PF2E Stolen Fate

Game Master andreww

Sigourney finds herself feeling rather befuddled.

Sigourney spends an action to ◆ Command Reginald to do his thing.

Reginald feels his mind come under some kind of magical effect...only for confusion to set in as he has no idea what Torgal is telling him to do.

"Squeak squeak squeak squeak..." He says, confused.

Yeah I've been RP'ing Reginald wrong. Until Sigourney feels like giving him Speech or Billy gives him Comprehend Language, canonically he has no idea what anyone is saying since he doesn't understand or speak Common. That whole scene where Pine talked to Reginald which was really cool? Reginald had no idea what was happening. Sigourney communicates with Reginald and vice versa through emotions.

If Reginald is within 30 feet of Torgal from his spot in Sigourney's square, he'll Stitching Strike then Stride 25 feet as far away as possible. If he is outside of 30 feet, he'll Stride towards Torgal until he reaches the 30 feet mark then Stitching Strike. He wants to be as far away as possible from the action.

Reginald does his thing on Torgal, trying to bind him. When his job is done Reginald makes to flee.

DC 33-1=32 Reflex, Slashing: 12d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 5, 2, 4, 1, 3) + 1 = 53

On failure, Torgal is Immobilized against DC 32 (currently, if Sigourney remains Stupified 1 when Torgal's turn comes up) to Escape. Here's hoping he remains stuck in there so that he can't take a move action (like Fly) and ends up crashing to the ground.

◆◆ Stitching Strike, ◆ Hasted Stride away/towards Torgal depending on range

Sigourney sees Reginald do his thing...but it doesn't help with her headache. She feels quite lightheaded and finds it difficult to remember names, battle strategies and how to Cast her Spells.

DC 5+1=6 Stupefied 1 flat check to Cast Spell: 1d20 ⇒ 14

"I...don't like you, Mr Toejam. How about...How about YOU all take this spell for me! Cold Sign - Eclipse Burst!"

DC 33-1=32 Reflex Save, Cold, CA: 8d10 + 1 ⇒ (1, 9, 2, 9, 2, 7, 7, 2) + 1 = 40

DC 33-1=32 Reflex Save, Negative, CA: 8d4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 1, 3, 1) + 1 = 19

I think with this placement I just about cover all of the troop, half of Torgal and avoid Slick by the seat of his pants. Let me know if that's incorrect and I'll position it elsewhere.

Hearing that Billy and Slick want to run away, Sigourney thinks that might be a good idea if only to clear her head.
"Yeah...sure! Why not!" She says as she Strides as far away as possible.

◆ Command Reginald, ◆◆ Eclipse Burst, ◆ Hasted Stride 35 feet (due to Difficult Terrain)

While I've swapped it out to account for the errata to sprite feats, at that time Pine was using Animal Speaker to expand the ability he already has to speak with bugs as a Melixie.

"Hey! Hey! You're too big! I have to cut you smaller!"

It was... really unfortunate that Pinebrush already used his invisibility trick. He hadn't recovered from that enough to do it again. But a good thing his wings had fully manifested (finally)!

He flies toward the big demon, twirling his three weapons to throw him off before striking with both of his swords.

◆ Fly
◆ Feint Deception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (6) + 24 = 30 Harrow Reroll: 1d20 + 24 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 24 + 4 = 31. If that beats his Perception DC, he's Off-Guard to all of Pine's melee attacks until the end of Pine's next turn and takes a -2 penalty to Perception and Reflex due to Distracting Feint.
if that first Feint is a failure: ◆ Feint Deception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (5) + 24 = 29 If that's a critical failure, Pine is Off-Guard to his melee attacks until the end of Pine's next turn.
◆ Strike Rapier: 1d20 + 27 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 27 + 1 = 45 for piercing damage: 3d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5, 2, 2) + 3 + 1 = 13 and fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2. If Off-Guard add precision damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 3) = 9. If crit double damage, then add deadly damage: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 3) = 11, 1d10 persistent fire, and Off-Guard for one round.
◇ If he was Off-Guard and that hit, Debilitating Strike to prevent Reactions.
If the first Feint succeeded and I have an action remaining: ◆ Strike shortsword: 1d20 + 27 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 27 + 1 - 4 = 31 for piercing: 3d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6, 6, 2) + 3 + 1 = 18 and fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5. If Off-Guard add precision damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 1) = 9. If crit double damage and add 1d10 persistent fire and Off-Guard for one round.
◇ If he was Off-Guard and that hit, Debilitating Strike to prevent Reactions.

Reginald unravels himself at Torgal before fleeing into the desert. Unfortunately the demon seems to be quite nimble and avoids the worst of it. Likewise, both Torgral and the demons avoid the worst of the Eclipse Burst.

Pine flies up to attack the demon. Unfortunately he is alert to Pines tricks and easily avoids his attack.

Both Feints failed

The demons roar and surge to the attack! As they do so waves of terror radiate from them but no-one really seems terribly bothered except Slick. They then launch themselves at Slick but his armour shrugs off the worst of it.

21 damage after halving

Billy and Slick then decide it would be a good idea from them to return to Harrowheart and set off at pace to the south, heading into the desert.

I have moved you both off the map

Torgral bellows with laughter and glowers at Pine. Now I have you where I want you puny mortals. Surrender and I will allow you to live on as my slaves!

With that he casts another spell at Pine. Submit insect!

Pine feels himself submitting to the powerful voice in his mind but at the last moment he slips free. That seems to enrage the demon who screams in pain and sends another pulse of mental energy at the little sprite which slides over him, causing Torgral yet more pain.

Pine saves and is stunned 1

"Why would I submit an insect? That's a dumb thing to ask for. I don't have any, and would you even see--hey wait, where are you going?" Pine is entirely distracted by Billy and Slick's abrupt departure.

Maybe even as distracted as he was pretending to be! "I'll just. Stab this guy, okay?"

Perhaps a tactical regrouping wouldn't be so bad.

◆ Feint Deception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (2) + 24 = 26 Oh dear, this isn't going well at all.
◆ Fly (must to stay airborne)
◆ Strike Rapier: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (8) + 27 = 35 for piercing: 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 6, 5) + 3 = 18 and fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Yeah, I don't think we can take both these guys ourselves. Pine, we had better start running with the party. I'll cover your escape.

Sigourney waits a few seconds for Reginald to catch up to her and clamber up onto her shoulder. Once he does so, she starts to Hastily Stride towards Torgal, purpose in her steps. She Casts a Spell at him, the worst of the headache gone by now. Replaced by rage at the demon.

"Hey Torgal! How about you pick on someone your own size! Metal Sign - Needle Darts!"

Cold Iron Needle Darts: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (20) + 33 = 53

Cold Iron, Piercing: 9d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 4, 2, 1, 1, 2, 4, 4) = 24

Critical Hit! I trigger Cold Iron weakness damage, he takes double my damage roll (24 becomes 48) and 7 persistent bleed damage.

With her final action, Sigourney brings up a Glass Shield around her.

Hardness 10 at this rank. Damage is 7d4 with a basic reflex save vs DC 33. Sigourney's AC is now 34.

"Pine! Let's go!"

◆ Hasted Stride to 25 feet mark, ◆◆ Needle Darts, ◆ Glass Shield

Reginald hastily runs and clambers onto Sigourney's shoulder for safety.

◆ Hasted Stride, ◇ Independent Stride

Pine again fails to fool the demon and his blow just slides past him. Meanwhile, Sigourney closes back to the battle and shreds the demon with cold iron. He roars in pain and fury! Kill the Witch!

The demon horde promptly rushes forward at Sigourney to claw and tear at her and Reginald!

Pausing here to see if Sigourney wants to do anything about her crit fail reflex save. Looking at your reactions none seem to apply. This is not a Strike, troops generally force you to make reflex saves.

Hero pointed Reflex: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (17) + 23 = 40

Sigourney holds Shift for focused movement focuses and dodges her way through the Horde and does a better job at dodging.

Interposing Earth's trigger is a Strike is made towards you or you are forced to make a Reflex save against a damaging area effect. However I feel that Sigourney wouldn't use it as she expects the big guy to run up to her and crit her, which would trigger the Wooden Double. And yes, Reginald's damage avoidance is Reflex so he takes no damage.

Sigourney manages to avoid the worst of the demons attacks.

Billy and Slick continue to disappear off into the middle distance, hidden no by the rolling sand dunes.

Torgral, still confident of victory, hovers in place and booms, Bow before me puny mortals!

Sigourney recognises this as a level 5 command spell. Pausing to see if either of you want to do something about your critical fails!

Harrow Will Reroll +4: 1d20 + 22 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 22 + 4 = 41

Sigourney musters all the luck and heroism in her body to resist the command.

"I defy you onto death, Demon!"

Sigourney shrugs off Torgals attempt at mental control and he growls in pain. Pine is not so lucky.

Pines entire turn will be to fall to the ground and grovel, prone.

"No, why would we do that?" Pine says as he dutifully dies exactly that. "Oh, I guess I did it."

He holds that pose for interminable seconds.
"Sigourney! I think it's magic!" he shouts helpfully, a little muffled by the floor.

Sigourney tries really hard not to laugh, even amid all the chaos and the sinking feeling that she is going to die here. Depression quickly gives way to anger and then, her spirits lifted by Pine's terrible joke, Sigourney feels a surge of acceptance.

"Yeah, Pine and I will probably die here. That's fine. I'll take as many of them down with me." Sigourney thinks to herself.

Sigourney thinks up a quick plan. She knows what spell Torgal cast and its range. "If I can just force Torgal to choose between mentally messing with me or Pine..." Sigourney thinks to herself.

Sigourney clears some distance between herself, the horde and Torgal.

"Demons, the situation is grim but it's about to be worse for you all. Face true darkness! Darkness Sign - Eclipse Burst!" She yells from 70 feet away.

DC 33 Reflex, Cold: 8d10 ⇒ (4, 1, 5, 4, 9, 9, 1, 3) = 36

DC 33 Reflex, Void: 8d4 ⇒ (1, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4, 2) = 25

Only after she lobs the orb of darkness into the enemy does she realise that Pine will be caught up in the blast.

"Pine will be fine...right?"

◆ Hasted Stride (30 feet due to terrain), ◆ Stride 40 feet, ◆◆ Eclipse Burst

Reginald starts running away towards Slick and Billy, hoping to reach them and bring them back to the party...

◆ Stride x2

Sigourney makes a tactical withdrawal and sends utter darkness at the enemy. As the magic fades away Torgral stands amidst it, entirely unaffected. The demons however are a very different matter and many of them have been frozen solid. Pine finds a little nook in the rocky desert to protect himself entirely.

Torgral growls at the demons, Finish the midget, I will get the witch!

The demons form up and advance on Pine, trying to tear him to pieces! He is easily able to avoid their clumsy blows.

Billy and Slick are now well out of sight with a sightly panicked Reginald pursuing them.

Torgal, tired of these antics (and running out of interesting spells), swoops down at Sigourney. His massive jaws sink into her shoulder.

50 damage, feel free to use any relevant reaction.

In response to the Strike, Sigourney's skin erupts into dense scales.

She takes 5 less damage. Bring her back to 89 hp. I'm...going to hope Pine hits with my flanking and look through my list of backup characters.

Updated

Freed from the spell, Pine hops to his feet and is already moving. Getting a little closer (and getting that rock out from between them), he levels his rapier at Turbo or whatever it is. The blade lances out between them.

He then turns his attention to the demons around him. "'Finish' me? You can't even hit me!"

I'm planning to roll a 1 on my next Reflex save, as you can see.

◇ Kip Up
◆ Step
◆◆ Extending Strike Rapier: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (10) + 27 = 37 for piercing: 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 6, 2) + 3 = 14, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4, and precision damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 4) = 10. On a crit, add deadly damage: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 3) = 10, persistent fire 1d10, he's Off-Guard for a round, and he provokes a RS from Sigourney as though he used a Manipulate action (this might not be helpful).
◇ Debilitating Strike. No reactions!
◆ Strike Shortsword: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 27 - 4 = 25 for piercing damage: 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4, 1) + 3 = 12 and fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6. On a crit add 1d10 persistent fire and they're Off-Guard for a round.

"Ahh!" Sigourney screams in pain as she takes the first big hit of this fight.

"No...I brought you here to give my friend the chance to fight back..." She says as she (reluctantly) releases the Staff of Healing.

She presents to the fiend The Fiend and starts shaking The Fiend around.

"Behold! This is you! And this is you in a world of hurt! Freeze up!" She envisions a future where Torgal is frozen in place by an illusion.

Using The Fiend to cast 14/2 = 7th rank Phantasmal Calamity. No reactive strike for you!

DC 33 Will Save, Mental: 13d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 6, 3, 5, 2, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 1, 5) = 40

Not skipping a beat, the desperate witch invokes the power of the Tome of Scintillating Sleet. She speaks aloud out a verse from the Tome before casting Clinging Ice.

"Upon a desolate, empty plain,
The winter sun blinds the thane,
Blinded by brightest light -
Fimbulvetr! Suffer this blight!"

DC 33 Reflex Save, Cold: 7d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3) = 20

If you take any damage at all from this spell, you are dazzled for three rounds. If by some miracle you critically fail this, you are blinded for 1 round, then dazzled for 3 rounds. Clinging Ice's regular fail effect (-5 to speeds) and critical fail (-10 to speeds) still applies, by the way.

Having spent a majority of her tricks, Sigourney then hastily flees towards Pine.

◇ Release Staff of Healing, ◆◆ Activate The Fiend (Phantasmal Calamity), ◇ Activate Tome, ◆ Clinging Ice, ◆ Hasted Stride 40 feet

Reginald continues to run...

Pine leaps to his feat and stabs out surprisingly at Torgral. The rapier impales him in his side and he screams in pain and frustration. He then waves his sword in a vaguely threatening way at the demons surrounding him.

Sigourney unleashes the power of the Fiend card at Torgral, who screams in terror at some unknown vision. He appears rooted to the spot!

I am going to redirect the clinging ice at the rabble.

Sigourney then coats the demons in cold and, having taken simply too much punishment, they disperse, fleeing into the desert. Torgral can then be quickly dispatched.

He only has 20HP left and Sigourney and Pine have a full round actions to finish him off before he can do anything.

COMBAT OVER

Combat status

Slick 197/218
Billy 160/160, tailwind, see invisible
Pinebrush 173/173
Sigourney 89/148
Reginald 98/98

A little while later Slick and Billy return, looking perhaps a little sheepish. Searching the area the only things of note are carried by Torgral. He wears a variety of gaudy, if valuable jewellery (4500gp) and he carries the Uprising card (on Roll20, and I totally forgot to use it on you).

Let me know how much time you are taking to heal up.

That was scary. I'm honestly not sure how we managed to do this one Pine. Shoutouts to Billy for his Haste spell, that was also a lifesaver.

Just after waving the Fiend card around...

Sigourney sees that Torgal is temporarily trapped in the illusion and relaxes a little. She decides to save the Tome's power for later (Thanks GM!), before moving closer to the horde and freezing them. She then joins Pine in ruthlessly tag-teaming Torgal till total termination.

Sigourney slowly walks over and picks up her staff. Her cool facade breaks as she starts hysterically laughing out of sheer relief.

"Ahhh...Ha...Hahaha...Hahaha! We - we did it Pine! We didn't die somehow! We triumphed over extreme odds and won! I thought that we would be going to the Lady of Graves today, but we SURVIVED! Come here, Pine!"

Sigourney moves to hug Pine, forgetting that she's two sizes larger than Pine.

I don't know if you want to have a heart to heart conversation, but we probably have 16 rounds of combat to have a heart to heart until Billy and Slick come back. I'm also very very low on spell slots that are not Heal.

I don't even need to Refocus. I guess Sigourney just sits around and waits for Pine to patch her up.

Reginald feels through his emotional bond with Sigourney her sheer relief and knows its safe to head back. He does so.

Halfway back to Harrowheart, Slick stops dead in his tracks. "Uh, Billy? Why are we walking away from the fight? Did we really just leave Sigourney and Pinebrush to deal with Torgral and his rabble on their own? That doesn't sound right."

He turns and runs back to the desert expecting to find the corpses of his friends being turned to pulp by demons, only to find an intact Pinebrush and somewhat battered Sigourney standing amongst a field of fiendish bodies. He slows as he approaches, impressed by what he sees. "Nice work. Sorry we couldn't be of more help. Don't know why Billy and I decided we needed a break." He looks about and his eyes fall on Torgral's huge body. "Ah! That thing must have cast some sort of mind-trick spell on us. Ugh! I hate it when that happens."

Slick lets Pine patch up his minor wounds while he communes with Gorum. After recovering The Uprising and other loot, Slick says, "We better get back to Harrowheart and make sure it's still standing. There's probably some demons left to mop up."

If Needed, Slick can Lay on Hands immediately and again after 10 minutes.

Who wants to claim The Uprising?

"He was just a big guy. Everybody's a big guy to me. 'Sides, I think he used up his best magic on Billy and Slick."

Pinebrush pulls away from Sigourney, then flits around her looking at her wound. "Nasty bite, though... I can stitch it up, but it really needs time for the medicine to work."

He starts on that, urging Slick to come over and join them when he sees him. "Slick! Heal Sigourney with your magic. And then sit still so I can fix that cut."

Sigourney's down enough that I can't possibly heal her to full with one Treat Wounds. Slick's lay on hands would help do it, though. And I still haven't used my healer's gloves, and Slick's the only one immune to Battle Medicine.
Treat Wounds for Slick, Expert w/Risky Surgery Medicine: 1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 23 + 2 = 26 Oh dang. Well, success gets bumped up by Risky Surgery and down by nat 1, so... stays success? healing: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 3) + 10 = 20 - RS damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8.
Assuming Slick does the LoH, I should only need: Treat Wounds for Sigourney, Expert w/Risky Surgery Medicine: 1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 23 + 2 = 27 Success becomes critical success (dang, close one) healing: 4d8 + 10 ⇒ (1, 6, 1, 2) + 10 = 20 - RS damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

12 healing to Slick, 15 healing to Sigourney.

The sprite may have been a little more nervous than he let on. His ministrations are less helpful than usual. And more pokey, too.

Honestly, Sigourney could just cast Life Boost on herself to heal 56 HP and then Refocus. Can we just say we did that?

That is fine Sigourney but please check your Focus Points as if you take more than 10 minutes you will lose defence points. Not sure if you used any in the fight and too lazy to check. I will update later today.

I did not use any focus points in the fight. Two out of my four turns were Eclipse Bursts, one was Needle Darts and the last was The Fiend. Pretty sure I can just use a focus now and regenerate one in the free 10 minute slot we get.

Slick thanks Pine for his healing even if it didn't fully close all his wounds. He looks over at Sigourney to see if she needs any more help, but sees that she is taking are of her own healing. "Looks like we're good to go. We better not waste any more time. I have a feeling this long day of demon battling isn't over yet."

With the 12 hp that Pine provided, Slick should be at 211/218; good enough. Will assume Slick does not need to Lay on Hands and recovers his lost focus point.

The group patch each other up and return quickly to the Castle. Regrouping and checking the Castle for damage you are surprised when the warning trumpets blare out. You are under attack yet again, this time at the Castle itself! Rushing to the gates you find yourself confronted by a number of demons, a flying, wolf headed, shadowy figure and a massive creature of twisted blackened metal. Impaled on one of its spikes is the corpse of Baines and the bodies of numerous other residents and guards are scattered outside the gates.

The shadowy figure laughs as you burst out of the gates. Too late fools, the Prince of Wolves shall have your cards, your home and your souls!

Initiative
Slick : 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (10) + 25 = 35
Slick Battle Cry: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (4) + 26 = 30, no enemy in range
Billy : 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (7) + 26 = 33
Pinebrush: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (13) + 25 = 38
Sigourney: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (3) + 25 = 28

The mass of demons advance forward, threateningly. Billy and Reginald both go rather pale. They then throw a load of rubbish at the group, mostly broken buildings and torn and ragged corpses! Billy and Sigourney take a light battering.

The massive colossus then floats forward in a most menacing way. Its arms and legs whirl in place, clicking and sizzling with energy. The corpse of Baines slides off one and lands on the hard cobbles with a dull thud. Multicoloured energy builds up inside the creature and then erupts outwards, engulfing all of you!

As the blast fades and your visions returns most of you are fine....perhaps.

Pausing here to see if Billy or Sigourney have a reroll for their fails.

Hero pointed will: 1d20 + 22 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 22 - 1 = 40

"Oh Nethys...they...they KILLED Baines!"

Sigourney does her best to shake off the effects of the multicoloured light.

Upon rejoining the others, Billy asks, "What did we miss?" While the group is healing, Billy strums his lute and refocuses his energy.
Recover 1 focus point.

Looking around at the devastation, Billy nods his approval, "Well done, guys! Hopefully, looks like we've thwarted the Prin..." The blaring horns interrupt his thought, and he races back to the castle. He turns white as he sees Baines impaled. He cries out, "NOOOO!!!!" And in his vulnerable emotional state, he becomes frightened further.
No reroll for the first Will save: Frightened 2.

Billy knows how dangerous chromatic rays are. With his Halfling Luck he tries to shake it off.
Will Reroll +Fright (w/ Resolve): 1d20 + 26 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 26 - 2 = 44

Billy and Sigourney both avoid the unpleasant effects of the Prismatic Ray!

Sigourney has the presence of mind to start thinking about the foes arrayed before her. She effortlessly thinks about the rabble to figure out what she knows about them. She wants to know about their weakest Defence.

As she gazes upon the huge form of the Colossus, a visible bolt of blue energy bursts from her head. She gasps in shock...but she sees a vision of the Colossus in which she tries to identify any vulnerabilities it may have.

Activating The Vision card as a free action to Recall Knowledge about the Colossus with the most appropriate lore check, as if I were master in the most appropriate Lore skill to recall knowledge (which should be +25).

(By now expectedly) she feels The Fiend boosting her ability to think! I repeated a non-Strike action I previously took in the same round. +2 item bonus to the Recall Knowledge check (for a total of +27).

"Woah! That was weird..."

She spends another moment Recalling Knowledge under Pressure about the Shadow Prince. She wonders if she had read about the Shadow Prince a long time ago, maybe in some dusty old book in an equally decrepit library. She defaults to her usual musings about what Defence (between AC, Reflex, Fortitude and Will) is the Shadow Prince's weakest.

Sigourney attempts this Recall Knowledge check with an Academia Lore check (which should be +25). If the information she recall ends up being helpful and positive in an obvious way before she takes her next turn, draw a random harrow card. She gains a +1 status bonus to saving throws for the remainder of the combat encounter as her morale soars or a +2 status bonus if the card she drew was from the suit of Books. Could you draw the card for me if the information I get is useful, GM?

(By now expectedly) she feels The Fiend boosting her ability to think! I repeated a non-Strike action I previously took in the same round. +2 item bonus to the Recall Knowledge check (for a total of +27).

She relays all the information she gains on the Rabble, the Colossus and the Shadow Prince to the party.

Sigourney reaches out and mentally focuses on the adjacent Slick. With but a thought, an abjuring ward emanates from around Slick, providing the party with some protection from harm.

Sigourney casts 3rd Rank Protection. Within a 10 foot emanation from Slick, the party gets +1 status bonus to AC and saving throws.

"Stick close to Slick!"

◇ Assured Knowledge (Recall Knowledge with Assurance), ◇ The Vision (Recall Knowledge with most relevant lore), ◆ Recall Under Pressure (Recall Knowledge with Academia Lore), ◆◆ 3rd Rank Protection

Reginald, feeling scared, independently clings onto Sigourney for dear life.

Frightened 1 for Reginald, Sigourney recovers from Frightened at end of turn.

Still frightened by the whole ordeal, Billy does his best to inspire the troops.

♫"Shadows and demons galore.
Scary and frightening? For sure!
.....I took a short break.
.....Found Baines on a stake.
I'm Billy. Hear this: my encore."♫

Lingering Performance +VirtPerf +Mask +Fright 2, DC 32: 1d20 + 24 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 24 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 41
Success: Courageous Anthem duration 3 rounds. Cost: 1 focus point.

Then, targeting a position between the rabble and the colossus, Billy chants,
♫"Baines' death is tragic. We cannot let it stand.
A blast of shadow magic. From Harrowheart, you're banned."♫

Shadow Blast Force Damage +Dangerous Sorcery: 6d8 + 5 ⇒ (7, 8, 2, 5, 6, 3) + 5 = 36
Shadow Blast: 15' burst (targeted below the Colossus on its SW corner) should hit both Rabble and Colossus.
Basic Will/Reflex (target choice) +Fright 2, DC 33 -2 = DC 31

◇ Ling Comp, ◆ CA, ◆◆ Shadow Blast
Frightened 1 at end of turn.

My Initiative bonus should be either +27 when Pine can use Stealth, or +24 for Perception if caught by surprise.

Hoping he's momentarily unnoticed by the larger creature floating so far away, Pinebrush leans around Slick and thrusts the blade of his rapier across the distance between them.

"We already killed all your demons! Scared to get closer?" Because it would be a problem if he was. Pine focused on him to try to assess how he would fight.

◆◆ Shadow Prince should be Off-Guard due to Surprise Attack, so Extending Strike Rapier: 1d20 + 27 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 27 + 1 = 41 for piercing: 3d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4, 3, 4) + 3 + 1 = 15, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 5, and precision damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 2) = 7. If crit add deadly damage: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5.
◇ If that hit, Debilitating Strikes to prevent Reactions
◆ Battle Assessment against Shadow Prince. GM, please make a secret Perception check (+24) against the better of his Deception or Stealth DC.

The Colossus and Shadow Prince are 15' and 20' in the air. Sig, is there any chance I can get another Air Walk cast on Slick? Looks like you only prepared one, so unlikely. Air Walk is a very useful buff for Slick vs flying opponents; moreso than Fly because not only doesn't it require the extra action to stay in the air but mainly because it allows him use his fancy Fighter Feat action combos that only specify Stride sub-actions. Otherwise I'll have to use my Baldrick to Fly or limit Slick to attacking the Rabble.

I'm also considering casting Warding Aggression but that requires that Slick concentrate on attacking a single opponent, presumably the Colossus, leaving the others for the rest of you to handle.

Too bad Billy's out of Haste. I replaced Slick's Haste spell with Warding Aggression because I figured, what are the odds that we'll have 4 major encounters in a row without being able to re-prepare spells? Ha!

Slick surveys the tableau before him and isn't happy with what he sees. Poor Baines deserved a better end than that. He was going to be hard to replace; No one could get blood stains off armor like Baines. In a voice that would freeze the blood in the veins of most people, he calls out to the shadowy figure. "You'll pay dearly for what you've done here today, bub. You and your Prince of Wolves, wherever that cowardly cur is hiding, will soon be sorry you ever messed with us."

He vaguely notices magic being flung at them by the bad guys, but as none of it seems to affect him, he ignores it. Angry at the needless death of his favorite simulacrum ("Am I going to have to clean my own armor now? Inconceivable!"), he mentally reaches for The Trumpet harrow card and triggers its powers. Then, with a "defend," the space around him shimmers for a moment as a magical shield is raised in expectation of a counter-attack.

The 60 foot cone should easily encompass the Rabble, Colossus, and Shadow Prince.

Action 1 & 2 (◆◆): Activate an Item: The Trumpet - Sonic Blast [L13]; 60ft cone; 16d6 sonic damage; basic Fortitude save vs DC 33 or deafened 1 round or 1 minute on crit fail

Sonic Blast Damage: 16d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 4, 6, 4, 3, 6, 6, 3, 5, 6, 4, 6, 3, 1, 5) = 66 sonic damage vs DC 33 basic Fortitude save

Action 3 (◆): Cast a Spell: Shield [L7] - AC 37 (Hardness 20)

With Sig's Protection in place for 1 minute, Slick gets a +1 status bonus to AC (and saving throws). The Shield spell gives him a +1 circumstance bonus to AC which makes his AC 38 until the start of his next turn.

Sigourney examines the Rabble but there are so many of them and they are of such a varied type that she is not sure how they might react to anything. She can tell they are demons at least!

Drawing upon the Vision card she recognises that the Colossus is some sort of Radiant Warden, however, it has been so corrupted by Abyssal powers that she is entirely unsure just what it might be capable ofor what it might be weak to.

You met its level DC but this thing is genuinely unique. I might have given you something about Radiant Wardens but you didnt meet their normal RK DC/

Examining the Shadow Prince she realises that he is not really here at all. This is clearly not the actual Shadow Prince, but is instead some sort of psychic projection of his. It is akin to a Brainchild but each such creature is specific to its creator. Observing the thing, as a creation of will, mixed with illusion, Sigourney thinks attacking its mind is likely the way to go.

Her mental exertions complete Sigourney gives Slick some protection.

Billy inspires his companions and then unleashes shadowy force at the enemy. Both take the full force of the blast.

Pine's rapier shoots out and impales the Shadow Prince through the abdomen. If he wasnt a magically created illusion with little sense of self he would certainly have doubled up in agonising pain. As such he simply looks down at the huge hole in his stomach.

That is a crit for 49 damage.

Looking at him Pine realises that he is probably resistant to physical damage except for silver.

Please let me know what you want to know if using Battle Assessment or you will get something I think you might find useful.

Slick blasts the enemies with the Trumpet. The Rabble seem unconcerned but the Shadow Prince is badly pummelled. Slick then brings a shield of shimmering force around himself.

The Shadow Prince roars in fury and flies forward, bringing you all into range of his fearful aura! He then gestures, casting a spell at Pine who so badly injured him! Billy automatically recognises it as Vision of Death (I am treating it as the same as Phantasmal Killer for ID). Pine sees death approaching but recognises it as an illusion at the last moment. He still goes a bit pale.

19 mental damage

The throng remains where they are and throws more rubbish at the group but all of you manage to keep well out of harms way.

The Colossus slowly moves forward. There is more whirring and clicking and again it unleashes a blast of magical energy. This time, rather than being prismatic, it is an eruption of violent crimson energy which engulfs all of you!

Starting to feel himself again, Billy manages to avoid the worst of the damage this time around. While adjacent to Slick, Billy sings,

♫"Fly Slick to the moon. He'll play among the stars.
Let's end this battle soon, and collect a few more cards!"♫
Billy casts Air Walk (from his Divine Sorcerer dedication) on Slick. Duration: 5 mins.

The halfling then strategically fast-walks to a safer distance.
Still well within 60' of all allies/enemies (even considering altitude), so CA remains in effect.

◆◆ Air Walk, ◆ Stride
No longer Frightened at end of turn.

Slick watches the Shadow Prince fly towards them and a strange feeling wells up in the pit of his stomach that he isn't used to. Is it fear? Maybe. He'll figure it out later; right now, he's too busy fighting off a demon invasion to worry about it.

Slick has Bravery which states that anytime you gain the frightened condition, reduce its value by 1. The following assumes that Slick is only at Frightened 1.

REACTIONS:

Slick glances towards Pine and notices that the sprite isn't handling the fear as well as he. He calls over to boost his friend's spirits. "He's just a scary shadow. Nothing to worry about."

Reaction (↺): Blessed Denial - Reduces Pine's Frightened condition by 1.

START OF TURN:

Officially delaying on Billy and Sig on the assumption that Slick gets Air Walk cast on him as well as any other buffs that may be cast on him.

Action (◇): Delay: Until end of Billy and Sigourney's turns.

Slick takes off (and up) in the direction of the Rabble, whom he slashes down at with his greatsword as he turns sharply and rakes his sword against the underside of the Colossus before finishing off with a long wide slash across the center of the Shadow Prince. He remains where he is so that Pine can take advantage of the distraction he is creating with both the Colossus and the Shadow Prince.

By my calculations, using Air Walk and Slick's 45' (9sq) of movement, he moves W (1sq), W (1sq), NW and Up (1sq, 5'up, Strike 1 at Rabble), NE and Up (2sq, 10'up, Strike 2 at Colossus), E (1sq, 10'up), E (1sq, 10'up), E (1sq, 10'up, Strike 3 at Shadow Prince). Ending 10' up and within Reach of both Colossus and Shadow Prince.

Actions 1, 2 & 3 (◆◆◆): Path of Iron
- Action: Stride with Air Walk (45 feet)
- Action: Strike (+2 Greater Striking Grievous Wounding Greatsword) with Courageous Anthem and Frightened 1 vs Rabble.
- Action: Strike (+2 Greater Striking Grievous Wounding Greatsword) with Courageous Anthem and Frightened 1 vs Colossus
- Action: Strike (+2 Greater Striking Grievous Wounding Greatsword) with Courageous Anthem and Frightened 1 vs Shadow Prince

Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 26 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 26 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 44 vs Rabble
Greatsword Damage: 3d12 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (12, 3, 4) + 9 + 1 = 29 slashing damage
Wounding Damage: 1d6 persistent bleed damage.

Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 26 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 26 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 38 vs Colossus
Greatsword Damage: 3d12 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (11, 5, 12) + 9 + 1 = 38 slashing damage
Wounding Damage: 1d6 persistent bleed damage.

Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 26 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 26 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 45 vs Shadow Prince
Greatsword Damage: 3d12 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (2, 5, 6) + 9 + 1 = 23 slashing damage
Wounding Damage: 1d6 persistent bleed damage.

END OF TURN: Frightened condition reduced to 0.

REACTIONS:

Sigourney sees the incoming wave of energy coming towards her and reflexively puts up some Interposing Earth between her and the blast. And yet, it barely stopped any of the crimson energy from impacting her.

Reduce damage taken by 2.

The Patron acts quickly and decisively, taking control of Reginald without Sigourney's prompting.

Casting Patron's Puppet. Reginald gets 2 actions for the cost of one free action, his post coming soon.

Sigourney decides to leave the Colossus and the Prince to Slick and Pine and deal with the demons. She unleashes all her magic onto the Demonic Horde.

"All of you will crumble under my magic!"

Chain Lightning, DC 33-1 = 32 Reflex Save, CA, Electricity: 8d12 + 1 ⇒ (7, 4, 6, 7, 3, 5, 4, 3) + 1 = 40

Really awful chain lightning. Targeting Horde, Colossus, Prince in that order.

Clinging Ice, DC 33-1 = 32 Reflex Save, CA, Cold: 7d4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 2, 4, 3, 1, 1, 2) + 1 = 16

◇ Patron's Puppet, ◆◆ Chain Lightning, ◆ Clinging Ice

Sigourney is no longer frightened. Reginald is now Frightened 1.

Reginald does what he does best and tries to entangle the horde, immobilizing them.

Stitching Strike, DC 33-1 = 32 Reflex, Slashing, CA: 12d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 1, 3, 6, 5, 2, 5, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4) + 1 = 46

Can't believe this 12d6 did more than an 8d12...On a failure, the target is also immobilized for 1 round or until it Escapes against DC 33.

◆◆ Stitching Strike

Oh no, he came closer!
Wait, isn't that what Pine was hoping for. Shaking his head, he alerts the others about what he noticed. "He is just a shadow! He's not solid!"

Therefore the big... uh... thing? Might be better to focus on first.

He zips up towards it, to strike while it's focused on Slick.

[ooc]◆ Fly
◆ Strike Colossus Rapier: 1d20 + 27 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 27 + 1 - 1 = 39 for piercing: 3d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3, 5, 2) + 3 + 1 = 14, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2, and precision damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 2) = 9. On a crit it provokes RS from Slick, and add deadly damage: 2d8 ⇒ (2, 8) = 10 and 1d10 persistent fire.
◇ Debilitating Strikes. If that hits, Enfeebled 1.
◆ Strike Colossus shortsword: 1d20 + 27 + 1 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 27 + 1 - 1 - 4 = 26 for piercing: 3d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6, 2, 1) + 3 + 1 = 13, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 3, and precision damage: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 3) = 10. On a crit it provokes RS from Slick, and add and 1d10 persistent fire.
◇ Debilitating Strikes. If that hits, Enfeebled 1.
↺ Opportune Backstab, if an enemy in Pine's reach is hit by an ally's melee attack.

Billy propels Slick into the air and tactically withdraws.

Sigourney unleashes electrical energy at the enemies! Sizzling power blasts the courtyard. As the smoke clears the horde of demons seems entirely unperturbed but the others are rather scorched.

Meanwhile Reginald unravels himself at the Horde, throttling many of them and much diminishing them.

The Horde is not immobilised. As a single target non damaging effect they arent bothered about one of them being immobilised when they are made up of dozens of individuals.

Sigourney then stuffs him in her sleeve.

Slick takes off across the battlefield, lashing and slashing about. He cleaves several demons into pieces (crit for 58 damage and 1d12 bleed), scratches his blade against the body of the colossus with a sound like nails down a chalk board (28 damage, no bleed) and nearly chops the Shadow Princes leg off (crit for 36 damage, no bleed).

Pine flies up and into the inner workings of the Colossus. This seems like a highly dangerous place to be. It is full of whirring mechanical parts and coruscating abyssal energy which raises all the hair on Pines head. Regardless, he jabs his little toothpick into the inner workings and they fizz and sputter (hit for 15 damage). His second blow goes well wide however he does notice, lodged deep inside the mechanism, a glowing Harrow card. A sufficiently nimble character might just be able to retrieve the card and disrupt the construct or perhaps the magic could be suppressed with a sufficiently potent dispel magic...

The Shadow Prince, incensed at Pines intrusion into the Colossus, again tries to crush his puny mind! (its Visions of death again). He shrugs off the worst of it but...

Pine is about to become Frightened 1, does Slick want to Blessed Denial? Billy is out of range. I ask as Slick obviously has other, potentially more impactful reactions.

Slick watches as his sprite friend flies into the Colossus and the Shadow Prince then casts a spell on him. Realizing that his friend was about to react fearfully to the spell, he once again calls out to Pine in hopes of stiffening his tiny spine against the mental onslaught. "Don't let him get to you, Pinebrush. He's just a big blob of sooty smoke. You've got this."

Reaction (↺): Blessed Denial - Reduces Pine's Frightened condition by 1.

Slick manages to provide some bolstering for Pine.

The Shadow Prince swoops around, to set Slick up in a flank, coincidentally placing himself above Sigourney.

The Throng forms up and advances on Sigourney! They then try to tear her apart!

The massive colossus floats backwards and lashes out at Pine with its various limbs. However, he is clearly very hard to reach inside its workings and Pine avoids its blows.

Does Slick have extra reactions available? If so it has spent an action to hover in place which does provoke.

When Pinebrush mentions the magical card inside the belly of the beast, Billy calls out, "I can try dispelling ..." he adds proudly "... and I can do it safely from here." Billy waits to see what the sprite does. (Billy delays for Pinebrush.)

----------
[If Pine doesn't/can't Steal the card ...]

(Using his highest remaining spell slot, at Rank 6) The bard sings to cast Dispel Magic.
♫"A card inside the beast? The magic: let's dispel it.
Colossus soon deceased. The tale: can't wait to tell it!"♫

Dispel Magic (Rank 6): 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (15) + 23 = 38 (Range: 120', vs target DC)
Success: Counter up to 1 level higher than Dispel rank.
Failure: Counter if lower than Dispel rank.

----------
[If Pine does Steal the card ...]

Gripping his staff, Billy dispatches a vial of holy water between the demon rabble and the shadow prince, casting Holy Cascade.

Bludgeoning/Water Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 3) = 12
Good Damage to Fiends/Demons: 6d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 6) = 22
20' Burst should hit Demon Rabble and Shadow Prince. Basic Reflex Save DC 33
Cost: 4 remaining charges from Staff.
----------

Finally, he says, "wield shield" to bring up a magical force field.

◇ Delay for Pine, ◆◆ Dispel Magic or ◆◆ Holy Cascade, ◆ Shield

Sigourney douses the horde in acid.

Caustic Blast, DC 33 Reflex, Acid, Area effect, CA: 4d8 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3, 5, 4) + 1 = 15

She then provides Pine with some Guidance.

◆◆ Caustic Blast, ◆ Guidance

Pine keeps up under the Colossus's twisting metal, keeping his eyes on the card. He lets his whip fall to the ground below as he dives for that instead.

◆ Fly to remain airborne/move into Colossus's space
◇ Drop whip
◆ Get that card! Thievery (Guidance): 1d20 + 25 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 25 + 1 = 46
◆ If that doesn't immediately disable the Colossus and I have an action left: Strike Rapier: 1d20 + 27 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 27 + 1 = 40 for piercing damage: 3d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3, 4) + 3 + 1 = 13, fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2, and precision damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 6) = 14. On crit, double damage, add 1d10 persistent fire, and add deadly damage: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11
◇ If that attack [was made and] hits, Debilitating Strike inflicts Enfeebled 1.
↺ Opportune Backstab, if an enemy in Pine's reach is hit by an ally's melee attack.