[TheLongRoad] The Road to Thustrata

[LordKruelos]

is the portcullis a traditional one of bars that Sainrith could shoot through?

Yes. Made of hard wood. It could be chopped apart with time.

Fair enough, I was under the impression it was barely held up by the ropes, and a little extra weight would bring it down. I'll edit.

That's why I wanted to clarify in case I'd been unclear -- I'd say it's possible, but highly unlikely (Action Dice can only do so much) that Var acting alone would be successful -- and if you try, he'd be standing vulnerable to attacks from the dark, which would be something of a dick-GM thing for me to do without warning you. 2-3 medium-sized characters attempting it would be significantly more likely to snap the already frayed ropes.

[foproy]

if we hit the switch could one character hold the portcullis till the last person got through?

[LordKruelos]

if we hit the switch could one character hold the portcullis till the last person got through?

Yes with a roll
Auto-yes with Action Dice spent. I'm a big believer of Action Dice being offered as scooby snacks, so if players would like to spend AD on a Perk to help them out here, it could be a clever play.

For Var to be able to do that would be a 3 AD Perk (see FantasyCraft p.366 for more on Narrative Control), so it's up to the PCs to determine who pays that price and you can narrate the party regrouping in the Wine Cellar with the Portcullis crashing down separating you from the Deep Horror.

[LordKruelos]

I can put one AD in if we are allowed to split the cost.

Yup. If Var were to do it all himself, I'd throw in a instant boost to his reputation.

Sainrith's part of the event is dashing through the gate to trigger the the release, while Shadefire and Var grab the falling gate and slow its decent long enough for the small horse and rider to slip through.

[LordKruelos]

Question is am I up for that level of daring do? Lemme think about it.
Or we could go with my other plan...

also don't forget our unseen opponent...

If Sainrith doesn't want to do it, Var and Shadefire will yank it down themselves. For the mere cost of 3 AD, it's coming down, giving you time to pause / attack from range.

[Catodon]

Sainrith

“Get Wallace, sprint for the far side, lure out the beast” Sainrith calls as he maintains a steady bead on the arch of the portcullis. (click to show/hide) Still willing to donate an AD to the cause if needed and allowed. Free Action Call out Free action Delay. Sainrith will wait for the creature to appear ing the portcullis arch as long as he can. IF the creature becomes visible: Half Action Short Bow in deadshot stance: +10 to hit, 1d4+2 or 1d4+4(std) lethal, error 1-2, threat 19-20, cavalry, bleed (no poison used) Bow basics +2AP. Origin adds +2 damage vs. std characters with bows. Practiced shot no roll to hit, treat as +20 total. Damage roll: +2 more if standard foe. (1d4+2=3)  Half action: Another bow atack as above. Damage roll: +2 more if std (1d4+2=3) Don’t forget to keep rolling those bleed saves OR if the creature fails to appear or the portcullis if dragged down Free ActionDrop to normal stance. Half Action Move to the far wall directly across from the protculis Half Action Assume deadshot stance

[LordKruelos]

if we hit the switch could one character hold the portcullis till the last person got through?

Since you're active, want to post an action before the deadline?

[foproy]

shadefire lets out a shrill whistle signaling for kheklos to follow as he retrieves his staff then falls back behind the portcullis.

[LordKruelos]

[orcish]"One foe at a time. Back Grimmar"[/orcish] Letting Grimmar through the portcullis first, Var dashes through the portcullis turning to set his spear against the creature's onslaught in entranceway.

Grimmar snarls but heads back out through the portcullis a moment before Var throws his weight on it. The beast's breathing is getting laboured as his blood slowly drains from the gouged flesh on his side.

(click to show/hide)

Var
1/2 action move to the centre just behind the portcullis (trying to stop the creature actually getting into wine cellar.
Then since I can't ready or Total Defence with 1/2 an action I'll try Anticipate
ANTICIPATE
1 Half Action • Initiative Action
The character attempts to second-guess an opponent’s
upcoming actions. With a successful Sense Motive check (DC 10 + the target’s base attack bonus), the character gains a Defense dodge bonus against the target’s attacks equal to the character’s Wisdom modifier (Var: +2). This effect lasts for 1 full round.
A character may only benefit from 1 Anticipate Action at
any time.
(1d20+3=10).

GM: Since the creature's BAB is greater than +0, the anticipate roll is not successful.

Again I'll also Parry the first hit on me and Shield Block the second (if applicable). If the creature comes into even faint light I should be back with a chance of hitting it.
Grimmar Move and Move (if req) to get up against the far wall, if he can he'll grab/prompt one of the stationary party members to go with him - out of reach of the approaching tentacles.

Vár plays his role of rear guard, pulling back to just behind the portcullis and readying himself to stand his ground against the horror approaching in the darkness.

Grimmar continues to ignore the bleeding, moving on command to the far wall, pausing only to drag Wallace to partial safety behind a row of wine barrels
Bleeding: takes 3 damage, the blood loss starting to take a toll on the mighty Vargyr.
1d4=3

(click to show/hide)

Cadre: Your leadership inspires your team to excellence. Once per scene as a free action, you may temporarily grant your teammates 1 of your Basic Combat feats until the end of the scene.
LIGHTNING REFLEXES Benefit: Your base Reflex save bonus increases by +3. You may also roll twice when making Initiative checks, keeping the result you prefer.
Guard Yourselves!: +2 morale bonus to Defense to you and each teammate who can see or hear you

Shadefire

shadefire lets out a shrill whistle signaling for kheklos to follow as he retrieves his staff then falls back behind the portcullis.

Wallace

Wallace's stiff form is drug 10' further back into the room by Grimmar and is now Sprawled behind a row of wine barrels.

An Unseen Combatant

No action discernible to the PCs.

GM's Note: Anyone without Darkvision
The Wine cellars are still lit by Faerie fire, but every square of the crypts and the tunnel beyond not adjacent to the portcullis (which could as Faint light -- Visual Increment –40 ft.  +4 to targets' Defenses) drops to No light  (Visual Increment Visual increment Drops to 0 ft. +8  to targets' Defenses)

The Limestone Tunnels - Round 6
(Click link for battle map)

(click to show/hide)

18 Deep Horror (+4) 14 = 18 [Described in post]
17 Sainrith (after Delay action) [Described in post]
16 Var and Grimmar (+3) 13 = 16
14 Shadefire (and Khelos) (+4) 10 = 14
07 Wallace (+3) 4 = 7
05 Unseen Combatant

Deep Horror

The Horror advances through the darkness, his long, shadowy tentacles reaching out of the darkness first to attack the lone figure barring its way while it shuffles into the edge of the light on the other side of the portcullis.   (click to show/hide) Actions: Standard Move + Standard Attack + 1 Free Attack (Swift Attack NPC quality) STANDARD ATTACK 1 Half Action • Attack Action The character makes 1 attack against 1 target. @Var Defense: 16 (14+2 from Guard Yourselves), DR 4 Deep Horror (+6) Tentacle slap [1d10/20]+ 2(Str) (bleed; reach 1; trip) (total reach 3) 1d20+6=14, 1d10+2=10 +GM AD 1d6.extra(6)=4 = Since Vár has already attempted to Parry in this combat (and doesn't have any Melee feats), he's out of Parry attempts for this combat and is down to Shield Block. I'm going to say half of the +4 modifier to target's Defense from total darkness gets added to the Shield Block DC (It's easier to block with a shield than parry, especially something you can barely see) (now 20) SHIELD BLOCK Initiative Action: The character uses his shield to absorb what might otherwise be a solid hit. Once per round when the character has a readied shield and isn’t flat-footed, after he’s hit by an unarmed or melee attack but before damage is rolled, he may make a Fortitude save (DC equal to the attack check result). With success, the attack’s damage drops to 0 (though any special effects from the attack are still felt). The character may take this action a number of times per combat equal to the number of Melee Combat feats he has (min. 1). Fortitude Save 1d20+4=12 12 < DC 20, Shield Block unsuccessful Var's DR reduces damage (10 - DR 4) = 6 Var Fortitude save vs Bleed (DC 6) 1d20+4=17 Succeeds. @Var Defense: 16 (14+2 from Guard Yourselves), DR 4 Deep Horror (+6) Tentacle slap [1d10/20]+ 2(Str) (bleed; reach 1; trip) (total reach 3) 1d20+6=13, 1d10+2=8 Misses.

As the creature moves into a square adjacent to the portcullis, it is treated as being in Faint light -- Visual Increment –40 ft.  +4 to targets' Defenses.

Standing alone to block the Horror's advance, Var's shield is not quick enough to block the creature's attack (-6 Vitality) but he recovers quickly enough to avoid being hit a second time as the creature stalks like death itself into the edge of the light.


Sainrith

Sainrith

“Get Wallace, sprint for the far side, lure out the beast” Sainrith calls as he maintains a steady bead on the arch of the portcullis. (click to show/hide) Still willing to donate an AD to the cause if needed and allowed. Free Action Call out Free action Delay. Sainrith will wait for the creature to appear ing the portcullis arch as long as he can. IF the creature becomes visible: Half Action Short Bow in deadshot stance: +10 to hit, 1d4+2 or 1d4+4(std) lethal, error 1-2, threat 19-20, cavalry, bleed (no poison used) Bow basics +2AP. Origin adds +2 damage vs. std characters with bows. Practiced shot no roll to hit, treat as +20 total. Damage roll: +2 more if standard foe. (1d4+2=3)  Half action: Another bow atack as above. Damage roll: +2 more if std (1d4+2=3) Don’t forget to keep rolling those bleed saves 1d20+4=17 1d20+4=22 With a +4 to Fort saves, it's not hard to beat a DC 3.

As the creature comes into view, Sainrith looses a pair of arrows, both striking but doing minimal damage (-3, -3 Vitality vs Special NPC).

Cumulative Damage Tracking:
Var [10/33 vitality, 14/14 Wounds]
Grimmar [0/30 vitality, 5/15 Wounds] and Bleeding, Fatigue I
Sainrith [29/39 vitality, 8/8 Wounds]
Shadefire [27/27 vitality, 13/13 Wounds]
Khelos [0/15 vitality 7/20 Wounds] and Fatigue I
Wallace [24/24 vitality, 17/17 Wounds] and Sprawled, Paralyzed
Deep Horror -33 vitality, -10 Wounds

Next turn posts Saturday

[foproy]

after setting wallace down shadefire drops his bow and moves up to the front lines saying to var

"step back ive got this. if you have to do something use my bow."with that he takes a swipe with his staff."

(click to show/hide)

1d20+4=18
if that misses i will spend the action die to reroll this is the roll
1d20+4=23
damage:1d8=7
also if the second roll is needed to hit, or if you will give it to me for dramatic effect. i will spend an additional die to activate that crit.

Nice roll, 4 explode then 1. +5 to damage.
1d4.open(4)=5

copied straight from the oc post. for a total of 11 wounds.

[Catodon]

Sainrith calls "let it come a step forward"as in fluid motion he lets fly two more arrows.

(click to show/hide)

this is assuming the beast stays at least 3 squares away. If it gets too close Sainrith will ride to the base of the stairs to stay out of range then fire a single arrow without the deadshot +2.
Two practiced shots no roll to hit is 20. AP2 and the creature has to make two easy bleed saves, lets hope it rolls a 1.
Damage  two arrows of 1d4+2
don't forget bleed (1d4+2=4, 1d4+2=3)

[LordKruelos]

Vár
Vár holds his ground against the horror's attacks, waiting for an opening.

Grimmar stops acting, his blood loss slowing
Bleeding: takes 1 subdual damage (not acting)

(click to show/hide)

Cadre: Your leadership inspires your team to excellence. Once per scene as a free action, you may temporarily grant your teammates 1 of your Basic Combat feats until the end of the scene.
LIGHTNING REFLEXES Benefit: Your base Reflex save bonus increases by +3. You may also roll twice when making Initiative checks, keeping the result you prefer.
Guard Yourselves!: +2 morale bonus to Defense to you and each teammate who can see or hear you

Shadefire

after setting wallace down shadefire drops his bow and moves up to the front lines saying to var

"step back ive got this. if you have to do something use my bow."with that he takes a swipe with his staff."

(click to show/hide)

1d20+4=18
if that misses i will spend the action die to reroll this is the roll
1d20+4=23
damage:1d8=7
also if the second roll is needed to hit, or if you will give it to me for dramatic effect. i will spend an additional die to activate that crit.

Nice roll, 4 explode then 1. +5 to damage.
1d4.open(4)=5

copied straight from the oc post. for a total of 11 wounds.

Shadefire picks his moment carefully, dashing forward and striking, his staff finding a weak point in the creature's chitenous shell. The Horror staggers to a pause, swaying slightly with a faint squawk, falling forward and slamming hard into the floor with a crash

Deep Horror

'CAW' I'm Dead

Wallace

Wallace is still breathing.

Sainrith

Holds off firing as he sees the monster collapse.

Cumulative Damage Tracking:
Var [10/33 vitality, 14/14 Wounds]
Grimmar [0/30 vitality, 5/15 Wounds, 1subdual] and Bleeding, Fatigue I
Sainrith [29/39 vitality, 8/8 Wounds]
Shadefire [27/27 vitality, 13/13 Wounds]
Khelos [0/15 vitality 7/20 Wounds] and Fatigue I
Wallace [24/24 vitality, 17/17 Wounds] and Sprawled

[spinningdice]

Pausing a moment to ensure it's not a bestial ruse, Var then walks over to Grimmar.  "Easy Grimmar, you took a beating there, lets have a look at you." Var takes a look to get a better feel for the extent of Grimmar's wounds.

Grimmar gives Var a withering stare, with a clear intent of 'I'm hurt but not dead yet - don't patronize me.'

If anyone's got any medicine skills, my faithful friend here could use some patching up, if someone heals Grimmar Var will keep watch for whatever invisible or small bug took Wallace down, if not he'll attempt a medicine check as best he can.

[foproy]

you both got pretty beat up there, let me have a look. after saying this he looks at sarinth trying to sneak off and find his arrows and says in a harsh but silent tone. "you stay right here get that damn light going and dont you dare wander off till we are finished here. you nearly got every one of use killed.khelos i know you are hurt but dont let him leave.with all that said he begins digging in his doctors bag.

(click to show/hide)

mend checks all around and one to stop the bleeding on var. and i will start with him.

var
stop bleeding: 1d20+8=25take one point off because my first check i rolled a three.
mend:1d20+8=28 if anyone has an action die to activate that it add 2 die onto the next roll
result:2d6=6

grimm
mend: 1d20+8=28see above
result:2d6=7

khelos
mend:1d20+8=26
result:2d6=10

those were not all my rolls i had 3 failures no ones for the sake of time.

[Catodon]

Sainrith

Sainrith shoots Shadefire a withering look “You and I live in very different worlds, in my world I saw a bunch of huge clumsy oafs ignore my excellent plan and rush into the dark, where the monster had the advantage, and get themselves half killed. Call off your odiferous unwashed dog.  Can we not put aside ill-will and celebrate our victory in good humour? When the dark is done shall we sing and dance as brothers? I can even teach you to comb your hair.”. With that the small fey rides over to the hideous corpse, dismounts and begins to saw through the creature’s neck with his knife. As black ichor spills on the floor, to Var “You may claim this trophy if you wish”. Sianrith sings sweet and softly as he works: “Praise the Beast Lord, we who dance in moonlight after blood call, raise our voices to the Tree Lord for gore is on the flowers, Praise the end of Autumn reaping, we who sleep in sunlight after blood call. Raise our cups to the Sun for blood is washed from blades…” Epsiyr tentatively laps at the black ichor spreading across the floor.