As Teela calls out, the shadows at the edge of the western passage ripple, and a second kobold, larger than the first and clad in boiled leather stained and scarred with use, steps into the dim light. He hefts a notched spear, its tip leveled uncomfortably close to Teela’s chest.
He doesn't address the "tall-walker" intruder directly. Instead, his yellow eyes fix on Chief Sootscale with unmistakable contempt. A low, wet hiss escapes his throat—a sound of pure mockery.
The voice is full of sneer and echoes off the walls of the narrow passageway, likely audible from far away in the tunnels. He spits on the stone floor between the Chief and the party.
The first guard cackles, emboldened by his comrade, and they both brace themselves, clearly not intending to let anyone pass without a fight.
Graham doesn't understand the language, but certainly understands the attitude. He glances over at Tessa for leave to show these upstart kobolds a lesson or three.
While Graham is a man of discipline and tied by the chain of command, Teela is a woman of passion and what some might call "rash decisions". She doesn't understand the words either, but some mannerisms and sounds translate intent quite well. "I guess that is a no." She shrugs. "Shame... We could have been friends, but you have decided to become shoes."
She pulls out her harp and strums it, sending a bolt of ice at the closest creature .
"Dominant foot..."
Alvis looking at Graham looking at Tessa, translates the taking in draconic for everyone. He also looks to Tessa, commenting quietly, "Doubt diplomacy will work, now."
As the words come out of his mouth Teela acts.
Velas readies himself for group now that Teela seems to have started trouble. "I always figured we'd end up in a fight. I'm rather eager for it actually."
Bucky understands negotiations are apparently over.
Seeing Teela start to cast a spell and fling it at someone, he would move forward to stand next to her, so she and the others can be covered by his reactions.
(OOC: Not sure if we're in initiative order or not yet -- but his intention is to move and draw his shield and shortsword.)
Tartuk's Last Stand - Round 1
28 Blue Kobold
25 Green Kobold
25 Tartuk
25 Chief Sootscale
26 Scarlet
24 Graham
22 Alvis
22 Quintessa
20 Red Kobold
20 Velas
16 Teela
16 Orange Kobold
Teela starts action by casting a spell. The motions trigger the over-sized kobolds into action. Blue Kobold grabs a bone whistle and blows it, the high screech alerting others nearby. He and the Green Kobold both throw spears at the caster, and then step back into the chamber, drawing shortswords for a close in fight. One spear glances off Teela's armor, and the other clatters to the floor short of her location.
From inside the room, shuffling and spellcasting can be heard, but nothing is seen from your position.
Chief Sootscale takes out his bone club and waves it around, almost ceremoniously, but he does not really enter the fight.
critical
hit
Bucky draws his shield, then uses his Defensive Advance to stride forward into the room, ending up directly in front of Teela.
"Might I suggest we withdraw into the larger room behind, rather than fight in the narrow corridor of death of their choosing?" He motions for Teela to back up into the room where the others are, but what he says is loud enough for all to hear.
◆ Draw Shield
◆◆ Defensive Advance (AC is now 20)
Hearing Scarlett's decisive statement for everyone to withdraw to the slightly larger room, Alvis sees that he can stay where he is and still protect everyone. Alvis takes his usual approach to combat, raising his shield and casting Benediction. He prays, "Oh, Might Lord of Law and Righteous Tradition, we beech you to aid this lawful sovereign to suppressing the usurper of tradition, and his lackies by providing your divine protection." He hopes the Chieftain will appreciate the aid, and by including him in the spell will generate goodwill towards the god of law.
1-action Raise Shield, 2-actions Cast Spell Benediction
Tartuk's Last Stand - Round 1 - continued
28 Blue Kobold
25 Green Kobold
25 Tartuk
25 Chief Sootscale
26 Scarlet (AC20)
24 Graham
22 Alvis
22 Quintessa
20 Red Kobold
20 Velas
16 Teela
16 Orange Kobold
Scarlet locks his shield in place and moves ahead of Teela taking a full defensive stance, while encouraging the others to withdraw to a wider area where the terrain might be more favorable.
Alvis casts Benediction once again, giving a divine bonus to the armor of all those within the area of effect.
Graham moves in front of Scarlet. I agree with your strategy, he says, motioning back to the chamber, but we must needs draw them to us, no? as he draws his bow and looses an arrow in what seems like a single motion.
To Teela he says, Go.
"We aren't on fully hostile territory, like we were in the tree," Bucky says tightly, but politely, to Graham. "We are here with the permission of the Chief. The usurper needs us -- needs all challengers -- out of the way to accomplish his plans. He has as much need to face us as we do to defeat him."
"We deserve to make him at least consider a change in battlefield. Far too often, we choose the terrain that our opponents have self-selected as most advantageous to them. We should try a different approach."
Tartuk's Last Stand - Round 1 - continued
28 Blue Kobold (4hp dmg)
25 Green Kobold
25 Tartuk
25 Chief Sootscale
26 Scarlet (AC20)
24 Graham (23/30hp remain)
22 Alvis
22 Quintessa
20 Red Kobold
20 Velas (runic weapon)
16 Teela
16 Orange Kobold
Graham rushes ahead, firing his crossbow at one of the large Sootscales, and injuring the bodyguard.
Quintessa heeds the tactical suggestion to stay in the larger room. While waiting for the foes to arrive, she steps over to Velas and casts Runic Weapon on his blade, imbuing it with magical properties for this fight. "Stay put, and wait for them to come to you," he counsels the magus.
Rushing into the melee with reckless abandon, Red Kobold attacks Graham who is at the front of the party stabbing at him twice with a shortsword.
Eager to put Quintessa's aid to use and ignoring her counsel slightly, Velas moves into the tunnel but finds the narrow path to be an obstacle.
"Graham, Scarlet, can you clear a path? Velas then tries to cut down the kobold in front of him to allow easier access to cavern.
◆ Stride
◆ Stride
◆ Strike @ Red
"Hm... Runners." Teela scoffs. "Some guards you are!" she shouts after the retreating kobolds.
"Well, only one thing left to do." She shrugs and strums her harp. "Good luck, boys. Shout if anything..."
With each plucked string, a light source appears in the room. And she plucks fast. It almost seems like fireworks until she opts for a hue of quite menacing crimson. And decides that the light would originate from the front of Bucky's shield for good measure.
Tartuk's Last Stand - Round 1 - concluded
28 Blue Kobold (4hp dmg)
25 Green Kobold
25 Tartuk
25 Chief Sootscale
26 Scarlet (AC20)
24 Graham (23/30hp remain)
22 Alvis (benediction)
22 Quintessa (benediction)
20 Red Kobold (6hp dmg)
20 Velas (runic weapon)
16 Teela
16 Orange Kobold
Velas also runs forward, ignoring tactical advice, and engages Red Kobold in melee combat with his newly imbued weapon. He scores a hit, and does mild damage against Red.
Staring her now-familiar musical accompaniment to combat, Teela also casts Light, which illuminates Scarlet Knight's shield spreading bright light in the main combat area.
Orange Kobold is seen running to the north, but is quickly out of sight.
End of Round 1
Tartuk's Last Stand - Round 2
28 Blue Kobold (4hp dmg, ready)
25 Green Kobold (ready)
25 Tartuk
25 Chief Sootscale
26 Scarlet (AC20)
24 Graham (23/30hp remain)
22 Alvis (benediction)
22 Quintessa (benediction)
20 Red Kobold (6hp dmg)
20 Velas (runic weapon)
16 Teela
16 Orange Kobold
Blue and Green Kobold ready their weapons, barking at the Red one to get back into the line, but they do not advance or make other actions at this point.
From behind the line of impressively build kobolds, more casting is heard. And suddenly Graham grunts in pain as a painful mental energy fills his head.
"I guess we are going to fight them exactly how they wish us to?" Bucky sounds a little bothered, but also resigned to it, as if he expected this outcome.
He opens his kinetic aura, and the usual thin-trunked red maple appears behind him, sprouting upwards 10'. The Scarlet Knight then shoots a stream of wood pieces at the Red Kobold.
bludgeoning damage
Alvis sighs as the tactical situation dissolves into the usual chaos. He relies to Bucky with more heat than resignation, "Yep." He sustains the Benediction, expanding the field and moves forward as far as he can, squeezing into the narrow passage.
"I guess we are going to fight them exactly how they wish us to?" Bucky sounds a little bothered, but also resigned to it, as if he expected this outcome.
Graham draws his own blade and swings at Red.
Tartuk's Last Stand - Round 2 -continued
28 Blue Kobold (4hp dmg, ready)
25 Green Kobold (ready)
25 Tartuk
25 Chief Sootscale
26 Scarlet
24 Graham (21/30hp remain)
22 Alvis (benediction)
22 Quintessa (benediction)
20 Red Kobold (15hp dmg, off-guard, dazzled)
20 Velas (runic weapon)
16 Teela
16 Orange Kobold
Graham fights through the mental damage lessening the impact of that spell but he does find himself mildly wounded early on. He attacks back at Red Kobold, who is off-guard from the light of Scarlet's reaction. Even still, both attacks fail to connect for any damage.
Seeing the others crowd ahead of him, Scarlet Knight resorts to ranged attacks, using his unique wood command, he fires a set of sharp missiles, that hit Red Kobold.
Alvis can only shake his head at the poor tactical decisions, and instead of falling back, he moves slowly ahead, expanding his protective spell to encompass all the party.
Since everyone is scooting ahead, Quintessa groans and scoots forward herself, ducking around her allies until she is able to finally lay eyes on the enemy before Graham and Velas. "Don't move!" she says to her forward bodyguards as she thrusts her fingers between them and a burst of electricty flows towards the red kobold before bouncing to his adjacent blue ally.
◈ Stride
◈◈
Tartuk's Last Stand - Round 2 -continued
28 Blue Kobold (6hp dmg, ready)
25 Green Kobold (ready)
25 Tartuk
25 Chief Sootscale
26 Scarlet
24 Graham (21/30hp remain)
22 Alvis
22 Quintessa
20 Red Kobold (20hp dmg)
20 Velas (23/28hp remain; runic weapon, 9 rounds)
16 Teela
16 Orange Kobold
Quintessa gives in and follows the others forward into the tactical narrow point. She then casts her electrical spell that deals full damage to Red and lesser damage to Blue.
Red Kobold realizes he's gotten out in front of the others. It makes a pair of lunging attacks at Velas, then pulls back into the defensive line. One strike scores a minor wound on Velas.
fail
success
hit
Teela stands in the back with no good angles to reach the frontline. She waits for an opportunity.
Red Kobold realizes he's gotten out in front of the others. It makes a pair of lunging attacks at Velas, then pulls back into the defensive line. One strike scores a minor wound on Velas.
Using the increased deadliness from Quintessa's spell, Velas strikes out at the closest kobolds, drawing some of the magical energy back into himself. Unfortunately, Velas slips on some loose dirt and misses completely.
◆◆ Spellstrike
◆ Arcane Cascade
Tartuk's Last Stand - Round 2 -concluded
28 Blue Kobold (6hp dmg, ready)
25 Green Kobold (ready)
25 Tartuk
25 Chief Sootscale
26 Scarlet
24 Graham (21/30hp remain)
22 Alvis
22 Quintessa
20 Red Kobold (20hp dmg)
20 Velas (23/28hp remain; runic weapon, 9 rounds)
16 Teela
16 Orange Kobold
Teela's song continue to inspire, but she holds any new actions to see what transpires next.
Velas, magically charged blade in hand, leaps to the attack, but unfortunately slips at the wrong moment and his assault ends embarrassingly.
Having circled around from behind, Orange Kobold appears in the rear, moving to attack Chief Sootscale who screeches loudly, alerting the group.
End of Round 2
Tartuk's Last Stand - Round 3
28 Blue Kobold (6hp dmg, ready)
25 Green Kobold (ready)
25 Tartuk
25 Chief Sootscale
26 Scarlet
24 Graham (21/30hp remain)
22 Alvis
22 Quintessa
20 Red Kobold (20hp dmg)
20 Velas (13/28hp remain; runic weapon, 9 rounds)
16 Teela (delayed)
16 Orange Kobold
Blue and Green Kobold continue to stand in a line ready to attack if anyone closes in on them.
More spellcasting from behind them, presumably from Tartuk the usupring leader of the Sootscales. Three missiles of force fly from the rear, each striking Velas in succession.
After Velas is struck, Teela walks forward to him to quickly dab his wounds with some soothing tincture. "Go get 'em, bud.", she offers words of encouragement before retreating back through the crowd.
Graham stows his bow and moved to engage Green in melee.
Bucky tenses as he quickly draws his shortsword before launching himself forward in a quick motion, the space around him almost blurring as he hurtles forward to end up standing side by side with Graham.
His shield is now raised, and he strikes out with the sword in hand at the Red Kobold.
piercing and holy damage
*** Using a Hero Point to reroll attack ***
piercing and holy damage (double damage if crit hit)
◆ Draw Weapon
◆◆ Defensive Advance (stride, raise shield AND strike)
Tartuk's Last Stand - Round 3
Alvis sees something strike Velas but a quick glance seemed to note only one attacker from behind. He keeps boosting the divine benediction. With clear sight to Velas and his serious wounds even as Teela helps him, Alvis heals him.
"There is one kobold attacking from behind.", Alvis says.
Heal as 2 actions.
Tessa fills the void by the advancing front line and shouts, "Don't move, incoming!" as she sends a blast of metal fragments flying forward between her allies, targetting the blue kobold.
◈ Stride
◈◈
Tartuk's Last Stand - Round 3 - continued
25 Tartuk
25 Chief Sootscale
16 Teela
26 Scarlet
24 Graham (17/30hp remain)
28 Blue Kobold (15hp dmg)
25 Green Kobold (22hp dmg)
22 Alvis
22 Quintessa
20 Velas (runic weapon, 9 rounds)
16 Orange Kobold
Teela, still clinging to the catchy melody, hums softly as she strides to the front line, binds some of Velas' fresh wound, then strides back to the rear rather nonchalantly.
Graham tosses his bow to the side, and steps heedlessly into the line of martial kobolds, striking out cleanly with his rapier. The dueling blade scores a direct hit on the internal organs Green. Green is seriously hurt, but not out of the fight just yet.
Scarlet also moves into melee striking Red Kobold a finishing blow that drops the bodyguard to the ground, dead. He keeps his shield up as the steps ahead.
Readying for the attack, both Blue and Green strike out at Graham and Scarlet, scoring hits. Graham sustains a mild wound, while Scarlet interposes his shield and absorbs all the damage.
Alvis uses his healing magic to bind the wounds of Velas, who is now back to full fighting strength. He calls out the kobold that has circled behind, and sustains his defensive go-to spell.
A spray of silvery barbed needles blasts from Quintessa's spell, peppering Blue with a myriad of small puncture wounds that add up to significant damage.
shield block
"Someone go and see to the Chief. /
His death would be Tartuk's relief."
Hearing the fighting behind him and heeding Scarlet's order "You two got this, right? Velas rushes back towards the entrance tunnel to fight alongside Tartuk against the usurper's other henchman.
◆ Stride
◆ Stride
◆ Strike @ Orange