The Glory that Was Greece -Ancient World 3.5 (IC)

[wilphe]

Spoiler: Agoros

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The tracks match, but there are some odd body parts making their way back individually and this is not a place to hang out at night

Jaraxes nods at your plan, Very well, this is clearly too much for my unit to handle. However we would like to cover you as far as where the trail leaves the road - I doubt the horses could make it up there.

Berenice and Alkimos have a quiet but heated discussion after which she reluctantly agrees to stay with him back with Jaraxes until it is safe enough to come up.

[wilphe]

There is time for little more than a few hours sleep and when the group leaves Mycenae it is still well before dawn (0400) or so, after a few hours you reach the abandoned and deserted hamlet of Rhamnomnos at the entry to the pass just as some pre-dawn glow appears in the east. From here it should be another few hours by Nestor's description, not so far distance but a lot of hard climbing.

Spoiler: OOC

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Awareness checks and next plans?

[Toliudar]

Philistion

After completing his dawn prayers to Apollo and his blessed chariot, Philistion turns to the others.

"When we get closer to the temple, I can offer a few of us protection from the harpies' song, but it will only last a few minutes. Do we want to rely on music to counter music, or plugging our ears?"

[Esprit15]

Aegea trances as well as she can during the time time they have to rest, keeping an ear out for danger.

"If I provide a countersong, I cannot give you the ice blessing to your weapons. Though I suppose with your ears plugged, I can't do that either. Countersong would be better, I guess. It makes it possible to communicate more easily."

[DrK]

Kleandridas A few hours in a trance, staring out at the mountains silhouetted in the starlight leaves him refreshed. While the others sleep he stretches and runs through some basic spear drills to limber up. Then with a handful of dried fruit and a water skin he sits and resharpens the spear. Ready he is happy to follow the others, a nod to Aegea and a "I would think stopping the song from deadening our senses would help Aegea." Heading into the mountain he holds his bow handy, an arrow ready if the harpies attack Spoiler: OOC Show Survival for route finding (1d20+7)[14] Spot (1d20+12)[20] Stealth (1d20+11)[17] EFfects Skirmish +2d6/+1 AC Kleandridas of Sparta M N Blooded One - Wood Elf Ranger 2 / Scout 4, Level 6, Init 6, HP / , DR 1/ S/P, Speed AC 25, Touch 16, Flat-footed 20, Fort 9, Ref 13, Will 3, Base Attack Bonus 5 MW Adamantine Longsword +11 (1d8+5, 19-20) MW Bludgeoning Shield +11 (1d8+5, x2) Reach Longspear +1 (-) +11 (1d8+6, x3) Mithral Breastplate , Heavy Shield (MW) (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +5 Dex, +1 Deflect, +2 Natural) Abilities Str 21, Dex 21, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 9 Condition --- Trackless Step --- Favoured enemy +4 Human/+2 magical beast [Tracking, spotting, damage]

[Aracor]

Mihail pokes his head out of his tent shortly before dawn, ready to go. He packs it up and hefts his great slab of a shield.

Jaraxes, we'd appreciate the escort as far as your unit is willing to go. Let's make sure we put these things down, before they leave and find someone else to terrorize.

[remetagross]

Agoros wakes up, and after a brief meditation, scraps off the dirt from his clothes and readies himself to go. He munches a little from a trail ration, gulps at his waterskin, and approaches near Mihail and Kleandrikas.

[wilphe]

Spoiler: Agoros

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When passing the scene of your earlier fighter Agoros notices that the two dead harpies are missing their hands and feet.

Rhamnomnos itself is as Jaraxes described, deserted as if everyone and everything got up and left down the merest chicken. The trail left by men, women, children and beasts is obvious even to nontrackers and leads up the pass.

Jaraxes, his men, Berenice, Breetha and Alkimos take you leave here, with both Berenice and Breetha looking like they'd rather not be staying there but in completely opposite ways.

Pushing on up the pass it is not hard to follow Nestor's directions and find where the path to the Old Temple diverges - it would be small and obscure but the trail from the village has greatly widened it and pushed aside and trampled the vegetation.

The pre-dawn glow is peeping over the mountains, but the valley is deep in shadow

Spoiler: Aegea

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You can hear the sound of fighting further up the road in the direction of CORINTH

[remetagross]

"Uh oh." says Agoros inspecting the bodies of yesterday's harpies.

"Look! Their hands and feet have been detached. That means the carpet thing is still roaming...let us be careful." That being said, he readies his spear and his shield, and moves about behind Aegea carefully.

[Esprit15]

Aegea draws her bow and bushes the group. ”There’s fighting up ahead. Be cautious, I can’t tell if it’s only humanoids.”

[wilphe]

Spoiler: Ahead

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Sound of fighting is ahead if you stay on the road to Corinith, but you'll avoid it if you take the trail up to the Temple

So you have a choice

[DrK]

Kleandridas At the sounds of fighting Kleandridas grinned inside the bronze helm. "Ltes investigate, the harpies can wait an hour, Apollo has not reached his height yet." Nodding to the others scouts he scurries forward, eyes and ears alert and hugging the ground with an arrow nocked and ready to fly if he spies some enemies. Spoiler: OOC Show Stealth (1d20+11)[18]](1d20+11)[25] (hide/M.silent) Spot (1d20+12)[25] Listen (1d20+9)[22] +4 vs humans, +2 vs magical beasts EFfects Skirmish +2d6/+1 AC Kleandridas of Sparta M N Blooded One - Wood Elf Ranger 2 / Scout 4, Level 6, Init 6, HP / , DR 1/ S/P, Speed AC 25, Touch 16, Flat-footed 20, Fort 9, Ref 13, Will 3, Base Attack Bonus 5 MW Adamantine Longsword +11 (1d8+5, 19-20) MW Bludgeoning Shield +11 (1d8+5, x2) Reach Longspear +1 (-) +11 (1d8+6, x3) Mithral Breastplate , Heavy Shield (MW) (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +5 Dex, +1 Deflect, +2 Natural) Abilities Str 21, Dex 21, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 9 Condition --- Trackless Step --- Favoured enemy +4 Human/+2 magical beast [Tracking, spotting, damage]

[remetagross]

"And we don't want to be taken from behind by these fighters if we pass by without investigating." approves Agoros. He hustles along Kleandrikas.

[wilphe]

Heading towards the sound of the combat you crest a small rise and turn a corner by a small waterfall, the sounds of fighting and screaming becoming louder.

There are 8 or 9 large brutish humanoids clad in furs and wielding rocks and clubs, they have penned in 4 or 5 hobgoblin hoplites who have formed a defensive circle with two fierce looking gnolls - one of whom has blood dripping from their mouth. Another half-dozen or so dead hogboblins litter the road - they have given some accounting of themselves as two of the enemy lie dead.

Hobgoblin shields are orange and bear the pegasus and Koppa symbol of Corinth

Spoiler: K/Nature 14

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You've never seen one before, but these look like Ogres

Spoiler: K/Religion 19

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These are ogres, which are reputedly are what happens to people who enjoy eating the flesh of sentients

Spoiler: K/Local, History or Nobility and Royalty 5

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Corinth employs a lot of mercenaries, many of them non-human

Spoiler: K/History / Nobility and Royalty 10

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The Orange shields are characteristic of Ondrek's Legion - a hoboblin mercenary force that has been in long term service to Corinth for several decades. Ondrek himself is long gone, but every year a few make the trek from their lands in the Northwest to join up

Spoiler: K/Local or Nature 10

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Gnolls aren't seen in large numbers or organised units but tend to see service as hunters, trackers and scouts

[Esprit15]

”Assisting in killing the ogres would probably ingratiate us to Corinth,” Aegea notes. “Can anyone offer a reason to bypass this?”

[remetagross]

"I see it as follows: simple mercenary utilitarian reasoning.", explains Agoros. "The ogres are winning. Either we pass by and run the risk of being outflanked by the surviving ogres later on our way. Or we intervene. Then, either we side with the ogres, and there's no guarantee they won't just turn on us too as soon as we're done. Or we side with the Corinthians, in which case they are indebted to us and might help us later on. I'm with Aegea on this one."

The Macedonian readies his spear and his shield, and mentally plots out the path to charge at the nearest ogres.

[Aracor]

Mihail will stow his shield on his back and ready his bow. That will take two move actions, so this entire round.

Agreed. We help. They're far enough away that charging will take too long. Let's fire at range and see if the Corinthians will fall back toward us.

[Esprit15]

Seeing a tendency of agreement among the group, Aegea begins to speak, that strange magic infusing her words. As she does so, she also gestures and speaks an arcane word. "Three, unless the rest are all in disagreement. Remember that whatever differences may be between you and your fellow man, we are kin to each other before we are kin to the beasts, and kin to the beasts before we are kin to monsters. Knock your arrows and ready your slings, for these are far more dangerous monsters than those who we fought before." Aegea pulls out her own bow and reaches for an arrow as the icy dragonfire begins to glow around her companions' weapons, not to mention her own. The collar around her neck gives a brief glow as well.

Spoiler

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Activating Badge of Valor (Immediate Action).
Casting Inspiration Boost (Swift Action).
Activating Dragonfire Inspiration (Standard Action)
Draw longbow (Move Action)

Everyone gains 3d6 Cold Damage to all weapon attacks.

And since we will need initiative eventually: (1d20+2)[16]

[remetagross]

Being devoid of any ranged implements, Agoros nods at Aegea after constating his spear rimming with icy energy. He then prepares to run towards the combat.

[wilphe]

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d20)[6] Ogre Spot checks at -30
(1d20)[19]
(1d20)[10]
(1d20)[16]
(1d20)[4]
(1d20)[7]
(1d20)[13]
(1d20)[3]

Initative in pairs
(1d20)[17] -1
(1d20)[12] -1
(1d20)[3] -1
(1d20)[8] -1

[wilphe]

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d20)[9] Spot -16
(1d20)[9] Spot-25
(1d20)[15] Spot-25
(1d20)[16] Spot-25
(1d20)[6] Spot-17
(1d20)[11] Spot-17

[wilphe]

It appears that all the combatants are too distracted to notice the party approaching them, so you all have one free round of action.

Meanwhile the ogres have broken off from melee, half of them are keeping their clubs ready whilst two more look for rocks and the two furthest have trotted away from you to go pick up a fallen tree branch

[Toliudar]

Philistion

Hoping at least that if they enter the fight now, some of the Corinthians might be saved, Philistion pulls out his bow and murmurs a rather perfunctory prayer to Apollo to shine into the eyes of the ogres as they approach. He simply nods his readiness.

[Esprit15]

Aegea runs closer and looses her arrow at the nearest ogre, still speaking words of encouragement to her allies.

Spoiler

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Move: 40ft closer
Standard: Arrow
Attack: (1d20+5)[22] Crit 20, x3
If Crit: (1d20+5)[12]

Damage: (1d8+8)[10] Piercing
Bonus: (3d6)[14] Cold

[DrK]

Kleandridas Skidding to a halt he pauses i wonder as from Aegea's words ice crystals coalesce around the arrow heads. Following Aegea he whoops with excitement and joins with her bounding 40ft closer to them closing to some 210 ft and loosing a single arrow on the move. Spoiler: OOC Show Move 40ft Fire an arrow (1d20+7)[14] Dam (1d8+4)[11] + (3d6)[12] cold EFfects Skirmish +2d6/+1 AC, Cold dragon fire +3d6 Kleandridas of Sparta M N Blooded One - Wood Elf Ranger 2 / Scout 4, Level 6, Init 6, HP / , DR 1/ S/P, Speed AC 25, Touch 16, Flat-footed 20, Fort 9, Ref 13, Will 3, Base Attack Bonus 5 MW Adamantine Longsword +11 (1d8+5, 19-20) MW Bludgeoning Shield +11 (1d8+5, x2) Reach Longspear +1 (-) +11 (1d8+6, x3) Mithral Breastplate , Heavy Shield (MW) (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +5 Dex, +1 Deflect, +2 Natural) Abilities Str 21, Dex 21, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 9 Condition --- Trackless Step --- Favoured enemy +4 Human/+2 magical beast [Tracking, spotting, damage]

[remetagross]

Agoros runs at top speed towards the ogres while they are not focused on him yet.

Spoiler: OOC

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Run action: move at x4 land speed, so 120ft towards the battle.

[Toliudar]

Philistion

As the others dash forward, Philistion also finds his arrows icing over as he sets the first to his bow. Powerful magic indeed, to bring the ice of the mountains to bear with just a few words. Stepping forward, he sends a pair of arrows winging toward one of the ogres engaged with the hobgoblins.

Spoiler: OOC

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Round 1:
Knowledge Devotion for where to aim at on an ogre: (1d20+7)[9] for a +1 to all of the attack and damage rolls below.
5' step forward
Full round action - Rapid shot
Arrow 1 Attack: (1d20+5)[13] plus knowledge deviotion, for (1d8)[1] plus knowledge devotion damage, plus (3d6)[11] cold damage
Arrow 2 Attack: (1d20+5)[13] plus knowledge deviotion, for (1d8)[8] plus knowledge devotion damage, plus (3d6)[11] cold damage

[Aracor]

Mihail will move forward 20 feet and fire at the nearest ogre.

Spoiler

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Knowledge Devotion roll: (1d20+13)[21]

Attack roll: (1d20+2)[12]
Confirmation roll: (1d20+2)[17]

Damage roll: (2d6+6)[13] + (3d6)[7] Cold damage
Confirmation roll: (4d6+12)[28]

+2 to attacks and damage for knowledge devotion

[Togo]

Peridokles lacks the war weapons of his companions, but he follows them as they run forward, his leather sling whirling around his head as he sends a sends a river-smoothed rock flying at the enemy.

Spoiler: Actions

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Move forward 30ft
Sling (1d20+5)[24] for (d3+2)[5] damage plus (3d6)[5] cold damage
I'm not quite sure what range that puts me at, but I suspect it would be -2 to hit.

[wilphe]

Archery barrage begins proceedings, with Aegea and Kleandridas moving abreast, their shots crashing into the two nearest ogres that scream with pain and rage. Mihail following behind him as his arrow also hits home as does Peridokle's stone from slightly further back. Agoros runs past them and covers half the distance. Philistion's two shots don't quite adjust for distance properly going over the heads of the ogres