Curse of the Crimson Thread: Escape from Old Korvosa [IC]

[lostsole31]

R1T28: Jacintha delays to see how things unfold.

R1T22: Dane, what do you do?

[Rithryn]

Dane moves up in front of his companions, his earth breaker the drinking companion in hand the head resting on his shoulder. He speaks in a firm tone to his allies.
"Stay behind me, they won't get past."
Positioning himself between the two parties he looks upon the rabble.
"If you wish to go unharmed than you will keep your distance, as a man of faith it is my duty to make sure you have the choice to avoid harm."
Dane holds his hammer with both hands glaring at the rabble.

[lostsole31]

R1T22: Dane moves up in front of his companions, his earth breaker the drinking companion in hand the head resting on his shoulder. He speaks in a firm tone to his allies. "Stay behind me, they won't get past."

Positioning himself between the two parties he looks upon the rabble. "If you wish to go unharmed than you will keep your distance, as a man of faith it is my duty to make sure you have the choice to avoid harm."Dane holds his hammer with both hands glaring at the rabble.

R1T19: Red moves up, but keeps 10' away from Dane. He shouts loud enough for the PCs in the cheap seats to be heard, not just Dane. "Big words for a big dwarf with a big hammer. But we hain't drawn weapons on you! We woulda' given' ya' a few knocks about the head if you don' come with us to see the Emperor. But this is our turf, and if you come at us with hammers and swords, we drawin' our axes."

R1T17: Runa, you were not riding Diva, having gotten off once at the devastated riding school, but Diva is right by you. What do you do?

Jacintha delaying ...

[Sienna]

Runa sighs, patting Diva to try to calm him down, just in case.
"...Look, is all this posturing back an' forth really necessary? Let's all just keep our cool for a bit. What's your issue with us, exactly?"

[lostsole31]

R1T17: Runa sighs, patting Diva to try to calm him down, just in case (the latter of which delays). "...Look, is all this posturing back an' forth really necessary? Let's all just keep our cool for a bit. What's your issue with us, exactly?"

R1T11: Brown steps up next to Red. "Listen, you hand over your weapons, and we'll take you to the Emperor. Otherwise, it gets painful."

R1T10: Linzi moves up behind Dane.

R1T9: Blue moves up, this time right up to Dane. "So, what's it gonna be?"

R1T8: Meanwhile, Vivino continues to move among rooftops ...

R1T7: Green moves up next to Blue, but waits for an answer.

R1T4: "Your Emperor and his thugs killed my family!" Tesh screams, enraged. "We're gonna gut every one-a' you!"

He moves past Linzi and Dane, but as he gets to an open spot, Blue launches a rising kick at Tesh's stomach that does 9 NL, and Green does a snap kick to Tesh's chest that does 5 NL. Linzi was readied for hostilities to break out, pulling out tiny fruit darts and a feather and enchanting the arcane phrase, "Gitchy-gitchy-goo!" Blue shakes his head, but seems to ignore whatever was supposed to happen. Finally, Tesh attacks with his longspear at Red, but attacking past a closer enemy throws off his aim.

The thugs all look very angry, as up until now - and even including the kicks - nobody was actually trying to kill anyone else.

R1T3: Ernak, what do you do?

Dane on deck, Red in the hole, Jacintha delaying ...

[Dusk Raven]

Jacintha has at this point had enough, and she moves out from behind the building, and takes up position next to Tesh and Dane, drawing her kukri along the way. Once in position, she draws upon an old standby, a spell she's used in the past when accosted by thugs of Old Korvosa. Her free hand works arcane gestures and she mutters an incantation, while doing her best to avoid any attempts to interrupt her.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Move Action: Jacintha moves 2 squares down and 4 to the right, winding up to the N of Dane and W of Tesh. She also draws her kukri.

Standard Action: She casts Color Spray, defensively. The origin point is the SE of her square, and it's aimed SE. That should get all four goons without hitting any of her allies.

[lostsole31]

R1T3: Jacintha has at this point had enough, and she moves out from behind the building, and takes up position next to Tesh and Dane, drawing her kukri along the way. Once in position, she draws upon an old standby, a spell she's used in the past when accosted by thugs of Old Korvosa. Her free hand works arcane gestures and she mutters an incantation, while doing her best to avoid any attempts to interrupt her. She succeeds, and throws out a handful of multi-colored sand that twinkle and then erupt in a riot of color that washes over all four ruffians. The first three are stunned, but the farthest one was helped by the others being in his way and easily scoffs at the magic.

R1T2: Ernak, what do you do?

Dane on deck, Red in the hole...

[Ason]

Ernak stayed quiet at first, even as the gang hurled insults against his friends and demeaned his Shoanti heritage. But as spells are slung and weapons drawn, the big man stirs into action. Tightening his stance and exuding an aura of confidence, he jogs forward while drawing his earthbreaker, circling around the gang from the south side.

Commenting on the gang's status, Ernak calls out with a wry smile, "You're mostly stunned into submission already. Why don't you surrender peacefully, and then we will decide whether we're visiting your emperor." With an emphasis toward both Tesh and the ruffians, he adds sternly, "This doesn't need to escalate."

Spoiler: OoC

Show

Free: Activate Rallying Presence, granting +5 morale bonus to Will saves vs fear/death/compulsion effects to all allies w/in 30 ft of his position (ceases if Ernak falls to any such effect)
Swift: Adopt Running Hunter's Stance, granting Ernak +10 to land move speed and scent special ability
Move: Move 40 ft. to the square just south of the green dot ruffian
Standard: Ready action to use Disparity Blow strike with Risky Strike against the first adjacent gang member who either tries to attack a party member or attempts to flee. If the former, Ernak does lethal damage; if the latter, Ernak does nonlethal damage. If he must pick which kind of damage to do in advance as part of readying this action, Ernak defaults to nonlethal damage.

[lostsole31]

R1T2: Ernak stayed quiet at first, even as the gang hurled insults against his friends and demeaned his Shoanti heritage. But as spells are slung and weapons drawn, the big man stirs into action. Tightening his stance and exuding an aura of confidence, he jogs forward while drawing his earthbreaker, circling around the gang from the south side. The clutter in the street, with what he is doing already, means he has to "hop up" onto some barrels (and loses a chance for readied action).

Commenting on the gang's status, Ernak calls out with a wry smile, "You're mostly stunned into submission already. Why don't you surrender peacefully, and then we will decide whether we're visiting your emperor." With an emphasis toward both Tesh and the ruffians, he adds sternly, "This doesn't need to escalate."

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T22: Dane, what do you do?

Red on deck, Runa in the hole ...

[Rithryn]

Dane will delay having spoken his peace, hammer still firmly in hand blocking their way.

[lostsole31]

R2T22: Dane delays, having spoken his peace, hammer still firmly in hand blocking their way.

R2T19: "Snap outta' it, boyz! We gots a brawl!" Red shouts excitedly. With a surprising amount of agility, he hops up onto the crates to the side of him, and balances on the detritus to get over to Ernak. And with a great heaving push with his shield, he knocks Ernak off the crates. Ernak lands on his feet okay, but is no longer enjoying high-ground advantage. "Look, gents! I'm king-a-da'-mountain!"

R2T17: Runa, what do you do?

Thugs on deck and in the hole, Dane delaying ...

[Sienna]

Runa gives a shrug. They've had ample opportunity to avoid this, so... "Well, if that's how you want it," she says, motioning for Diva to follow her as she steps forward and casts a spell that washes over the rather congested alleyway.

Spoiler

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Move, Standard: Runa will move two squares to the lower-right before casting Prayer to catch as many of the combatants as she can.
Swift: Enter Snake Style, unarmed for the time being.
Free: Handle Animal to have Diva Defend her.

[lostsole31]

R2T17: Runa gives a shrug. They've had ample opportunity to avoid this, so... "Well, if that's how you want it," she says, motioning for Diva to follow her as she steps forward and casts a spell that washes over the rather congested alleyway, her prayers to Gozreh in this scuffle heard clearly in the night.

R2T16.9: Diva follows and takes to the air above to be able to defend Runa.

R2T11-9: Brown and Blue are stunned.

R2T8: Vivino, you are currently 15' off the ground. The nascent battle has not yet become a lethal one. What do you do?

Green on deck, Linzi in the hole, Dane delaying ...

[Moriar]

Vivino moves over the edge of the roof and tumbles down onto the ground, unlimbering his mace as he falls.

As he lands, his mace comes down with both hands onto the poor fellow with the aim of knocking him out cold. "Perhaps we can squeeze out some information from them later...." Vivino says as he gives an evil looking grin at the ruffians.

Spoiler: Suprise!

Show

Climbs down off the roof, moving 10 feet down and then dropping the last 5' to the ground. On the map it looks like there is an open spot just north of orange.

Acrobatics roll if needed: (1d20+12)[13]

Then makes a single nonlethal attack against blue to flank. Hopefully higher ground, surprise, flank, stunned, and prayer will help.

Nonlethal (already including the -4 to deal nonlethal) to hit with mace (1d20+8)[13] and damage (1d8+7)[14] and sneak attack (4d6)[11]

[lostsole31]

R2T8: Vivino moves over the edge of the roof and tumbles down onto the ground, unlimbering his mace as he falls. But the fall was a bit more effort than he expected. As he lands, he gives an evil grin to the ruffians, "Perhaps we can squeeze out some information from them later."

That's when he realizes that all of the ruffians around him are temporarily insensate, so the evil grin is probably lost on them.

R2T7: Green is stunned ....

R2T5: Linzi unties and puts this enormous helm on her head - one that was sized for a medium creature, but it resizes to her. It has an impressive rack of stag's antlers on it. While the helm by itself could look terrifying, on her it looks silly. Which might be what she was going for, as she begins telling some pretty ... um, "blue" jokes at the expensive of the thugs. She is flipping hilarious, with many of the party - if not laughing uproariously themselves, likely with a smile on their face as her insults seem to make the threat of the ruffians something easily discarded.

R2T4: Tesh is one of those laughing. Unfortunately, Tesh's laughter is not the infectious kind, but more of an insane man's. Being the unstable link in the sanity chain, he drops his longspear, takes out his greatsword, and hacks at a stunned Blue with his greatsword for 19.

That sudden shift in the stakes of the battle is felt by everyone, perhaps being what snaps the stunned thugs back into full awareness again.

R2T3: Jacintha, Tesh might just have forced this encounter up a notch. What do you do?

Ernak on deck, Red in the hole, Dane delaying ...

[Dusk Raven]

Jacintha glances at Tesh, wondering whether to similarly escalate or fight as her other allies are - nonlethally. She makes her decision, flipping her kukri around to attack with the blunt end.

A shame about Tesh. Things were actually looking slightly comical before he had to go for the kill.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Standard Action: Attack Blue, going for non-lethal damage.
Attack Roll: (1d20+9)[22]
Damage: (1d4+7)[10]

[lostsole31]

R2T3: Jacintha glances at Tesh, wondering whether to similarly escalate or fight as her other allies are - nonlethally. She makes her decision, flipping her kukri around to attack with the blunt end, whacking the man in the head for 12 NL.

A shame about Tesh. Things were actually looking slightly comical before he had to go for the kill.

R2T2: Ernak, what do you do? You are on the ground again, but at least you're on your feet. Linzi's comedy and Runa's prayer are making you feel good.

Red on deck, Runa in the hole, Dane delaying ...

[Ason]

Responding to that embarrassing knock-down and taunt, Ernak puffs up his chest with wounded pride. He then calls out some tactical wisdom to the party, "They're crooks, not zealots: their hearts won't be in this fight."

To emphasize his point, Ernak thrusts up with the head of his hammer at the talkative ruffian who knocked him down, trying to knock him over in turn with a hefty uppercut.

Spoiler: OoC

Show

Start of Turn Trigger: Tactical Flanker, picking square immediately south of Ernak
Swift: activate Primal Warrior's Stance, granting an annoying amount of size bonuses (+2 sizes for weapon damage, +1 size for CMB/CMD, +1 size vs special attacks, can charge through difficult terrain)
Move: Inspire Courage +2 via Perform Oratory
Standard: Disparity Blow (nonlethal, no risky strike) at Red Ruffian

• Attack Roll: (1d20+15)[21] (doesn't include inspire courage +2, Prayer bonus, or penalty for nonlethal attack with lethal weapon; battle prowess irrelevant b/c doesn't stack with inspire courage)
• Damage Rolls: (4d6+10)[20] (weapon dice adjusted for weapon size +2; doesn't include inspire courage +2 or Prayer bonus) + (2d6)[7]
• Immediate Trip Attempt: (1d20+14)[32] (doesn't include +4 from disparity blow, +2 from deft maneuvers, Prayer bonus, or CMB size bonus from stance)

[lostsole31]

R2T2: Responding to that embarrassing knock-down and taunt, Ernak puffs up his chest with wounded pride. He then calls out some tactical wisdom to the party, "They're crooks, not zealots: their hearts won't be in this fight."

To emphasize his point, Ernak thrusts up with the head of his hammer at the talkative ruffian who knocked him down, trying to knock him over in turn with a hefty uppercut. The man tries to block and Ernak still catches him in his right tricep for 27 NL. Ernak continues to push the haft of his earthbreaker up through his grip like a billiard stick, making the man overextend and fall on top of the detritus (but not off).

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T19: The one thing about Red's position on the top of the detritus is that he actually has some measure of cover from Ernak, allowing him to standard unhindered. He weakly returns the favor by kicking Ernak in his upper right arm for 5 NL.

R3T17: Runa, you are in snake style. What do you do?

Diva on deck, Brown in the hole, Dane delaying ...

[Sienna]

Well, seeing as how red has made himself an easier target by getting some high ground... Runa claps her hands together, calling forth a small storm on top of him!

Spoiler

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Standard: Storm Burst on red; she'll step over to the East one square if needed for a clearer shot.
(1d20+10)[25] to hit Touch for (1d6+3)[7] NL Bludgeoning damage!

[lostsole31]

R3T17: Well, seeing as how Red has made himself an easier target by getting some high ground... Runa claps her hands together, calling forth a small storm on top of him! A super-miniaturized stormcloud appears briefly in Red's space, pelting him with all manner of inclement weather for 9 NL, before the thunderhead disappears.

R3T16.9: Diva hovers directly overhead, kicking up lots of loose materials and debris and knocking it all around. Clear vision is now limited to 10', concealment at 15-20', and you can't see past that.

R3T11-9: Red wasn't paying attention to Tesh, but the other thugs near him - especially the one attacked by a greatsword - were definitely paying attention. Brown takes out a finely crafted battleaxe, widens his stance, and crosses axe-to-sword with the survivor. Blue does the same and catches Tesh along the neck for 16, dropping him; his axe continues at Vivino, but is deflected.

R3T8: Vivino, you just got attacked by a battleaxe. Now it's a party. What do you do?

Green on deck, Linzi in the hole ...

[Moriar]

"Heal this man," Vivino calls out while gesturing towards Vesh on the ground. "I will provide cover."

Vivino then swings twice with his mace savagely at blue.

Spoiler: batter up

Show

Using flank plus other bonuses, swings his mace two handed, risky strike at blue.

First swing: (1d20+10)[17] to hit, (1d8+13)[19] damage, and sneak damage of (4d6)[7]

Second swing: (1d20+5)[10] to hit, (1d8+13)[18] damage, and sneak damage of (4d6)[18]

[lostsole31]

R3T8: "Heal this man," Vivino calls out while gesturing towards Vesh on the ground. "I will provide cover."

Vivino then swings twice with his mace savagely at Blue, hitting him in the left upper arm for 29, but the second strike is blocked by the man's shield.

R3T7: Green does as the others, getting into a wide-set stance before power-swinging his axe at Ernak. It's a dirty low shot that skips off of Ernak's left foot for 11 and then upwards into the side of Dane's belly for 16.

R3T5: Though Jacintha's prayer is slowing the enemy strikes down, it isn't quite enough. Still Ernak more than makes up for that. Linzi stops her jokes whose efforts are worth double her own and says, "Wow. Teach me?"

But she is only hero-worshiping for a brief second before it is business for her. She casts the same spell as she had attempted before at the one that just hit her boss. The strange dichotomy of being hit with a tiny fruit tart in the midst of mortal combat must have broken something, however, as Green stops attacking, starts giggling, and finally breaks down into howling gales of laughter, falling prone and pounding on the street in strange mirth. Linzi smiles at her spell working on the dolt, and takes out her light crossbow though does say with some concern to Dane, who has stood and done nothing, "Boss? You okay?"

R3T3: Jacintha, mithral kukri in hand. What do you do? Note that anything outside of 10' is harder to see.

Ernak on deck, Dane delaying, Red in the hole ...

[Dusk Raven]

Time to get serious. Jacintha flips her kukri back around to its proper position, then summons psychic energy to form a blade in her other hand. It's beginning to look like this could be a long fight, and if that's the case, Jacintha wants to be at her full strength. Then, she shifts position, moving over Tesh's unconscious (hopefully) form.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Standard Action: Spending 1 psychic point to manifest a psychic kukri in Jacintha's off hand.
Free action: Five-foot step one square east.

[lostsole31]

R3T3: Time to get serious. Jacintha flips her kukri back around to its proper position, then summons psychic energy to form a blade in her other hand. It's beginning to look like this could be a long fight, and if that's the case, Jacintha wants to be at her full strength. Then, she shifts position, moving over Tesh's unconscious (hopefully) form. She finds out that stepping over a fallen body is much tougher than stepping into an empty space, however, as Blue attacks her and she just manages to deflect with her mithral kukri.

Spoiler: Jacintha

Show

Bodies are difficult terrain, so it was a MA cost 10' of movement, and triggered an AOO.

R3T2: Ernak, you are currently inspiring your friends while in primal warrior stance, granting a rallying presence, and with tactical flanker south of you. What do you do?

Dane delaying, Red on deck, Runa in the hole ...

[Rithryn]

Having wavered at the idea of fighting back Dane raises his great hammer and delivers a mighty blow.
"I warned you, so you'll feel the full weight of a dwarfs hammer."

Spoiler

Show

Using Vital strike (roll)1d20+15(/roll) (roll)4d6+11(/roll)
Attacking blue Dane will move up into his square if he falls.

[lostsole31]

R3T2.5: Having wavered at the idea of fighting back Dane raises his great hammer and delivers a mighty blow as he says, "I warned you, so you'll feel the full weight of a dwarfs hammer."

He swings his hammer with measured force, though great, connecting with his foe's chest for 29, the sound reverberating throughout the alley.

R3T2: Ernak, you are currently inspiring your friends while in primal warrior stance, granting a rallying presence, and with tactical flanker south of you. What do you do?

Red on deck, Runa in the hole ...

[Ason]

Seeing the fight turning lethal as Tesh falls, Ernak unleashes a proper battle cry, "For Korvosaaaa!"

With the two southernmost ruffians temporarily indisposed, the Shoanti warrior joins his allies in buffeting the one caught in the middle, but he still pulls his punches for now. Ernak fakes a giant swipe at the man's head before pivoting the hammer to thrust its head at his gut.

Spoiler: OoC

Show

Start of Turn Trigger: Tactical Flanker, picking square immediately south of Ernak again
Free Action: maintain inspire courage, granting allies w/in 30 ft +2 competence to attacks/damage and +2 morale saves vs charm/fear
Swift: Defending the Pride boost, grants +4 morale to AC to all allies w/in 60 ft for 1 round
Move: feint at Blue, Bluff check via versatile performance (1d20+17)[20]
Standard: nonlethal furious focus risky strike attack at Blue (1d20+15)[26] (plus -4 for nonlethal; plus any bonuses from inspire courage +2, prayer, etc), weapon damage with size increases (4d6+16)[35] (plus any bonuses from inspire courage +2, prayer, etc)

Ernak will take an attack of opportunity at Red if he stands up, if possible.

[lostsole31]

R3T2: Seeing the fight turning lethal as Tesh falls, Ernak unleashes a proper battle cry, "For Korvosaaaa!"

With the two southernmost ruffians temporarily indisposed, the Shoanti warrior joins his allies in buffeting the one caught in the middle, but he still pulls his punches for now. Ernak fakes a giant swipe at the man's head before pivoting the hammer to thrust its head at his gut for 36 NL, dropping him.

End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T19: Red is already on his feet, so Ernak was a little muddled on what to expect from him. He then does to Ernak what Ernak did to Blue, perfectly faking out the big man with a low swing that strikes Ernak in the knee for 22 + disoriented.

R4T17: Runa, what do you do? You are currently in Snake Style, and Diva is above you, guarding you (and kicking up a dust cloud).

Diva on deck, Enemies in the hole ...

[Sienna]

"All in, huh? Sure. Have at 'em, Diva," Runa says, moving into the fray to provide Tesh with some much needed healing.

Spoiler

Show

Free: Runa will attempt to have Diva flank Green.
Standard + Move: Runa will cast Cure Moderate wounds, then move two spaces east to deliver it to Tesh for (2d8+7)[18]
Immediate: If one of the ruffians has a go at her, she'll attempt to avoid the attack with Snake Style.