IC IX: Turning the Tide

[CoffeeIncluded]

"What happened? What hasn't happened? The world is coming up with new ways to be mad as a daily habit it seems", Rhenner sighs and shakes his head, "Sometimes I wish I was back in my life three years ago, the world used to make sense then. Although, the reality would still be what it is, and eventually it would show somehow and then I wish I understood more what was happening." The look in his eyes is distant and he's not sure himself that what he says makes much sense. "Look", he continues rubbing his forehead, trying to focus, "it's-" He is cut off by the raised alarm.
]

Everything Rhenner said is...something Natalia's been thinking about herself, actually. She wouldn't go back as far as three years, but to back to the start of the adventure, where everything was as solid as stone, not brittle orange or shifting yellow...back when things were simple, and there wasn't need to be so paranoid.

"No, Rhenner, think I get. Want go back, where, when..."

As the party runs out into the field, they see civilians darting into shelters, just as men and women with swords and bows emerge. Many seem resigned, as though this were a regular, and unsurprising, occurrence. The party is on the far southern side of the city, but they can see archers line up along the terrace to the north.

"I'll grab my bow," Lander shouts at the party as he steps back towards one of the guard towers. "-and we can meet at the wall. Don't worry- we've been through this-"

Suddenly one of the walls nearest them, the one on the southernmost side of the city, shudders as if struck. Moments later it shutters again, and a small burst of flame seems to break through, in a small chunk ten feet above the ground. Looking through the hole, the party can see a whirlwind of fire- but unlike the fire from the dragon or from a spell, this fire seems to have a stable form- that of a hulking beast. It has punched through the wall as if it were made of paper, and the edges of the hole are already alight.

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Time to roll initiative. Map upcoming. Natalia and Rhenner can see this happen, Mithril and Kurt are just a little bit farther but can reach it momentarily and can hear Rhenner and Natalia.

The swirling heat slaps Natalia in the face even at this distance, and she stares at the hulking mass of flame that's tearing through solid wood like wet tissue. Fire is alive in a way, and so is lightning, but not like this. It's like the little lightning elemental that she learned to pull from her core and send out for a moment, but this is so much bigger and nastier...

was it thrown from somewhere, or magically thrown here? "living flame!" Natalia screams as she casts the cats grace spell on herself, through the gloves. "think they have caster!" she screams as she looks for the Flames' source and heads towards it, not quite as fast once she feels the heat rolling off the beast.

Spoiler

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natalia casts cats grace through the arcanist gloves (4 minute duration) and then moves towards the fire. I'm sorry, but may she please look around?

[Cavelcade]

Kurt hears the alarm bells ringing and stands slowly, shaking off the last cobwebs of uncertainty before grabbing his bow from where he'd left it beside the door, stringing it in a swift movement as he races towards where the flow of people is strongest, his brow furrowed lightly at the bridge of his nose as he spots the enemy - more fire, this time moving on its own. He speeds up, racing to get into range before it breaks through completely.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Knowledge Arcana: (1d20+3)[20]

Maneuvers rolls:
(1d5)[2] - Stone Bones
(1d4)[3] - Overwhelming Mountain Strike
(1d3)[2] - Leading the Attack

He's in Iron Guard's Glare btw.

[Admiral]

Kurt recognizes the creature as a fire elemental, an incarnation of fire given shape. He knows it would be vulnerable to cold magic.

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BTW I had to change Kurt's color on the map to make him visible against the background!

Mithril's turn. Once she can see the elemental she can Knowledge (Arcana) as well.

[Athedia]

Found it!!!

Spoiler: Spells

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Spell List:
0 (4):
Detect Magic
Read Magic
Prestidigitation
Mage Hand
1(5):
Mage Armor
Vampiric Touch
Magic Missile
Magic Missile
Burning Hands
2(5):
See Invisibility
Web
Cloud of Knives
Acid Arrow
Acid Arrow
3(4):
Tongues
Haste
Dispel Magic
Haste
4(4):
Black Tentacles
Dimension Door
Dimension Door
Black Tentacles
5(2):
Wall of Limbs
Fly, Mass

Mithril followed Kurt out of the church at the sound and stared up at the large creature. Her first reaction (now habit after many battles) was to touch her shoulder, summoning forth the force field armor.

Spoiler: Checks

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Mage Armor

Knowledge Arcana: (1d20+17)[30]

[Admiral]

Mithril recognizes the creature as a fire elemental, and knows it is vulnerable to cold magic while immune to fire magic, as well as to the kinds of sleep and paralysis spells Shiny tended to favor. She also knows physical weapons are partially ineffective against it.

The party can hear a few shouts at the top of the nearest stone tower, the sounds of guards preparing. But then a burst of fire engulfs the tower, and the shouts turn to screams. It looked like the fire had been cast from somewhere beyond the walls. Lander gasps as he sees this, and races towards the door at the base of the tower to aid the guards at the top.

The fire elemental continues to tear through the thick wooden wall, growing the gap until it is ten feet tall and wide, enough for the beast to step through- and for anyone to follow. The edges of the hole continue to burn slowly.

Spoiler

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Lander's position has been updated on the map.

You can't see anyone through the hole yet, just vague glimpse of the outside of the wall.

[CoffeeIncluded]

The screams make Rhenner stop and very nearly run to help. Only the immediate logic of the situation doesn't make him rush into the burning watchtower.

"There's a caster beyond the wall," Rhenner gasps as he sprints towards the elemental methodically burning through the wall. He curses the armor slowing him down; at this rate the thing will burn down the entire town! He takes out a scroll--there's a prayer on it, an incantation and exhortation for the target to follow the teachings of Fharlaghn and wander--somewhere else. But all he shouts is, "GO AWAY!"

Spoiler: Actions and disclaimer

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Rhenner will run forward and cast Dismissal off the scroll. DC spell’s save DC - creature’s HD + your caster level--I assume the caster level of whomever wrote the scroll, so it's 18-Fire elemental's HD+9?

Also, IF THIS WASN'T OK, PLEASE TELL ME SO I CAN DELETE IT!

[Admiral]

Spoiler

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Of course it is OK!

Good luck:

Will save (1d20+7)[9]

And the cleric gets the battle off to a solid start!

Rhenner puts all the might of his faith into the spell, and the fire elemental shrivels into oblivion.

The edges of the hole continue to burn. Through it the party can see only grass and a distant treeline.

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You can't see much from your angle so you'll need to approach, enemies could still be out there (and not necessarily invisible). Combat continues, party's turn.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Forest and fire--the screams shake at Natalia's core and send he back to the shrapnel ship, and the slaughter. The crackle of flames and the pop as Rhenner's spell takes hold and forces the hulking beast of flame to vanish...somewhere drags her back to the now. Forest and fire. They're going to burn down not only the village, but also the whole forest if she and he friends don't stop them!

Flames crackle along the barricade, and burning chunks of wood collapse into charcoal and embers, but the fire still burns as Natalia races towards it. It's a curtain of flame, enough to make the most of her brain quail and shrink away even with knowledge of Rhenner's abjurations, but she runs, and leaps.

Somewhere, at some time, she heard a story, more of a rhyme. The hare jumps into the fire, but leaps through so fast that it isn't burned. Natalia's fast, but not that fast. She feels flames and warmth lick at her ankles and threaten to travel up her legs, but thanks to Rhenner's spell it's and warmth and nothing more. She lands on the other side, rolls forward, stumbles to her feet, and looks around into the forest.

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Thanks, Admiral.

Natalia keeps running, full-round action, to S6. She then takes a good look and listen around. Is that okay?

Also, her ac is 27 instead of 29 right now and she's not flatfooted thanks to uncanny dodge

[Cavelcade]

Kurt rushes forward as far as the edge of the wall, then hesitates uncertainly, sword in hand as he looks out to try and spot an enemy anywhere, trying to see where the attack is coming from. "Natalia, do you see anyone?"

[Admiral]

As Natalia hops through the burning hole in the door, she is surprised by a pair of arrows flying at her from the woods. The two orcs have warpaint on their faces- similar, though still distinct, from the Horde soldiers they'd encountered around Soshima and Deldon, and each wears chain armor.

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Readied actions!

O2:
Attack: (1d20+13)[21] Critical: (1d20+13)[21]
Damage: (1d8+3)[7] plus (1d6)[1] fire Critical: (1d8+3)[11]

O3:
Attack: (1d20+14)[33] Critical: (1d20+14)[17]
Damage: (1d8+4)[11] plus (1d6)[4] fire Critical: (1d8+4)[6]

Looks like one hit for 15 damage.

Could you delete your post? I was delayed posting about the orcs, but it doesn't do anything to post about them before my IC update; as you saw there were readied actions. You could repost after

Aside from the pair of archers who had fired at her, she spots another orc soldier in a breastplate taking cover behind a tree nearer the guard tower.

[CoffeeIncluded]

As Natalia hops through the burning hole in the door, she is surprised by a pair of arrows flying at her from the woods. The two orcs have warpaint on their faces- similar, though still distinct, from the Horde soldiers they'd encountered around Soshima and Deldon, and each wears chain armor.

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Looks like one hit for 15 damage.

Could you delete your post? I was delayed posting about the orcs, but it doesn't do anything to post about them before my IC update; as you saw there were readied actions. You could repost after

Aside from the pair of archers who had fired at her, she spots another orc soldier in a breastplate taking cover behind a tree nearer the guard tower.

Kurt rushes forward as far as the edge of the wall, then hesitates uncertainly, sword in hand as he looks out to try and spot an enemy anywhere, trying to see where the attack is coming from. "Natalia, do you see anyone?"

Natalia sees the movement of arms and bows and arrows as she gets to her feet, and throws herself flat against a rock again. One arrow whizzes overhead, but the other one is too fast to dodge, and buries itself into her forearm, between the bones. She screams, cuts it off into a gasp as she reflexively snaps the shaft with her other hand. Panting, she gets to her feet, and easily spots the two orcs that shot at her, and a glint of metal that betrays the presence of the third.

"Yes," she gasps, quickly pointing at the three orcs she can see with her other arm. "But bet more I can't."

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Oops, sorry about that. Is this any better? And haha, I'm not terribly surprised. Oh well!

Also, it's only 11 damage. Rhenner cast Protection From Fire on Natalia; she can absorb 114 more points of fire damage in the next 100 minutes or so.

[Athedia]

Mithril ran toward the wall, keeping away from the hole. Pressing herself against it she gasped out her question. "Did you see who summoned it? They are the most danger."

[Admiral]

One of the orc archers shouts back behind him, and new shapes appear in the forest. Barbarians emerge from their hiding spots deeper in the trees and rush forward; a full squadron of orc raiders, at least. Each brandishes an axe, sword or other weapon- it seems they were prepared to conquer the town once the wall was down.

The orc in the breastplate reaches his palm out towards Natalia. From his hand there springs an arrow of acid that launches at the rogue.

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Warmage!

Acid arrow:

Ranged touch: (1d20+7)[19]
If hits, this round (2d4)[4] damage

The two archers again fire their bows at Natalia, this time each shooting a pair of flaming arrows.

Spoiler

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O2:
Attack: (1d20+13)[21] Critical: (1d20+13)[14]
Damage: (1d8+3)[8] plus (1d6)[2] fire Critical: (1d8+3)[7]

Attack: (1d20+8)[28] Critical: (1d20+8)[25]
Damage: (1d8+3)[4] plus (1d6)[4] fire Critical: (1d8+3)[8]

O3:
Attack: (1d20+14)[21] Critical: (1d20+14)[15]
Damage: (1d8+4)[7] plus (1d6)[3] fire Critical: (1d8+4)[11]

Attack: (1d20+9)[25] Critical: (1d20+9)[13]
Damage: (1d8+4)[5] plus (1d6)[2] fire Critical: (1d8+4)[6]

Party's turn! Map updated with all them new orcs.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia's eyes widen at her mistake--she may be stronger than before, but she's not that strong, and she can see nearly ten orcs bearing down on her. Her realization is soon confirmed as they fire another round of arrows at her. Natalia flips and ducks and dodges and is able to dodge most, but one of them punches through her thigh, trailing blood as it goes. She stumbles, and the orc in the breastplate sends a familiar arrow of sizzling acid in the same spot, burning her already bleeding flesh. She screams as she runs and half-hobbles back to the wall, draws her bow, and chugs another potion that wards her against evil. And considering their axes, that would be appropriate. "Keep them from wall!" she shouts. "Flood of blades through broken dam!"

Spoiler: Action

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Natalia runs as far back as possible, behind the wall if she can, using the anklet if necessary, and drinks another potion of Protection from Evil, sending her AC back into dodge-tank levels and also protecting her from mental manipulation and summoned creatures (now that I think about it, would Protection from Evil have protected us against the voice? It protects against direct attacks so I don't think so but is my suspicion right?). She can also absorb 108 HP more of fire damage.

EDIT:

Rhenner runs to the guard tower, and with his back against it glances past the corner at the burning hole in the wall. "How many did you see?!", he shouts to Natalia, then casts a minor spell to improve his aim. Not many combat spells that he prepared today.

Spoiler

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Moves to H48 and casts Guidance on himself.

"Nine!" Natalia shouts as she grits her teeth and pulls out the stump of the arrow between her forearm. "Might be more!"

[CWater]

Rhenner runs to the guard tower, and with his back against it glances past the corner at the burning hole in the wall. "How many did you see?!", he shouts to Natalia, then casts a minor spell to improve his aim. Not many combat spells that he prepared today.

Spoiler

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Moves to H48 and casts Guidance on himself.

[CoffeeIncluded]

They don't stop. They'll never stop. Mithril steps forward and thrusts out her arms in the direction of everyone, shouting in Draconic, "Run them down!" As she does she imbues everyone around her with a burst of speed and agility, from her allies to Lander to any other elves nearby or in the burning guardtower.

With new alacrity, Kurt dashes forward into the exposed field, where he can see orcs rushing towards him. He draws his sword into a defensive stance, takes a deep breath, and shouts, "Come on then if you think you're hard enough!"

Spoiler: Actions

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Mithril runs forward (She moved forward last turn but that wasn't edited onto the map and casts haste on herself, Natalia, Kurt, Rhenner, Lander, and up to five other allies within a 50 foot radius. Kurt then runs forward, goes into Total Defense for an AC of 25 (and he's in the Iron Guard's Glare stance), and tries to bait the orcs into doing something stupid, hopefully drawing them out but not quite having all of them rush him at once? (would that be an intimidate check? Please remove it if that wouldn't be necessary, or change the roll to something more appropriate).

Intimidate? (d20+9)[29]

Was this okay? Admiral, Cavelcade, Athedia, do you want me to change anything? Do you have any recommendations?

[Admiral]

Spoiler

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What orcs were scared? (There's a circumstance bonus because they're raging and Kurt is outnumbered, and note that I sometimes round things, so don't meta-read into the numbers much)

O4 (1d20+13)[32]
O5 (1d20+13)[17]
O6 (1d20+13)[21]
O7 (1d20+13)[28]
O8 (1d20+13)[31]

[Admiral]

Two of the orcs rush forward, closing most of the distance, but a few others take a moment's pause at engaging the dwarf. One of them steps behind a tree and draws his bow instead.

The orc mage shouts angrily at his companions; from the sound of it he is probably urging them forward. Then he turns to the party and casts another spell: a small bright orb that flies directly between Natalia and Kurt before erupting into a sphere of fire.

Spoiler

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Fireball, DC 18 Reflex save for half of: (8d6)[28] for Kurt and Natalia. +1 to your Reflex saves from Haste, and of course evasion applies.

Luckily I checked the area of effect carefully and Rhenner and Mithril just barely avoid it!

The three archers with their bows ready fire at Kurt.

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O2:
Attack: (1d20+13)[21] Critical: (1d20+13)[22]
Damage: (1d8+3)[4] plus (1d6)[5] fire Critical: (1d8+3)[9]

Attack: (1d20+8)[24] Critical: (1d20+8)[14]
Damage: (1d8+3)[8] plus [roll]1d6[/roll fire Critical: (1d8+3)[8]

O3:
Attack: (1d20+14)[19] Critical: (1d20+14)[18]
Damage: (1d8+4)[10] plus (1d6)[3] fire Critical: (1d8+4)[6] (1d8+4)[8]

Attack: (1d20+9)[13] Critical: (1d20+9)[16]
Damage: (1d8+4)[10] plus (1d6)[1] fire Critical: (1d8+4)[12] (1d8+4)[5]

O5: (1d20+12)[31] Critical: (1d20+12)[16]
Damage: (1d8+3)[5] Critical: (1d8+3)[4] (1d8+3)[9]

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia's seen those beads before. Her eyes widen as it arcs towards them and she flings herself behind the fence. The world around her explodes in a roaring burst of splinters and flame. Burning timber falls around her, glowing embers dance around her head, but Natalia is untouched. When the fire dies down she looks back up through the haze of smoke and fire at the approaching orcs, glowing red pinpoints of ash still falling over her, and fires her bow, three arrows sent in rapid succession through the flames towards the orc closest to them.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Natalia fires three arrows at O4. I have a question: since the wooden wall in front of her is still on fire, and fire rises above the wood that burns, could she please fire her arrows at O4 through the flames so they become flaming arrows and might do extra damage? If so, I'll add in the fire damage after.

Reflex: (d20+22)[29]

Attack 1: (d20+18)[35]
Crit: (d20+18)[32]
Damage: (d8)[2]
Crit damage: (d8)[1] (d8)[4]

Attack 2: (d20+18)[23]
Crit: (d20+18)[33]
Damage: (d8)[6]
Crit damage: (d8)[5] (d8)[7]

Attack 3: (d20+18)[23] 18, sorry
Crit: (d20+18)[23]
Damage: (d8)[4]
Crit damage: (d8)[4] (d8)[5]

[CoffeeIncluded]

Kurt follows Natalia's lead and tries to throw himself behind the burning palisade as the fireball explodes with a whole-body sensation that's felt as much as heard. He's not quite as fast, and burning lumber falls on him and burns his neck and arms, but he's still able to dodge the worse of the flames and blast. When the ringing in his ears dies down he peeks around the corner and fires three more arrows at the closest orc, the one Natalia already shot. After that he steps back behind the burning palisade.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Please, please let me know if this is or isn't okay. Kurt fires at the closest orc (can he do the shooting through fire for fire damage thing?) three times, then 5 foot steps behind the wall for cover.

Reflex save: (d20+6)[26] Woo-hoo!

Attack 1: (d20+13)[29]
Crit: (d20+13)[18]
Damage: (d8+5)[7]
Crit damage: (d8+5)[6] (d8+5)[13]

Attack 2: (d20+13)[25]
Crit: (d20+13)[15]
Damage: (d8+5)[9]
Crit damage: (d8+5)[13] (d8+5)[9]

Attack 3: (d20+8)[12]
Crit: (d20+18)[35] 25 actually (forgot to delete the 1, sorry) but I don't think it matters since bows only crit on a nat 20.
Damage: (d8+5)[11]
Crit damage: (d8+5)[7] (d8+5)[10]

[CWater]

"A traveller risks many injuries while on their journey. Dweller on the Horizon, grant us Your blessing to heal them faster", Rhenner recites from memory as he casts a spell to grant the party fast healing. He also adds a short-term extra effect to the healing on Kurt that might force an attacker to stay their hand.

Spoiler: Spell, etc.

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Okay, so casting Mass Lesser Vigor (because keeping track of the HP totals wasn't enough of a hassle already), so everyone heal 7 HP this round and 1 HP per round for the next 19. (I think I'll better start keeping count or something.)

Also, adding a Healing Kicker(1 round of Sanctuary*) to Kurt, DC 23. (Yes, that's right. It's 15+class level+Wis mod.)

*My understanding of the Sanctuary spell is such that an attacker doesn't know if their target is under the effects of the spell before they try to attack, unless of course they have detected it by using spellcraft, etc. This however, is not explicitly stated, so please let me know if we're using a different ruling.

Also, if it would be possible to delay this action so that Lander can step close enough to be included in the Vigor spell, that would be nice. :) Unless of course that would mean to delay it as far as the next round, then not. (The range limitation are the same as with Haste.)

[Athedia]

Spoiler: Spells

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Spell List:
0 (4):
Detect Magic
Read Magic
Prestidigitation
Mage Hand
1(5):
Mage Armor
Vampiric Touch
Magic Missile
Magic Missile
Burning Hands
2(5):
See Invisibility
Web
Cloud of Knives
Acid Arrow
Acid Arrow
3(4):
Tongues
Haste
Dispel Magic
Haste
4(4):
Black Tentacles
Dimension Door
Dimension Door
Black Tentacles
5(2):
Wall of Limbs
Fly, Mass

Mithril moved behind Kurt to get an eye on the field. She rolled up her sleeve, reaching her bare arm toward the gathering of orcs as she repeated a series of words. Chanting over and over, her eyes closed in concentration. As she spoke a rumbling grew and thousands of copies of her bared arm sprung from the earth, woven together into a reaching, crushing circle around the warmage and any orcs near him.

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I was a little out of it for a bit sorry. But now we get to test out this spell, she is going to make the ring version of it. Radius of 25 feet. I want to try to position one of the walls next to the warmage (with him on the inside) enclosing as many of the others as possible.

[Admiral]

A wall of arms resembling Mithril's own erupts around the mage, also capturing the nearest orc barbarian to him. The arms grab at the two orcs.

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Just managed to enclose both (next to them), no others.

O1 Strength: (1d20+3)[4] If fail: (5d6)[14] damage this turn
O2 Strength: (1d20+5)[17] If fail: (5d6)[23] damage this turn

If they fail, they're grabbed and stuck. Otherwise they're still inside and can try to run through.

Another of the orc archers tries to fire at Kurt.

Spoiler

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O3 Will save against Sanctuary: (1d20+4)[7]

If fails, loses action.

Starting with that, followup IC in a moment.

[Admiral]

Another of the orcs fires again at Kurt.

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This is the one hiding behind the tree after Kurt shouted at folks.

O5: (1d20+12)[29] Critical: (1d20+12)[19]
Damage: (1d8+3)[9] Critical: (1d8+3)[10] (1d8+3)[10]

(1d20+7)[9] Critical: (1d20+7)[10]
Damage: (1d8+3)[6] Critical: (1d8+3)[10] (1d8+3)[5]

One of the orcs yells out a single orcish word and charges in. The others are encouraged, and race in behind, nearly behind it. The leading orc charges forward and slashes his greataxe at Kurt.

Spoiler

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Closing those distances. And this lead one is charging and raging.

O4 Attack:
(1d20+18)[26] Critical: (1d20+18)[38]
Damage: (1d12+10)[17] Critical: (1d12+10)[14] (1d12+10)[14]

Not sure what Kurt's AC is.

O2 charged so -2 to AC. Of the orcs standing behind him, O7, O9 and O3 were running last turn, though being barbarians they are of course not flatfooted.

[Admiral]

Spoiler

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Oops! I counted Sanctuary for the arrow guy but not this one. Let's see if he can do that attack at all:

Will save: (1d20+6)[10]

Nope!

The lead orc rushes towards Kurt- but at the last moment holds off, his axe still in the air, as he seems to reconsider.

[CWater]

Rhenner takes a few steps to the right to get a better aim and after muttering a short prayer shoots a beam of light from his palm at one of the running orcs.

Spoiler: Actions

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Move to M48.
Casting Searing Light at O8
Ranged touch attack: (1d20+11)[29] (+1 from Guidance used here, included)
Damage: (5d8)[16]

Spoiler: HP totals

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By my calculations the situation is the following (correct me if I'm wrong!):

Kurt: 85/118
Natalia: 61/73, 10/120 fire absorbed
Mithril: 47/47
Rhenner: 59/59

+1 from Vigor this round is included here.

[Athedia]

Spoiler: Actions

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Last turn I had moved to N45 (behind Kurt). It wasn't changed on the map. I ditzed there.

Also marked where BT lands.

Mithril gestured again, the ground shaking in front of the wall this time. Dark tentacles burst forth to try to ensnare the attacking orcs.

[Admiral]

The approaching barbarians jump as the tentacles erupt from the earth, trying to escape its deadly clutches.

Spoiler

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O3: Grapple: (1d20+13)[21] Tentacles: (1d20+18)[30]
O6: Grapple: (1d20+16)[33] Tentacles: (1d20+18)[26]
O8: Grapple: (1d20+14)[27] Tentacles: (1d20+18)[26]

One of the orcs is immediately captured.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Mithril's familiar tentacles burst through the ground (and there's another unfamiliar spell just at the edge of her vision that holds the caster and another fast), snaring three of the orcs and holding one fast. Natalia's instantly there to react, turning her ankle and stepping forward, letting the anklet pull her across the burning palisade, where she immediately lets three arrows fly towards the grappled Orc. Movement makes her glance back, and there she sees mithril and rhenner, right behind Kurt, with a wide-open space perfect for the one rampaging Orc to slip through.

She closes her eyes and steps back with a gulp. Natalia tenses her muscles, gets ready to dodge and braces herself for a blow, or several. Memories of deldon flash through her head. This is going to suck.

Spoiler: Natalia's actions

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natalia anklets forward, then fires her bow at O3 (it's just inside sneak attack range). She then 5-foot steps back to I think o43? Just to the right of the Orc in front of Kurt so that the Orc can't get inside, or to mithril or rhenner. And she gets ready for pain. Kurt is in iron guards glare though, so the Orc has -4 to attack against her.

Attack 1: (d20+18)[38]
Critical: (d20+18)[27]
Damage: (d8)[3] plus sneak attack: (6d6)[20]
Crit damage: (d8)[8] (d8)[7]

Attack 2: (d20+18)[37]
Critical: (d20+18)[20]
Damage: (d8)[7] plus sneak attack: (6d6)[13]
Crit damage: (d8)[5] (d8)[4]

Attack 3: (d20+13)[29]
Critical: (d20+13)[31]
Damage: (d8)[7] plus sneak attack: (6d6)[18]
Crit damage: (d8)[2] (d8)[1]

If the Orc is dead before Natalia is out of attacks she fires any remaining arrows at the Orc facing down Kurt--just remove the sneak attack damage.

EDIT: Hah! Crit!

[CoffeeIncluded]

Kurt breaths and and out, back in the flow of battle. Unlike the screaming orc who suddenly paused before him, Kurt seems calm and measured--and thorough. If there's any anger or fury, it's seen not in his face, but in the way he swings his blade in an overwhelming strike like an avalanche.

Spoiler: Kurt's attack

Show

I hope this is okay. Kurt's going to draw Daybreaker and use Overwhelming Mountain Strike on the orc right in front of him who managed to get into melee (is he the one we've been peppering with arrows? Rhenner got a Searing Light in on him too). If it hits, it does an extra 2d6 points of damage AND the orc will need to make a DC 20 Fort save (14+strength modifier, which is 6) or lose his move action next round (no full attack!)

Anyway, here goes. The orc is raging and charging for a cumulative -4 to his AC, right? And Kurt's in Iron Guard Glare so if he attacks anyone but Kurt he takes a -4 penalty to attack. Power attack -3/+6

Attack: (d20+16)[30]
Crit: (d20+16)[26]
Damage: (2d6+16)[22] plus holy damage: (2d6)[5] plus Overwhelming Mountain Strike damage: (2d6)[6]
Crit damage: (2d6+16)[23]