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Nagaikaze tries to down the horseman but he proves too wiley. The gunslinger manages a well-placed shot on the ghoul and reloads. The professor zaps a spell out and the zombie collapses, head first into the fire to crackle and burn.
Yakuthiel takes advantage of the opening and moves up to face the ghoul, only to find an overwhelming stench that surrounds him and his attempt to unbalance him fails.
Orange Headless Horseman -12 damage
Blue Sotroz
Emdi -33 damage <dread marshal>
Red Headless Horseman -7 damage
Yellow Zombie -177 damage <destroyed>
Song Jun-Mei -47 damage <frightened 1>
Nagaikaze -81 damage <frightened 2, resist fire 5, AC 29>
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Dran'Tilt -23 damage <haste>
Prof. Whitegourd -32 damage
Yakuthiel -64 damage <resist fire 2, +2 AC for 1 rd>
Giovana grins approvingly as Rowan the Whispering falters. “So close, Pathfinders. Now finish the job!”
Zarta Dralneen raises a ward to deflect an errant bolt of magic from a weakening Sotroz. “We’re almost there, darlings. You just need a little push...”
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Silence Broken: When this condition is in effect, disable Sotroz’s Ritual Sacrifice ability (animals are saved!). Fearing their own demise, this also gives Sotroz the frightened 1 condition that cannot be reduced for the rest of the combat. If a PC would make Sotroz frightened 1, instead increase their frightened condition by 1. Also, reduce the current remaining Hit Points by half for all enemies.
Rains of arrows and explosive spells focus on your foes from fellow Pathfinders in the chamber, siginificantly weakening the powerful enemies.
Jun-Mei concentrates on self-preservation.
The horsemen shriek as the walls close in and one forces focus on the monk, their keen sword slashing deep! The monk slumps to the ground.
Sotroz, realizing the tide still turning, attempts to create a toxic cloud around itself.
Orange Headless Horseman -48 damage
Blue Sotroz -104 damage <continual frightened 1>
Emdi -33 damage <dread marshal>
Red Headless Horseman -61 damage
Song Jun-Mei -2 damage <bless 15'>
Nagaikaze -106 damage <frightened 2, resist fire 5, dying 2>
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Dran'Tilt -23 damage <haste>
Prof. Whitegourd -32 damage
Yakuthiel -64 damage <resist fire 2> Reactive strike?
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Nagaikaze starts to fall. Many things rush through his mind. He wonders if he held back the Horseman for long enough for his allies to make good progress with Sotroz, but realizes he displayed minimal resistance. His courage failed him so many times on this mission. Nothing seemed to have gone right since he succumbed to the Ghoul’s foul trickery. It started before that actually. His biscuits were very disappointing. He wished he was back at Chef school learning how to cook. By the time he hits the floor he’s ready to stop worrying about it.
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Emdi's gambit fills the whole team with vigor, but he pays for it and only one arrow finds its mark.
The isolated horseman rears forward and double slashes the cleric.
Orange Headless Horseman -60 damage
Blue Sotroz -104 damage <continual frightened 1>
Emdi -46 damage <dread marshal>
Red Headless Horseman -56 damage
Song Jun-Mei -33 damage <bless 15'>
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Dran'Tilt -12 damage <haste>
Prof. Whitegourd -21 damage
Yakuthiel -53 damage <resist fire 2>
Nagaikaze -95 damage <frightened 2, resist fire 5, wounded 1, prone>
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Nagaikaze licks his lips as he raises the ladle to his lips. The chanko nabe should be just right by now. With eyes closed he sips it. It fills him with warmth and strength but tastes oddity metallic…like blood. Like his mouth is running with his own blood. Did he just hear Song Jun-Mei? He opens his eyes and he is no longer in a kitchen. He is standing on a battlefield where he had been failing to fight Sotroz and his really hard hitting Dispatch minions. Glancing around he sees his allies closing in on Sotroz. He should help! But can he trust himself there? And where was Song Jun-Mei? She is on the other side of the fire! Alone against the worst of the minions! Should he aid the other 3, possibly 4, closing in on Sotroz, or go to the aid of a friend? Unaware that she could be safe behind her Sanctuary spell, Nagaikaze takes advantage of ORANGE being distracted by Emdi and charges through mud and fire to flank RED with Song Jun-Mei.
”Oi! Monster! Face ME if you have the stomach for it, while your Master dies!”
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Jun-Mei protects herself further, at the expense of the still attacking horseman. Dran'Tilt pierces the cloud and the ghoul. The Professor heals the monk just before he selflessly pushes through the wall of flames to join the cleric. Yakuthiel faces down with Sotroz within the toxic fumes but only one blade connects.
Emdi takes the brunt of the horseman's attacks. Bringing up a magical shield, Sotroz tries to slow the hazy but dangerous fighter.
Orange Headless Horseman -55 damage
Blue Sotroz -148 damage <shield, continual frightened 1, concealed>
Emdi -61 damage <dread marshal>
Red Headless Horseman -56 damage
Song Jun-Mei -27 damage <bless 15', sanctuary>
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Dran'Tilt -12 damage <haste>
Prof. Whitegourd -21 damage
Yakuthiel -53 damage <resist fire 2, concealed>
Nagaikaze -65 damage <frightened 1, resist fire 5, wounded 1, AC 27>
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Emdi's prime shot destroys the dread ghoul. The horseman spins on the newly arrived (and bloodied) foe and swipes three times.
Orange Headless Horseman -55 damage
Blue Sotroz -160 damage <destroyed>
Emdi -61 damage <dread marshal>
Red Headless Horseman -51 damage
Song Jun-Mei -9 damage <bless 15', sanctuary>
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Dran'Tilt -12 damage <haste>
Prof. Whitegourd -21 damage
Yakuthiel -53 damage <resist fire 2, concealed>
Nagaikaze -73 damage <frightened 1, resist fire 5, wounded 1, AC 27>
When the dust clears, only the Pathfinders are left standing. The remaining undead fall to dust and the few surviving Dispatch agents drop their weapons in surrender as the Society’s victory is complete. Zarta Dralneen and Viore Ciobanu immediately busy themselves with recovering the somewhat unstable aiudara that was constructed here, while Eando Kline walks amongst the agents, giving reaffirming pats on the back and handshakes.
“Exceptional job, everyone. While this might not be the typical mission we undertake for the Pathfinder Society, you still handled it with grace. You should all be proud of yourselves today for what you’ve accomplished.”
Nearby, Red Mantis Assassin Giovana saunters through the opposing forces’ remains, sucking on a piece of alchemical candy and once again cleaning blood from her iconic sawtooth sabers. She pulls the sweet treat past her lips and gives Eando an almost sultry look while tossing him the still-bloody cloth. “You know, the Pathfinders aren’t half-bad in a fight. Maybe we’ll work together again in the future. Perhaps in... closer quarters?”
Eando’s face turns a shade of crimson for a moment as he catches the bloody rag. He then gives Giovana a knowing little smile through his beard as he uses the cloth to clean his own sword, before sending the Pathfinders back home.