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Rose, nearing death's door starts to waver and very nearly faints, before Lucentis comes up behind her and pumps some healing magic into her. She shakes off the dread and fear and reloads her gun before gripping it and firing another shot point blank and aiming for in between the eyes.
She then flees away from the fight into a position where everyone can get a good shot on the damned thing hunting her.
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Thalaasi sends two arrows at Orgesh but they don't connect. Rose reloads her gun and shoots Orgesh. Orgesh moves aside and only gets grazed slightly. Rose flees and Orgesh turns around to the only other person antagonizing him.
Orgesh swings a third time.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 4-5
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
-5-
**Rose Thesar AC 19 (21 Nimble Dodge), 19/24
**Nilaglade AC 21, 21/28; Deroff I AC 17, 12/22
Orgesh (-12)
**Eldon Goodbarrell AC 19, 1/22
Ysoldt AC 19, 0/26, Dying 2 (Recovery Check pending)
-4-
**Lucentis AC 19 (21 w/shield) 24/24
**Thalaasi Elevas AC 18, 15/15
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------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 4-5
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
-5-
**Rose Thesar AC 19 (21 Nimble Dodge), 19/24
**Nilaglade AC 21, 21/28; Deroff I AC 17, 12/22
Orgesh (-12)
**Eldon Goodbarrell AC 19, 1/22
Ysoldt AC 19, 0/26, Dying 3
-4-
**Lucentis AC 19 (21 w/shield) 24/24
**Thalaasi Elevas AC 18, 15/15
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------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 4-5
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
-5-
**Rose Thesar AC 19 (21 Nimble Dodge), 19/24
**Nilaglade AC 21, 21/28; Deroff I AC 17, 12/22
Orgesh (-12)
Eldon Goodbarrell AC 19, 1/22
**Ysoldt AC 19, 2/26, (Wounded 1, Prone, Hands Empty)
-4-
**Lucentis AC 19 (21 w/shield) 24/24
**Thalaasi Elevas AC 18, 15/15
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Nilaglade sends four arrows at Orgesh and is rewarded when Orgesh's one of their arrows plants itself in Orgesh's shoulder. Meanwhile, Lucentis sends some much needed healing at Ysoldt.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 4-5
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
-5-
**Rose Thesar AC 19 (21 Nimble Dodge), 19/24
Nilaglade AC 21, 21/28; Deroff I AC 17, 12/22
Orgesh (-20)
Eldon Goodbarrell AC 19, 1/22
**Ysoldt AC 19, 14/26, (Wounded 1, Prone, Hands Empty)
-4-
Lucentis AC 19 (21 w/shield) 24/24
**Thalaasi Elevas AC 18, 15/15
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Ysoldt regains consciousness slowly. "Huh? What kidneys? OW! MY KIDNEYS!", she reaches for her lower back.
"Who did that? I'll eat your nails for dinner!"
She pauses as she looks around for her dagger.
She looks at whoever is closest as she focuses her sight. "Did I say nails? I meant fingers."
She picks up her dagger ◆, stands up ◆, and stores the dagger in the sheath ◆
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Rose takes a moment to breath now that she's not got a giant gnoll breathing down her neck and focuses on what facts she knows about the beasts.
She then reloads her weapon, falling back into her preferred fighting style. And the re-fires her weapon. "Just die or give up already! There's no way you can finish all of us off like this!"
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Rose recalls that Glorzia and her partner Orgesh are bugbear tormentors, evil creatures that seek to torture their prey as much through psychological intimidation as through physical harm. The longer a bugbear tormentor can keep their victim alive and terrified, the better they feel.
Even with the FF, it's still not a crit, sorry :)
Thalaasi fires an arrow with a rock chaser. The arrow hits Orgesh's other shoulder but the rock clips the side of his neck, opening a gash. His agony is short-lived as Rose's gunshot hits him squarely in the chest and he falls backward, dead.
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Kazuuk rushes down the stairs and finds his scout Igix, tied up. The scout has been beaten, but is alive. Kazuuk looks at you, respect in his eyes. He acknowledges you and hands you a vial of darkvision elixir.
"I will report to the chief what I've seen. Rest assured, you have earned my trust."
You return to the iruxi village where Kazuuk meets privately with the chief while you patch yourselves up. Soon you are again summoned to hear what the Iruxi leader decides.
"Kazuuk tells us you were quite impressive! This is good to hear. I wish to learn more of what you found, and I’m certain the Tskikha and the Pathfinder Society have a bright future ahead!"
Fola Barun listens to your report. "[b]Congratulations on a job well done! There are three other Faction Leaders who need your help. I'm sure they will appreciate your help.
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Ysoldt looks at Igix, and then at the slashed and reddened clothes on her back. "See, this is why you should work in groups, even if it's scouting. You'll lose people otherwise. Slowly, but you will."
She turns to Eldon and Lucentis - "Thank you, by the way. I'm still drowsy. I'll need to take a look at the wounds back in camp. Say, anyone happens to have two mirrors on hand? No? Okay, well - I'll just have to feel around a bit. But hey-" she takes off her shirt and turns her back towards the group. "How bad is it? As a matter of fact, I -DO- enjoy having kidneys, thank you very much! I would very much like to preserve them. And all other vital stuff, of course."
Besides the fresh cuts, there are several old scars on her back. Maybe a whipping?
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"Ysoldt, your wounds are looking a little better. I don't think it has reopened your old scars. I bet there's a story to those. It reminds me of some of my fellow halflings in Cheliax." Eldon finishes sadly.
"Could I get someone to look at this one please? That thing only hit me once with that sickle but it was solid!"
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As her fresh wounds are taken care of, Ysoldt sighs with relief. "Mmmmh, yes, that hit the spot."
She takes out her own medicine kit, and starts looking for whatever is left over. Bandages, soothing tinctures, a little readjusting of slightly dislocated joints (with a stick between the teeth and all that jazz), some rubbing alcohol for bruises, the whole shebang. Ysoldt decides to be a little walking infirmary. Not the best, but a realiable one.
Totals are
Deroff 18
Eldon 21
Lucentis 13
Nilaglade 14
Rose 25
Thalaasi 11
Ysoldt 17
Plus removing wounded condition for little old me.
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"Sometimes the prey doesn't know when to run." Nilaglade stows his bow and hops off Deroff to collect his missed arrows. "Sorry my aim was so terrible. That's how I'm going to die: one too many missed arrows."
Deroff licks him. "Yeah yeah, I'm too melodramatic, I know."
Back at the camp, Deroff reports. "Igix lives. Two Gnolls don't, anymore. Could have sworn I saw one of them before, though... hmm." He shrugs. "Rose, what... is that thing? That shot the lightning? Or are they bolts? Sling stones?"
"Careful about the wings." Nilaglade lets his allies bandage his wounds. "They don't flutter much, but I'd like to keep them intact." He winces as Lucentis isn't used to helping such tiny creatures like him. He remains quiet as Ysoldt helps him. The scars felt too familiar. She got a lot of practice healing people, maybe on herself first. "Thank you, Ysoldt. I'm feeling good as new."
Deroff is quite thankful for her and Lucentis, trying to lick their faces in appreciation.
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"I'm honestly down to talking to anyone. Especially, a comedian. Could use a little midsection excercises now." she coughs a bit.
"You guys, anyone of you know that cleanup magic tricks and is willing to spend a minute on these clothes?", she points to the rust-coloured stains on her back. "It didn't quite go off. Blood rarely does. Might need to get a red shirt, althought I heard that brings bad luck."
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You all manage to get a good night's sleep and go see Gorm Greathammer the following morning.
The interior of the large, canvas tent is remarkably cool and dry, especially considering its location in a swamp. Several tables fill the interior, and various papers and small objects rest atop them, each carefully labeled.
"Oh good. You’re here, calls a deep voice from one of the corners. A male dwarf, his graying hair pulled back, beard and curled mustache carefully styled, stands up and approaches. He smiles broadly and extends his hand. "I am Gorm. Gorm Greathammer, leader of the Grand Archive. Whom do I have the pleasure of meeting on this fine day?"
Gorm smiles brightly. "Those of us dedicated to the Grand Archive primarily concern ourselves with the pursuit and preservation of knowledge," he says. "While this takes us to unexplored locations and forces us to face great dangers, we’re typically not the thrill-seekers of the Pathfinder Society. That said," he pauses and chuckles, "we do find ourselves in our fair share of hot water!"
"Since you should know what it’s like to work with the Grand Archive, I have a mission for you. Nearby lies an Azlanti ruin to which some of your fellow Pathfinders recently secured entrance. Your task is to head inside the ruins and gather as much information as possible."
"One more thing. As important as information is, it is not as important as our agents’ lives. If you find yourselves in a situation where you need to leave, even if it means you don’t get all the information, don’t push your luck. Any questions?"
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The Blackwood Swamp surrounds the Taldan port city of Cassomir on all sides except where the city faces the bay. The swamp is filled with dangerous wildlife ranging from carnivorous plants, groups of violent humanoids, and the much-feared hydra.
Azlanti was an ancient empire known for its magical achievements. It for thousands of years in the now-lost continent of Azlant in the Arcadian Ocean. Scholars believe their social, technological, and magical learning were more advanced than what is commonly found in Golarion today.
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"For a long time, we Pathfinders have suspected an Azlanti ruin was hidden in the Blackwood Swamp, but it was only recently that agents actually found it. My guess? Given how far we are from the remains of Azlant, this must have been a relatively minor outpost, or one built following Earthfall. Beyond that, I’m hoping the information you find sheds a bit more light on what the Azlanti were doing way out here in Taldor."
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"Not to take this in a bad way...", Ysoldt joins in on the chatter. "With a name Greathammer, I kind of expected you to be the get-in-and-break-twenty-three-bones-in-each-body-I-find kind of type. Not an archivist. But fair enough. Today's motto - Don't judge a book by it's ... title? Doesn't roll of the tongue as good, does it?"
She shrugs and cotinues. "Anyway. Retreating is not in my vocabulary. Mom didn't raise no quitter.", she adds with her signature self-assured smile, and turn around to show her bloodied clothes. "Observe."
She turns around again to face Gorm. "So what kind of information are you looking for? Notes on architecture? Funeral rituals? The latest Azlant fashion trends? Rituals to access other planes of existence? Or like - just their general assignment in this outpost?"
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You move out after Gorm's briefing.
Descending the stairs, you are met by a well-dressed kobold holding a clipboard.
"Mek! Mek mek mek mek mek mek!!"
Seeing the blank looks on your faces, catches himself.
"Oh! Apologies. I thought you were the group that was going to research the Draconic artifacts. You must be the Pathfinders that Gorm sent. Walk this way and you can begin your investigation. Mind the tail..."
He leads you westward down a long passageway into a large room. The walls of this room are polished to a near-mirror finish and the corners are precise and crisp. An elaborate, detailed carving of flames covers the entire surface of the southern wall. The western wall has a series of shelves carved directly into the marble surface. The shelves house several sealed tubes and bound books.
Area Map has been updated.
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Nilaglade waves to the kobold. "Thank you for your aid." His light dims to a cool blue.
Books are hard to read. Pulling them off the shelves isn't trivial. Deroff can't reach most of them, and he remaining are littered with bite or claw marks.
Luckily one open book talks about plantlife of the Azlanti lands. Seems to have been written recently, maybe right before Earthfall.
Ohh yeah, this is easy reading...