DM Brainiac's Stolen Fate: Table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master Brainiac

"I'm glad it wasn't necessary to kill the dragon. Such a magnificent creature."

"Magnificently cantankerous, indeed. Something tells me that our encounter with it didn't teach the dragon a single thing, even though it ought to have. Heh, shame."

Aicard then indulges himself in the new entertainment bestowed upon their realm. He quickly comes to realize that this new phenomenon can be used to create a portal of sorts to Absalom or, how terribly dreadful - no, don't even think it, don't go there! - to Egorian, home. How happy would Father be to see Aicard now? A decorated member of the Divine Dare, a known rabble-rouser, and a little less known entertainer of the masses? As he thinks of Egorian and his subconscious starts opening the dusty old rooms containing the memories of that hellish place, the entertainment starts taking a dark turn. Hapless simulacra in chains and cages appear, and the crowd takes great delight in the cruel punishments inflicted upon the imprisoned. Knowing that he's responsible for it, Aicard quickly thinks it away.

Oh, Father, see what the memory of you, of home, does to me? Heh, wouldn't he be thrilled when he hears about all the fiends Aicard has smashed back to hell, and even better, into nothingness? "I don't know if I ever shared this with any of you before, but this is the first time in a long, long time I am considering going back home. Not permanently of course! But, eh, to see my father. Visit the old stomping grounds. Take a leak against the Midnight Temple. Coincidentally, they're all to be found and done in the very same place, so the itinerary will be blessedly short."

The bad joke aside, there is a lot of anger and resentment reverberating through Aicard's words. Speaking about his father visually bothers Aicard. Not one to mince words, Aicard is now juggling every syllable. Deftly, he changes the topic. "And eh, I'm sorry you had to see that. Trust me when I say Egorian has much, much worse entertainment on offer," he says with a wink. The bad entertainment, of course, is him.

"Aicard, darling, what's to be gained from that? Would it really set you at ease? Looking around, it doesn't seem like it would. Still, if you wish, we will go with you if you like? In fact, perhaps we can kill the proverbial two birds with one stone, if we go to the Theater?"

But first, Vashta is ready to rest, and recover before they plan to head through the next arch. Dealing with that dragon wasn't easier, as difficult in its own way as dealing with The Tyrant.

Anyone want to do anything in Harrowheart? Or we should pick another of the arches. Considering Aicard was thinking about family and Cheliax, that leads Vashta to think of the Arch of Crowns.

"Right, Aicard. I like to keep my insides on the inside, thanks. And I've worked to hard on these tattoos to let your former neighbors put holes in them." Targrish ribs his old friend good-naturedly.

"We've quite the transportation network now, but no more clues as to why those fiends were after these cards." The dwarf spins the Juggler between his hands. "Any preferences for the next avenue to explore?"

I'll take the Juggler, if people don't mind. It's pretty good for thaumaturge.

Works for me!

The tiefling refuses to indulge his emotions and waves away the concerns of his companions. "Nothing, and that's why I won't go there. He signed away his soul a long time ago, and it ain't for me to win it back. He wouldn't want it back anyway. Besides, we got better things to do."

Go for it. I think the main benefit of having it invested is that we can now access places like Absalom to shop for higher-level items? And or access casters for spells we might need?

I think we had Absalom before, since we always have the door to the place we left from, but does seem like that's a possible benefit too. We could go to Goka or Nantambu, if necessary.

"Speaking of entertainments, shall we try the opera?" After fighting a dragon, Targrish wouldn't mind taking in some more relaxed fare.

"I'm down with that. A dose of culture might just reinvigorate this worn-down soul, dent and battered by having to journey with the lot of you," Aicard says in a deadpan manner. The accompanying (menacing) grin says it all though, Aicard is ready to rock and roll.

The Arch of Crowns depicts what appears to be a partially constructed balcony seating area with billowing red and black curtains, which obscure the view of the main theater beyond. When you step through the portal, the tumultuous swell of an orchestra in full swing along with the sound of opera sung in Infernal becomes unmistakable.

Opening the curtains, you find yourselves in an upper VIP box of a grand Chelaxian opera house. Nobody notices your arrival, as all eyes are on the group of magnificently clad adventurers onstage in a singing duel against an immense linnorm. The beast is crafted from a clever framework operated by several technicians, all obscured underneath the linnorm’s deep green cloth exterior. Illusion spells further give the mechanical linnorm the appearance of life. The linnorm, as well as much of the stage scenery and the curtains that hang throughout the opera house, shimmers with a faint blue glow that gives the entire affair an appropriately chilly look reinforced by the fake snow that floats down from above and adorns the stage in periodic drifts.

As the lot of you are seasoned performers, you all recognize the opera as Linnorm’s Lost Legacy, a show that presents a revisionist history of how the first linnorm slain in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings was, in truth, slaughtered by an ancient ancestor of House Thrune (thus implying that the whole of this northern nation should belong to Cheliax). It is notorious outside of Cheliax for its blatant attempt to appropriate the heritage of the Linnorm Kingdoms. The “hero” facing the linnorm is a fictional character, Alangus Thrune, who is presented by the play as an actual historical figure from Cheliax who swept north to save the Ulfens from the notorious (also fictional) fire-breathing linnorm Bandraguzun. Regardless, the outrageous costuming of Alangus Thrune makes it difficult to look away.

Orozomoc notices something startling—Alangus Thrune’s outfit incorporates among his unwieldy amount of “adventuring equipment” The Theater card, tucked into one of the many belt straps that adorn his leather armor.

"It looks like the star of the show has what we need. Should we involve ourselves in the performance or meet him in his dressing chamber afterwards?"

"I see no reason to interrupt, dear," Vashta says. "Let's take some time to enjoy the show."

As long as it ends, I don't see a reason to interrupt. (Though I don't think it will end and we'll be forced to, but we'll see.)

"Agreed. The plot of this is poppycock, but there's an excellent aria in the third act." The gruff dwarf settles in to enjoy the performance as much as possible.

The play proceeds normally for several minutes. But then suddenly, a mask, black-clad figure descends from the opera house’s rigging, swinging on ropes over the attendees to land upon the stage. She draws a flaming sword as she lands, then turns to face the crowd and cries out the following: “We, the Firebrands, proudly interrupt this program to bring you a dose of... liberation!” A moment later, with a swing of her sword, the Firebrand unleashes a blast of flame across the stage.

Unfortunately, the fire almost immediately explodes into a full-fledged inferno! It seems the decorations and the fake snow are all unusually flammable, and the small fire quickly and aggressively spreads! The crowd immediately panics, while the frightened actors onstage fall into a tangled heap of linnorm and limb. The Firebrand herself, shocked by the sudden flames, abandons whatever her initial plan was and swiftly makes her way down into the main hall to direct the crowds toward the exits, joined by a few of her fellows who had been embedded in the audience.

The fire is currently focused on the stage, and that the Firebrands’ work to direct the panicked guests and orchestra members looks to be working well, even though the rebels are likely putting themselves in a position where they’ll soon be arrested. On the stage, though, the fire is more intense, and Alangus Thrune’s actor appears to be trapped by flames along with all of the technicians who were controlling the linnorm...

The fire continues to spread across the stage!

Everybody may act! The stage is 30 feet away and 30 feet down. You can swing down to the stage on the ropes hanging from the rigging as a 3 action activity that requires a DC 30 Acrobatics check.

There are seven actors cowering within and next to the linnorm costume. They cower in fear unless persuaded to move with a DC 25 Diplomacy or Intimidation check made as a single action or unless physically lead away by a PC. You can fight the fire with DC 27 Survival checks or any spells with the water descriptor.

"I think your name is supposed to be a literary allusion, dear, not taken literally," Vashta chides the Firebrand, though she's impressed that the woman is helping despite the risk to herself.

She has no desire to put herself in the line of fire, as it were, so merely calls down to try to persuade the actors to move.

Then she takes a moment to activate her own Harrow card, giving herself protection from the fire, just in case.

Diplomacy x2 (start with Thrune's actor), Activate the brass dwarf (fire resistance 12, plus poison weakness 6 for 1 minute)
Diplomacy (master): 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (6) + 23 = 29
Diplomacy (master): 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (7) + 23 = 30
Lousy rolls, but good enough!

"I was about to doze off, anyway!"

Targrish grabs a rope and swings for the stage.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29

The old dwarf has more enthusiasm than aim, however.

Oro clicks his heels together to sprout the brightly colored feathers from his boots and leaps off the balcony toward the stage.

Actions: 1) & 2) Activate winged boots; 3) Stride

A pair of horrid bat-like wings sprout from Aicard's back. He jumps off the balcony and uses his wings to soften the fall.

Actions 1+2) Grow Wings | Action 3) Stride 35ft (fly towards the stage)

Two of the panicked technicians heed Vashta's words and scurry to safety. Oro and Aicard fly down to the stage, but Targrish's swing is off the mark, causing him to land in the fire!

Fire Damage: 8d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 3, 6, 6, 3, 4, 1) = 33

The flames continue to spread across the stage, now only a few feet away from the scared actors.

33 fire damage to Targrish (basic Reflex DC 30). On a failed save, he also takes 1d6 persistent fire damage.

The tiefling hesitates as the hungry flames roar in anger. Sure, he is somewhat resistant to fire, but not fully. It wouldn't do if he lost his eyebrows in this rescue attempt! Perhaps this self-centeredness shines through in Aicard's words when he tries to get the actors to move their behinds away from the burning linnorm.

Diplo vs DC 25: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19
Diplo vs DC 25: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28
Diplo vs DC 25: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19

Reflex: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (12) + 21 = 33

Targrish rolls out of the fire, his pride scorched as much as his hide.

"Get moving now!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

"The show must go on," Vashta calls convincingly from her safe perch, "but it can only do that if you survive, dears!"

Diplomacy (master): 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (4) + 23 = 27
Diplomacy (master): 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (18) + 23 = 41
Diplomacy (master): 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (11) + 23 = 34

Oro alights upon the stage and calls upon the spiritual echo of the tears shed by actors over the years to dampen the flames.

survival: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (20) + 23 = 43

You quickly mobilize the remaining actors and get them off the stage to safety. Orozomoc calls on the spirits and quickly begins to extinguish the fire. Though it burns brightly, your concerted efforts keep it in check until neighborhood firefighting support responds to fully contain the blaze.

Since the actors aren't in danger anymore, hand-waving the rest of numerous Survival checks needed to fully extinguish the fire.

In the aftermath, you see The Theater card lying on the stage, having fallen out of Alangus Thrune's costume. It is a simple matter to claim it. Though you have only been here but briefly, it seems your task is already complete.

The Theater

"Ah, as hoped. Just a relaxing evening at the theater." Targrish grumbles as he massages a twisted ankle and tries to pat out the last of the embers on his clothes. "I smell like a Highhelm forge on Toilday. Let's go back Harrowheart for a bath."

"And perhaps another show, dear? I'm sure the one in Harrowheart will be calmer" Vashta says with a light laugh.

You return to Harrowheart via portal, leaving the opera house behind. Four arches remain active, leading to other cards to claim when you are ready!

It isn't until they've left the opera house that it hits Aicard. Egarion. His recently resurfaced memories of home and hearth. Are these moments meant to serve as anchor points for what's to come? And if so, just how far off course are they to go?

"Heh, go figure. From suddenly re-awakened nasty thoughts of days past, inspired by a mnemonic town square of all things, to a surprise visit to a Chelish opera house. None of this is a coincidence, I say ... Desna fend, friends, for we wander roads dark and beyond."

Hammers is fine by me.

Once you are ready, you step through the Arch of Hammers. Old trees hanging with ivy and moss provide deep shadows, but the trees end at a rolling plain of waving grass so green that it almost glimmers in the bright sunlight. A few clouds scud across the bright blue sky, while a deadfall provides something of a defensive bulwark along the side of the clearing closest to the plains beyond.

Several people cluster beneath a fallen tree, cautiously looking out over the plain while obviously protecting a large mound of bulging sacks. These are a group of fifteen humans and tengu.

It takes a few moments for these people to notice your arrival, but when they do, their leader, a dun-feathered tengu, lets out a startled cry. The group nervously raise their weapons as the leader addresses you, first in his native tongue. Once it becomes clear you don't speak the language, he cocks his head, studies your attire a bit more closely, then tries again in accented Common.

"You do not appear to be Mivanian agents. Who are you? Where did you come from?"

"I am Vashta, Harrower extraordinaire," Vashta introduces herself, "and these are my companions. We have come from many places, but most recently you could say Absalom. And where are we? And should we be worried about Mivanian agents?"

She has no idea what those might be, but they certainly sound suspect.

Society (trained): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

The tengu’s eyes widen. ”Absalom?!? I have heard of that distant city only in stories. You are a long, long way from home, friends.”

He says something in a foreign tongue to his companions. They lower their weapons, which include odd-looking guns, and look at you in awe.

”I am Skawnak,” the tengu continues. ”You find yourselves in the Halana Theocracy, a nation on the continent of Arcadia far to the west of Avistan. Halana is, unfortunately for its oppressed denizens like ourselves, an overbearing theocracy devoted to the demon lord Pazuzu. The Windborne Theocrats that rule the land enforce their erratic will with elite soldiers called Mivanians. Mivanians maintain control through two primary means—their notorious alliances with avian demons, and their tight control over access to deadly firearms.”

Skawnak gestures to himself and his group. ”We are with the rebellion. We want nothing other than the right to rule our land free of fiendish dictators. We are currently far behind enemy lines. We have been preparing to cross the open fields to the west, hopefully without being spotted by the enemy’s airborne patrols. But there are far more foes in the skies than we anticipated, and it’s all open terrain ahead.”

Vashta looks around, trying to size up their story, and the general terrain. She debates calling The Tyrant, but thinks that might just cause more problems at this point.

Lie to Me: You can use Deception to weave traps to trip up anyone trying to deceive you. If you can engage in conversation with someone trying to Lie to you, use your Deception DC if it is higher than your Perception DC to determine whether they succeed. This doesn’t apply if you don’t have a back-and-forth dialogue, such as when someone attempts to Lie during a long speech.

Deception (master, ventriloquist's ring): 1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 23 + 2 = 40

plus Perception (expert) to look around and survey the area: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35

Aicard groans when the tengu mentions Pazuzu. While not on a name-to-name basis with the Demon Lord, the tiefling knows enough about the bastard to know these folk need their help. "We might hail from a faraway place and be complete strangers to you, but know that we share a common foe in Pazuzu. Is there anything we can do to help?"

These words might sound funny coming from a flamboyantly dressed tiefling bearing no weapons nor armor so to show the rebels he means business, Aicard retrieves his shield from his glove of storing. "Trust me, stomping fiends and demons is my favorite pastime."

"We'd be more than willing to assist you against these fiends. Can you tell us anything about their capabilities?" He also nods at Vashta, "Speaking of Harrowing, we're on a mission as well: We're searching for strange Harrow cards that have appeared across the world. Have you seen anything like this, lately?" The dwarf holds up The Juggler to the group of rebels.

Vashta does not sense any deception from the tengu.

Skawnak cocks his head as he regards The Juggler. "No, I haven't seen anything like that recently. But if you're willing to lend your aid, we will welcome your help.

"Most Mivanians wield beastguns called spike launchers, made from manticore parts. The demons they ally with are usually vrocks and hurlilus, but there are more powerful fiends among them as well..."

Scanning the area, Vashta notices movement to the north. Emerging from the undergrowth is a group of five tengus wielding strange firearms. Their leader has numerous scars and a brutal mien. The Harrower calls out a warning as they raise their weapons. "Mivanians!" Skawnak squawks!

Targrish and Vashta may act first!

"I will be summoning help in a moment, so don't be frightened, darlings. He may appear terrifying, but he will help me," she warns the Arcadians.

But before doing that, she casts a spell, lightning flying from her fingers toward the attackers.

Cast a spell: chain lightning (DC 31); cast a spell: guidance on Targrish
Electricity: 8d12 ⇒ (7, 1, 9, 9, 10, 6, 4, 9) = 55

Targrish evaluates the tengu, looking carefully for weaknesses, before he runs out to grab the group's attention.

Exploit Vulnerability: 1d20 + 22 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 22 + 1 = 28
I'll target the one who looks like the leader.

I'll Intensify Vulnerability

AC 33 and concealed to red. AC 31 for the other guys. I'll use my reaction to give 13 resistance to the first person that red hits.

Reflex: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (7) + 21 = 281d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 191d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 341d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 271d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

Vashta's lightning proves quite effective. Only one Mivanian soldier manages to avoid some of the blast, while another critically fails his attempt to dodge! Targrish suceesfully exploits the lead tengu's personal anathema as he moves in.

Two of the Mivanians unleash volleys of spikes from their beastguns, which rain harmlessly down around you as you avoid the attacks!

Spike Volley vs Targrish: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27
Spike Volley vs Aicard, Orozomoc, Vashta: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 241d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 231d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

The leader of the soldiers squawks angrily as he directs his other men to shoot at Vashta before she can unleash more lightning. Each of them fire, reload, and shoot again.

Spike Launchers vs Vashta: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (12) + 22 = 341d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 221d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 241d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 151d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 291d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Damage: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (4, 4) + 9 = 172d8 + 7 ⇒ (3, 2) + 7 = 122d8 + 7 ⇒ (2, 5) + 7 = 14

43 piercing damage to Vashta. Targrish is too far away to use Amulet's Abeyance on her behalf (must be within 15 feet).

Vashta winces as the spikes hit her, but she's suffered worse in her life. Much, much worse, as these Minavans are about to discover.

She concentrates and summons The Tyrant, who rushes forward to attack!

Three actions to summon The Tyrant! He gets one action to Stride

Aicard stands his ground next to Vashta and, using the shield's magical power, smacks the leader of the group in the face from afar.

Actions 1+2) Ranged Shield Attack | Action 3) Raise Shield (in case they shoot at Vashta again)
60ft strike: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (18) + 22 = 40
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 2) + 7 = 11

Oro strides out, bow in hand, to get a better look at these Mivanians. He pauses a moment to consider the ebb and flow of fate...

Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Society to recall info: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32

"This is an inauspicious moment to strike," he says, his superstitions perhaps grating on his companions, who cannot see what he sees.

Oro withdraws to a position of relative safety until the moment to attack presents itself.

Actions: 1) Stride, 2) Devise a Stratagem + Recall Knowledge, 3) Stride.

Targrish storms into the fray.

kukri: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38 for slashing: 2d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (8, 8) + 4 + 4 = 24

Orozomoc is able to recall that many tengus' beaks are razor-sharp and they can blind their opponents if they critically hit them. Mivanian soldiers like these are utterly devoted to the Windborne Theocracy, so there is likely no reasoning with them.

As Skawnak's rebels take cover in a deadfall of trees, Aicard hurls his shield at the lead tengu, smacking him in the face with a critical hit! Targrish rushes in and slashes him with his kukri as well.

The lead tengu reloads his gun, shoots at Targrish, then pecks at him with his beak. The other tengu reload, fire, and reload again. All of their attacks miss!

Spike Launcher, Beak: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 231d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Spike Launchers: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 201d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 191d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 251d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28

"You'll manage on your own, right?", Aicard 'asks' Vashta before joining the melee.

Actions 1+2) Stride | Action 3) Strike boss tengu
Strike: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (18) + 22 = 40
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 4) + 7 = 16

"Of course, dear. I've been doing fine on my own -- or with just The Tyrant -- for most of my life, after all," she replies.

She follows up by casting a spell on her companion, as the dragon moves even closer to the attackers.

One action (Act Together) to cast boost eidolon; Tyrant uses shared action to Stride

As he gets close, The Tyrant inhales and lets out a blast of electricity. "Get out of the way!" he growls to Targrish and Aicard.

Two Actions to Breath Weapon. I should be able to get everyone but red, without hitting my companions.
Breath Weapon electricity damage (DC 31 basic Reflex): 6d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 4, 5, 1, 3) = 17
Cool down rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Targrish waves his amulet inthe lead tengu's face, then relies on the distraction to attack twice.

Amplify Vulnerability, Strike, Strike
kukri: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 29 for slashing: 2d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 6) + 4 + 4 = 18
kukri: 1d20 + 22 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 22 - 4 = 34 for slashing: 2d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 5) + 4 + 4 = 16

AC 33 and concealed to red. AC 31 for the other guys. I'll use my reaction to give 13 resistance to the first person that red hits.

Oro assesses the new tactical position as he shouts a warning about the tengus' beaks.

Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Recall Knowledge: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (13) + 23 = 36
(A critical success results in a +1 circumstance to attack for each party member.)

Seeing an opening, Oro breaks cover and fires a shot at Red.
Attack Roll = 36
2d6 + 1 + 3d6 ⇒ (6, 5) + 1 + (6, 3, 5) = 26

Actions: 1) DAS; 2) Stride; 3) Strike

Reflex vs Breath Weapon: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 261d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 221d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 311d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Orozomoc shoots the lead tengu with an arrow, then Aicard bashes the commander with his shield, scoring a critical hit! Targrish finishes him off with a slice of his kukri, then turns on the next tengu, slashing him as well. The Tyrant's electrified breath weapon finishes off that soldier and injures the three remaining tengu.

The tengu nearest to Aicard pecks at him with his sharp beak! The other two fire their spike launchers at the Tyrant.

Beak vs Aicard: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 361d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 191d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 2d10 + 10 ⇒ (1, 10) + 10 = 21
Spike Launchers: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 351d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 181d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 341d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (4, 2) + 7 = 132d8 + 7 ⇒ (7, 4) + 7 = 18

21 piercing damage to Aicard, 31 piercing damage to the Tyrant.

Aicard will use Targrish' reaction to soak up 14 damage, reducing the damage taken down to 7. In return, he'll use 'Liberating Step' on the Tyrant to reduce the damage it takes from the first hit by 14 ... but since it does 13 damage, that means the Tyrant still takes 18 damage.

The groups exchange blows, but Aicard feels they're starting to come out on top. With the leader down, an emboldened Aicard swings away at the Tengu facing him with confidence. They've got this.

Enter Stance, Strike, Everstance Strike (if 2nd strike hits, Aicard raises his shield)
Strike 1 vs green: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (15) + 22 = 37
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (7, 4) + 7 = 18
Strike 2 vs green: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (14) + 27 = 41
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (6, 6) + 7 = 19