DM Voomer's Age of Ashes

Game Master Voomer

As they travelled, he saddled up beside the tall angelkin and pulled out his pistol and nodded for her to do the same.

"Alright, you want to know the trick? It is keeping the paper catridges on hand. You have them secured on your person but...secured is slow." All over his body were his ammunition packets, ready to be grabbed and used at a moments notice. "Now, it is all about maintaining the momentum to reload. Snap it with me. Follow my arm." The gunslinger, with the woman's consent, would put his arms on her and guide her through the motion before letting her feel him at motion. It was a strange exercise, the sound of pistols constantly reloading as they walked through the jungle together.

Catalina gladly complies with the request, paying close attention to the gunslinger's lessons. "All over you?" She says wonderingly, taking one of his arms into her hands and looking over the way he secured ammunition packets to his person. "Ah, I see how you're doing it. I've always been worried about damaging the packets!" She grins brilliantly at him. It had been quite some time since she could talk shop with someone and welcomed the conversation and lesson. "I would love for you to help me get the first few attached when we have some time...if you wouldn't mind?" She asks, her dimly glowing eyes meeting his, traces of her accent coloring her speech.

Catalina gladly lets Dario guide her through the motions, reloading her symbol-etched pistol--clumsily at first, the movements were unfamiliar. After a few clumsy tries, she gets frustrated. And then, after Dario gets her to watch him, to feel him at motion as well, it seems to click. "Oh! I think I'm getting it." She tries a couple more times, executing the move perfectly. "Yes. There we go." She smiles brilliantly down at the little gunslinger, pulling him into an impulsive hug. "Thank you. It's kind of you to help me. You're a wonderful teacher."

Then she hears of these creatures Renali speaks of, and is shocked. "Are we talking elephant size? Because that sounds terrifying." she instinctively grips her blade, though not sure whether it would help much with a creature of that size.

"Bigger," Renali states matter-of-factly. "Joran wished to see a crocodile -- well these things could swallow two or three crocodiles at once."

"Right, right." Yasami finds her throat dry all of a sudden. She gulps without realising. "Soooo... On the hopefully very slim chance of us stumbling into one of those. What do you do? I assume you just die tired if you try to run?"

"All over me." Dario had said in response, grinning wide. "Mama and Papa didn't approve but you have to take advantages where you can." Dario said with a little chuckle. She asked for his help and when he looked up at her and into those dimly shining eyes, he would stare for just a second or two longer than necessary. By the gods, those were pretty eyes.

"What?" He said, clearing his throat and snapping his thoughts back onto the matters at hand. "Certainly, I keep a bit of thread and a needle in my back. When you travel so much, you need to keep things maintained. I'll help you if you want it. Now, onto flicking your pistol..."

Dario was patient in his teaching; his compliments were few and far between but earnest when he gave them. His instructions were slow and clear, able to be taught in a variety of ways. It was the dwarf in him showing through clearly as he took her through it motion by motion. When she did it in perfect execution, his face lit up into a wide smile.

"That's how you do it. Well done, miss." He had not expected the hug suddenly, suddenly wrapped up in the woman's impulsive hug. It was almost comical; his 5'4 stature was immediately enveloped by the larger aasimar woman as she squeezed him. He didn't fight it though, a small hand moving out around her to pat her softly on the back.

"W-well, you're welcome. Don't mention it." Dario mumbled, his face red from more than just the heat. There was no convenient farmer nearby to fight right then and he sure as hell wasn't going to kick Oren in the groin to start a fight. He liked living.

"A-a big beast you say?" Dario said, catching the bit of conversation about some giant monstrosity being in the territory. It was a good enough place to pivot away to as any other.

"Bigger," Renali states matter-of-factly. "Joran wished to see a crocodile -- well these things could swallow two or three crocodiles at once."

Listening in on the conversation when he hears his name, Joran raises an eyebrow and grins wryly. "That big, huh? Excellent. They sound fascinating. I'd love to see one."

"That's how you do it. Well done, miss." He had not expected the hug suddenly, suddenly wrapped up in the woman's impulsive hug. It was almost comical; his 5'4 stature was immediately enveloped by the larger aasimar woman as she squeezed him. He didn't fight it though, a small hand moving out around her to pat her softly on the back.

"W-well, you're welcome. Don't mention it." Dario mumbled, his face red from more than just the heat. There was no convenient farmer nearby to fight right then and he sure as hell wasn't going to kick Oren in the groin to start a fight. He liked living.

"A-a big beast you say?" Dario said, catching the bit of conversation about some giant monstrosity being in the territory. It was a good enough place to pivot away to as any other.

Catalina squeezes his arm lightly as she pulls away from the hug, grinning at the blushing Dario. Before she can tease him about being so flustered, he pivots away to join the conversation about the reptile, and Catalina laughs softly. The tall, silvery-skinned woman follows, moving to stand near Caiten to give the poor gunslinger a break.

-----------The Following Day----------

Thanks to Dario and Lisi, you all found a nice spot to camp. There was an old Ekujae scout post that looked to have been unoccupied for a few weeks, at least, and while there wasn't room for all of you to sleep up there, it allowed for a safe watch to be set. With tales of a giant, croc-eating reptile fresh in folks' minds, it eased your worries to have a good spot to keep watch from.

The morning was clear and hot, humidity evaporating from the nearby plants making it uncomfortable, but you were all beginning to adapt somewhat. Still, a cool autumn breeze back in Breachill would not go amiss. It had been nearly two weeks since you left.

Your morning trek begins, and for about an hour, a troupe of monkeys follow along with you, swinging from the trees above, occasionally throwing the pits of fruits at you, or trying to sneak up and pilfer rations peeking out of packs and the like. Eventually you depart their territory and they stop pestering you.

Around noon, you see an overgrown ridgeline rising up from the jungle, presenting a craggy stone face to the south, where you're approaching from. Perched atop the forty-foot-tall cliff is a mostly overgrown stone temple. A trio of stone balconies extend from the temple’s southern facade over the cliff’s edge, while several triangular openings in the stone walls that may once have held windows are now filled in with packed clay. The building’s walls are adorned with badly damaged carvings that may have once been androgynous, butterfly-winged figures swimming in the sea and flying through the sky.

RP all you like, from the evening, morning, or trip, and when you're ready, let me know if you'd like to investigate the temple or bypass it.

"Hmmm...some kind of fey lived here, perhaps? I don't suggest we climb that cliff; rather, approach along the ridge. Too risky, and we're not all climbers."

Lisi looks slightly different. There's the hint of an eerie electric glow in the depths of his eyes, and he seems just a bit more commanding thank the usually mild druid has been in the past.

Kn Nature about dhalimu: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

He shrugs. "I don't think those bipedal lizards are in Avistan at all, or I'd have heard of them. In any case, they can't climb cliffs either, I suppose. But can they harry us up a ridge? Certainly. We should be quiet and hidden on our approach."

The druid spends some time looking for a trail, or better yet, a less used trail, up to the temple.

Survival Sense Direction or Track: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

In the morning, Caiten sits with Sulee and they plan out their abilities and spells for the day. "With the dangerous territory that we are going in to, I would like you to keep your senses heightened. And yes, the additional damaging spells will likely be needed."

"Nose and toes on the job. You got it." Sulee grins and wags her little tail, then runs around the camp to meet everyone else as they are getting things ready.

"Hmmm...some kind of fey lived here, perhaps? I don't suggest we climb that cliff; rather, approach along the ridge. Too risky, and we're not all climbers."

"I will defer to your assessment. It seems quite reasonable to me as well."

Caiten takes a look at the carvings as best as he can from so far away.
Religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
LOL. Definitely a temple dedicated to Zelda enemies.

"How interesting." Dario muttered, staring up at the temple. He instinctively looked back down at the bag on his side, making sure his rations were secured. Damn monkeys and their thieving ways. "I think you might be right Lisi. Who knows though, honestly." Dario moves on with the the druid, keeping an eye out for where they could ascend and how to do it. Any advantage they could gain out here could be useful for the fights ahead.

Survival (Aid Another DC20): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

That's a +1 to Lisi's roll.

"Well, I might know, if I give it a moment."
Cevendyl, not really one to be all that cheeky except when he was teasing Joran about the wedding ... or being Mayor of Breachill ... or offspring ... seemed to actually be making light of Yuelral and knowledge and magic and maybe even his passion for Golarion's cosmology
The assembled are still not all that surprised to see his holy symbol open itself and the young half-elf bowing his head
"Heavenly Sister, let me know what is knowable that I may honor this temple."

CASTS Scholarly Recollection
RELIGION1: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
RELIGION2: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

GM - lmk if I need to use a Hero Point?

Cev recognizes that the temple seems to be devoted to the deities Desna and Gozreh, but that it combines their depictions into a singular entity.
He notes the place was devoted not to a combination of the two gods, precisely, but to a sort of “mini-pantheon” composed of both of them, named Shimye-Magalla. It's an obscure belief, from an ancient Mwangi human society known as the Bonuwat. The things you learn when you crit the check =D

Lisi and Dario are able to pick a path up along the ridge without going too far out of the way. No climbing is require from this direction, just an uphill hike. If you are approaching with stealth, please roll such. You can roll Society to know more about the Bonuwat.

Dario is always sneaking. Always.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Caiten follows along with the other lead scouts.
Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 Plus Follow the Expert bonus if it applies.

He motions for Sulee to stay close too so that she can use her senses to detect anything that they happen across.

Sulee keeps pace with the others, nose down, ears perked, and feeling the ground for anything amiss.
Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Catalina will sneak along beside them, peeking at the architecture to see if it's anything she recognizes--anything that might give her insight into the kinds of hazards to expect, that sort of thing.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 Also plus follow the expert
Lore: Architecture: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Society: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Guba remains on Lisi's shoulder, preferring a higher perch than those warglets during the climb.

Yasami follows the group, securing the flank as Lisi and Dario look for a nice place to stay the night. As they stop under the outpost, she looks above her into the trees, and shakes her head. "We should have gotten hammocks instead of tents. At least we wouldn't be sleeping in mud. Oh well." she sighs as she starts to unpack.

Overnight, during their watch on the outpost, Yasami leans closer to Catalina. "I would like to, again, apologise for snapping at you. And I suppose I owe you an explanation as well. My past knows me by that name, and there are people in my past that have connections and influence. Poeple that may or may not want me dead. Better not to give them any chances, no matter the distance. Gossip travels fast in those circles."

----------------

In the morning, Yasami wakes up feeling sticky with sweat. And a few bruises from her tentmate's thrashing. "Definitely could use a hammock. And a nice bath." she mutters to nobody in particular as she packs her bags. "Oh, yes. That would be nice."

As the group walks, she catches up to Lisi and looks at Guba's current form. "I don't think we have been properly introduced. I am Yasamina. Nice to put a voice to a name."

She looks at Lisi, who's busy finding a proper path, and wants to say something, but she keeps him to his concentration. Better to not get lost than to chat. And just like that, the monkeys start throwing... things at the group. Yasami almost follows through on her thought of taking one or two out with a bow, then reconsiders. If strangers started walking around her house, she would probably do something worse than throw fruit pits at them.

When approaching the temple, she gazes at the building, and looks around . Seriously? How do you build something like that in the middle of a jungle? That's insane! You think the butterfly things are some creatures from another plane that build it, then left? Or were hunted down by like- Giant. Butterfly collectors?" she gives extra emphasis on the last few words as she flings her hands wildly in the air, probably to represent the size of the imagined creatures.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

--- The night before the temple ---

Overnight, during their watch on the outpost, Yasami leans closer to Catalina. "I would like to, again, apologise for snapping at you. And I suppose I owe you an explanation as well. My past knows me by that name, and there are people in my past that have connections and influence. Poeple that may or may not want me dead. Better not to give them any chances, no matter the distance. Gossip travels fast in those circles."

Catalina sits cross-legged during their watch, shuffling through her Harrow cards pensively. When Yasami leans over, Catalina leans down a bit to meet the shorter woman and listen. After Catalina offers a chagrined smile, cheeks flushing a tad with embarrassment. "I should have discussed it with you before I even tried anything. I apologize again, Yasami. I did not mean to drudge up your past." She reaches out and pats Yasami on the forearm.

"If that walking mustache does anything to put you in danger, I will make him eat my bullets." She smiles reassuringly at Yasami, patting the pistol she had out in her lap while they watched over the group.

perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35

You near the structure, and Catalina observes that erosion on the side of the ridge has left the temple somewhat precariously perched. It's in no danger of falling if you walk on it, but given another century or two, it's likely a landslide will cause its destruction.

If it lasts that long.

Because in a clearing before the temple, you see a familiar face.

Gerhard Pendergrast is in front of the temple, having just finished pouring out a line of black powder that leads within.

"I'd stand back, if I were you!" he calls, having noticed your approach. "This temple is a forgery! I've written an entire book on the subject and it contradicts everything we know on the topic. You archaeological vandals are too late to interfere with me this time!"

He lights a tindertwig and drops it on the powder trail, igniting the powder, the spark racing away into the temple. In red on the map, moving 10 ft/round.

Blocks:
1:Oren, Dario, Joran, Cev
2: Gerhard
3:Yasami, Catalina, Caiten, Lisi
4: Gerhard

Amendment to my post in discussion: Since he immediately rolled back to back initiatives and would have gone twice in the same block, I'm going to rule that can't happen, lol. Too much potential to murder a person. The extra turn will come at the end.

For clarity, only the main entrance on the map is accessible, the 'windows' were all closed up with clay long ago. The dotted line is the black powder trail. You can't see from your angle, but there are three explosive kegs of black powder at the ends of the trail.

Gerhard Pendergrast is in front of the temple, having just finished pouring out a line of black powder that leads within.

Caiten looks over at Yasami and Catalina. "This is the person from the petrification pillar you were mentioning earlier, yes? The one who attacked Cevendyll?"

"I'd stand back, if I were you!" he calls, having noticed your approach. "This temple is a forgery! I've written an entire book on the subject and it contradicts everything we know on the topic."

Caiten frowns at Gerhard. "I am quite certain that is not how proper research is conducted."

DM Fern wrote:

Gerhard Pendergrast is in front of the temple, having just finished pouring out a line of black powder that leads within.

Caiten looks over at Yasami and Catalina. "This is the person from the petrification pillar you were mentioning earlier, yes? The one who attacked Cevendyll?"

Catalina makes an exasperated sound at the sight of Gerhard. "Ugh, yes. This is the little mustache man who makes a mockery of the profession. He is a joke among real academics. And he's a seronja," She says the pejorative derisively, eyeing the black powder trail.

"You call US vandals, and you are out here DESTROYING artifacts? Oh, I am going to enjoy this," Catalina snarls at Pendergrast, bracing for combat.

"What would you know of proper research!" The man's voice was high pitched when speaking plainly, and squeaked with indignation now. "It's not real! It was placed here to cast doubt and uncertainty on my theories! I'll bet YOU had something to do with it!"

"No, but we are about to 'interfere': you and I had a discussion to finish I believe. You will be silent during it."
The frost forms, and Cev aims at the powder trail ...

RoFrost1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 Ray of Frost at powder ahead of ignition point
Damage 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1, 3) + 3 = 9
HERO POINT
RoFrost1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 Ray of Frost at powder ahead of ignition point
Damage 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 3, 2) + 3 = 10

How many Hero Points can we use?

Dario hears the voice of the man before he sees him and the tone of his voice immediately makes the gunslinger scowl. They crest the hill to see that the man is planning to blow up the temple because it contradicts his theories on the subject. He hears the venom in Catalina's words and like that, the man is a flash of movement. He rushes forward, the light catching the edge of his blade as well as the barrel of his pistol. Cev had approached and out from behind the righteous form of Yuelral's champion, Dario would spin himself into place in front of the door.

"Now I don't know you...but I reckon you're smart but not that smart, especially if you're calling me and mine vandals. I suggest you take it back. Now." Dario's blade twitched in his hand as he stared at the man with a cold look in his eyes. It begged the arrogant man to try him.

Demoralize: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Actions - Into The Fray, Step, Demoralize
Vitals - HP: 74/74; AC: 22

"Not this guy again." Oren rushes forward, stomps on the fire before it can start traveling up the powder trail, and begins raging in case things get violent.

Actions: Stride, Stomp on fire (lmk if I need to roll something), Rage

Raising an eyebrow in shock, "Who does this guy think he is?! Hey, pal, NOBODY blames Caiten for...," he pauses, trying to think what it might be he's blaming Caiten for, and finding he can't figure it out, nor does he really care because NOBODY blames Caiten, "...for whatever is you're blaming him for! And you attacked 'The Champ'?!" He exclaims, looking stunned at the revelation. Quickly calming and turning that stunned look into a matter-of-fact expression, "Oh, well, seeing how that's the case... it's ON NOW, CHUMP!" Drawing his warflail, Joran heads straight for the mustachioed man, swinging it out wide and bringing it around towards his midsection.

◆Action: Draw weapon
◆Action: Move
◆Action: Attack

Watching the man dance out of the way with ease, "Light on your feet, ain't you, twinkle toes? We'll see how long that lasts."

+1 Striking Large War flail(bludgeoning): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Damage: 2d10 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8

AC 22; Hp's 110/110

"to be fair Joran, it wasn't really an 'attack' ... it was more like, well, you know how inferior teenaged human males get mad when they can't participate in mixed gender youth rituals? How they lash out ineffectually because they know they will never mate? It was more like that ..."

Cev looks thoughtful again

"Maybe the problem is that he hasn't been able to purchase any services here in the jungle to take care of making him feel masculine & significant. He must have known all of his staff were mocking him as well, no wonder he left them petrified! I had always thought the jokes in Iadara about Taldans being small, uh, 'minded', were just misplaced Elven pride. Guess not though. "

Cev tried to blast the trail away with a ray of frost, but it was a small target and he didn't quite connect. Oren saw what he was trying to do, though, and he rushed over and kicked the powder away. The spark faded out.

"You, you you villains!" Gerhard screeched. Dario threatened the man and saw the blood drain from his face (frightened 1), and he screamed like a small child when Joran swung a flail at him, managing to duck the blow. "That's how it's to be! Very well! I, Gerhard Pendergrast, will fight you thugs off myself!"

He took a ◆step back and ◆◆fired his blunderbuss, a cone of heated buckshot firing out in a 30-foot cone that blasted Oren, Dario, and Cev, just missing Joran-- but setting a row of the black powder aflame as well -- the thing backfires, however, ripping itself apart, destroyed, and in addition to the cone, Gerhard is struck by the blast as well, screaming and quickly putting out the fire that lights one tip of his now-asymmetrical mustache.

DC 26 Basic Relex save.
bludgeoning damage: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 2, 6) = 16
fire damage: 2d10 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4
engineering lore check DC 20 for Gerhard: 1d20 + 14 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 14 - 1 = 16
Gerhard's reflex save: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 16 - 1 = 33

Badly drawn cone is on the map, I did it on my phone, lol. The whole row of powder is aflame within the cone, now, but I only 'lit' the furthest square since it's all that matters.

Blocks:
1:Oren, Dario, Joran, Cev
2: Gerhard
3:Yasami, Catalina, Caiten, Lisi
4: Gerhard

Caiten ◆stalks toward the man once he fired his weapon. He ◆draws his whip and makes a quick assessment of the damage that the weapon caused. He notes that the most immediate danger is the line of powder that is burning once again.

"Sulee, go see if you can disrupt the line of powder."
◆ Command familiar

"Go roll around in the soot. Got it." Sulee takes off running into the temple building.

◆Stride x2

Caiten calls after her, "That is black powder. It is flammable and explosive."

"Spicy soot. Even better."

When she sees the blast lighting up the powder, Yasami rushes past the doorway and into the structure to sweep away some of the powder between the barrels and the fire.

Two actions to stride 70 ft, then I guess manipulate to break the line?

"Hoj tuke o kar te bandžol!" she shouts from inside the temple as her skirt almost catches on fire.

"Pendergrast! What the hell, man?! Are you actually insane?"

I have more words to add, but I guess next round.

"Joran! We don't need to beat the man's head in! This is just-" His words get caught in his throat as Penderghast pulls away and takes out a rushly made, poorly put-together, blunderbuss and raises it towards them. The gunslinger's eyes widen as the weapons bursts like thunder, erupting and ripping apart on its owner.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

Dario wraps his worn, beaten long coat around himself, his armor and quick-thinking taking most of the damage. When he lets it fall though, the intimidating but still civil look in his eyes had fled and instead there laid a cool and vicious glare in those grey-blue eyes. His pistol twirls in his grip as he anxiously rolls his blade in his opposite palm.

"Right then. Shoddy craftsmanship for a shoddy man. Nevermind what I said Joran, you've got the right idea." Dario says to the big man, his eyes unwavering on Gerhard. "Thanks for that, mister. Now I'm not going to feel bad about what I do next."

Vitals - HP: 64/74

Catalina ◆strides forward, stopping on the steps near Oren and Dario (can't move myself right now - She'd be in the square to the left of Oren). She narrows her eyes at the mustachioed idiot, shuffling through her ◆esoteric knowledge for something to use against him.

Lore: Esoteric for EV: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17 Failure, will use personal antithesis. He still gets weakness 5 :D

"Ha." She snorts, pulling a scrap of one of her mother's old academic articles out - a peer-reviewed piece on ancient Mwangi architecture, ironically enough. She quickly wraps the scrap of parchment around the handle of the pistol. "I've found your weakness, little mustache man. Peer-reviewed, well-researched articles." She chuckles darkly, closing her eyes for a moment to let the resonance sink into her weapon before carefully aiming and ◆firing at the man.

Striking Dueling Pistol: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 hero point
Striking Dueling Pistol: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Pistol damage, piercing/bludgeoning, weakness 5 (EV): 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 5) + 5 = 11

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Hero Point: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Oren takes all of the blast, but he does smile grimly as Gerhard blows up his own gun. "A shoddy craftsman and a shoddy adventurer. Two-in-one."

Catalina's shot blasts the man, clipping him in the arm. But her words hurt the most. "What would you know, you filthy, uncivilized trollop! I am a best selling author!"

Sulee and Yasami run in and break the line of powder. "Stop that at once! The temple must be destroyed!"

Will give Lisi until this afternoon before bumping things.

Had a 12 hour day yesterday :(

Lisi raises a hand to the sky and glares at Gerhard.

"You are a fool, and clumsy to boot."

Tempest Surge Damage: 3d12 ⇒ (6, 11, 10) = 27

"Rocco, Shadow, go help Sulee and Yasami. Guba, to me."

No worries Lisi, wasn't trying to rush you <3

reflex save: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19 womp womp

Gerhard shrieked as a small tornado overtook him, wind pelting him with debris, lighting shocking him. His mustache fluffed out and all his hair stood on end, a comical caricature of himself. Clumsy 2 for 1 round, taking 3 persistant electrical damage.

whip vs. Dario's Reflex DC: 1d20 + 19 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 19 - 3 = 22(frightened 1--making it tick down per round instead of peer turn, since he is getting double turns--and clumsy 2)

Gerhard tries to trip Dario with his whip(◆ to grab it, ◆ to attack), still striving to get inside the temple and set off his explosives, but his nerves are still shot from the tornado Lisi unleashed upon him and the nimble gunslinger is able hop over the strike. Growling with rage, he ◆ tries again. This time his manages to wrap up Dario's ankle, and he yanks hard, jerking him to the ground.

whip vs Dario: 1d20 + 14 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 14 - 3 = 30

Blocks:
1:Oren, Dario, Joran, Cev
2: Gerhard
3:Yasami, Catalina, Caiten, Lisi
4: Gerhard

Dario hits the ground hard, grunting in pain as he does so. His eyes flicker back towards the man before he kips up, landing back onto his feet. He twirls his blade and pistol again, nodding at the man.

"Now...now I'm going to enjoy it." Dario lifts his pistol and fires off the weapon made of true dwarven craftmanship. As the space erupts into gunsmoke, Dario dashes forward and engages the man in close combat.

Dario will use Gunslinger's Juke, a drifter only action. It allows him to Strike, Step, Strike, and then Step again. One must be a ranged attack, the other must be a melee attack. I may choose to do all, one, or none of the steps. It does have the flourish trait.

Ranged Strike: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 2) + 1 = 7If Critical?: 3d10 + 2 ⇒ (1, 9, 1) + 2 = 13

Emerging from the gunsmoke, he thrusts his blade at the man with expertise. The short sword prods and lashes out, seeking to move him into a vulnerable position before finding an opening and thrusting for his arm.

Reloading Strike v.s. Flat-Footed: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 15 - 4 = 28Damage: 2d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 5) + 1 + (6) = 15

He strikes deep, leaving a red line along the man's ribs before he falls back away from the arrogant man, his pistol smoking and a bit of red dripping from his blade.

Actions - Stand, Drifter's Juke (Ranged Strike, Step, Reloading Strike, Step)
Vitals - 64/74; AC: 22

With the fire taken care of, Oren runs up to Gerhard and strikes at him with Foehammer!

Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
damage: 2d12 + 8 ⇒ (10, 2) + 8 = 20

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Damage: 2d12 + 8 ⇒ (6, 3) + 8 = 17

"You know, it does occur, I should pray for your soul to be saved! and, perhaps, forgiveness that I hadn't already."
Cev speaks a few words, mentioning Gerhardt making better choices or suffering ...

- Litany against Wrath (1a - 1F)
- Move
- Attack LONGSWORD: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 291d8 ⇒ 1

Sorry, dumb question: can I use a Hero Point to hurt him more?

Letting his rage take over, Joran flanks with his fellow barbarian, Oren, and hopes to actually hit the elusive man this time.

◆Action: Rage
◆Action: Move
◆Action: Attack

+1 Striking Large War flail(bludgeoning): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Damage: 2d10 + 10 ⇒ (4, 4) + 10 = 18

AC 21; Hp's 110/110+10; Rage(1/10 rnds)

Dario manages two hits on the surprisingly nimble, hardy man. While Gerhard is completely full of shit, it seems his experience traveling the world and exploring dangerous places has honed his martial capabilities, and he's a difficult man to hurt.

Oren's swings, powerful as they are, find only air, Gerhard sidestepping and avoiding the hits.

Will save vs. Cev: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Cevendyll barely manages to graze the man, his spell seeming to have no effect and the strong-willed man fights off the attempted rebuke against his evil ways.

Joran has a bit more luck, smashing down on the blithering idiot with his flail, clipping him on one arm.

"I won't let you stop me!"

Gerhard, seeing the doorway to the temple is unblocked, rushes into the building (◆◆2 strides), running past Yasami. If you have reactions upon people leaving squares you threaten, he moves away from Oren, Joran, Dario, Cev, and past Yasami. He ◆pulls a tindertwig from his belt, intending to set fire to the crossroads of the powder in one final attempt at blowing the place up, hoping to have time to flee before the explosions. He'll use the thing next turn, no actions left this one since he didn't have it out.

Blocks:
1:Oren, Dario, Joran, Cev
2: Gerhard
3:Yasami, Catalina, Caiten, Lisi
4: Gerhard

Catalina's face turns stony at the insult, and she takes a deep, cleansing breath. She had been called worse things before, but from this man, it was infuriating. Catalina breaks out into a wild grin, staring daggers at Gerhard. "I have no desire to show you what a filthy trollop I can be, but I can show you uncivilized, you pathetic mustache!" She shouts back in reply, bursting into motion to follow the dangerous fool inside.

On the way in, the thaumaturge moves through the motions Dario taught her, reloading her pistol on the fly and firing off a shot once she skids to a halt about 20 feet away from Pendergrast.

Striking Dueling Pistol: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19 hero point, now I'm out ;P
Striking Dueling Pistol: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31
Pistol damage, piercing/bludgeoning, weakness 5 (EV): 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2) + 5 = 10

The towering aasimar woman locks eyes with Gerhard and just smiles, purposefully reloading her pistol.

Actions: Stride, Risky Reload, Reload. 0/3 Hero Points.

If he tries to move past Catalina or within 10 feet of her, he will trigger her Implement's Interruption.

When Gerhard and Catalina go into the temple, Caiten ◆ follows. After a quick assessment, Caiten ◆ calls out to Sulee, "Keep going. Try to break those lines of powder as close to the barrels as possible."

He then casts ◆ Guidance on Yasami.

Guidance: +1 status bonus to one attack roll, Perception check, saving throw, or skill check before next block 3 turn.