Roman Tsarko's page

Roman sits quietly, his belt heavy with the weight of newly crafted ammunition.
First was Ma, then Iulia, now that Hana gal... and the paladin too, I guess... women just don't stick around ol' Roman, i guess...

Argosal and the leech... that sound too complicated for Roman. He couldn't even begin to understand wath leechdom meant. He was bad, and he was powerful, and he was someone who knew about the myst. That's about all he needed to know.

You're dead, man. Granted, the folks at Sunday school were wrong and death ain't that different from life so far... but you're still dead. What do you have to lose?

"Yeah. let's get this over with. The dead against the dead, sounds like a victimless fight to me." he tries to grin, but it just doesn't come out.

Roman goes back to the tools and the black powder he had left crystallizing. He shakes the metal can he had put aether-made saltpeter in Almost ready. Good. he adds some reagents, then shakes again and puts it in a cold place to settle Probably won’t do no damage if it exploded, but that’d be a damn waste of time. he bites his lip Oh, right. Got plenty of that too now.

He had tried to bury himself in conversation and work ever since he learned that he was, in fact, dead. But now, as his hands mechanically craft the bullets, his mind can’t help but going there.
Dead. Heh. Guess I lasted longer than my mom expected. Nine Hells, more than I expected! he uses the pliers and grabs the bullet-shaped red hot lead. Ok. Dead. But can still go an’ meet the living. That’s good. I can say goodbye to Iulia. Don’t change a thing. Take down Zeltos, free the girl. Be a good shining knight, like them fairytale ones. Take out the black mist. You were an a**hole when you lived, old man… go ahead and be a hero after dying! he grins to himself That would be the damn best joke you ever played…

No, sorry, I'm here! (I actually posted more recently than Hana)

I just couldn't bring myself to write a "Roman mutters to himself while making ammo" post without it sounding tedious. If the action resumes, I'm game!

You guys don't care, but I finally made a drawing of Roman with Heromachine3.

Roman right now has no strong opinion as to where we go. He'll finish crafting his ammunition, get his reward from Arcus if we have time, then on to wherever the group wants. He is most likely to side with Hana, then Bromen, and last Bannon if people's opinion clash.

"Good sir, might you have... lived in Zeltos, prior to your demise?"

"Can't say I did, ma'am. I died there, for sure. Got my head split in two like a watermelon by a Seeker. But living there? Someone close to me did... still does, I hope." Roman corrects himself immediately, unsure about how much to reveal about his past "Zeltos is a bad place to die, but it's a worse one to live in."

My time table is all over the place, I change working hours every week, but it still only adds up to a 40-hours work week, so I should have time to post regularly. I'll miss a day or two if they arrange my hours in an absurd way, but rest assured I won't drop out.

“Pardon an old sinner’s question, Ma’am.” Roman interrupts Mephisto trying his best to sound genuinely perplexed and not sarcastic “But seems to me you’re depicting this leech as a bit out of our league. Y’all been tellin’ us we’re the new folks, we should lay low, not think we can solve all the world’s problem with a snap of fingers… and now you suggest we go in this leech house? To do what? From my fella Bannon’s preoccupation I gather this ain’t no regular leech – but something of dark magic, am I right?”

For once, Roman does not have an answer ready for the woman. He dreamt of taking Zeltos, and yet Marco brutally cut to pieces his plan and his hopes for a quick destruction of the damned place.

No, this time Roman would sit back, listen to the others, maybe try to avoid making sarcastic comments. Don't alienateanyone else. After all, he was dead.

Guess them Sunday priests got the "no rest for the wicked" part right. You wickered in life, now in death you get to keep fighting... and for what, who knows?

The plan to take down Zeltos wasn't abandoned, but merely delayed. He would have needed all the help he could get, and no better way to get help than to shoot a dragon between the eyes then ask for a favor in return.

I'm not a college student - I've been working for 2 years now. And honestly, I didn't reply becausee there was little left to say to the NPCs, I was waiting for the 5 PCs to start talking about our next move.

While the chatting with NPCs is great right now, I do kind of fear the moment we all get together.
I can only speak for myself, but I am mostly reading only my spoilers. If everyone is learning stuff, will there be a lot of repetition when we meet?

Roman is a bit taken aback – not for the reprimanding lecture, but mostly for the definite confirmation that he is in fact dead. He stays silent for a minute, then lamely attempts to defuse the gravity of the revelati “Nine Hells, you must have been stuck in here for a while to call me “boy”, ain’t you?” says Roman pointing at his grizzled hair under the leather hat.

“And I get it, ok? I ain’t a fool. But I ain’t a scholar either. If something don’t work, I don’t study it, I keep trying until I get results. Nearly go****mn blew my hand off the first time my gun jammed, jus’ because I kept fiddling with it. ” he shows Marco a large burn scar covering his left hand and forearm “But that’s what I mean. I can’t stay here waiting for one o’ you brainiacs to figure out this Nexus or whatnots. I need to go out there do something. And that works best if I know the whole thing, don’t it?”

He paces a bit, gathering the words “Gotta be honest, Marco, I don’t much care for the fog. Never quite thought ‘bout it. Fog was out there, but them Seekers coming in my house, that was close enough for me to worry ‘bout. So now you tell me we ain’t trying to solve the folk’s trouble, but the world’s. That the fog is more important than the monsters… I never hid from the fog. But I sure done my share of hiding from the Seekers. Fog never took my girl, Seekers did.
So I will help, and I will respect your efforts, but I ain’t givin’ up on mine. And if that means getting’ angry and make a fool o’ myself… eh, won’t be the first time.”

A stern grimace makes his way to Roman’s face as Marco, Finelia and the other woman talk to him.
“Y’know, I ain’t no boy-scout. I done my share of awful - more than most, I reckon. But what with the world’s going to hell, and the lot of us here playing hide n’ seek, going into portals and disappearing… that doesn’t sound right. There’s so much you folks ain’t tellin’ us new meat, and that’s fine – I prob’ly won’t understand half of it. But you clearly told me I’m still alive, even if I sure don’t feel so right now” he goes to push Marco and watches his hand disappear and reappear “and being alive means I still have people I care for in the real world. You big magic folks, with your fancy powers… have you tried connecting two portals? Sure you’re smart enough to think of something!” seeing his plan deemed impossible almost as an afterthought by these people is getting Roman more than a bit angry and frustrated. “We agreed to get your stuff back and, might I add, did a damn fine job doing that. I’m ready to help – but I don’t just want shinies or Heyther or some trinkets in return. I want answers ‘bout this place and promises you’ll help me when I need something through one of them portals!”

Nine Hells, someone done decided to be useful ‘stead of crazy ‘round here. Roman exhales a breath of relief when Marco says he can make rusting powder. “I owe you, wizard. That’s a mighty generous thing you’re doing. Thanks.” he tips his hat to Marco “Li’l fella.” he tips his hat to the pseudodragon too.
“Got one tinsy bit of favor to ask you yet. How’s about them bugs? Where can I find a fella in here that can round’em up – or teach’em a trick or two?” he puts forward his most convincing expression “Now I know what’ya thinking – “this fella’s crazy!”. But jest here me now: with them glands you can make the powder, and that’s fine. But I reckon if I can get the bugs to follow me, that’s a mighty lot of rusting they can do, ain’t it? Much more than the powder.”

“So, I’ll pay ya or your work – in favors if not in shinies. But can you tell me there’s a fella here who’s good with beasts?”

Also, Roman, I'm going to have to wait on your reply. I can't make shotgun calls on things that happen hours from the current time span, so you're in the future a bit on us. I'm sure that after the conversation with Orca you guys'll have 2 different places to consider as travel hotspots, though. It's a mix between Zeltos and Agristrad.

We can play it like this: Roman luckily isn't doing magical crafting requiring long incantations but just mechanical and a bit of chemical, so even if he doesn't have to sleep he will take pauses from work, because he's human.

If you see the conversation going with the others as very important, something that would be better if all of us were present and it would lend itself to a good roleplay bit with my character in it, just assume Roman took a coffee break at that moment. 10 minutes of pause won't impact much on hours and hours of crafting - and conversation is very quick in game time.

***

As for the destination, Roman most likely won't push too much for Zeltos. He wants to build up a stronger force so that when we go there, we END the place. Of course if the group goes there he's happy all the same.

The process of making gunpowder and ammunition was almost second nature to Roman now; the act of turning aether into saltpeter, magnesium powder and lead definitely not. A bit baffled at first, then with much more confidence, the grizzled pistolero refill his bandolier. He then pulls apart his old, battered gun.
“Heh. I’ll get you all better now, old girl.” he cleans the chamber and the inner joints, puts in a new sparking flint, and straightens the sight. Then proceeds to engrave the barrel with the beautiful floral motifs that Iulia used to carve in leather. The result isn’t quite as good as hers, but will still do.

After several hours he goes back in the main hall, trying to find the others – either his companions, to go back in Hazrit; Marco, to ask advice about alchemy; or Sebastian, to see if the crazy masked man has something for him to do.

Here’s Roman crafting plan (no craft check required thanks to the Gunsmithing feat):

Make his pistol Masterwork (150 White Aether, 1 day)
Make 20 doses of gunpowder and 20 bullets (11 WA)
Make 4 flare alchemical cartridges (20 WA)
Make 5 alchemical paper cartridges (30 WA)
Total: 211 WA, roughly 1 day and a half (to be reduced according to the Nexus standards)

To Arcus he'll ask the best chain shirt he can get, and way less bullets - 10 silver and 10 cold iron are maybe too many.

Go to Marco (or any other Nexus resident with alchemy skills) and ask him help on turning rusting glands into rusting powder.

Then look around in the Nexus for anyone with skill in controlling wild beasts, asking for advice on how to gather rust monsters and have them follow you.

Hi everyone, I'm a wizard and this following announcement is for our less magically inclined folk. ( xD )

I've spent a good deal of time adding several more spells to my book ( Alarm, Crafter's Fortune and Arcane Lock ). While I'd LOVE to make scrolls as a contingency plan...as well as more scrolls as their back ups...Wizarding may take a good deal of a day.

So the real nitty gritty is - How soon do yall want to embark on adventure? Because, I'll be able to study and prep for our next forray.

Something tells me we're about to talk into a horrible mess...

I'm very non-magical but I have TONS of crafting to do... like 1 day and half of game-time.

I'm really fine if we chill for a while.

sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Roman is thinking about that sneaky basterd Damien, who left him like nothing and – for all his show what with the longbow and nice hat – seemed a bit of a coward. How could someone from Barbaranaka not be excited at the idea of tearing down the prison? And with all them weird powers too… Ah could heytherize the front door and let ev’ryone out, shoot a couple o’ Seekers, then teleport back here! Ain’t gonna be easy… but damn, it’s worth a shot…

His train of thought is interrupted by Sebastian. Roman immediately and rudely stops the hyperactive masked man “First of all, pard” he puts his index finger in front of Sebastian ”don’t go call yourself a Seeker. That’s an ungodly name where Ah come from. Ain’t gonna put me in a good mood.”

“Second,” he adds raising his middle finger "sorry 'bout the forge stone. Would’ve helped a bit if ya talked to the lot of us ‘bout it instead of just sneaking in that comment to me. The dwarf and the churchy lady might have had sumthing to say, but I reckon the white haired girl could’ve helped me.”

“And last” he raises his ring finger “What’s with the mask? I might jus’ make business with you if the gettin’s good, but I wanna see my pardner in the eyes. I ain’t got no pretty face either, but I sure ain't hidin' it like one of them theatre fools!”

Roman has some crafting to do too, but he's ok if people are in a hurry to go back to adventure. His conversations so far took up half an hour at most.

"Roman" he moves to shake the man’s hand, then stops midway feeling stupid "I’m from Barbaranaka too - from the bad side of town. Not that the good side is much better."

"To be honest, yeah, I have a bit of a hurry to go back. Someone I care ‘bout is still alive in there. But I hear you – don’t want to rush things." he concedes "I’m just planting seeds. When the time comes, when we’re strong enough, I’m leading a bunch of other guys – those fellas you saw with me – and we’ll tear down the place once and for all. There’s these weird beasts in one o’ the others regions, they gave me a funny idea…" he smirks "Anyway, keep that in mind. Would love to have you on board with this when the time comes."

When the aether comes through his chest, Roman looks at Damien "Oh… so that’s what passes for shinies here, I guess. Well technically it’s shinier than gold, so I’ll take it. How does it work? I need a bit of supplies for my old lead-spitter" he pats his holster "How do I turn this heyther thing into bullets?"

“Heh. My story is a touch more exciting – but still involves one basterd of a Seeker from the prison.” smirks Roman. “Got unfinished business with the place. I don’t know how much they told you ‘bout your condition here – I reckon you may just know more than I do if you’ve been here a while” he scratches his head under the leather hat “But seems to me we’re kind of in a good position tear down the damn place...”
He looks at Damien straight in the eyes “Look. I lost someone to the prison. I’m sure you did too. But see – getting in was never the problem: getting out was. And now we got this power” he moves his hand to touch Damien’s face, watching it disappear into vapor and reappear on the other side “we can use against them!”
Lost in his revenge fantasy, it takes him a while to realize where he is “What is this contraption? ‘nother creepy corner of this Neksus place?” he asks abruptly when he notices the void space.

I work turns, either 6-14 or 14-22, so my schedule changes a lot. Also I can usually manage to squeeze in a post in my break at work if there's a time limit.

Roman overhears the beginning of the conversation, then listens with far more attention when Zeltos is named.
He gets closer to the man named Damien, ignoring Bagrin.
“Just a second there, pard.” he asks “Couldn’t help but listen – that broad was loud! You’re going back to Zeltos, did I hear you right? I come from Barbaranaka. What’s going on there? And if you don’t mind me asking… how did you… you know…” he pretends to slit his own throat with the index finger “…bit the big one, end up here? Did it happen in the Prison?”

Roman is going to spend a few moments talking to the man.
However, since now the time scale of our actions will be different, here are his priorities:
1) Getting a piece of the loot and ask Arcus what can he do as a reward
2) Locate the voice who wanted the firestone in the forge. He’ll wander around the Nexus taking 20 on Perception to catch that voice if he does not reveal himself, striking up casual conversation if people aren’t talking when he’s around.
3) Learning how to craft items in the Nexus.

His “priority zero” of course is getting help and allies to get to Zeltos. Damien might be the first.

“I’m glad you brought that up” says Roman to Hana as she says his name “You wanna thank me, make me a promise: we DO come back here. All of us. With a plan to get the Rust Bugs. Many. We beat up that fool of an ogre, we get his chains and scraps as bait, and we lure them with us. I need those things. You’re grateful I saved your nice ass? Promise me that.” he spits on his hand and puts it forward.

Roman stares silent at the pipe while listening to the dragon flying away. Slowly, he makes for the tube's entrance and recovers his knife.

He paces back, grimacing angrily. When he gets near Tera, he shoves her with strength "You damn churchy folks, bringing nice words to a firefight!" he shouts at her "You had to cuddle and talk to the dragon, didn't you? You just HAD to try and make a cat bark!" he keeps shouting, coating his anger with sarcasm "If you hadn't healed that beast now it would be on the ground! It could tell us about that crazy dragon lady, who seems dangerous enough... or better yet, it'll be dead and wouldn't grow up to be four times bigger and eight times more unpleasant for the folks here! Nine Hells!"

He turns around and looks at the pile of treasure.
Appraise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"Just a few meat slicers and big ol' pile of gold, eh?" he scratches his head under the leather hat. "Is it worth something in that creepy Neksus place, I wonder..." he sighs, remebering the days, just a few months befor,e where the sight of such a loot would have made him jump of joy.

"Ah... ah don't need much in there." he says "I guess if the gold's worth something to the folks in the Nexus, I'll buy something from them." he passes a hand on his chainmail "I've been meaning to get something better than this for a while."

"Are the books any good? What are they about?"

Roman will get his share of loot in gold or whatever. He wants a fair share, and the only thing he knows the value of is the money.

Roman gives Hana a look full of mockery "Nine Hells, missy, that was terrible."
He looks at the hole where dragon is disappearing Dammit, he thinks looking at his pistol No time!
He sprints towards the tunnel; as quickly as he can he grabs the knife at his belt with his left hand and throws it into the smoke hiding the dragon's silhouette."I can spit more fire than you, ah lizard? I'm not done with ya yet! When you're a corpse, than I'll take all your junk, but I want your blood first!" He screams, trying to fool the wounded dragon into staying.

Move action: move as closely as I can to the dragon and draw dagger;
Std action: throw dagger

thrown dagger attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 Woooo!... even with the range increments, that should hit!
crit confirmation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 damn...
missing chance for concealment1d100: 1d100 ⇒ 41
knife dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 +1 if within 30 feet

How far away am I from the point where the dragon is?

Specifically, I don't think it's within 25 feet for me to use the gun properly, but is it within charge range?

Roman watches as the dragon flies past him and attacks Bromen "Much ado about nothing... it was going to end like this one way or the other..."

He takes a couple of steps towards the dragon, always trying to keep a corner close to duck behind in case flames started flying.

Then he raises the gun in front of himself, aiming at the open mouth of the wyrmling "Should've been more accomodating, pard! You're nasty, but I've seen worse."
Click.
BANG!

Move action: move to get within 20 feet of the dragon, if possible staying near a corner that provides some cover against a breath weapon.
Standard action: pistol attack (with Point-Blank shot), and spend 1 grit point to use Up Close and Deadly.
pistol attack vs touch AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
dmg: 1d8 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 1 + (6) = 14 booyah!

Roman catches immediately Bromen's drift. Oh. Time to get creative or get roasted, I guess he was always more of a thug than a con man, but he's been hanging around enough gamblers and cheaters to have a pretty good poker face.

“Mr dragon, sir” says Roman, getting closer to the wyrmling “while my dwarven friend over there works his thing” he points at Bromen “it may actually take a while, y’know?” he shrugs “I’d like to make a smaller deal on the side – unrelated, you might say.”

“Ya seem pretty knowledgeable of this place” he waves around, indicating Hazrit in his extension “even more so than the dwarf, might I add” he grins and gestures at the dragon’s treasure “an’ with a big pile of shiny like that, I bet you met those things. What can you tell me ‘bout the Rust bugs?” with slow, deliberate movements, Roman puts his hand in his satchel, and he takes out his silver bullets and his cold iron bullets “I’ll trade you for the information, of course! Look at these bad boys! You have any trouble with devils or wolfmen, BANG! This things will solve any problem. I bet I can get you one of these, too.” he takes out his pistol “This is just my traveling gun of course, but you should see the good ones! Ivory handle, silver and golden engravings, little works of art that can fire death! Can’t lack one of these in your hoard, am I right? So, about the big rusting bugs?”

Ok, so. Roman is genuine about paying the dragon for info about the rust monsters. Of course he also thinks that whatever he pays the dragon, in a few minutes he will take back when they fight him.
Even if the dragon doesn’t go for the deal, it gives Roman an excuse to already have his gun in hand when the trouble starts.
He will position himself about 15 feet from the wyrmling.

Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 mpf...

As a player, I SOOO want you to aetherize the whole furnace.

As a character, I never dropped my guard, and I never expected the negotiations to go smoothly, so I'm good if we start fighting.

I apologize in advance if this causes a TPK.

That's the best sentence ever written in a PbP.

More Heyther sorcery. That's great. Who in the Nine Hells was that voice? Roman has a puzzled look on his face.

We have the guy who is born here, two know-it-alls and a paladin who can sweet-talk a dragon... and of course it's poor ol' me who gets the weird request.

He gets closer to Bromen, hoping that the discussion between the two girls would distract the dragon.

"Човек, добивме барање од Аркус или една од луѓе на Neksus или што и he says pointing discretely at the Forge она што знаеш за огнот што гори без јаглен?

"You know, if I got right what they told us in the creepy place we got resurrected... it ain't just goods we can trade." Roman has been withholding his curiosity for a while, but now he has to try it.

He picks up a small rock, or the less valuable item he can find in the room. He concentrates, trying to remeber what Marco and Arcus told him, trying to will the thing into Aether.

"Ah been thinking 'bout that Heyther thing. We have the ability to bring back stuff allright... but the way I see it, we also have the ability to make stuff disappear from the real world. That must be worth something, right?". He holds the rock in his hand, expecting it to dissolve the next moment.

About time I tried this.

The only problem I have with the adventure so far is the lack of maps. PbP makes it unefficient to ask for clarification (the back and forth with Q & A would be lengthy and furtherly slow down the pace of the PbP).
Our first "encounter" was in a non-straightforward location, with the cliffs and edges and the moving bridge and everything else, and I still don't really know how to imagine the place we met the ogre in.

Aside from this, color me completely satisfied with how it's going so far.

Roman tries his hardest to believe the negotiation between the paladin and the dragon will end with no blood spilled... but he really can't.
He tries to keep the holding pillar between himself and the wyrmling at all times, circling around, letting just his head pop out. And when asked to put down his weapons, he just slides his arm to his side, without holstering the gun.

Roman will keep as low a profile as possible. If needed, here’s the checks:
stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
sleight of hand: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"A silent alarm? That's just wonderful!" Roman points the gun to the tunnel on the opposite end of the room and takes cover behind the holding pillar.

Ready a pistol attack against anything that comes out

"So now what? If that lizard or whatever is here knows we got in, do we wait ofr it to come and burn us to a crisp?" he asks the others "I really don't wanna go into another tunnel if on the other end something horrible is waiting for me - there's being brave, and then there's just being plain stupid."

Roman has been absorbed by his fantasy about the rust monsters unleashed to rust away all of Zeltos.
He happily stayed away from the rings, that from the look of it brought more distress than delight to their new owners. He watched with frustration the clumsy attempt of Bannon to parley with the scary-looking dragon woman, and uncocked his gun, breathing with relief, when Hana momentarily defused the situation. The white-haired woman was shaping herself as the member of the group more in synch with Roman’s ideas. He likes that. At least someone whom he can rely on to do not the honorable, not the polite, not the right, but the smart thing.

«I’ll follow you, m’lady.» he says in a mockery of the pompous talk of nobles «Might be you can talk this stupid puppy dragon into hanging himself with his own tail, if you keep up this streak…» a torch in his hand and the gun in the other, he slips in after Hana.

stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 for any weird thing about the tunnel

I reasoned that we made less than 1/2 a level in 25 days... I'm away less than that...

Ok, GM, fellow players.

Quite to my surprise, I’ve been recently accepted into a volunteer project that will last from June 18th to July 6th. I doubt there will be much internet access where I’m going, and even then, I probably won’t have much time to post.
I have to leave Roman to be DMPCed until early-to-mid July. I may be able to post once or twice a week in this period of time, but I wouldn’t count on it.
I’ll leave in the PC profile a tactics and goals section, if there’s choices to be made. In the unlikely possibility that we attain a new level, I’ll post the new sheet too.

I apologize for the inconvenience – GM please let me know if you need anything else from me (or if you wish to just drop Roman down the bridge as retaliation… I will understand).

Still holding a very sharp rock he found nearby, that he has been using to cut open the Rust Monster to take away the rusting gland, dripping monster blood from the gloved hands but with a satisfied smile upon his face, Roman gets back with the group.
«So hey, guys… does anyone have a spare waterskin, or a glass vial? I think this rusting stuff may come in very much handy, and even if it doesn’t, it can earn us a pretty pen… what is going on?» he sees the group analyzing each other’s hands «Did that disgusting critter spray something on your hands?»

Seeing his companions in distress, Roman begrudgingly stands up from his operation and picks up the shovels he’s been using as a weapon «DOWN, BOY! Away! Go, go!» yelling to the creature as if it were stray dog, he slams the shovel hard on the ground, menacing.

If needed, move action to get closer
Standard action to Intimidate him 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 4 = 21

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 Do I even notice what's going on?

«You fellas just had to go and open that thing, uh? Worse than kids, that’s what you are! Just smash that critter's face before he bites you and get on with it!» Roman, still squatting by the rust monster’s corpse, takes out his gun, makes sure it’s loaded, then puts it down beside him, ready to pick it up if the small creature comes near him.
For the rest, he keeps studying how to remove the rusting liquid glands.

move action to reload the pistol (I forgot to do it just after the rust monster fight), then ignoring the fight unless the threat becomes bigger. I should be a few dozen feet away anyway.

Roman leaves the bickering about the lock to the others... he's much more interested in the rust monsters.

«So, really…» he asks to anyone who’s listening to him. «These buggers can rust any metal? They just rub their antlers and puff! Rust. Is that how it works?»

A vision makes his way in Roman’s mind – a vision of a pack of large rusting bugs unleashed in the prison of Zeltos, not harming the inmates, eating bars and locks and doors and Seeker's blades… his face shows his familiar grin.

«So, Master Bromen… really, anyone who knows a bit… can we save those antlers?» covering his chain shirt with his jacket, careful not to leave any metal on his body exposed, Roman gets closer to the remaining corpse of the monsters.

Craft (alchemy): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Rolls that I think may be appropriate to remove the rusting antlers and check if they still work. If I can, I take 20, otherwise use these rolls.

Roman grimaces when his bullet hits the bridge with a spark.
Dammit, old man! he insults himself No wonder you just died… you shoot like a blind beggar!

With a bug smashed by the ogre and another with a long way up, Roman focuses on the last one.
He starts running towards it, putting away his gun and grabbing with two hands the rusty metal tool he picked up. As he draws near, he lifts the weapon above his head and swings it, aiming at the monster’s face.

Round 5
I have trouble keeping track of what monsters are where. The one I shot at (failing) is the one 10 feet up? Or what?
Anyway, charge (current AC -2) and attack at the one remaining rust monster, assuming I can.
charging mace atk: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 91d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 and there's another 3. Beautiful

Roman takes a second to smile, satisfied and mischievously , at the rust monster bouncing on the rocks below «Ah! Some monsters they are. Look at them fall! Ah ah!»
He then draws his pistol. Moving towards the second monster, getting in that sweet spot where his gun was so effective, he closes an eye and takes aim.
«You’re next, beastie. Go meet your brother down there, would’ya?» he pulls the trigger.

Round 4 (or whatever, the round after the Bull Rush)
Move action to get within 20 feet of the second monster.
Standard action to fire
gun atk (vs Touch AC): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 91d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Does Roman knows that targeting the rusting antlers is a good bet? Did Bromen said it out loud?

Writing your next course of action then letting the GM take your action and roll for you it's just too easy... everyone knows GM rolls are always higher! I feel bad for the others now...

I do not understand the positions now, though.
Bannon and Hana both used actions to cast spells, while Roman always run. I was close enough to push down one of them, so why am I "60 feet back" ? Shouldn't I be a few dozens feet closer to the monsters than anyone else?

Am I imagining the situation correctly?

"Rust monster. Did you think it was going to be the size of a kitten?"

«Bah! There's also bugs called stag beetles, you know! But I never saw a hunter hanging a bug's head over his fireplace - 'cause they're not stag-sized!»

Roman runs down towards the bridge, pickaxe in a hand, gun in the other, assessing the situation.

Ok, I need a few details:
How big is the fall down the bridge?
Is any of the monsters near a border?
Does the bridge lack parapets?
I really want to charge one of them and Bull Rush it in the chasm below... any favorable positioning?

«Those are the bugs? What the...» Roman stares at the pony-sized insects for a second, with a blank stare.

«Could've told they were so big!» fearing for his beloved longblade, Roman grabs the nearest pickaxe or club he can get his hands on, then runs down, following the others.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Roman, still hidden behind the shack with his gun cocked, enjoys Hana's deception of the dumb brute - even without understanding the language, it's pretty clear the ogre is dancing to the girl's tune.
He'd figure slaying the giant would've been easier, sure, but she's learning about the bridge; and more importanty keeping him distracted, in case they really decided to attack him.

He understands the problem that the others might have with fighting something that eats metal that sounds weirdly dangerous... heh. I'd like to see someone trying to smash my head with a ham or a watermelon.

He stays low, keepig an eye on his companions, ready to jump in if they decided to attack.

To be honest, I made the same mistake Tera did. Mostly because the "buggering" post came out right after Hana called him a rapist.

That double entendre works so well, in an adventure promising some very dark comedy such as this one...

«Well then...» says Roman «seems like the majority wants to deal with this guy the old-fashioned way. I guess there's enough noise around that us fighting won't raise any alarm.»

Seeing Hana nocking an arrow and Bromen grabbing his most unusual weapon, Roman cocks his pistol «I think I'd move into a better position... My guess is the dumb fella won't look behind corners.»

Keeping his head down, Roman careflly walks up against the metal shack, just behind the door - ducking and kneeling so that he won't be hit by a door slammed open, and hoping the ogre would focus on the dangers in front of him instead of the ones behind.

initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

TO EVERYBODY: tell me if you're cooking up a better strategy, Roman has a "lone gunslinger" personality but will cooperate if the tactics are sound.