Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
Fletch laughs despite himself, mirthfully. "When pigs fly!" he says. "You won't lay down and retire while there's life left in you. It's not in your nature."
The ranger says "Nothing can ever utterly wipe clean the slate of our lives. Even if we follow the path of redemption we must still pay for our mistakes. But that is for fate and the gods, not me. I believe that you will continue to meddle, for good or ill, but that you will do it from good intentions. I cannot condemn you for that."
"Live." he says simply and looks at his companions for their vote.
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
"Where we start is never as important as where we end," says Fletch.
"And you seem to have ended well. Before I say what fate I think you deserve, I have one question. Why did you kill Dorianna Ouidda? Was it vengeance? Or was she part of Vahlo's plot?"
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
Fletch has had nothing but betrayal from Torch over the years, real or imagined. But he is not stupid. He has heard from other Pathfinders that Torch may have been better than he seemed. Also, the man and his allies -had- just saved his life. More to the point, Fletch and his team are devastated and the last thing they need is a new fight on their hands. He decides to take a practical approach.
"I don't," says Fletch. "But you seem to. Why don't you tell us what's going on here, besides yet another traitorous member of the Decemvirate? He was undead so likely he'll return. He was what? A lich? A graveknight? Not a vampire, surely." He glances up at the Absalom sun, then back at Torch. "So... who is he? And what do we have to do?"
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
Hang in there!
I assume you're not in the Solomon Islands (5.5) or in Kotzbue, Alaska (5.0), so you must be in Utah (5.7) (those are where earthquakes happened today.) Unless it happened yesterday and you live in Vanuatu (6.1), Samoa (6.0) or Chile (5.6). :-)
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
Fletch blinks, trying to force his eyes to see. Recognizing the Wall of Names, he perceives it as shelter. Grabbing his bow, he moves behind the wall for cover and continues trying to see what's going on around him. If any of his companions are not moving, he'll try to pull them to shelter before looking for the rest.
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
Fletch immediately pivots and continues firing, this time using special blessed ammunition against the astradaemon. He notes the shimmer around the fiend, notes the true location of its shadow, lines up the shot where he believes the fiend truly is, and fires.
Aiding Attack (Ex): The Ranger can use this trick as a free action when he hits a creature with an attack. The next ally who makes an attack against the target creature before the start of the Ranger’s next turn gains a +2 circumstance bonus on that attack roll.
1) Note that DR should be applied only once because Fletch has Clustered Shots.
2) Fletch has no idea that Astradaemon DR is holy -and- silver, so the DR should still apply.
3) Please note that the Astradaemon's displacement will not avail it against Fletch's Improved Precise Shot.
TL:DR: Two arrows hit AC 37 for a total of 57 holy damage. Two hit AC 32 for 48 holy damage. The fifth certainly missed.
Aiding Attack (Ex): The Ranger can use this trick as a free action when he hits a creature with an attack. The next ally who makes an attack against the target creature before the start of the Ranger’s next turn gains a +2 circumstance bonus on that attack roll.
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
Fletch is in over his head and knows it. He's a determined soul who's always believed he would die on some battlefield or another, demanding only that the death be in a good cause. Outmatched and in mortal danger, he nonetheless maintains his composure. From his earliest days in the Andoran navy to his later days fighting cultists all across the world, Fletch has always moved towards the sound of battle, not for the love of battle, but for the chance to do good, to make use of his talents.
In this moment, Fletch does not think about his past or his philosophies. His only thoughts are of angles, motion and wind direction. He fires and releases as soon as his skill and magic permit.
Aiding Attack (Ex): The Ranger can use this trick as a free action when he hits a creature with an attack. The next ally who makes an attack against the target creature before the start of the Ranger’s next turn gains a +2 circumstance bonus on that attack roll.
TL:DR: Two hits at AC 34 for 50 damage; 1 hit at AC 13 for 21 damage.
Aiding Attack (Ex): The Ranger can use this trick as a free action when he hits a creature with an attack. The next ally who makes an attack against the target creature before the start of the Ranger’s next turn gains a +2 circumstance bonus on that attack roll.
Aiding Attack (Ex): The Ranger can use this trick as a free action when he hits a creature with an attack. The next ally who makes an attack against the target creature before the start of the Ranger’s next turn gains a +2 circumstance bonus on that attack roll.
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
Fletch, unable to hear anything but his own heartbeat turns and takes aim at the Decemvirate member. He recalls the previous attempt to hide the truth behind a Decemvirate mask and he unleashes a single arrow, trying to help his more legendary companions.
Freebooter's Bond: All allies within 30 feet who can see or hear the freebooter gain an additional +2 bonus on attack rolls when flanking with the freebooter or with another ally affected by this ability.
Fletch also uses an old Hunter's Trick to help his companions.
Aiding Attack (Ex): The Ranger can use this trick as a free action when he hits a creature with an attack. The next ally who makes an attack against the target creature before the start of the Ranger’s next turn gains a +2 circumstance bonus on that attack roll.
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
D-O-U-G-H. Three astradaemons.
Fletch pauses to see if anything distracts one of these dangerous demons. If nothing does, he moves straight away from the nearest one and seeks cover.
FREEBOOTER'S BANE: The Freebooter and his allies within 30' who can see or hear him gain a +3 UNTYPED bonus to weapon attacks and damage rolls.
Summary - 2 arrows hit AC 34, doing a total of 53 damage. Another hit AC 32 for 28 damage. Another hit AC 29 for 26 damage and the last hit AC 19 for 24 damage.
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
If Fletch sees his companions attacking something shrouded in mist, he will don his own goz mask (I figure that's a move action to retrieve and a standard action to put on.)
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
"We're Pathfinders, Zurnzal. We honor our word. Give us the information now and just go. We won't pursue you, but we can't just wait around for that long."
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
"What do you want?" asks Fletch, pausing in his efforts to kill the assassin. The ranger has always been a man to prefer negotiation to combat, but he is also hot over the death of Grognar. Contempt is clear in his voice.
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
Fletch is usually up for diplomacy, but he just watched an Aspis Agent murder a Pathfinder in front of him as an opening gambit. The time for talk is over. Unless somebody stops him, he's going to stick some arrows in this guy.
Nobody called for Initiative, so I'm putting this behind a spoiler:
Tactical note: I'm aware that Fletch is much lower level, so rather than unloading a full that's unlikely to succeed, I'm taking a move action to activate Freeboter's Bond and Aiding Attack to give everyone an untyped +2 bonus AND an additional +2 circumstance bonus on attack rolls for the first person to attack him after me. Go get 'im!
Freebooter's Bond: All allies within 30 feet who can see or hear the freebooter gain an additional +2 bonus on attack rolls when flanking with the freebooter or with another ally affected by this ability.
Fletch also uses an old Hunter's Trick to help his companions.
Aiding Attack (Ex): The Ranger can use this trick as a free action when he hits a creature with an attack. The next ally who makes an attack against the target creature before the start of the Ranger’s next turn gains a +2 circumstance bonus on that attack roll.
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
Fletch can add little to these magical shenanigans and instead spends his time keeping out a weather eye for approaching trouble.
Perception:1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39
"I doubt anyone fed her such a compulsion for the sake of her chronicle," says Fletch. "She either ran afoul of some random curse or, much more likely, someone didn't want her to be at her post and spent a great deal of effort to remove her without killing her. That rules out Zurnzal, but might include Torch. He's not a casual killer. Where is her post, anyway?"
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
Fletch takes two of the potions. Folks, the only item on that list that I can really use is the pale green prism ioun stone, but adding +1 to my lower-level abilities isn't going to benefit the group as much as adding it to one of our heavier-hitters. Someone else should take that stuff.
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
"Folks," says Fletch. "She's one of the good guys. Or at least not one of the bad ones. We met a few years ago. I'll vouch for her. Shemis, I'm glad to see you're alive. What can you tell us about the current situation that might help us focus our actions?"
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
"What is the best route in?" asks Fletch. "Have you any magical means at your disposal? Oh, and are there any passwords or similar defenses we need to know about?"
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
"Those damned helms were a stupid idea from the very start," says Fletch. "The Decemvirate absolutely invited this attack. How many times have Pathfinders gotten into someone's 'impregnable hidden fortress' because we disguised ourselves as someone in the organization? This is 'Organizational Security 101' stuff. When this is over, the membership needs to have a very serious talk with the Decemvirate. Business as usual is getting members killed."
"But we didn't come to talk politics. We need to take the fight to Vahlo before the Tyrant brings it to us."
Male Human Ranger 14 (Freebooter and Skirmisher) - HP 122/130, AC 29/T: 16/FF: 25 - Perception +19 - F: +14/ R: +14/ W: +8* - CMB: +18 - CMD: 34, Speed: 30*, Init. +4
Leaning comfortably beside the front gate is an archer, lean and weathered by sun and wind, his clothes a faded, but still clean and well-patched Andoran naval uniform absent any insignia of rank. He seems to recognize you as Pathfinders.
“It’s been like this for hours,”, he says. "The gate's been locked from the inside and no one knows why. I'm Fletch and I know most of you by reputation, if not by sight. I'd wager we're the most accomplished Pathfinders currently in the city. I think it's fair to say that if this is going to get solved, it's going to be us that does the solving. We should go meet with Eliza Petulengro where it all began."
"And by that I mean the Wounded Wisp, not the Pig's Paunch, 'course."
Knowledge (local) 15:
There has been quite a bit of debate over the years over which of the two taverns—the Wounded Wisp or the Pig’s Paunch—was actually the founding location of the Pathfinder Society. It’s also a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that Kreighton Shaine says at the beginning of the Confirmation that the Pig’s Paunch was where it all started, but the Wounded Wisp (the scenario) clearly says that it started at its titular tavern. This even got John Compton confused.
