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Yes, summoner would be the exception to the rule. Perhaps in a future recruitment I will do class commentary like so often is included in campaign player guides. Outside of other campaign traits I have no issue with what traits people choose. So long as it makes sense. Would be interesting to learn how someone picked up a region/religion trait that exists primarily on the other side of the world from Andoran.
The lady of the wood was a good distance off, given the size of her clearing. It seemed she genuinely might have failed to notice Alden as he stood at the tree line. ...or so he might think, as once the owl took off in the moonlight the lady still didn't seem to notice him. Harrier plopped down on his hind end, sitting at Alden's side and looking around a moment before letting out a yawn. After a moment Talschornvox began to walk among the patterned plants of her lawn, looking about idly. Finally seeming to notice something... she canted her head to the side in the low light of the moon and stars. Then began to walk toward Alden. "It is late in the day for a social call." she said in the relaxed tone he was familiar with, "But then, you have had some rude guests upset your schedule."
The guard holding the child ushers her inside as his partner rises at the sound. Both approach the side of the building, looking at the unnatural darkness in the gloom. Both men tense, and then withdraw. A moment later the door shuts, and something heavy moves into place behind it. ...as Alden travels the forest in the gloom of evening he notes how quiet it was. Making his way to the lady's clearing he spots Talschornvox standing in the open. She was illuminated by the moonlight, her white dress standing out clearly. Several small birds were perched on her as she seemed to be speaking to an owl that rested on her forearm.
The trio carefully work their way closer, approaching the building from as much of a blind spot as possible. They get alongside the base of the building, easing past drawn shutters and working back toward the front porch. This leaves the guards out of their sight for a brief period of time.
As Lars and Kevan peek around the corner they see the two unsuspecting guards with a new addition, a young girl sitting on the lap of the closest guard. Perhaps she had trouble sleeping. All three turn to look as the sound of Jaxom's foot slipping into a furrow of earth and scraping the loose, dry soil.
********************************************** Harrier seems amenable to simply follow along with Alden, wandering freely but lingering in the immediate area. When Alden reaches Sarana's pond he finds her and her sisters absent. Given the current tumult they might be out conducting their own business.
Current Expectations: Looking for responses from Alden, Kevan, Jaxom, and Lars on their current excursions. I will be updating no later than Friday before going across state on my other job over the weekend.
There is a reason I don't do point buy. :3What is your reason? That it rolling temps people into making a character more than point buy. @Ed: You might want to consider the inexplicable luck racial feat for humans if you're wanting to go all in on their versatility. Advancement speed will depend on the players. Advancement is gated through joining of shards. Extended roleplay and making use of downtime won't do much to advance class levels. Though both certainly empower players in their own ways.
There is a reason I don't do point buy. :3
I see nothing outside the constraints of CC that I put down.
The town blacksmith, Fogril, is also a dwarf. There is no communication between the shards. At the start of the campaign no one knows if any other parts of the world even remain, nor how to merge the disparate shards.
Yes, starting at first level.
The trio make their way across the rolling hills near Norian's home and a few of the outlying farms as they work way toward one of the farming settlements on the outskirts of the new shard. As the sun sets the light continues to diminish. A few outlying farmsteads are found, their silhouettes obvious in the low light. Each house has been abandoned, but a cursory examination shows they have been lived in recently. That is when a few lights can be seen coming from what looks like the center of the small village the farms surround. As the group draws closer they can make out candles inside the building. Even smaller than Milana's inn, with only one story to it's construction. Circling it, they sport a lantern on the porch out front, and sitting there on watch are a pair of soldiers in light armor. Both appear to be idle, but looking out into the gloom with crossbows on hand.
Yes, kineticist counts as occult.
Quick update on character creation: No stat should be higher than eighteen to start with. As a DM I like to cut it off there to keep players from spiking too hard at one, and not everyone is going to roll well enough to manage it anyway. Though there have been some very loaded stat arrays so far. Lapyd/Aleranna jogged my memory looking over their sheet.
The cohort would be a DMNPC.
For those not familiar with playing a kobold this might prove useful.Yep, that's what I was looking at. Good rolls are the only reason I think I could endure those stat penalties :D To be fair kobolds do a lot to make up for their stat penalties through specialization. They're actually pretty crunchy little min-max goblins if you're not trying to do a strength build.
I would say reroll a one until you get something better.
For those not familiar with playing a kobold this might prove useful.
Greetings and fair welcome adventurers. I am DM GuardYourPrivates and this is the recruitment thread for a second table of Shards of Golarion. My first table started in July of 2023, and eventually became my primary focus on these boards. I did have a second table for a time, before they came to an early TPK and were recruited as new characters into the first table. So what is this campaign of mine? In short, a wizard broke the world trying to recreate Nethy's ascension to godhood. Now the world exists in a billion little pieces, pocket planes isolated from the rest. Each with it's own story of what happened after the world ended. The party will come into a means to rejoin these shards, essentially merging pieces of the world back together. Learning more of the mad wizard and some of the side effects of his feat. Below you will find everything you need to apply. Information on the starting shard and it's history since the sundering three years ago. Rules for character creation and campaign traits. As well as a few hints for this unique setting. Passbog and the Sundering:
Three years ago a dark, smoky sky roiled above the small town of Passbog. Thunder was constant, but there was no wind and no rain. The deep black cover expanded down to the horizon as those inhabitants watched. In in the minds of everyone present, came the thoughts of a mortal wizard, struggling for control.
The smoky substance covering the sky contracted and expanded as if his breath. Uneven and rapid. Then, in the loudest peal of thunder ever heard, everything went white. The thoughts of the wizard were gone, but the smoky sky remained. Light filtered through. Clouds could be seen through the near translucent smoke above. The horizon was still blanketed in darkness, and any attempts to push through the edge was met with a feeling of undistilled terror. Causing one to convulse and flail simply to try and escape it. Attempting to ignore the fear, or perhaps being able to ignore it would result in walking into the smoke only to walk for what felt like miles without progress. Turning back to find only a few steps of distance had been traversed. So it would seem Passbog became an isolated area. Dozens of large farmsteads cut off to a few acreages owned by a handful of families. The inn, the smithy, and the broken down mill the only major buildings in the center of this small village. A few acres of wood, passing into the Spring Bog, and the glen that held the Vinton Spring were the only other areas that were encompassed in the new boundaries of the world. It wasn't long until the goblins of the bog, the Frogstump tribe, decided to try and take the area for themselves. They hit the farmsteads first. Catching the Ingell's farm at night and killing everyone. Only the fire of the homestead alerted the neighboring family, but despite the warning the Judds died as well. The remaining farmsteads gathered and made it to the inn. There they fortified the place as best they could and everyone gathered to make their stand. Farmer Thompson and his two boys, farmer Treydock, the innkeeper Milana and her husband Timothy, the blacksmith Fogril Honormail, and a passing hospitaler named Tel Beys all found what weapons and tools they could and prepared for the assault. The goblins came in an initial rush that was repelled with little pain on the side of Passbog. Only a sling stone found Thompson's shoulder, but he was still standing. Next came some probing and a few small skirmishes. All told a handful of goblins died, but nothing of consequence other than a small fire came from it. Then came the battle. The goblins rushed with all their number from every direction. They were clumsy fighters without anything more meaningful than clubs for the most part. Even when they overran an individual the damage they could do was limited, and the more capable fighters of the village were able to turn the tide. But their numbers proved deadly. Farmer Thompson's younger son was the first to fall to grasping hands, and before he could be rescued by his brother his head was staved in. Then his brother fell in kind, and the boys father charged into the goblin ranks. Driving them clear out of the back door of the inn. He was not seen again. Next they managed to get past the main fighting and found Treydock's wife. He tried to save her and both perished. Things became truly desperate, and much of the remaining village ended up isolated in the carnage. Fighting was done individually and against several goblins at once. When the morning came the few goblins left alive fled from a truly gruesome scene. Bodies littered the inside of the inn and sprawled out the doors and even some windows. Half of the second floor was burnt to the ground, and the last casualty among the villagers had been Timothy. Saving his wife from the goblin leader armed with a spear. The years since have been quiet. Only one farming family, the Tooms, still live. They have taken in the orphaned daughter of farmer Thompson. Fogril still keeps the forge lit, busying himself with what tasks he can and running a self-made still in an attempt to pickle his memory of that night three years past. Milana has repaired the inn, and she keeps more livestock and a garden now. Even makes her own cheese. Tel Beys has taken to trying to repair the old mill, and divides her time between changing the timbers and trying to turn it into a properly fortified tower. It has been quiet, but lately there have been goblins caught snooping around the village again. Only one or two at a time, but they have been up to something... Character Creation:
CC to start at level one with rolled stats (4d6, reroll 1s, drop lowest), background skills, EitP, max gold at first level, a campaign trait and one other trait. If it's not occult or third party it should be fine. Core races are all approved. Kobolds are in. Tiefling and Aasimar are out. Additional races may be allowed if approved by DM. Not planning for unchained classes. Passbog is a small village in the fields of Andoran, but you could (in theory) be from anywhere in Golarion. Campaign Traits: Milana's Hand - The innkeeper has spent her time bringing people together in the last few years. Despite losing her husband in the goblin attacks she has remained determined to keep those of Passbog fulfilled. Aiding her in this endeavor, you have helped to keep smiles on the faces of the villagers. Diplomacy is a class skill for you, and you have a +1 trait bonus to Diplomacy. Craft All - You've always been a crafter. You have a deep passion for your profession. Supplies in Passbog may be scarce, but you've had nothing but time to practice your trade. You have managed to learn new tricks and take no penalty for using improvised tools. You get an additional +1 trait bonus on craft and profession checks. When you make craft checks to create an item you make progress at half again the normal speed. When earning capital with craft or profession you add 1 to the capital earned. Goblin Slayer - You've never put the goblin raid behind you. Ever since you have kept an eye out for goblins. Been the first to arrive when they have shown themselves and eager to strike them back. You have trained to better combat their kind, and have even managed to kill one or two over the years. When fighting goblinoids you get a +1 trait bonus to attack and damage rolls, and a +1 dodge bonus against them. Dogsbody - Despite the lull in activity since the goblin raid there is never a shortage of work to be done. Hauling water, milking animals, harvesting crops, patching fences, and even keeping watch. There is no end to the need for general labor. This has been where you get your sense of purpose. You receive a +1 trait bonus to fortitude saves. Also, you treat handle animal and survival as class skills. Lookout - Most of the goblins are dead now, but they aren't gone entirely. Occasionally one or two linger at a farmstead. They skulk about in the bogs and always look for chances to steal or harass the animals. Everyone has to stay vigilant, and a weapon close at hand. Just in case. You've always been one of the first ones to spot them. Your keen eyesight gives you a +1 trait bonus on perception checks. A few hints for applying:
- As a rule of thumb it will be important to have a craft or profession to be able to create what the world cannot provide. Beyond that though, there will be a special material that will eventually be available for the party to craft with. There will be opportunity to make good use of even the most obscure crafting skills, so do not feel you need to focus on weapons and armors. - Have an idea of what goals your character might have for the world. Being able to essentially rebuild the world gives you a breadth of potential goals. Rebuilding society, ruling, spreading your faith, living an opulent life, finding a bride or groom, and even creating new artifice. - Character stats and skills will effect the merging of shards. Having a high wisdom to perceive those shards is one thing. Having a high charisma to direct such actions is important as well. A potential shard bearer may also benefit from their skills when merging shards. - Skills and class features will have varying use depending on the groups choices. A forest ranger won't do well if merging with a piece of a great city. Similarly a dungeon delver won't fair well in wilderness. - The resources the party has at hand will also depend on what shard the party chooses. You're not too likely to find much fish in a forest devoid of any bodies of water. Or much population for that matter. I understand that is a bit of a read, and joining a homebrew can be daunting. I am planning to close recruitment on the 28th and choose players by the 31st to give everyone plenty of time with their submission. I welcome all applicants and look forward to seeing some of the great submissions that will no doubt be put forward.
Should have said that in my previous post.
The clear sky holds, fair weather for this recon.
The diminutive cleric does not object to Alden's scan of her person, and it is easy for him to see why as no hint of evil comes from her person. Oddly enough, if he takes the time to look at the other prisoners he sees no evil there as well. With two notable exceptions. Gregor and Tymos. Neither shows a particularly strong aura of evil, which shows Tymos may have made a bit of progress. Alden isn't the best at reading people, and now that the conversation between them has paused he finds it hard to read the somewhat guarded Lanril. Kevan on the other hand... Kevan:
Lanril is trying very hard to appear calm and rooted in her faith, but you can tell how difficult that is proving to be. She is still scared, for herself and others. ...receives a pleading and worried look the cleric shoots him when no others are looking. The prisoners are taken away and the guard and militia are split to help spread the defense of the village. The soldiers brought to one of the bunkhouses near the inn so guard could be placed on them while also protecting some of the gathered villagers. The rest of the day is tense, but though the cavalry from before appears on the horizon a few times through the hours that pass no further attacks are noticed. As the sun starts to set the time has come to act for those planning to scout the new shard in the cover of night. What is the plan of action? Alden did see the general disposition of the shard, and can give the general direction of one of the outlying villages. It should be close enough to reach in the night. As well as return from should the party find it with ease and not delay too long.
Hooah. Sorry for the delayed return all. The first week back after AT was chaos. Everyone wanted a piece of me once I was home, and some things got put on the back burner. I shouldn't have promised for a post the 28th. That said... I will get to writing and get you all your long overdue update.
Posting will resume the 28th. This year's work has been far too much to sneak out any posts. I know that sounds hyperbolic, but 18+ hour days outside of good cell towers will do that.
I apologize gentlemen I meant to move us forward properly before my other job dragged me out of state for two weeks. I will try to get something up, but it will most likely be a few days. Once I am back on the 28th I would like to make a post explaining what I have worked out to hopefully smooth posting and get things running.
"It was not thought that it would be needed." Lanril says with a look of confusion, "You had no walls and few defenders. It was believed you would simply submit as the other villages previously taken in. A show of force was the plan, though I wonder if the head of their order did not plan for this to happen. Most of our remaining troops were here sent out." She then looks to the forest. "Is there really any advantage to apporaching a smaller force through trees and swamp?"[/b[ she asks, [b]"I am not a tactician, but does that not favor the smaller force?" She then turns to Alden's previous question. "They garb themselves as followers as Sarenrae." she says simply, "For that is what they think themselves, no matter her punishment toward them."
Lanril hesitates, clearly torn on giving Alden any information that would potentially cause her people harm. "The outlying villages are just simple farming hamlets." she said, "A few have been conscripted from them, but other than that they simply provide a small measure of tribute. Each only has a single member of the church to preach to the faithful." She considers what to say next. "The temple proper is known as the Temple of the Redeeming Sun." she says, "There is a significant guard, but since the temple was within the city walls we do not have any ballista or the like that you have. If you are going to target the cult they tend to stay in the eastern wings of the temple. The western wing is where most of us true clergy reside but... most of the temple is a shared space." With a sigh she looks up at the group, with the exception of Kevan who she is the same height as. Mostly. She seems to have an inch on him.
Alden, you need to play an oracle sometime. :D
Lanril considers Alden's words. "I thank you." she says with a slight bow of her head, "But please do not think you can destroy the tome. It is guarded for a reason. It is a cursed artifact, and it would be best if you just left it locked away. Preferably looked over by the church... should enough of us survive." ************************** The two soldiers continue to flee, coming together once safely out of range. The cavalry has not yet turned to wheel toward the three separated by their pursuit, but who knows if and when that will change.
*************************** As the battle is wrapped up Tymos finishes speaking to Tel Beys and meets with the reunited force of heroes. "What is your plan going forward?" he asks, "We can defend our own land to an extent, but if they have cavalry they could harass our farms and quarries at their leisure. Knowing you lot you'll want to explore a bit?"
Kevan's bomb just narrowly hits one of them, the man cursing loudly enough to be heard as the two flee yet again.
"You speak of the translation." she said, already shaking her head. "It remains under guard. One of our shared beliefs is those pages should never see the light of day again." she explains, "Just as not all arcane casters are studious wizards, not all who touch the divine are clerics." She is quiet for a moment as she contemplates. "I believe those left of my order would be happy to have peace. It is all we ever wanted. Though it will be a messy affair if the cult decides you are their enemy. Which they most definately have." she reasons, [b]"My lady teaches that even at the point of a sword mercy can be shown, and that is what you will have to do. We cannot extricate ourselves from them without the risk of being stabbed in the back. We don't have the numbers to fight them."
The two soldiers look from Kevan to the other two, measuring their options. Then they take off running, shouting for the cavalry who are likely still too far off to hear them.
************************************************** Alden:
One of the translations of the book of the damned is kept in that temple under guard. "Not all get their power from the gods." Lanril says before growing agitated, "Call them out? Onto what? The field of battle? They revealed what they are." She frowns up at him. "Do you pretend to suddenly be blind paladin? I'm not. I can see the man who leads your soldiers for what he is. Why have you not smited him long ago? I'm a true cleric of Sarenrae, but I don't remember deadeye being the most forgiving god around." she chastises, "You think these lot parlayed with you because that was their idea? You think indenturing non believers rather than burning them at the stake was?" She sighs, her frustration giving way. "Not every cleric is a warrior who stands up to evil with their breast ready for a blade." she admits, "I am only an acolyte, and always has my focus been on healing. On seeking redemption for others. I still do what I can to stop evil in the hearts of others."
In a world where you can be healed in an instant I see it as a means of forcing them to use resources or to let these guys sit out the fight. It's not like I'm cutting off their feet. ...yet.
Geneva has a few suggestions about foot mutilation and fire bombing. :D
Oh no! Lawful good on lawful good violence!
The two men look at their discarded weapons. "You want us to pick them back up?" the first soldier muses mockingly. "What, looking for an excuse to kill us already?" the other taunts. They clearly intended to be difficult. While disarmed, there was the threat of potential reinforcements coming shortly. A decision would have to be made on what to do with them. Dragging them along as prisoners might run the risk of getting mowed down by cavalry. Not keeping them prisoner might mean having a large crossbow leveled at the group again in the near future. ******************************************** Back at the front, or the mess that remained the militia was kept busy peeling armor from the wounded and the dead. Tymos and Tel Beys were talking off to the side, the mayor holding the discarded helm of Gregor. Gregor himself was stripped of his armor and bound. He had stopped struggling after one of the soldiers had sat on him. Now he just glowered indignantly at Tel Beys and Tymos as they talked. "The cult hid among our ranks." Lanril explains with a wave toward where Canith was staked to the ground by a ballista bolt, "For all that time. Those like Canith who could use divine power not granted by the goddess. Those like Gregor who served among our ranks without blessings of our lady. Where better to hide than... well, never mind that." She then turns her gaze back to Alden. "When the world was sundered many of our champions were out in the city beyond the ground. Gregor was one of the few of the Blessed Orchid who were taking their rest in the temple. Now there are none left besides him." DC17 Religion:
The Blessed Orchid were champions of Sarenrae who were tasked with guarding the mayor of the city state of Merab. Members of the Temple of the Redeeming Sun.
"When we found ourselves alone the cult revealed themselves." she continues, "They had no more need to hide. Their numbers matched our own. We did not wish to kill the only other people left to us, and they did not wish to kill us." "Each shard we joined with, we petitioned the smaller settlements to join us." she said with a look to the horizon, "They converted. Mostly. Those who did not, were indentured. We would not let the cult kill them." Her words turned colder, bitter as she continued. "Our numbers began to thin. The cult converted some... others... accidents with the indentured. Or so they said." she elaborates with a half hearted wave of her hand, "Few of our followers remain. Fewer now, since we sent many of remaining soldiers with this force to ensure no harm was brought."
Guys... you guys... guess what's coming? ...the cavalary! Eh? Ehhhhhhh?
The halfling cleric looks afraid at first, but then settles as she seems to remember what Alden is. "Gregor is a knight, not a priest." she says with surprising firmness, "You have not met the high priest. Not of my order, and not of the cult either." She seems to relax after saying that. "They are still two different things." she says with a weak smile, "Even if the cult insists otherwise." ************* The two soldiers scoff at Kevan. "You are our enemy." one begins. He seemed to have more to say but the other soldier cuffed him on the shoulder. "We'll give you nothing." he adds, "Do your worst." DC18 Perception: In the far (+200')distance you see a half dozen large figures moving fast in what can be assumed to be the position of the other crossbow pair, though there is no sign of the pair. The outline looks to be men mounted on horseback.
Short post for how long I made everyone wait, but things should kick up a notch now.
The wounded are collected with ease, given all the real casualties are on the enemy side. With the aid of first aid training and magics a...
...large handful of those downed enemy soldiers are able to be saved. Meanwhile the pursuit ends as Jaxom and Lars have decided they have had enough of the crossbow team and cut them off. The two men pull up, glancing between each other and their opponents. There is a pause, then both men look into the distance. With a shrug they throw down their arms. "You might want to get back to your friends." the crossbowman says while his banner holding ally clutches protectively at the standard of Sarenrae. A moment later there is a shriek of a signal bolt in the distance. The other pair who made their escape in a different direction going off.
Just an update, out of town through the weekend. Meant to post Thursday but was tied up. Will try to post Sunday night when back.
Lars the lovable lycan would make a great children's show.
The pair continues to run, though the two chasing them were faster. They showed no intent to stop.
As Alden kneels over the priestess and cast she remains still and unmoving. Then, she sucks in a gasping breath and continues to lay still. Some of the other soldiers potentially still lived, though no one was currently tending to them as Gregor was getting restrained and the line pressed forward.
Jaxom drops one of the shield bearers, the man flopping to the ground like a sack of potatoes as he is tripped. Then he sprints after one of the armored archers and their loader/bannerman, easily able to pace them. Lars pursues as well, loping after them in his beastial form.
The soldiers, mostly behind their shields, hardly even see the projectile coming from Kevan, and the primary target howls in agony as he goes up like a candle. He drops his shield and weapon, screaming and falling to the ground to roll about. Not dead, but very much out of the fight. The other man also cries out in pain as fire washes over him, and he throws down his arms and kneels by his comrade. One hand up and the other resting on his brother in arms. Patting out some of his flaming livery. The unmolested pair of loader and crossbowmen make no sign of slowing down at Milton's warning. Either a sense of duty or something else pushing them to keep running. Tymos calls on the militia and his men to stop pursuit a moment before Gregor is wrestled to the ground and pinned by several men. Tel Beys looks to the ballista, but the dwarves raise their arms and cross them over their heads to indicate they didn't have the range on the fleeing troops. "Save who you can." she calls out, "Even if they just spend the rest of their lives breaking rocks they're better off alive." So that leaves two scorched and surrendered shield bearers. One tripped and unmoving shield bearer, and one more who looks around unsure of his situation... before he too throws down his arms. That leave the two teams of crossbowmen and loader on the run. Jaxom and Lars are faster, and can in theory cut of the pair they are pursuing.
Still here. Let's get you all updated.
Good, just struggling.
Initiative Order: Tel Beys, Bowmen
Lars tears through the last standing frontliner other than Gregor himself, and Milton moves up to hit the halfling cleric with a burning bolt of lightning. It strikes the unarmored healer in the collar, and she shrieks in agony before falling to the ground. Meanwhile, on the flanks, Jaxom crashes into the prepared defense of the tower shields, unable to get to the crossbowmen beyond. There is movement behind the defense as they prepare their next action. Kevan's bomb falls short of the other group, and his alchemical fire splashes against the cover of the heavy shields. He cannot see what damage he might have done beyond that. Tymos and his militia move forward over the downed frontlines. The men mob Gregor, grabbing at him and trying to restrain him. "Shields advance. Tymos calls to those of their own with tower shields protecting the militia archers.
Lanril lays still in a smoking heap, her tiny form unmoving. Tel Beys makes it to the front line with the shield bearers coming up behind her.
One of the bow shots finds a target past the cover of the shields and a loud cry is heard. "Flee!" comes a call. The crossbowmen on either flank and their loader grab up their banner and run. Those soldiers with the heavy towers shields pull back, not moving as fast but giving a full retreat.
Initiative Order: Tel Beys, Bowmen
Gregor lifts his shield arm, not to try and block the strike with his shield, it was far to late for that. No, he did it to raise his pauldron just enough to deflect the cut of Alden's sword from finding his neck. "We bring the light!" he snarls back, "To those who know lesser gods."
Initiative Order: Tel Beys, Bowmen
Milton works his magic, opting for a more defensive posture. Three fractal images shudder and rotate around and through him like shuffled cards of illusion. When they take proper form it is no longer clear exactly where in the space the wizard was, each perfect copy replicating the movements of their caster. Tymos and his soldiers reach the frontline. While it was only a few moments behind the rest of the party closing in melee it somehow felt like forever. Now though, they crashed into the enemy all around the party and made themselves known.
The experienced lines slam into each other. The soldiers in plate had an advantage of better armor and reach, so they managed to defend most of the blows. Two fall though, one cut into by one of the soldiers, and one by Tymos himself. The warden's blade sweeps in, pushing his enemies spear arm far enough aside that it threw off the man's balance. Then, with the guard out wide and shield jarred he plowed the blade through the man's armor like a spike to end him. "Filth!" Tymos barks. The halfling priestess sees the ensuing melee and desperately calls on her goddess. Even as the soldiers in front of her start to fall she risks herself to channel healing into them.
She seemed on the verge of weeping, most of the soldiers were down at this point. Only four and Gregor remained standing. Yet many of those who were down rasped out breath even if they did not rise. Tel Beys had to struggle with her bad leg to make the frontline, but she calls out for another volley as she does.
One of the remaining soldiers took a ballista bolt to the chest and was tossed back to fall and not rise. Another soldier took an arrow in his neck, clutching at it and falling to a knee. He was not dead, maybe not dying, but he did not push through the pain to resist any further. Only one soldier still fought on the front line of the clash, and he stabbed back at Tymos.
A blow that the experianced Tymos saw coming, heaving his shield up to send the thrust of the spear sailing high. "Filth!" he shouted again.
Initiative Order: Tel Beys, Bowmen
Jaxom and Kevan dart around the sides of the main melee. Jaxom closing as much distance with the crossbow formation as he can. Kevan working around the back of the front line. Meanwhile, the melee was on in full. Alden cuts through the open guard of the same soldier who speared him, pushing forward and chopping down between the pauldron and gorget enough to hit the flesh below. The man's collarbone being cleaved through was enough to down him. On the flank of that line the corner man found himself desperate not to attack anymore, but to defend himself from a werewolf. He screamed and struggled as Lars peeled away his defense and dug his claws through the space between plates. Finding tender flesh within and curling those fingers into the man's torso until he buckled and fell. The crossbow formation moves in coordination. As Jaxom approached one flank backed off slowly. The crossbow team moving away to fire and reload, and the tower shields falling in after and throwing down their cover. The other flank hesitated but a moment, and then took aim the wizard again since the ballista crew had good cover and were at a longer distance than was practical.
Both shots missed badly, perhaps a cold fear running through the crossbowmen to get the bolts out before a dangerous looking man closer on them, and an obviously lethal wizard decided to target them next. Gregor meanwhile, despite being staggered, singled out Alden in the melee. He did not raise his spear high and try to impale Alden from collar to backside. Instead he made a ferocious and disciplined thrust that belied both his training and skill.
Instead Gregor's plant foot slid in the gore of Alden's last enemy.
Letting you guys know I will be unable to post until Monday. Running this combat is a bit much for a phone.
Initiative Order: Tel Beys, Bowmen
As Lars watches the havoc that Milton's spell brings to the enemy frontline he notes the halfling cleric hustle forward to the decimated line. Holding her holy symbol she seems to plead with her goddess, and a wave of positive energy rolls out from her.
The three downed soldiers do not rise, either because their wounds were too great or they were dead. The others showed some relief, but were still by and large wounded terribly.
Tymos then begins to march forward, and the line marches with him. There is no angry charge. Just disciplined stamping of feet through the grass. It's almost intimidating. Tel Beys calls out for another volley, and the bowmen and ballista deliver.
One of the bowmen deflects off heavy armor, but the other places the shaft of an arrow into the exposed collar of a shocked soldier, dropping him. The ballista however, picks a softer target. The portly cleric, Canith, looked like he was also going to move forward to help the front line. Instead, he took a ballista bolt through his belly. The man's form folded as the bolt pierced through his middle and planted him in a heap to the ground. The well armored soldiers, despite their grievous wounds, closed the distance and made to strike.
The line was ready, disciplined, and most of the pointed spears caught armor or shield. Alden and one of Tymos guardsman each took a stabbing wound. The guardsman because his guard was found wanting. Alden, because he only had one shield.
On it. I've really struggled to find motivation to post lately. Not sure why.
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