If any of you have the chance, I highly recommend going and seeing Peter Jackson's And They Shall Not Grow Old. I just saw it myself, it was absolutely incredible.
Then charging in while Madame Poltergeist does her thing seems like a great idea.
Dominic sighed to himself. "I could've just shot him, you know." But he jogs around the corner to try and cut the man off.
Y'know, Paizo's newfound habit of not showing me my post after the page reloads is causing way too many heart attacks.
Ellena drops to her stomach and squeezes under a fallen hardwood beam, exhaling deeply and giving silent thanks to all the old spirits who'd turned their heads when teenaged Ellena had wished for a more, erm, 'prominent' figure. Once she's through, she turns and guides the Doctor down through the splinters. Rolls:
"Alice, wait!" Ellena shouts, as the elder Inspector runs after the shadow creature... and takes their light with her. "...damn." Fumbling about in the dark, trying not to stab anyone else in here with Fabian, Ellena feels her way further into the church. All in a moment she finds herself back in the light, and she blinks furiously as her vision adjusts and she runs to try and get ahead of the creature. Rolls: Acrobatics, to move at full speed:
Ellena leans over to Az and whispers, "They don't work for Kell, they don't work for Gale... who else could they be working for? The people on the 'other side'?" "Hey, Corynne," Ellena calls out conspicuously, "want to test that ritual on them?"
It's also worth noting that we agreed to cease hostilities as well - it'd speak ill of us and the RHC if we just jumped her. That said, the higher-ups might want us to do it anyway. She's a terrorist after all, even if she's told us that she's not responsible for a lot of what she's blamed for.
Ellena's moth opens a little in shock. "Umm... So you can fly, then?"
I read back through the archives and threw together some notes of what I saw as pertinent information. It's here, feel free to add anything. I'll save my speculation for when we reconvene in the morning.
Man, it is just a bad day for the melee. Side note, I found this the other day and it reminded me of Alice.
Growling in pain, Odebie slams a foot down onto the nail he placed earlier. It erupts into a tangle of metal vines, hopefully slowing down the influx of guards. Mechanics: Using Ferrous Growth to create some kind of difficult/impassable terrain in the doorway. Max 10lb.
Odebie's eyes narrow, and his mouth firms into a stiff line. A heavy step takes him to the back of the chair, and he rests a heavy hand on the Captain's shoulder. "This act you will pay for. In this life or the next, I will see to it. Captain Grecco was a good man - unlike you." He takes a deep breath, re-prioritizing while Osric talks. "This is alchemy, yes? Like a cooking recipe? So send the recipe away to safety. We have work here. First, we survive the night. Then I will need to speak to a tree."
"His attitude always seemed to me to be one of... entrepreneurial belligerency? He recognizes the Temple's authority but does not approve of it, and is not pious at all. His dealings with Volcano's servants have focused on bettering himself by aligning his own interests with the Temple's." More quietly, "Or vice-versa."
Odebie stepped to the center of the arch, squared his feet. He'd never been especially skilled at public speaking, but he'd had to watch his father preach often enough to learn the basics. He took a moment to clear his throat and order his thoughts before he started talking. "I would ask you all first to take a moment and think on what theological lessons you remember about the efreet." He pauses. "This began with an investigation into gasp dealers in the Steam Slums.
"When we arrived, we found food stalls drugging sylphs and abducting them. We followed underneath the arena, and found a gasp production lab. It was booby-trapped, and though we managed to arrest the alchemist running the lab one of the booby traps started a fire, the results of which are doubtlessly well-known to you all." "Initial interrogation of the alchemist proved unhelpful, and the next day we escorted our mister guide back to his guild headquarters. We were ambushed by a fire elemental, along with a hidden archer. A reminder, none but the misters were known to be able to see through the mists, though old tales have the efreeti as being able to do so." "We killed the elemental and the archer fled. When we arrived at their guild headquarters, we quickly found ourselves under siege. By fire elementals and misguided sylphs, implanted with rubies." "We escaped, though the Mister's Guild was burned to the ground. The only surviving mister gave us a name - Corazón - and we quickly realized that this was an alter-ego of Temple Guard Cadet Macario v'Manco. Acting on a hunch from a well-learned friend, we approached the statue of King Fret, using a solution prepared using the ruby to avoid immolation. There we found Corazón, who was most certainly an efreet. We fought, and we believed we had killed him." "When we returned to the Watch, we found that the Temple had been conducting its own investigation into these matters under the auspice of Inquisitor Ky La. He invited us to join him as he explored what remained under the statue. There, we found that Corazón was not as dead as we had hoped - with the inquisitor's help, we ended him for good. We also discovered a darkspawn infector and, with the blessings of the Grey Father, Volcano, and clever sylph alchemy, killed it." "A ritual to cleanse the area destroyed the statue, and appears to have removed the steam from the Steam Slums. Those strange creatures, which I believe are called mephits, appeared soon after." "This concludes the tale." Nodding, Odebie stood in place and waited for the inevitable barrage of questions.
Still more than a little apprehensive, seeing the creepy ghost lady acquiesce does a lot to calm Ellena's mind. She just nods at the orc, not wanting another verbal catastrophe in front of the skyseer.
T'unavor turns, spits. "I swear, the drow are blessed just because we make life down here actually interesting. Many gnomes in city." He's over-enunciating his words now, like he would to a particularly slow child he isn't allowed to whip for some reason. "Gnomes keep traveling to city. Merchants. Rescuers. Many houses in city. Very good lair." Beside him, his spit starts to bleach the rock a sickly white.
Odebie explodes out of the dirt like the dead returned, slamming his hammer down on the mephit threatening the two Elen.
That'd do. I suppose for a falling oread it's instictive, like a cat landing on its feet. Or Wiley E. Coyote slamming into the desert.
"Zibophezele, ingane. Wenza imbangela yakho ibe yingozi ngaphezu kokuhle. Futhi, angicabangi ukuthi angakwazi ukukhuluma ulimi lwabantu. Odebie answers in his own grating rumble. Oread:
"Quiet, child. You do your cause more harm than good. Also, I don't think she can speak Oread." Inam's story turns Odebie's face into a stormcloud. "That... is a story I wish I had not heard, today of all days. You have just confessed to murder, and of a senior member of the Temple. I have only your word on the circumstances, and I have reasons of my own to doubt the truthfulness of your Volcano-granted sight. Fortunately, I am not able to offer summary judgement, nor -" and here he looks pointedly at Fi, "are we able to offer absolution." "But... you say there are two more of those... things wandering the city, and Byron is right about the nature of this threat. I think, for now, I can agree to not arrest you all on the spot if you can agree to be judged when this affair is over. And I disagree, Osric; I would like them to be here during the questioning if only because they will be asking interesting questions. Well, all save that other Oread."
I'm sorry, what does a walrus fluttering look like? Please tell me you've got a video of this...
Ellena will step into the carriage with Corynne and stay there - if nothing else, it's cover.
To clarify a tad, since I think people are talking past each other a little: Any class with martial weapon proficiency or proficiency in at least one exotic weapon (not counting the favored weapon of your deity) may choose to trade all proficiencies (except Light Armor, Simple Weapons, and Bucklers, if applicable) to gain a Martial Tradition. A Martial Tradition lets you pick two Equipment Sphere talents and two talents from any sphere; many examples are provided. Equipment Sphere talents can either add proficiencies (for example, EWP: Firearms) or have other effects (for example, letting you use an armored gauntlet as a buckler). You can gain additional talents by taking the Extra Combat Talent feat, or by trading a set number of feats at level 1. Trading a set number of feats is a better deal, but uses up some of the more useful feat slots. There are also archetypes for most Paizo martials, they may or may not be worth looking into.
I would, if I wasn't playing a two-skill-points-per-level class. Bloody fighters, always ruining things for the other martials.
Ellena gulps loudly when Alice says she'd be hiding; she'd very nearly failed Pursuit and Pursuit Evasion class last year and hadn't gotten any better since. It was the hair, it stood out from a mile away.
Bright-eyed, Ellena stood off to the side and listened while Alice talked. Of all the things she'd expected from her, this hadn't ever been one of them. If they claim to be separate, and act accordingly, then we have no authority - the Border States would be a good example. But then you'd be all on your own, prey for anyone who wanted what you have. When we have have a problem is when you disregard authority but still want their- our help; when you're too afraid to set out on your own. And you're welcome to try to convince her to change, but you have no authority. No-one's delegated any to you. You haven't earned it. She did speak up, softly, but only said. "You didn't answer her question."
In terms of chewing rocks, Odebie's personal preference is potter's clay - basically Oread cookie dough.
Stepping back to gain some distance, Odebie flips an iron nail out of his pocket and focuses briefly as his skin takes on a silvery sheen. Like before with the crutch, it twists and grows under his hand until he's holding what looks like a spear, save with a thick metal collar where the point would be. If Geb is still charging, as he goes Odebie will try and loop the collar around the Sargent's arm before twisting violently to put pressure on the joint. Rolls: Odebie is using Ferrous Growth to create a Mancatcher - which is much better than I thought it would be. If he beats Geb in initiative, Geb will provoke on the charge. Odebie's also using a use of Stonestrike, if he wins initiative.
Also, quick reminder that Odebie has DR 1.
Odebie's brows furrow, and his eyes shift to the middle space between Gad and his privates. "No, no we are not. For two reasons, I know this. Firstly, if we were, either the Lieutenant or the Captain would be standing here instead of your corpulence. And secondly, you accuse me of withholding something that, by your own temple's speakings, does not exist. You claim otherwise, on the words of a traumatized old man and a criminal, and you act outside your station. Get the captain. Dwaas."
Nodding at Corynne, Ellena steps past the guards and outside to scan the street for their erstwhile marine. Trying not to show it, she's also relieved at not having drawn 'Move the body' duty, and to be back in the sun. That room was a lot colder than she remembered it being.
I'm assuming Corynne goes in to see the body; I figure that's a sure bet. Ellena has almost no investigative abilities before level 5, so consider her 'Plan B' until I find a way to get creative. Shame they didn't confiscate our weapons.
"...is no more likely to accidentally blow anything up than I am..." "That's comforting. I can vouch for this 'Eldon'; the alchemy junk wasn't his and I was with its owner during the explosion. Your welcome to, Osric, though I'll need to go with you - don't get your hopes up. I think I know what the trouble for me will be, but there's a larger cloud on the horizon." He looks to Fiordelise. "Where, exactly, is your brother right now?"
Once more, Odebie does his best to shove the stone out of the way.
Am I the only one who read that last sentence as a challenge?
Thinking more quickly than she ever has, Ellena steps between Alice and Asrabey with Fabian at guard and cries out "Whoa, there!" This is dumb... "We are here to avert a war, and so are you!" This is really, really dumb... "Kill us here, and the Unseen Court will have declared war against Risur - you spoke true, before, when you said that King Aodhan was, is a soldier." He's going to kill me... "He will not forgive this! Not when we saved his life less than a week ago. S- stand! Down!" That last bit, though directed at Asrabey, is pretty clearly intended for the rest of the team as well and hopefully can be heard out the window. After all, every second they spend talking is another second closer the Risuri forces get. I'm dead.
Chej drops down into the auditorium seat with a loud 'flumph' and from his bag pulls out a bottle of polish and a rag. He goes to work cleaning devil blood off his blade; keeping one eye on the arena and trying to figure out what everyone else was badgering on about.
Blaze of glory... Ellena steps forward, and the catch in her voice - not to mention her sweating palms - make it very clear she'd really rather not be speaking. Still, she did promise Corynne that she'd try. "Col- No collateral damage sounds good. That sounds good." She coughs, shifts her grip on Fabian. "We can give you a sloop and the men to crew it..." and here her eyes narrow and she starts speaking with a slight accent, like she's imitating someone - no, it's not Alice - "...and one of us will go with you. They're our men."
As the mutants come bumbling through the door, with a soft growl Odebie drives the spiked end of his hammer into the second's chest. It had been a long, long time since Odebie had felt angry like this; the spirits surrounding him were like gnarled locust tree branches, covered in wicked thorns. The last time he had felt like this, someone had died - it was a good feeling for a day like this one. Actions: I'm accepting the rage. With his lucerne hammer, Odebie shouldn't have a problem attacking over the table - no spirit attack, though, as there's no one adjacent. I'm not sure if they can hold their attack until/if something does come into range, so I'll be rolling anyway in case that happens.
Thank you. Also, in Gameplay, I think we're all moving back to see how the Twilight Deserter is doing.
Why is she always yelling? Ellena follows Alice into the temporary jungle, trying her best both not to trip over fey roots and to keep an eye on Asrabey.
...you all realize Ellena would actually die, right?
That... is a lot of enemies. Might I recommend holding the line long enough for them to reach the outer lighthouse, then bombing the place to smithereens while retreating to the inner lighthouse?
Working fine. Also, this seems relevant.
Ellena can feel the soft drip-drip of blood running off of Fabian; it had been a blind stab through the barricade when the Duchess' forces rushed it. She hadn't had time to think, or even feel - their battlemage had blown the barricade to splinters and sent her singed and sprawling before Miselle's shot sent him into the harbor. Drip, drip, and there were three of them left, reloading their guns. She felt a jolt of enthusiasm from Fabian wash through her, and she still wasn't thinking. She charged. Ahead, one of the soldiers - as old as her, if not younger - had almost finished reloading and was bringing his gun up with the ugliest of looks. Fabian sent his shot into the sky and carved a red line into his throat. Another shot cracked the stone next to her, and Ellena came to her senses. She looked wildly for the nearest piece of cover and ran to it before their re-enforcements came fully into view. Actions: Battle, and then moving either to Az's barricade or into the Lighthouse depending on whether or not he makes a barricade.
But hey, at least no one eat Alice . Who knows where the campaign will take us (aside from YBD)? Edit: I also just realized, One of the options for classes that don't have a Spheres of Might archetype or don't want to use it is to trade in some or all of their feats to gain access to Spheres of Might, which means some Spheres count as the feat they're based on (so the Dual Wielding Sphere doubles as Two-Weapon Fighting). That was actually pulled from the playtest 'while they try and iron out some issues'. Best I can figure, at the moment you've two options for acquiring talents: The Extra Combat Talent feat, which has no pre-reqs and can be taken by anyone, and a Martial Tradition, wherein if you have at least Martial Weapon Proficiency you can trade all your proficiencies for a martial tradition.
Odebie lets out a soft sigh of frustration. "Fearganainm it is then. Who owns your work? Who paid for your lab?"
Being the junior, Ellena will follow everyone else's lead. In terms of the War sphere, the Iron Mage is purdy. Free-action +4 to attack rolls, saves, a bunch of other things, and +8 to AC all for the cost of 0 SP. And you can do this every round. Combo that with some of the better momentum talents and you have one scary fighter.
Grimacing and spitting - taking care to avoid any shadows, to avoid causing offense - Odebie grunts. "Beats my reason, at least - given the choice, though, I'd take fewer days like this. Desk duty isn't so bad."
Mentally wincing at the mention of 'bombs' in the middle of a police station, Odebie just nods and begins bandaging his leg.
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