"Let's get this place picked clean, including that Gatling gun up there!" There's a gleam in Scratch's eye.
Day Job: Master in Firearms Lore:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
A pretty impressive piece of equipment he's able to critically salvage and resell!
---
"Best put them hands up high and wide if you wanna keep that head of yer in one piece yellow guy!" Hollers Scratch down from atop the cliff, sight lingering on the man's upper lip, finger on the trigger once he makes an appearance.
Once Jaxon and Zizarc have the mage under control does Scratch pop up out of the rocks and heads down to join the others. "Good work crew, who wants some jerky, I know I could use a snack after all that excitement!" He hands out some pocket jerky to everyone, including the mage if they want a bite.
Giving the injured a look Scratch raises his eyebrow at Ziz and Linde "Trust me?" He grins, teeth yellow. He draws out a clan pistol hidden deep under his coat, points it at Zizarc's wounds and nods, pulling the trigger.
Scratch raises an eyebrow when half the gnome's face falls off What do we have here... He wonders. Recall Knowledge: Craft +12, Engineering +10, Occultism +10. Whatever seems appropriate.
The old Dwarf shrugs his shoulders and puts the bead on the gnome's head regardless and pulls the trigger before ducking back down to reload (normal round) and HIDE.
Scratch sits quietly, tucked in the rocks, enjoying the rumble down below, wondering just when some knuckle headed minion is going to show up and try to kill him. Maybe I need to just sling straight hot lead and skip the elemental fancies...
I hope we can salvage that chain gun off the spider, no one better blow it up!
Maybe I can get it mounted in a backpack.. wouldn't that be a hoot...
The shot hits and apparently does catch the gnome by surprise. But Scratch notes that, like the fire before, he seems to be resistant even to cold bullets.
So his resistance is fully covering the 2d4 persistent cold and the 2 cold splash damage? I guess I'll try to see if poison affects him next shot otherwise just swap to normal bullets.
Scratch raises a bushy eyebrow as things are about to get fun.
The reflection of an explosion flashes over Scratch's eyes as the undead head explodes into a fireball. A quiet smile lingers briefly over Scratch's lips before he's distracted again by the sounds of the chain gun fire. I'm going to need to do somethin' 'bout them guns.. maybe ole blue hair there is the key...
Scratch's aim this time zero's in on Kismar, his finger lightly ◆ activating his ammunition and then the trigger.
Scratch feels more and more giddy as the battle starts to take shape. Some targets disappear behind the rock outcrop, but new ones appear. Oh, I see you through that black cloud Mr Brown Workpants! Scratch's open sight settles in on the man's chest before ◆ activating his ammunition and a deafening controlled explosion follows.
@Scratch: Did you just Take Cover or were you attempting to Hide?
Scratch was hiding to hopefully avoid a counter attack, or at the very least waste some actions for seek.
Scratch mentally crosses off the blue mage from his tally sheet, ducking and freezing in place as the chain gun rattles off nearby rocks. Ooo, I like the sound of that caliber!
Scratch peers down range from his prone position on top of the canyon walls. Hrm, not the best sight lines, but it'll have to do... his sights bounce between targets before settling on the less armored blue 'mage' in the middle of the canyon opening.
Hearing the attack begin Scratch activates his preloaded eroding ammunition and pulls the trigger.
Replace Damage with Fatal Damage if a Crit, then x2 (P/B):2d12 + 5 ⇒ (1, 11) + 5 = 17Extra Fatal Dice Damage (P/B):1d12 ⇒ 4
One Shot, One Kill (Precision): First Strike, Stealth for Initiative:1d6 ⇒ 5
His aim looks good! Scratch ducks to hide as he loads a fresh shot, this time Elemental Ammunition (C): Cold.
So 10 plus 5 precision and the 2d6 persistent poison on a normal hit. If a crit, which is probably likely being Off Guard the damage jumps to fatal and is doubled: 48 total with the 2d6 persistent poison at the end of its turn.
◆ Covered Reload:
Slinger's Reload: ◆ Covered Reload: You duck into a safe position or minimize your profile while reloading to make your next attack. Either Take Cover or attempt to Hide, then Interact to reload. As normal, you must meet the requirements to Take Cover or Hide; you must be prone, benefiting from cover, or near a feature that allows you to Take Cover, and you need to be benefiting from cover or concealed to a creature to Hide from that creature.
If at all possible Scratch would try to start up on the cliff face to the north end of the map, I've placed his token where I'd try to get to. I don't know what direction exactly we approach from, but he has the skills likely to make it happen.
"Just try keepin' 'em from hiding behind barriers so I can keep blowin' holes in 'em. I'll work on anyone that looks unarmored first, or that is lookin' like artillery." He pats his own artillery piece lovingly.
Exploration mode is now Stealth. Scratch has incredible initiative, which is another circumstance bonus, so it won't stack with the bonus from scouting, but will from Raphy's ability. So overall he should be at a +22.
"Ooo, the options here are endless.. so many sniper positions, demolition weak points... I could hang out here all day!" He licks his lips and shakes his hips in anticipation of the fun times ahead.
Dunno how everyone wants to proceed, but in general Scratch would look to provide ranged cover for those that like to get into melee from as far away as possible. He's working with a 150' range increment on his arquebus. Another option is to get things off with a bang.. trying to destroy a key support holding this thing up against the canyon.
Somehow Scratch is always at the front of the line when 'free' anything is on the table, never is that more true when 'free shot' is on the table. "Name's Scratch, Scratch Steeltoe, great to meet you Baric." He accepts the drink and drinks it down immediately, sliding the empty glass back onto the table.
"We ran into a bunch of BS on the way, but nothin' a crack shot team like this couldn't lay down in a jiff." He scooches ahead and gets his bearings on the map. "Here, hungry kroothe with alotta kids and techno implants, fed 'em and fixed it... Here: swampy and gassy, fixed it. Here, swampy and acidy.. fixed that too, along with some blue haired shotty snipers, one prisoner, 5 feedin' the birds.." He grins.
"But prolly the biggest bit of unfinished business is someone named Crookchar." He finds and points out the Annihilation Canyon and double taps it with his blackened finger.
"First things first I guess.. but one way or another, I'll be blowing that place up." Scratch grumbles as the group does some healing before heading out to clear a safe route.
"Jax, Linde, point out the nasty plants and I'll lay 'em out from up range. Just mark 'em with something I can see from far off and stand clear." Scratch finds himself a high point and sets up his rifle for some target practice.
I'm going to assume Henri is gonna blast with a healing but if not Scratch can rub some dirt in people's bullet holes with Natural Medicine, or put them down with his gun, your choice.
Scratch quickly gathers up the rifles and pours over their construction, forge stamps (or lack-there-of), and the integrity of any welds. Before long he huffs in annoyance "Bunch of weird, cobbled together junk. Everything is one of a kind, and nothin' works without that KIND. Scrap."
Scratch's attention though is quickly gained by the weird little holo map "Well that's different..."
only negative about final sacrifice is that it requires at least 2 rounds, and 2 spells... and some form of assurance that the undead doesn't get squashed between rounds...
Ya I have it prepared on Eddie as well, its very clunky to use, I'll probably unprepare it next chance I get.
"Ahh, so you are usin' real bullets. Was startin' to think you were just firin' blanks." The bullet flies clean through his shoulder, but doing more damage to his shirt than his confidence. Scratch pops the gun barrel back through the fallen tree limbs and levels his aim at Black and returns fire.
Replace Damage with Fatal Damage if a Crit, then x2 (P/B):2d12 + 5 ⇒ (7, 12) + 5 = 24Extra Fatal Dice Damage (P/B):1d12 ⇒ 2
And BOOM it does! So crits upgrade the damage from fatal, so 50.
Scratch blows Black one final kiss then ducks for cover to reload again, popping up and looking for a repeat performance on whoever's left in fighting shape.
"Oooh yeah! That's what I call a HEAD RUSH!" Squeals Scratch as he jams another bullet into the rifle's breach.
"You guys are too good, better just stick with the cheap stuff, these guys are cooked." He aims and fires at whatever is left once the smoke clears and then ducks for cover to reload.
Replace Damage with Fatal Damage if a Crit, then x2 (P/B):2d12 + 5 ⇒ (10, 12) + 5 = 27Extra Fatal Dice Damage (P/B):1d12 ⇒ 11
So 13 damage to one of the prone snipers if any are left after the fireball, otherwise shoot at the last melee one. Covered reload bumps Scratch's AC to 27.
That's funny because a 'dead head' here besides the name given to The Greatful Dead fans, is what we call partially floating logs in the lakes that are leftover from old log drives to lumber mills. They partially bob up and down in the lake and move around during high flows in the Spring. Always a treat to hit with your boat at high speeds...
"Oh, its on like donkey kong now blue streakers!" Scratch grins as the gophers start scurrying out of their hole. He ◆ draws out his favorite death-dealer from afar, a finely crafted and magically enhanced arquebus. He reaches into the breach and ◆ activates its preloaded magical ammunition before laying his sights on green, returning fire!
BOOM!
A cloud of smoke and sparks bellow from the end of his barrel, sending an acidic ball of rifled steel at the green sniper. His aim is not gud. "FUDGE!"
Scratch finally ◆ hustles down into position next to the log, his feet covered in mud that he barely notices. He ◆ pulls out a 'not so patented' firebomb from his belt and heaves it grenade style at the camo hut housing the snipers. Its kind of a long shot but he hopes his aim is fair enough to light it up.
I backed Scratch up one movement since he did indeed make the disable attempt. He's also not holding anything. His next turn I'll move up as much as possible and sling an alchemist fire at the camo hut.
If disabling the bush doesn't count as a hostile action and break invisibility I'll do that, if it would break invis then I'll continue on my way to the log.
If Disable doesn't break Invis:
◆◆ Engineering Lore:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Scratch tries severing the fluid sac from the pump before continuing towards the log.
If Disable DOES break Invis:
Scratch sees the snipers as the primary threat (well duh, he's met himself..), and ◆◆ continues down the path to the log and ◆ draws out an alchemist's fire.
"Right next to you Jaxon, lighting that nest up in a jiffy."
"Umm, not good, heading to the log to get set up!"
Scratch whispers before ◆◆ pulling his hood over his head and... disappearing from view? His ◆ footprints in the muddy road head south towards the log.
Cloak:
Cloak of Illusions (Elvenkind): Item 7+: Invested Magical: Source GM Core pg. 287: Usage worn cloak; Bulk L
This cloak flows, covering and concealing the wearer's body. The cloak allows you to cast figment as an occult innate cantrip. Although naturally a dull gray, while invested the cloak picks up colors and patterns from its surroundings, granting a +1 item bonus to Stealth checks.
Activate—Draw Hood [two-actions] (manipulate); Frequency once per day; Effect You draw the hood up and gain the effects of invisibility, with the spell's normal duration or until you pull the hood back down, whichever comes first. While you are invisible, your figment innate cantrip gains the subtle trait, concealing the observable effects of your spellcasting.
Ya some sniper on sniper crime is on the way. I was planning on going invisible to get up to the log and then next turn toss a firebomb on their little camo hut to see how flammable it was... Shoot the rats as they scurry out.
I hate it when a post gets eaten by a crashing paizo...
Scratch celebrates the explosion with hoots and hollers, even kicking his old feet up and clacking them together. "Ain't nothin' you can't fix with a bit of explosives and gunpowder I tell ya."
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Scratch oogles the adamantine but alas cannot afford such a treasure, he does ask to hold it, laying his head on the cold black ingot and offering a silent prayer. Nice bit of RP flavor there, love it.
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Scratch tours the town and pairs up with someone for their safety, pointing out any and every bar and tavern they pass by "Stop by for a little drink maybe? A bite to eat?"Subsist via Forager Feat, but in a more urban setting for fun!
Scratch's gaze lingers on the axebeaks for a bit but its hard to tell if he's hungry or curious. Either way he doesn't pipe in with any particularly useful information. "This place is pretty crazy, reminds me of home!" He continues the scouting mission.
---
"Ahh the Steam Fields. Lotta potential here.. you'd be surprised how far along steam technology has come back home. Lemme show you guys a thing or three about steam and gunpowder..." As the group maps out the caravan route Scratch identifies a difficult area near the flat plains Jaxon and Zizarc point out.
"If we vent enough steam outta there it should be safe for the wagons to cross.. at least for a bit." He says with confidence, all the while pulling bundles of vials wrapped in powder from his belt. He scans the area and buries the charges in precise locations before clearing out and hollering "Fire in yer hole!"
KABLOOOOEY!
Mud and rubble, followed by a big blast of steam flies up in the air, along with a toothy grin from Scratch. Damn that never gets old.
Master Explosives Lore:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
Its not a straight connection, but I found it a reasonable RP solution and fun, using the following ability tied with his knowledge of explosives.. sort of like blasting to stabilize terrain.
Set Explosives:
◆◆ Set Explosives: (concentrate) Requirements You have 1 or 2 bombs in hand; Effect You attach the bombs to an inanimate object within your reach, such as a door, wall, or column, and rig them to detonate at a set time. The bombs explode at a specific time you determine (such as after your next action or at the start of your next turn, to a maximum of 1 minute), dealing their damage and splash damage to the inanimate object. Combine this damage for the purpose of resistances and weaknesses, and this damage ignores an amount of the object's Hardness equal to your level. Any creatures adjacent to the hazard take the bombs' splash damage, also combined for the purpose of resistances and weaknesses. As a reminder, since you didn't throw the bombs, Calculated Splash and similar effects don't apply. Making sure your timing is correct requires concentration, so you can't Set Explosives again while you're waiting for a previously set bomb to detonate. *Uses my two Moderate Alchemist's Fires*
"We got ourselves a bunch of woodsmen out here!" Scratch grins at the group for a job well done, but then quickly turning to harvest some tasty treats from the fallen creature.
Survival DC20:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
"Bah!"
He gathers up some local oily plants, ties them in a bundle and drags them behind himself to mask his scent.
Scratch also has this feat, only trained in survival though. If that would help sway any decisions. He'd rather give up rations than lay waste to the whole group.
Forager: Feat 1: General/Skill: Prerequisites trained in Survival
While using Survival to Subsist, if you roll any result worse than a success, you get a success. On a success, you can provide subsistence living for yourself and four additional creatures, and on a critical success, you can take care of twice as many creatures as on a success. Each time your proficiency rank in Survival increases, double the number of additional creatures you can take care of on a success (to eight if you’re an expert, 16 if you’re a master, or 32 if you’re legendary). You can choose to care for half the number of additional creatures and provide a comfortable living instead of subsistence living. Multiple smaller creatures or creatures with significantly smaller appetites than a human are counted as a single creature for this feat, and larger creatures or those with significantly greater appetites each count as multiple creatures. The GM determines how much a non-human creature needs to eat.
"Speed is top priority, got it." Nods Scratch, deciding to forgo his usually stealthy approach he focuses on finding the shortest route with Lindevaile.
Nature/Survival:
Nature or Survival:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Throughout the day when the group stops for a rest, or to make camp, Scratch surveys the immediate area to get a bead on any local wildlife.
Survey Wildlife:
If the GM can just roll these where appropriate it would be the least disruptive and be within the flow of the game. Survival +12
Survey Wildlife: Feat 1: General/Skill: Prerequisites trained in Survival
You can study details in the wilderness to determine the presence of nearby creatures. You can spend 10 minutes assessing the area around you to find out what creatures are nearby, based on nests, scat, and marks on vegetation. Attempt a Survival check against a DC determined by the GM based on how obvious the signs are. On a success, you can attempt a Recall Knowledge check with a –2 penalty to learn more about the creatures just from these signs. If you’re a master in Survival, you don’t take the penalty.
Scratch is +12 to Nature and Survival. Not to mention is pretty confident in his 'backwoodsy' abilities.. so I guess you can convince him to do this verses his normal stealth.
Scratch also has +2 to initiative for when that combat roll comes up.
Scratch nods at the information "I just don't want to put a bullet in someone that's not supposed to get one. I'm not always the best at reading lips from 500 yards." He winks.
I already have boots and move at 25'. Anyone have an overland speed less than 25'?
Scratch's eyes light up as the mission is laid out before them, leaning down over the map like a kid in a candy store "Nothin' like some overland travel.. livin' off the land.. blastin' varmits, bandits, and robots. Wooo!"
"Robots.. metal contraptions. My brother builds that kinda stuff. Dink." Scratch and his brother don't get along that great it seems.
"I'm pretty good in the wild, I'll help keep us on track, maybe we can even sneak up on somethin' and give 'em a few "BOOMS!" before they even know we're there."
Scratch only has one relevant question so far "So these Gorumites.. they human? Orcs? Hobgoblins? What.. don't tell me giantkin."
Scratch gives a fist pump at Linde's spell response, he wasn't sure what she meant by most of that, but he definitely appreciates a big banger. "We'll get along just dandy Lady, a big bang is my jam!" He raises his eyebrows and does a little wiggly wiggle, pointing at some REALLY large guns strapped across his back and a belt full of explosives.
"Uhhh witching hour? Just a figure of speech Lady." He grins, a bit jealous of the flying around bit. "What kinda magic spells you usually slingin'? Big bangers or one of those mind games types of woman?"
Scratch hustles over for his own pickle, trading some spicy jerky for the tangy treat. "You a fermented pickle type or vinegar soaker?" He asks before taking a bite, secretly hoping its crispy.
Scratch digs out another piece of unidentified dried meat and hands it over to Jaxon "Were they ROUS's at least?" He asks, referring to the rats of course.
"You two can stand up in the front and get yer hands grimy, I'll provide ranged support." He grins, showing off an impressive set of yellowing teeth with very poor gums. It looks like years of jerky stuck in between them has taken its toll.
He looks up at a clock on the wall and raises his eyebrows in excitement "Looks like its almost the witching hour.. hope you all are ready?"
