing at me so I’m going to carve out your liver and eat it in a stew shared with my comrades!”

He moves up and slashes at Akimi.

Blue Axe v Akimi + BC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 = 12
Iterative: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 1 = 18

But being so angry at the world has drawbacks, mainly just not being in a good mindset to fight.

The other two shrug and after both trying to scare her, hack away at Captain Fancy-Word-Pants.

Green Demoralize v Ellen: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Green Axe v Ellen FF + BC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 13
Iterative: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 1 = 19 for Slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Yellow Demoralize: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Yellow Axe: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 = 12
Iterative: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 1 = 12

Ellen laughs off the first yell and dodges the first swing, but just as she is getting comfy his backswing catches her leg and the other one just gives her his best Crazy Nic Cage eyes and she feels slightly concerned for a little bit.

Round 3: Combat, finally!
Buffs: Battle Cry for Orcs
Red Orc Boss (-4 HP)
Akimi
Dev (mirror images)
Jacques (-10 HP, panache, shield)
Blue Orc (-22 HP, bon motted 1m, wounded 1)
Green Orc (-20 HP)
Yellow Orc
Ellen (-6 HP, Frightened 1)

Bold may act! Society is the Recall Knowledge skill here, but as usual it takes an action to complete (unless you can bypass that with a class ability).

Elbow vs. Yellow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Knee vs. Yellow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5) + 2 = 11

Ellen seems to have a Massive Talent for punching orcs, because she seems pretty Kick-Ass right about now.

Bon Mot vs. Yellow Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Bet that shirt was white when you got it!" she jeers.

She takes a quick step to the side, outside of the flank-chain she and yellow had found themselves in the middle of.

Her target seems a bit distracted by the comment, perhaps preparing a nice comeback or reply. The boss has none of it though, stepping up into the flank and encouraging her allies, ”Drive them into the sea!”

She brings her heavy maul around at Akimi’s skull.

Boss Maul v Akimi FF + BC: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 1 = 28 for Bludg: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 Crit doubled to 26, ouch!

And connects, hard. The chef sees little baked Cornish hens flapping around his head.

Round 4: Combat, finally!
Buffs: Battle Cry for Orcs
Red Orc Boss (-4 HP)
Akimi (-26 HP)
Dev (mirror images)
Jacques (-10 HP, panache)
Blue Orc (-22 HP, bon motted 1m, wounded 1)
Green Orc (-20 HP)
Yellow Orc (-11 HP, bon motted 1m)
Ellen (-6 HP, Frightened 1)

Bold may act!

*their :)

Akimi hisses in pain, stepping away from the nasty big boss's maul to patch up their wounds.

Using Assurance and Battle Medicine.

They then fire off a deeply annoyed shot at the lead orc.

♦ Step.
♦ Battle Medicine @Akimi: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 8) + 4 = 14
♦ +1 Crossbow vs Boss: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 P Dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Undeterred, the magus throws another shuriken.

Enspelled Shuriken vs GREEN: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (1, 1) + 2 = 7

Fort save DC 17

Chill Touch: Siphoning negative energy into yourself, your hand radiates a pale darkness. Your touch weakens the living and disorients undead, possibly even causing them to flee. The effect depends on whether the target is living or undead.
Living Creature The spell deals negative damage equal to 1d4 plus your spellcasting modifier. The target attempts a basic Fortitude save, but is also enfeebled 1 for 1 round on a critical failure.
Heightened (+1) The negative damage to living creatures increases by 1d4.

Fort DC 17: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

The blast drills the green pee stained shirt wearing orc, who wavers but doesn’t drop. Damn these resilient buggers! It dooooes look though like he would bite the dust if a stiff wind hit him.

Jacques is up!

Jacques stabs at the Yellow fellow standing in front of him.

◆ Confident Finisher
Finley: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
P dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 + Precision P dmg: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7 Still does 3 dmg from Confident Finisher on a miss
Loses panache

Then he wiggles his eyebrows menacingly at Yellow.

◆ Demoralize (I *think* Bon Mot applies?)
Intimidate vs Yellow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
If that succeeds Jacques gains Panache

Akimi steps back wisely and heals themselves up. Distracted by their injuries though, they are unable to aim properly and the bolt thuds into the sand next to Jacques.

Now distracted by the errant shot, the braggart is unable to land a blow upon his target. But the flourish is quite demoralizing (bon mot applies and you demoralized yellow on the attempt and have panache and your shield is now up).

Dev, as all know, is amazing and drills his target with ease. The jerk doesn't explode though.

Yellow looks a little hurt by Ellen's comments, "Yeah, that's not cool. My shirt was white, but my wife dyed it yellow. It's her favorite color."

Bon mot countered as a Standard

He then steps into flanking and attempts to chop up the Captain.

Yellow Axe vs. Ellen FF + BC - Fear: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 21 for Slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Iterative: 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 - 1 = 9

Ellen's shirt begins to turn a nice bright crimson color in response!

The other two focus on and surround the healer.

Blue Axe vs. Akimi + BC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 = 16
Iterative: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 2 + 1 = 20 for Slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Green Axe vs. Akimi FF + BC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 = 22 for Slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Iterative: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Who takes a pair of nasty wounds, ouch! Maybe they just want to be like their hero Ellen and also dye their clothes blood red?

Round 4: Combat, finally!
Buffs: Battle Cry for Orcs
Red Orc Boss (-4 HP)
Akimi (-31 HP)
Dev (mirror images)
Jacques (-10 HP, panache)
Yellow Orc (-14 HP, feared 1)
Blue Orc (-22 HP, bon motted 1m, wounded 1)
Green Orc (-22 HP, wounded 1)
Ellen (-16 HP)

Bold may act!

"I mean, I can't even be mad," says Ellen, wincing through the pain, "it's my favorite, too. Also you're trying to murder us so like, I don't really have to be that nice to you? Don't you want to live to see your wife again? We might kill you. And for what?"

Flurry vs. Yellow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Flurry vs. Yellow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Attack vs. Yellow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Attack vs. Yellow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Pretty sure that if any of those hit, it's the last one.

Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 2) + 2 = 10

The orcs yell in unison their answer to the Captain’s query, ”FOR THE GLORY OF THE COLLECTIVE AND ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS!”

Yellow takes a single hard hit, but stands strong! The boss lady cheers them on even more, then swings at the flanked Ellen twice.

Boss Maul vs. Ellen FF + BC: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 1 = 13
Iterative: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 1 = 22 for Bludg: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

A solid thunk, but it coulda been a lot worse.

Round 5: Combat, finally!
Buffs: Battle Cry for Orcs
Red Orc Boss (-4 HP)
Akimi (-31 HP)
Dev (mirror images)
Jacques (-10 HP, panache)
Yellow Orc (-22 HP, wounded 1)
Blue Orc (-22 HP, bon motted 1m, wounded 1)
Green Orc (-22 HP, wounded 1)
Ellen (-26 HP)

Bold may act!

Akimi, who is barely standing, spits up blood and hobbles backward, their vision blurring a little around the edges. They've been close to death before, but not like this. The orcs keep standing and hammering at the party. This keeps up and losing the fishery will no longer be a concern. Generally speaking, the dead have no concerns.

Akimi squints, trying to get the multiple orcs to refocus back into one orc, one they can snap at. But Yellow just took a hit from Ellen; maybe, just maybe....

♦ Devise a Stratagem vs Yellow: 1d20 ⇒ 9
♦ Strategic Strike vs Yellow: 9 + 10 = 19 P Dmg: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5
♦ Reload.

Akimi drops yellow in his tracks, crossbow bolt sticking from their jugular as his blood sprays into the sky. A little knowledge is indeed a dangerous thing.

Round 5: Combat, finally!
Buffs: Battle Cry for Orcs
Red Orc Boss (-4 HP)
Akimi (-31 HP)
Dev (mirror images)
Jacques (-10 HP, panache)
Yellow Orc (-27 HP, unconscious, wounded 2)
Blue Orc (-22 HP, bon motted 1m, wounded 1)
Green Orc (-22 HP, wounded 1)
Ellen (-26 HP)

Bold may act!

Dammit! The Kit's gonna go and get himself killed. Have to get those guys off of him. Dev adds a telekinetic enchantment to his blade.

Enspelled Shuriken vs BLUE: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Gravitational Pull Cast as Verbal/Somatic to pull BLUE 20'. Fort negates

Hmm, sorry to slow things down further but I guess I really need to see what happens with Blue before I decide my turn. If he gets pulled next to me I'll probably try to stab him before moving up and doing Battle Medicine on Akimi

Blue’s DC 17? Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

The blue mohawked foe is blasted, barely remains standing and then is yanked over next to Dev. He looks a bit confused at the current circumstances.

No worries, I’ve been a bit busy too. No rush, this season is chaos.

Jacques pokes at Blue, hoping to finish him off.

Finley: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
P dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 + P Precision dmg: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7
This still does 3 dmg (half of the Precision) on a Failure (but not a Crit Fail) from Confident Finisher.

Jacques no longer has panache

Then he darts forward, trying to tumble through Red's square.

Acrobatics vs Red's Reflex DC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
If this is a success, Jacques gains panache.
Regardless of success or failure, either way Jacques is in the same square on the map.

With a worried look on his face, Jacques tries to lend a bit of comfort to Chef Akimi.
Assurance Medicine for a result of 16
Battle Medicine on Akimi: 2d8 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

Jacques wildly misses his target, but with all the fancy feints and thrusts and parries he manages to accidentally knick an artery on a backswing and the foe drops, blood leaking quickly into the sand.

The braggart begins composing an ode to himself, something about saving his hapless allies and defeating an entire nation of orcs. He darts around the battlefield and smacks some sticky gauze over one of the many wounds Akimi has.

The last standing peon darts around the battlefield as well, this time setting up a set of sweeping attacks against Akimi and Jacques.

Axe vs Akimi + BC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 = 12
Axe vs Jacques + BC + Sweep: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 22 for Slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

The second strike cuts a wide gash right through Jacques own bandages, reopening the wound.

Round 5: Combat, finally!
Buffs: Battle Cry for Orcs
Red Orc Boss (-4 HP)
Akimi (-31 HP)
Dev (mirror images)
Jacques (-22 HP, panache)
Yellow Orc (-27 HP, unconscious, wounded 2)
Blue Orc (-25 HP, unconscious, bon motted 1m, wounded 2)
Green Orc (-22 HP, wounded 1)
Ellen (-26 HP)

Bold may act!

Ellen gets scooting, pivoting around to get a better angle on the remaining flunkie.

"Surrender now and take charge of your men's recovery, or keep fighting and leave your fate in our hands!" Ellen demands.

To emphasize her point, she lashes out at the orc with the flawless green skin--well, flawless aside from the wounds. A part of her wonders what he does to moisturize.

She decides to help with that; the water beside her lashes out when she does!

Elemental Flurry: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Elemental Flurry: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage + Cold: 2d6 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 2) + 2 + (2) = 12
Damage + Cold: 2d6 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 + (2) = 8

Punch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1) + 2 = 9

Ellen summons the water to her hand, forms it into an icicle and slams it into her foe’s chest. He gurgles blood but leans in with a sneer, ”Ya gotta take us out before da threats work.”

The lady moves into flanking with her remaining comrade and swings her heavy maul, ”We never surrender and never lose!”

Maul vs Akimi FF + BC: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 1 = 18 for Bludg: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Round 6: Combat, finally!
Buffs: Battle Cry for Orcs
Red Orc Boss (-4 HP)
Akimi (-34 HP)
Dev (mirror images)
Jacques (-22 HP, panache)
Yellow Orc (-27 HP, unconscious, wounded 2)
Blue Orc (-25 HP, unconscious, bon motted 1m, wounded 2)
Green Orc (-22 HP, wounded 2)
Ellen (-26 HP)

Bold may act!

Dev curses under his breath as the maul crashes into Akimi. What the Hell Jack?!?! Protect the kit! The magus takes a moment to center both himself and his arcane focus. Gotta make this one count! He pushes aside all the distractions as he looks for an opening in the chaotic fray. Suddenly, he sees his opening. There! Instinctively, he cocks his arm back then uncoils it in a flash.

Enspelled Shuriken vs GREEN: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (1, 2) + 2 = 8
Doubled to 16 damage for the crit?

Fort save DC 17

Chill Touch: Siphoning negative energy into yourself, your hand radiates a pale darkness. Your touch weakens the living and disorients undead, possibly even causing them to flee. The effect depends on whether the target is living or undead.
Living Creature The spell deals negative damage equal to 1d4 plus your spellcasting modifier. The target attempts a basic Fortitude save, but is also enfeebled 1 for 1 round on a critical failure.
Heightened (+1) The negative damage to living creatures increases by 1d4.

Green will be down after that hit, nice.

Akimi, wavering on their feet and wiping blood from their eyes, glares at Red. "Y'know, the arrogance would be kinda sexy if you weren't also a bully. And that's all you'll ever be." The taunt seems to work, because Red swings at them with that ridiculously huge maul of hers.

There. The leader juts her lead foot out just a little too far when she swings, slightly overcompensating for the heavy weight of the maul. An old injury, or even early-onset arthritis, stiffening the kneecap and adding a tiny flaw in what would otherwise be a pretty fluid stance. Akimi would guess arthritis; orcs live shorter lives than humans, after all, and lead rigorous physical lives that result in faster joint degradation than some other ancestries. Regardless, the end result is the same.

As the maul swings harmlessly overhead, Akimi dips down and brushes their muzzle against a long gap of unarmored flesh on her inner thigh. It might almost be considered erotic, if it weren't for the fact that they immediately sink their teeth in and snap their head back, ripping a small chunk of flesh away. As the orc instinctively yanks her leg away from the offending fox, Akimi steps back near Ellen and disdainfully spits the meat from their mouth. It tastes like copper and poison to them.

♦ Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 17
♦ Strategic Strike (Jaws) vs Red: 17 + 9 = 26 P Dmg: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7
♦ Step.

"It was an ultimatum, not a threat. Lives are our most precious resource; it doesn't become you to waste them pointlessly here."

Ellen flexes her fists. "You should know more than anyone that the many can and will overpower the few. It's four on one, now. I am barely getting started."

Seeing as my math is atrocious and Akimi actually got hit earlier, a minor retcon:

Akimi wobbles in place, turning to face Ellen with a bloody grin; one of their teeth dangles precariously from its socket. "Didja see how I dodged that?" they slur drunkenly. One of their eyes is not even looking at her.

Jacques advances upon Red and stabs at him with Finley.

Stride

Finley: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
P dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 + Confident Finisher P Precision dmg: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7
Presuming that is a failure, still does 3 dmg from Confident Finisher
Jacques no longer has Panache

Raise Buckler

Really just needing to give him a little shove, the First Mate decides to ramp it up to eleven instead. He flings a shuruken through the green cloaked orc’s head. The results are as gory as one can imagine.

Jacques then darts around the boss and surprisingly lands a hit. He was already cowering behind his shied when he hears the glub glub sound of Finley drowning in blood. The foe doesn’t look happy.

He also doesn’t see Akimi take their pound of flesh either, but it was still really cool!

Round 6: Combat, finally!
Buffs: Battle Cry for Orcs
Red Orc Boss (-20 HP)
Akimi (-34 HP)
Dev (mirror images)
Jacques (-22 HP, shield up)
Yellow Orc (-27 HP, unconscious, wounded 2)
Blue Orc (-25 HP, unconscious, bon motted 1m, wounded 2)
Green Orc (-22 HP, very dead, wounded 2)
Ellen (-26 HP)

Bold may act!

Flurry: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Flurry: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Knee: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Grimace Emoji Dot Gif

The boss lady snorts at the pathetic attacks, ”Really? That’s it? I almost had respect for you, lady. But now I will kill your friend and then hmm… maybe you, maybe the nimble one.”

She zips around the two melee and swings her maul at Akimi, hoping to end their threat to her.

Maul: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 for Bludg: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

She smiles wickedly as the young fox drops.

Demoralize vs Ellen: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Round 7: Combat, finally!
Buffs: NA
Akimi acts after all allies go (-44 HP, unconscious, dying 1)
Red Orc Boss (-20 HP)
Dev (mirror images)
Jacques (-22 HP)
Yellow Orc (-27 HP, unconscious, wounded 2)
Blue Orc (-25 HP, unconscious, bon motted 1m, wounded 2)
Green Orc (-22 HP, very dead, wounded 2)
Ellen (-26 HP, Feared 1)

Bold may act!

Son of a B*TCH! Dev watches helplessly as Akimi collapses. Rage boils up and courses through the magus' veins. He taps into that roiling fire of emotion and funnels it into his next spell. He pulls his enchanted hatchet from its magically concealed pouch as he casts his most potent magic. He then throws the weapon as hard as he can.

Casting Scorching Ray with an extra action to pump the damage.

Enspelled Shuriken vs RED: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Damage: 2d6 + 1 + 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 4) + 1 + (4, 6, 4, 5) + 2 = 32

Dev’s Fiery Shuriken of DOOOOM (trademarked) slams into the orc communist, exploding in flames and scorching her body. Yet somehow she remains just barely alive! They really are a resilient race.

Gotta get one more hit on her. AC 19 if you want to narrate the kill.

Jacques watches Chef Akimi go down with great alarm. "How dare you?!? Have you revolutionaries no respect for the finer things in life? You shall pay!!!"

He somersaults forward, nimbly planning to skewer the Red Menace.

Tumble Through vs Reflex DC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Even if that is a critical failure there is no additional penalty. However, the movement does provoke an AoO if Red has one.

Unfortunately he is unable to dart past the foe as he planned, so he resorts to his back up plan: scaring Red so much that she cries. He waves Finley about, this way and that, as if to remind Red that her revolution is about to end.

Demoralize: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
If that succeeds, Red is Frightened 1 and Jacques gains panache

Finleystrike: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
P dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 + If panache... Confident Finisher Precision P dmg: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9 Even on a miss, Red still takes 4 dmg from Confident Finisher if the Demoralize above was a success.

Jacques stabs once at Red, narrowly missing them, but his confidence in himself is great, vast even, and he stares at the Commie Captain, willing her to keel over even from a miss!

And she does collapse! Probably from the really mean glare. Or maybe the bloody sword in her stomach. One of those for sure did it.

Ellen, can you do something to stop Akimi from needing to stabilize?

Alas, n--ah, wait, no, I have Medicine trained.

Ellen wipes the blood off her hands and hustles to Akimi's side.

"They'll be fine," she assures, pulling the better-stocked healer's tools from their belt and looking to treat their worst wounds first.

Administer First Aid with Fancy Tools: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8

...Well, uh,

Ellen begins swearing.

And that’s why we roll, to apparently create drama, lol.

Ellen is pretty sure that the earlier tourniquet Akimi applied is cutting off their circulation and it would be much smarter to remove it. They are rewarded with a bright spray of crimson in their face.

Crit Fail Treat Wounds Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Recovery Check Akimi, you are now Dying 2.

The rest of you can act after that check. Perhaps… a potion?

Recovery DC 13: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Huzzah! Now Dying 1!

Jacques has 3 minor healing potions (1d8) that he can use on Akimi. He also has Assurance Medicine that he can use to automatically succeed at Treat Wounds but I'm not sure if there's enough time for that? He's already used Battle Medicine on Akimi so that's not an option. Either way, he'll definitely heal Akimi (for 2d8 from Treat Wounds) and will *also* use one minor healing potion if that's needed to stop the Dying process in time to allow time for Treat Wounds (I'm a bit vague on these rules).

You can Administer First Aid as a 2-Action activity. You can find the rules for it here. I didn't realize how high the DC is though. It's 5 + the DC of the character's Recovery check (typically DC 15 + their Dying condition). Yikes! I mean Akimi can make that with Assurance, but only because they're an Expert in Medicine. At 1st level, that's a damned hard check to make.

Also I was not aware you could use it to allow someone suffering from a bleed effect to attempt another flat check to end the effect! I will definitely keep that one in mind.

Well, since we are out of combat, I'll just use one minor healing potion on Akimi to get them conscious and not dying and then afterwards I can use Treat Wounds as well (though yours is probably better and I think we can't both do it...)

Minor Healing Potion: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Jacques, with a caring and gentle hand, drizzles a potion down the kit’s throat. Their eyes pop open to his concerned look.

Ellen breathes a sigh of extreme relief.

"And here I was worried I was gonna have to figure out how to distract Pharasma for a minute."