#8-05 UNGROUNDED BUT UNBROKEN - GM Nowruz (Inactive)

Game Master noral

BASIC TRAINING SCHEDULE

New recruits of the Ungrounded Company adhere to the following schedule. Recruits caught shirking their duties face a demerit from Captain Othis.

6:00 a.m. Wake up call. Captain Othis wakes the PCs with a makeshift drum and loudly comments on redruits laziness until they stand at attention. Once they make their beds and dress, they are allowed a bowl of gruel from the kitchens.

6:30 a.m. Labor. This task usually involves unloading deliveries for the armory and kitchen as well as weapon and armor maintenance.

9:30 a.m. Cleaning. New recruits use small brushes and harsh soap to clean their living quarters, the mess hall, and other common areas. This is tiresome labor.

12:00 p.m. Lunch. Lunch consists of bread, salt pork, and lentil stew.

12:30 p.m. Marching Drills. The PCs are led to the yard to practice forming ranks, marching, responding to various commands, and learning chants and cadences.

3:00 p.m. Training. For the following week, the recruits including you all spend this time slot practicing additional marching and combat drills until they complete their Trial by Combat and are promoted to practical training.

6:00 p.m. Dinner. This is usually roasted or stewed meat, bread, and a cup of ale.

9:30 p.m. Evening Inspection. Captain Othis checks the recruit’s room for cleanliness.

This is now your life. ;-)

After the DI leaves, Ilarien sniffs. "Someone doesn't like a challenge, hm? We should try to find out more about the actual training part of this exercise, I think. Shen, you're the best of us at talking--see what you can learn from the long-timers."

I did not want to divert attention from Ilarien's post or the Sense Motive check spoiler in my last post describing the captain. This is a chance to talk with each other should you wish. Or just to sit in silence for a while after a day of heavy work.

"I have to say, I wasn't expecting to do this much work. Jumping around on the logs was fun, but cleaning a latrine with a toothbrush? Yuck!"

At first, Shenendril doesn't matter the work. For her, it was better than being told how bad she was at things. It was much better than ending up not being good at something that she actually was good at at just the right moment.

Eventually, it becomes boring and wearying, though. She starts to look forward to that time between dinner and the nightly inspection when she can talk to her fellow Pathfinders as well as the other new recruits.

"At least we don't have to use our own toothbrushes for the cleaning," she points out.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Anyone else wants to try the sense motive? Do you want to do anything during the week?

I didn't make a roll, so here's the roll for Shenendril chatting folks up. She will try to get info from the veterans around.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

*I never can tell what other people are thinking.*

Sense Motive check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Their work done, Shenendril makes her way out of the kitchen and around to the mess hall to talk to some of the other soldiers but her being a Sylph is obviously not creating trust.

Each night you eat a bowl of meat and potato stew as your supper and wash it down with a mug of ale. After the evening inspection of your barracks by Captain Othis, you retire for the evening and sink slowly into sleep.

----------- TO THE TRAINING GROUND ---------------------------------------

After six more days of early morning wake up calls by the captain and her pot, morning labor, cleaning, and drills, Captain Othis summons the Pathfinders to the training grounds just outside the mess hall.

An oval of hard-packed dirt surrounds four columns made of black stone, and gray stone benches encircle the area as if providing a clear view for nonexistent spectators.

As the group enters, they see dummies made of stuffed burlap sacks affixed to posts scattered throughout the field - some wearing crudely painted smiles and other posed in offensive gestures - as well as a raised balcony made of blue and purple crystal perched atop the stands.

The captain stands inside the crystal balcony, a mischievous grin on her usually stern face.

"Alright you sad excuses for limp noodles!" she bellows.

"Let's see how well you handle yourselves in combat." She points downward at the packed earth where another group of Ungrounded mercenaries stand ready. A male dwarf, a human woman and two female oread twins!

"But since I don't want to waste the time already spent training you lot, this will be a controlled combat."

She glares at all of you Pathfinders. "That means you will use no spells, no combat-enhancing items such as potions or flasks, and no lethal force - or you will face the consequences."

She points again at another squat stone building nearby. "You may arm yourself with a blunted weapon from the armory."

See new map and please position yourselves. You can find any martial or simple weapon in the armory. These weapons deal non-lethal damage without applying a penalty to attack rolls.

"I didn't mean to... Nevermind. Bad approach on my part, I guess.", Kridash is a little let down by his attempt with the captain. He leaves for the bunk with the others and does his best to perform his duties as ordered. "Just need to follow orders, and they will like you. I must say I was never a suck up, that's why I didn't make it in the navy to begin with."

When Shenendril starts asking around, Ash makes sure to be nearby. "Don't mean to tail you or anything, but I saw a few bad looks toward your direction when we were walking through the city. Probably better to have company."

**********

Ash takes his position in the arena, crosses his arms and waits while others go look for their weapons of choice. He looks at the opposition, and waves at them with a smile. "Hey there! Losing team buys a round?"

"Someone has a very narrow view of what combat is," Shenendril mutters, 6 days of being rebuffed by people having done nothing to improve her mood.

She goes to the armory and sorts through the weapons to search out something useful.

Not sure if only melee weapons are available. If ranged weapons are available, she'll take a longbow. If not, she'll take a longsword and shield (unless shields are also not available, in which case she'll just take the longsword.)

Also ranged weapons but no armor is available.

No spells...she didn't say anything about hexes, though. I'd better ask. Ilarien gets a light crossbow and raises her hand. "Captain? Can we use any other nonlethal magical abilities?"

The captain looks at Ilarien.

“I do not even know what you are talking about!! I said that the use of spells or combat-enhancing items, such as potions or flasks, is forbidden, and both groups should refrain from using lethal force or ‘face the consequences.’!!“ she says with a stern look on her face.

Hey, the scenario does not define if hexes are allowed or not to be honest. But they are supernatural so they are magical and thus using them has some visual magical sign that can be recognized (based on a FAQ for supernatural abilities). So let’s compromise. If it’s super obvious like a slumber then that would lead to a demerit but a misfortune for instance or cackle I’d say is ok. Is that agreeable?

Zandu looks annoyed at the instructions. "No magic? What is the point of training in such a non-realistic way? Will we also have a section where only magic is allowed, to see how well fighters do in combat without fighting?" Despite the complaining, Zandu saunters over to the armory and picks out a heavy crossbow and some blunted bolts to go with it. As he walks to the arena, the air that always shimmers around him slowly fades away.

I always buff up my Force Ward at the beginning of every day, and it is always active. This is a Su effect, but a constant one. I do have the ability to dismiss or restore it as an immediate action, which I do now.

Do I gain 5HP/night as per standard healing rules? If not, is there an infirmary to get fully healed beforehand or no? If not then my HP bar is correct, otherwise I would heal to full. If armor is forbidden, are shields also forbidden?

Ryskovich works hard on the various tasks, while trying not to overdue things given his various injuries from the damned obstacle course. He gets called to the open pit, and heads into the armory in search of a suitable weapon and he sighs as no armor is allowed.

Well damn, I guess my fighting style is pointless…which is some new level of crap since my ability to use the Taldan fighting style is what helps out my fellow pathfinder he curses to himself as he decides on a weapon.

He sees a bardiche…he checks the balance and weight of it. I guess this will have to do then as he readies himself.

Assume that you are fully healed Ryskovich after the time that passed.
And there is no mention of armor in the scenario so you can wear the armor you have. There just is no additional armor available for this contest.

The captain shouts again, "Fight until your opponents surrender or are knocked unconscious!" the captain finishes. "Now get yourselves moving, recruits!"

Go ahead and post any preparations you might make and place your token on the map somewhere to the right of the map.

Ryskovich thinks things over, and grabs a longbow, a quiver of arrows and the bardiche he saw earlier. He checks the straps on his armor and buckled to make sure they are properly fastened. He then steps into the arena, and next to his fellow Pathfinders.

all set now

Ilarien is on the map.

Four recruits stand opposed to the Pathfinders on the field, Dell among them. His eyes meet Shenendril‘s for a moment before shifting to look past her with a stony gaze.

"Remember, this is not a fight to the death," Captain Othis yells from the balcony.

"And so help me, if any one of you sorry lot draw blood you'll be cleaning latrines for a week!"

She grabs a whistle hanging from a cord around her neck and blows sharply through it.

"Now fight!"

~

Initiative

Shenendril

Ungrounded

Camina
Ryskovich
Ilarien
Zandu
Kridash

"Aren't we already cleaning latrines?" Shenendril mutters.

She's ready as soon as the whistle blows, though and draws, knocks and launches an arrow before anyone else can move.

longbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Maybe she was a little TOO quick on the draw, though.

The four Ungrounded soldiers are determined and immediately charge forward!

One of them reaches Zandu and three of them stand right in front of Ash and they all try to slash with their scimitars!

@Zandu: scimitar, nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 231d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

@Ash: scimitar, nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 121d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
@Ash: scimitar, nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 231d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
@Ash: scimitar, nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 101d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Zandu's arm is hit hard and Ash is hit on the head and you both feel dizzy ...

Fort save vs. poison for Zandu and Kridash!

~

Initiative

Ungrounded

Camina
Ryskovich
Ilarien
Zandu, -7 nl
Kridash, -5 nl
Shenendril

Fort save vs what better be nonlethal nonmagical poison: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Zandu grunts as one scimitar slams into his arm. As he feels the bite of the poison, he looks up at the scimitar wielding foes with a grim and sardonic grin. "Poison, is it? Don't recall seeing that at the table." He steps quickly back, raises his loaded heavy crossbow, and sends a blunted bolt flying towards the naive who struck him.

Attack, PBS: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 25
Damage, PBS: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Crit Damage, PBS: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Zandu's sardonic grin turns more joyful as the blunted crossbow bolt slams into his opponent, dealing significantly more damage than he received.

Forgot that a heavy crossbow requires a full round to reload, not a move action. Wish I had grabbed a light crossbow!

Zandu shakes off any effect that made him dizzy and can shoot a bolt directly against the throat of the Oread attacking him ... you can all hear gagging sounds but the female fighter is still standing!

~

Initiative

Ungrounded, female Oread twin, red
Ungrounded, female Oread twin, blue, -20 nl
Ungrounded, male Dwarf, white,
Ungrounded, female Human, orange

Zandu, -7 nl

Camina
Ryskovich
Ilarien
Kridash, -5 nl, fort save needed
Shenendril

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Ilarien concentrates, calling forth ill luck for the dwarf. If her misfortune hex takes hold, she'll cackle to maintain it while taking a step to put her behind Ryskovich.

Camina moves in, trying to tumble past Blue and into flank behind white.

acro: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

unarmed strike: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
non-lethal: 1d6 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (1, 6) = 15

Shenendril knew her best chance was when everyone was separated. She hasn't learned the trick of firing into a melee without potentially hitting an ally, yet. But maybe she can get lucky.

longbow: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 4 = 2
Nonlethal: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Her demonstrations of her abilities continue about the same as they have gone.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"If you don't feel justified in using poisoned weapons, we can call a truce and allow you to arm yourselves with uncorrupted ones. I'm sure you had no intention of facing us with an unfair advantage," she calls out to their opponents.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Well, you saved me the hassle of coming to you. Thanks I guess as he takes a swipe with his bardiche.

bardiche: 1d20 + 5 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 3 + 1 = 13
damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

He then takes a single step backwards in hopes to bait one to misstep.

will misfortune: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Ilarien feels that her hex is successful!

Camina can really move past her opponent and knocks the air out of the dwarf's lungs!

Shenendril's arrow hits the ground and the oread remains silent after her comment ignoring her diplomatic words.

Ryskovich's bardiche unfortunately misses!

~

Initiative

Ungrounded, female Oread twin, red
Ungrounded, female Oread twin, blue, -20 nl
Ungrounded, male Dwarf, white, -15 nl, misfortune
Ungrounded, female Human, orange

Zandu, -7 nl
Camina
Ryskovich
Ilarien
Shenendril

Kridash, -5 nl, fort save needed

Sorry, busy week. Not sure what modifiers the Fort 16 result gives, so not in the calculation

Ash dodges a few strikes, but one manages to land. He looks at the attackers. "Okay. I guess that's the name of the game. My turn!"

He looks at the male dwarf, and notices Camina is distracting him. He finds an opening and attempts a quick one-two punch growling loudly.

Ash's fortitude is great!

And he kicks the dwarf right in the face and the opponent drops down unconscious!

~

The three remaining Ungrounded soldiers are still determined and all their scimitars can slash their targets which are Ash and Camina!

@Camina: scimitar, nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 221d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

@Ash: scimitar, nonlethal, p: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 221d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
@Ash: scimitar, nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 211d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Ash feels dizzy again ...

Fort save vs. poison DC 13 for Kridash!

~

Initiative

Ungrounded, female Oread twin, red
Ungrounded, female Oread twin, blue, -20 nl
Ungrounded, male Dwarf, white, disabled
Ungrounded, female Human, orange

Zandu, -7 nl + -4 nl burn
Camina, -4 nl
Ryskovich
Ilarien
Shenendril
Kridash, -18 nl, fort save needed

With the fall of her cursed target, Ilarien tries the same trick on the red oread, and will cackle to maintain the misfortune hex if the oread fails to resist the hex.

Will : 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Can you give me the DC please next time. I assume it is 16. Thanks :-)

The hex again takes effect!

It is indeed DC 16, at least until I get money for a headband.

Zandu takes a quick step backward, then performs the tedious process of reloading the massive crossbow. He mutters under his breath "Stupid crossbow, no magic nonsense, don't know anything about these contraptions, don't need them..."

Full round action to reload the stupid crossbow

Ryskovich moves to get flanking with Camina. He than tries to hit with the bardiche once more.

bardiche with flank: 1d20 + 5 + 3 + 1 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 3 + 1 + 2 - 1 = 25
damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

The oread is immediately knocked out by Ryskovich as the bolt Zandu shot really hurt him.

Camina and Ash are up!

"One of these has to hit," Shenendril mutters as she knocks and looses another arrow.

longbow vs. red: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 - 4 = 7
Nonlethal: 1d8 ⇒ 4

The arrow flies high …

Camina has some good chemistry going with Ash so she'll try that one-two a second time, now against Orange.

acro: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

unarmed strike: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 = 28
non-lethal: 1d6 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 4 + (6, 5) = 21

confirming?: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 2 = 20
extra damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Camina's uppercut leaves the female woman staggered!

Exactly at 0 from nl damage. :-)

Ash: You are up and Fort save vs. poison DC 13!

~

Initiative

Ungrounded, female Oread twin, red
Ungrounded, female Oread twin, blue, disabled
Ungrounded, male Dwarf, white, disabled
Ungrounded, female Human, orange, 25 nl

Zandu, -7 nl + -4 nl burn
Camina, -4 nl
Ryskovich
Ilarien
Shenendril
Kridash, -18 nl, fort save needed

Ash gets struck by poison again. He looks at the human woman in front of him, barely able to slur her tongue back in to her mouth. "Nice hooks!", he shouts at the catfolk, and looks towards the last standing oread. He attempts to subdue her instead.

"I would really like it if you would just skip on the poison part of this excercise, maa'm."

The woman drops to the ground and Ash easily resists the poison!

It seems that she had decided to just stay put as any movement will provoke from you guys and she does not want another hit like the one that Camina gave her!

~

The last Ungrounded soldier takes her scimitars and does a futile attack against Ash and then 5 ft steps back!

@Ash: scimitar, nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 101d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

~

Initiative

Ungrounded, female Oread twin, red
Ungrounded, female Oread twin, blue, disabled
Ungrounded, male Dwarf, white, disabled
Ungrounded, female Human, orange, 25 nl

Zandu, -7 nl + -4 nl burn
Camina, -4 nl
Ryskovich
Ilarien
Shenendril
Kridash, -18 nl

Not that it matters, but Red should be unlucky.

Ilarien cackles to maintain her hex, takes a quick step to one side, and shoots the remaining Ungrounded.

Light crossbow bolt attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Nonlethal damage, if applicable: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Zandu takes a small step forward, then raises his loaded crossbow and fires at the one opponent still standing.

Attack, PBS: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 = 26
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 = 21
Damage, PBS: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Crit Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Ash runs around the pillar, emerges from the other side, and puts his foot behind the last standing combatant. He anchors his foot in place, and shoves her into the chest to topple her over.

Trip, Agile Maneuvers vs CMD(Provokes AoO): 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 4 = 22

Camina pounces on Red.

1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 = 16
1d6 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 4 + (5, 5) = 20

Zandu's aim is unbelievably true again and even Ilarien hits with a bolt!

Ash can trip the Ungrounded although they try to retaliate against Ash!

AoO @Ash: scimitar, nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 231d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

misfortune: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 151d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

~

Camina then knocks the last Ungrounded out!

END of COMBAT