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”They will not!” Strak retorts vehemently even as he hacks and coughs from Dr. Ripfang’s skunk juice and the pain of Delorn’s spell. ”We’ll wipe out these followers of that foreign god and take these lands back for true orcs.” He spits on the ground, but it’s not clear if it’s a reaction to the stench or as an insult aimed at the good folk of Dawn’s Reach.
The archer glances over at his buddy to make sure she’s still good, and takes aim at a new target - the other ranged combatant on the field - W@NullD3R3R.
The first arrow goes straight through Wan’s thigh and lodges in the android’s skeletal structure, but the second shot misses cleanly.
Bold May Act
Map: Mountain Defense
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Night time, darkness
Strak / Red
Rawiri
Ra’uf
W@NullD3R3R
Purple
Delorn
Cyan
Dr. Ripfang
Itka
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Flipping the bird at Strak, Itka casts Spirit Object on the powder keg again, causing it to run right past him toward a towering rock formation. "Hmp! You will be wiped out," she growls, casting Phantasmal Killer on him with a guttural flourish.
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Strak’s not having a good day, and it’s starting to show. He watches the powder keg run past him, and as he turns back to Itka, he freezes in his tracks.
Through her spell Itka sees a phantasm of a a creature take shape. Initially it resembles the Whispering Tyrant, Tar-Baphon, but its features continue to morph, becoming more orcish until finally settling on the shape of Overlord Ardax the White-Hair. ”We didn’t think you could win, you old bastard,” Strak mutters to the shape angrily. His left hand drifts up to his temple, and he grimaces as if having a migraine. ”Either way, you condemned us all to die.” He sighs heavily and with a shaking hand draws and throws two bombs right at Itka.
Both bombs hit the old half-orc, the fire burning her clothes and the acid eating through her skin.
Meanwhile… Dr. Ripfang rips the fuse right out of the barrel and then tosses another of his skunk bombs at the archer.
The archer splutters and coughs as the fumes get up his wide, green nose which starts to run profusely.
Bold May Act
Map: Mountain Defense
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Night time, darkness
Strak / Red
Rawiri
Ra’uf
W@NullD3R3R
Purple
Delorn
Cyan
Dr. Ripfang
Itka
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Wan grimiches in pain....that arrow might have nicked an artery. They realize that they might become combat ineffective soon.
They pull another bullet out of their pouch, and pour even more gunpowder in there...just to give it more power.
They take aim at the cyan scarfed orc, and hope that their gun doesn't explode....toggles one of the small levers and fires.
The guns back blast comes out one of the small levers that they just manipulates....scorching Wan's arm and neck....and ruins most of the innovations build into their gun.
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"Almost done, everyone! I'll patch you all up once these изгои are back in the dirt where they belong." He grins at the one closest, showing extremely big fangs. "Above it or below, your choice."
Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
As usual, Strides to get to Cyan if and when Magenta drops.
You free an ally from restraint. If the trigger was an ally taking damage, the ally gains resistance to all damage against the triggering damage equal to 2 + your level. The ally can attempt to break free of effects grabbing, restraining, immobilizing, or paralyzing them. They either attempt a new save against one such effect that allows a save, or attempt to Escape from one effect as a free action. If they can move, the ally can Step as a free action, even if they didn’t need to escape.
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Wan’s gun nearly explodes under its own power, but the shot hits the archer anyway punching a clean hole right through his thigh in nearly the same spot that his arrow hit Wan.
The Big Dawg finally gets into his groove. The first swing hits but barely scratches the orc woman. She grins as if expecting that to be all that Ra’uf has. He answers with a powerful backswing that takes her grinning head off of her body and sends it sailing to land at the archer’s feet. Ra’uf follows the head’s path to stand toe-to-toe with the last of the orc scouts.
Bold May Act
Map: Mountain Defense
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Night time, darkness
Strak / Red
Rawiri
Ra’uf
W@NullD3R3R
Delorn
Cyan
Dr. Ripfang
Itka
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Delorn’s words get under Strak’s skin, and the seeds of doubt just take hold when the sorcerer tries to crush the orc’s mind, too.
He reaches up again with his free hand to rub at his temples as the migraine gets worse, but it doesn’t seem to help any.
Across the battlefield, Rawiri pours fire on the orc archer, blistering his skin and setting his hair smoking.
Said archer, though, drops his bow to draw his sword and attacks the biggest, closest target.
The sword bites into Ra’uf’s fur at his elbow, leaving another bloody gash just as the chilling cold lifts from the orc, perhaps aided by Rawiri’s dousing of fire.
Bold May Act
Map: Mountain Defense
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Night time, darkness
Strak / Red
Rawiri
Ra’uf
W@NullD3R3R
Delorn
Cyan
Dr. Ripfang
Itka
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Very much in pain, with her hair on fire and acid eating through her clothes, Itka quickly conjures chicken legs on the powder keg and sends it running farther away from Strak. She then dashes away from him before flipping her cape over herself and patting vigorously to smother the flames. It doesn't help with the acid, though.
"OW! HMP!"
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Itka retreats to tend to her wounds, but still sends the powder keg running further out of Strak’s reach. The Doctor helps her out quite a bit with her burns, and she does manage to get the fire out. The acid keeps eating away at both clothing and skin.
Strak is unamused and just fed up with how poorly his plan is going. With only one target in range of his bombs, he chucks two at Delorn.
Again both hit, though just barely, setting Delorn’s clothes and skin on fire and soaking them in acid.
Bold May Act
Map: Mountain Defense
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Night time, darkness
Strak / Red
Rawiri
Ra’uf
W@NullD3R3R
Delorn
Cyan
Dr. Ripfang
Itka
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"The best time to give up was when we got here. The second best time is now."
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
You free an ally from restraint. If the trigger was an ally taking damage, the ally gains resistance to all damage against the triggering damage equal to 2 + your level. The ally can attempt to break free of effects grabbing, restraining, immobilizing, or paralyzing them. They either attempt a new save against one such effect that allows a save, or attempt to Escape from one effect as a free action. If they can move, the ally can Step as a free action, even if they didn’t need to escape.
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Wan looks to see the big dawg after the archer...so they turn back towards Strak...seeing that Delorn is slightly in their way.
"Delorn...lean right!" Wan says sharply.
They quickly pull another bullet out of their left pouch, knowing this is the one they want as it has a very slight electrical charge in it.
Hoping they can thread the needle between Delorn and the rock outcropping, Wan does their best....
total points damage.....
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Rawiri throws more fire, just like Strak, but the dwarf’s missile of fire goes wildly astray merely managing to set a small nearby bush aflame.
The great big axe of the great big dog of war chops into the orc three times in a row. Blood gushes from multiple wounds, running down the archer’s leg and pooling in the dirt at his feet. It looks like he can barely stand and could maybe only take one more hit from that axe.
Wan slots a bullet into the gun with a small electrical pop sound as he does. The sharpshooter lines up the shot past Delorn’s head and plugs his target in the shoulder.
Just as the bullet goes whizzing by his head, Delorn raises his devilish eyes to Strak. The fire that was burning his skin goes out light a match brought under water, though the acid continues to eat away at his skin. Strak meets those eyes and
His migraine gets much worse
The last scout is nothing if not persistent, too, and keeps trying to bring the big dog down.
Only one of his wild swings hits the Big Dog, but even so, the Dog of War looks like he’s about to drop, too.
Bold May Act
Map: Mountain Defense
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Night time, darkness
Strak / Red
Rawiri
Ra’uf
W@NullD3R3R
Delorn
Cyan
Dr. Ripfang
Itka
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Quickly, Itka shrugs out of her acid-soaked tunic (everyone gets an eyeful of her scarred, scrawny-yet-saggy, skivvy-wearing self) while simultaneously grabbing her waterskin. She pours water over the spots where acid is eating away at her flesh.
"Hmp!" She's out of water, and options. For now, she casts Spirit Object on the powder keg again, moving it even farther out of Strak's reach.
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The goblin doctor races around the battlefield patching up Delorn and zipping back out of range of Strak’s bombs, ready to assist whoever else needs it next. Ra’uf barks his defiance at the remaining scout who seems nonplussed. Itka gives everyone a show as she tries unsuccessfully to squelch the acid. She also keeps moving the powder keg further from Strak, who growls under his breath as he sees his plan continue to unravel.
A wracking cough reminds him of the lingering skunk-juice effects. In an effort to neutralize it, he runs into the cover of a large boulder and forces himself to retch - perhaps thinking of Itka in even less clothing than she already has.
The villainous orc manages to get the big glob of Dr. Ripfang’s concoction out of his throat and feels like a new man!
Bold May Act
Map: Mountain Defense
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Night time, darkness
Strak / Red
Rawiri
Ra’uf
W@NullD3R3R
Delorn
Cyan
Dr. Ripfang
Itka
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Seeing Strak go behind the boulder a little....Wan takes a normal bullet out and loads it.
They take a moment to allow the slight bifocalling of their eyes...to make it easier for them to hit Strak
Aiming between the side of the mountain, and the boulder, they fire...
total points damage.
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Rawiri swings into the flank with Ra’uf, and the two of them team up to drop the archer. From across the field, a shot rings out and a {thump} is heard from behind the boulder where Strak had taken refuge. The silence stretches out until it becomes obvious that Strak is not moving any longer.
Bold May Act
Map: Mountain Defense
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Night time, darkness
Rawiri
Ra’uf
W@NullD3R3R
Delorn
Dr. Ripfang
Itka
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Upon seeing Delorn cast a spell to remove the acid, Itka feels rather foolish for not doing so herself. Still, her Spirit Object spell did come in quite handy, so her dignity isn't a total loss. "Hmp." Unconcerned that the guys can see her in her skivvies, she takes the time to cast Prestidigitation on herself and her clothes before dressing again.
"Hmp. I propose we bring the kegs to the Burning Sun hold. No point in leaving them here for the next batch of изгои to use." While Ra-uf is poking around, Itka hobbles after him, trying to patch up his wounds. "Hmp. Hold still."
"Hmp. Do we have time to linger for an hour or so? I could use more time to work on Ra'uf's wounds."
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Ra’uf noses around both the site and the orcs’ gear while the party takes care of their injuries. He cranes his neck to look up the steep side of the cliff above the cave, then looks back and forth between the kegs of black powder and the rock face wall. His knowledge of warfare and sieges leads him to the conclusion that blowing this cliff side out would open a direct pass into the back side of the Burning Suns’ territory; one that the Suns would not be able to defend in addition to their current approaches. Preventing Strak’s charges from going off will likely force the Scorched Earth orcs to retreat back to the Cinderlands, severely hampering their ability to strike at the Burning Sun hold.
The Dog of War finds a melee weapon on Strak’s body which the orc never had a chance to use. The +1 striking orc necksplitter is a formidable weapon, though poorly maintained. Among the bodies of the strike team, he also find a small collection of scrap pieces, gemstones and trinkets worth about 30 gp in his estimation. Most of the Scorched Earths' remaining goods are broken or corroded beyond practical use or salvage.
The Pathfinders to return to Dawn’s Reach and find Uirch at the palisades. He eagerly listens to your report and quickly escorts you to meet with Mahja.
The Warlord is impressed. ”I promised to consider your requests. Based on how well you all did here today, both in my little tests and in your own battles, it would be an honor to accept an alliance with the Pathfinder Society. I will also do my best to put the Society in touch with Overlord Ardax as he seeks aid in his fight with Tar-Baphon.”
She nods to Uirch. ”For now, please get some rest. Hopefully the hunters will return tonight.”
And indeed the hunting party arrives the following night, carrying several massive animals and dragging a cart full of gathered vegetables, roots, and fruit. A feast is held, and the hold gathers to process and preserve the food. One of the animals is dressed, seasoned and placed in a pit lined with red-hot stones, where it is buried for many hours. The Pathfinder guests are asked to assist in digging up and serving the meal to the hold the following evening.
When you leave several days later, Grasak and Durrat escort you to the border. They bid you farewell, with special attention given to Itka, and you are then free to make the long journey to Absalom, where Fola Barun eagerly awaits your report.
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Ra'uf looks over the axe. "This will be a fine piece once it's restored, but I helped forge mine, so I will leave it for the Burning Sun, may it cleave the necks of many more изгои."
He thanks the tribe for agreeing to ally with the Society and shares tales with them well into the night.
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Wan goes over to one of the barrels of black powder...and does their best to remove a good portion of the black powder....for making something later.
That said...best that they can do is haul the rest back...maybe the orcs of Dawn's Reach can use the rest.
Wan helps with the cooking--and digging it up for the evening meal. They figure a good ol' barbeque is a good way to end a meeting of new friends.
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Itka helps carry a powder keg back to the Burning Sun hold, or rather, she makes one walk way too slowly beside her. There's no way her skinny arms (visible through acid-burned holes in her raiment) could heft it for long.
The first thing she does after reporting in is hobble down to the market to buy new clothes. Everyone is relieved when she emerges from her room fully covered once again.
She's not particularly helpful when it comes to digging the pit, she settles herself at the veggie chopping station to make herself useful. There's many a "Hmp" from the hunched witch throughout the evening, but most of them are good-natured. At the children's begging, she makes various objects sprout legs and dash away for them to chase, reenacting her role in the fight in the pass. "Hmp. I didn't do much to kill those изгои, but I made their leader mighty angry with my shenanigans."
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She's not particularly helpful when it comes to digging the pit, she settles herself at the veggie chopping station to make herself useful. There's many a "Hmp" from the hunched witch throughout the evening, but most of them are good-natured. At the children's begging, she makes various objects sprout legs and dash away for them to chase, reenacting her role in the fight in the pass. "Hmp. I didn't do much to kill those изгои, but I made their leader mighty angry with my shenanigans."
”Don’t sell yourself short”, Delorn replies aloud. ”You kept him from blowing open that pass. A worthy effort!”
He joins her on the prep line, since he’s not much for physical labor either, but can make a decent showing in the kitchen.