Argus Forester's page

Arugs backs Lyra's advice - the tunnel needs to be barred and guarded. He'll offer to collapse the tunnels, if they'd rather be on the safe side. Moving a few tons of rubble is considerable more trouble than overpowering a few guards.

Argus helpfully supplies rope from his pack to bind and gag the prisoner, but its clear he thinks this is some kind of trap or ruse.

Argus shakes his head, sighs and rummages through his pack, pulling out a cluster of grenades. "Bloody magician doesn't sound much like she's surrendering to me. Wants us to deliver whatever she wants."

He raises his voice. "New offer: You have till the count of ten to come out, with empty hands."

He starts handing out grenades to his allies (because otherwise he can't prime 5 grenades simultaneously), quickly miming how to pull the striker and throw down the corridor. "ONE...TWO..."

"We can't take them back into the Stead - and certainly not through the hidden passage we're using - we'd have to march them out and around."

"I want to see empty hands. Drop yer gear."

Argus will let his sunrod fall to the floor, freeing his hands while ensuring he stands in a least a reasonable radius of usable if dim light.

Otherwise, he'll keep his readied action to try to explode the orcs that come through the door.

Of note here, the full scatter mechanics still apply due to the 20% miss rate for dim light, so lets hope he doesn't drop this on our feet int he dark.

Argus cups his ear, trying to hear more clear...then he realizes the voices are speaking Orcish.

"Lady Vegazi, why do I have the feeling we are about to meet more of your siblings?"

Argus will ignite a sunrod (can't have too much light when exploring underground.)

The abandoned mining gear is much more in Argus's ballywick than devils and wild creatures.

Knowledge(Dungeoneering): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Oh, dice.

You can make your way through it; you'd have to squeeze if you're Medium sized, but that wouldn't bother those of you who are halfling-sized.

Or who have an extract of reduce person handy.

Yes. We will ask, but won't force.

Argus huffs and puffs his way up the hill, his pack swollen and carrying a wooden crate by rope handles. Bringing his miscellany of remaining alchemical gear, including those two dozen grenades.

Argus nods. "The longer we stay walled up, people are going to get restless - if they give up Vegazi they can get their normal lives back. They're gonna start gettin' cabin fever even without some enchantment givin'em a push."

"Xorrin settled this pretty soundly for tonight. Get some rest. Pack yer gear. We need to get out in the mornin'."

Argus finally comes downstairs to find the situation largely defused. He'll provide the daughter with a dose of Alchemist's Kindness, to ease the inevitable headache when her father wakes.

Argus meets Lyra and Vegazi in the hallway. "Nuts to hiding. People don't come screaming in the middle of the night to read notes. We need to take you out the back while his attention is on the front door, and before he attracts a crowd."

While Philgor and Xorrin attempt to confront the crowd, Argus frantically pries open his crates, sifting through them for helpful materials. He pockets a supply of Flash Powder and a few grenades. Showy pyrotechnics that might help disperse the crowd.

This kind of thing is exactly why Argus wanted to start being proactive. Argus groans as he's disturbed for the upteenth time by a commotion outside the Blissful Badger. "Only way forward is through," he muttters to himself as he peeks out the window and pulls on his bomb gear.

"Demolition and other volatiles are my specialty, but I'm not a terribly apothecary if I have to be."

"If she'd be willin' bringing Vegazi would be a sure fire way to get them to gather round."

"Aye. We would be thankful for her bow, as well. But the mayor wants her here, and she might not be willing. If the ruse is a prisoner exchange, perhaps someone in disguise, or a stuffed dummy?"

Argus considers.

"I still think we need to stage our own ambush - and if we can do it outside the walls, there are many fewer bystanders who could get hurt or be held hostage if the whole thing blows up in our faces."

"Supposin' I rig someplace full of explosives - How do we get the Hell's Fury to meet us there?"

"We need a proper plan. I'm sick of gettin' bushwacked. We should stage an ambush of our own."

"I don't consider myself a violent person, but I can't stand bullies. Give 'em what they want and they just come for more later. We gotta end this. We have to end them."

"Nothing fancy, just irrig-" Argus is cut off by the commotion for outside. He sighs as he stands up and rushes to the door. "Ain't no justice."

"Demolition, so usually mining. Helped redirect a creek once, though."

"Argus, Miz Faireye. Argus Forester. Something of a troubleshooter, though my specialty is normally in stone, ore, and the removal therof, not orcs and devils."

He seems relieved that someone else takes up relating their story. He's already thinking about tomorrow's work the brew more extracts, transcribe formulas, and take stock of his supplies.

Argus pays little attention to the cat as he sits, ordering something warm and hearty. A cup of ale appears with it, but Argus largely ignores it.

"I'm just glad that particular goose chase is over.", he says. "Running through the woods chasing magically bamboozled critters is not my idea of a fun time."

"Not married. Rolling stone, an' so forth."

"If it isn't urgent, I could badly use a bath, perhaps a hot meal, and a chance to replenish my supplies."

Argus will pocket the potion (more fodder for his formulae albemic), and take the journal to Vegazi.

Craft(Alchemy): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 To identify that potion.

Argus will take a peek at the leather-bound book, but if it isn't a spell/formula book, he'll probably turn it over to another party member pretty quickly.

Argus starts to winch the crossbow back again.

"Oi!" Argus calls, chasing after Ilka. "Get back here."

He shoulders the heavy crossbow and fires.

Masterwork heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 MIght hit, depending on her AC with cover.
damage: 1d10 ⇒ 2

Ongoing fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Argus takes advantage of his last round of elemental touch to swipe (ineffectively) at the imp.

elemental touch, touch attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Argus weaves his way through the entangling vines and branches. Getting out of the entangle area to the northeast.

Once in clear air, with relatively inanimate plants, he throws another flask of alchemist's fire at the foul druid.

Alchemist's fire, 30 ft range: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 - 4 = 20
Damge: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 And 1d6 next turn.

Hopefully the 'ongoing damage' concentration check will slow down the onslaught of summoned minions.

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Argus is dismayed by the sudden appearance of a flock of bats. He grabs more vials (fortunately glass is a strong insulator and not wrecked by the lightning crackling about his hands) and pitches them into the ground, creating an upward blast.

Explosive bomb on the bats, using Precise Bombs to protect himself and Lyra
Bomb, point blank: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19 FINALLY!
Bomb, point blank: 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 2) + 4 + 1 = 9, plus 50% = 13, plus catch fire

More imps. Argus drinks his other infusion of elemental touch, and lightning begins to crackle around his hands. Plus a move action to get closer to the melee.

Argus holds out a vial. "Shackleton, go get her."

Trying to pass off an infusion of elemental touch. It should go well with Shackleton's sneak attack if we can close the gap.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
*sputters* The dice, they mock me.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

"No, no more summoner's chants from you." he says, reaching for a more reliable option than his powerful bombs - a jar of alchemist's fire. No mixing, no judging the wind on a an ounce of reagent. Just a heavy pint flask of pitch and white phosphor. And clinging, painful flames that make it hard to remember the magic words.

Touch attack, point blank: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10
Mock me, I say!

Scatter direction: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Argus will ready an action to hit the woman with a bomb if she or the boar move too quickly or do anything overtly hostile.

"You there! Hold it!"

Touch attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Or, he could blow up something random when they move to quickly...

scatter direction: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Splash is 6 fire damage. Within 10 feet, because Argus totally would have used Explosive Bomb.

Hopefully they'll hold still nad play nice...

Bomb: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8
*sigh*
Scatter: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Argus fumbles another bomb.

Argus quickly brews another bomb - pouring the reagents into a tiny conical flask, with a lens-shaped bottom. He carefully gauges the distance before sending it spinning into the other flock. If he gets the angle right, the explosion will blast upward into he crows, leaving his allies unharmed.

Touch, Point blank: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13
Damage, point blank: 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6, 3) + 4 + 1 = 14

That probably missed, soScatter direction: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Which means that the bomb lands just behind Shackleton's position on the map. He'd take 6 fire damage unless he moved away by then.

Argus briefly debates the merit of using fire in a forested area....
"Nuts to this!", he exclaims, stepping forward and lobbing an Explosive Bomb into the southern flock of crows.

Touch attack, point blank shot: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27
Crit?: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 25
Fire damage, point blank shot: 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 + 1 = 7Plus catch fire
Critical damage: 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6, 2) + 4 + 1 = 13

Argus nods to Lyra. Good that someone volunteered. Middle watch is the worst - getting up and bedding back down. "Always was a bit of a night owl. I'll take the first watch. Wake you at midnight."

He'll winch back the big crossbow and find a spot with good visibility - a hayloft or the like. Failing that, he'll get up on the roof.

Argus raises an eyebrow. Farming homesteads are rarely so elaborate. Maybe the country house of some nouveau riche?

We may have backed the wrong horse...or boar as the case may be.

Argus will keep delaying.

Argus will Delay until something happens, since he's on the defensive.

Argus reloads the crossbow, so that he is ready if anything else happens, and makes sure his baton is ready to hand.

Argus breathes a sigh of relief as the giant pieces of angry pork become a lot less angry. "Next time, menu planning after fighting."

He looks up at the eagles, but has no real reference for what birds do. "Any luck spotting whoever keeps sending these beasts after us? I'm much better at making things explode than knocking them out."

He pulls the coil of rope from his pack, cutting a 5-foot length and tying the two boars to one another. Gingerly, so as to not wake them. When they wake up, they'll have to spend some time stumbling around and chewing through the silk rope before they can decide to kill us again.

"Less talking. More fighting." Argus warns.

These animals might be controlled, but it's still better to kill one of these than risk those kids...he looses the crossbow bolt at one of the boars.

Masterwork heavy crossbow, point blank shot: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 17
damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Argus moves forward through and around the mass of children, ensuring that he ends up between them and the boars. He draws the big crossbow and begins winching it back.

Argus nods. "Safety in numbers, and in town walls, and all that."

"If the very wildlife is hostile, we can't send any more homesteaders back to Arwyll unescorted. They'll be eaten."

Argus strikes a sunrod when he sees the sudden movement - making the beasts visible to his better-armed allies.