Nightmare in Katapesh OOC

[SanguinePenguin]

IC thread
Recruitment thread

Welcome to the Nightmare in Katapesh OOC thread. Here is where we raise out of game concerns. Also, here is where the in game information will stored and additional info about the setting and NPCs will accumulate. If you really like something in the game, here is where to let me know. If you really dislike something about the game, or have concerns about the current direction, here is also where you should let me know. I really want this game to be fun for everyone, and feedback definitely helps.

Characters

Character	Player	Class	Race	Hero Points
Kharesh Hammerfist	Starbin	Monk	Dwarf (Pahmet)	3
Gurmok	Gwynfrid	Cleric	Goblin	3
Mauricio Averni	Prehysterical	Investigator	Human (Tiefling)	2
Dalnu Tuvasseh	farothel	Sorcerer	Elf (Ancient)	1
Sadar Al'Hamar	DrK	Fighter	Human	1
Kheti ibn al-jahat	ZeroPrime	Magus	Automaton	1

Retired Characters

Character	Player	Class	Race
Kali Ashmane	Kirjath	Ranger	Dwarf (Forge)
Gex Daelfagnim	BelGareth	Sorcerer	Gnome

Spoiler: Posting Etiquette

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Naturally follow all GitP forum rules, in addition I ask that:

General Posting Format

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I want ALL in character posts to be in the in character thread and all out of character posts to be in this thread or the discord. Most rolls should be made in the IC thread with your post concerning the action (in a spoiler, preferably). If you screw up a roll (as we all tend to do), just post the make up roll in the OOC thread. During combat, please post a character status summary, to help us all keep track - try to keep it up to date.

“I want all character speech to be in a unique color and placed within quotations.” 1st person character thoughts should be in that same color and placed in italics.

Godmodding

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General practice decrees “god mod bad.” Here I hope to explain times when I feel god modding is okay. If anyone disagrees with these standards let me know.

PC god mod another PC

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The only time this is okay is when the action is completely innocuous. For example:

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After reaching in to his pack, Sadar removes the heavy iridescent gem and says to Gormuk, “here , hold on to this for me.”

The goblin accepts the stone. Sadar then proceeds to climb the tree.

Here, Sadar godmodded Gormuk to do something innocuous, namely hold a mundane object. This is fine because it doesn't matter and it is better than the alternative, i.e. in the post Sadar holds out the stone for Gormuk to take it. Everyone waits until the post of, “ Gormuk takes the stone without comment.” appears and then Sadar's next action is posted. Still, it is better to avoid doing even such innocuous things if you can.

God modding should NEVER be used to have another PC say something or to ascribe any emotion whatsoever to another PC. Basically only pointless, robotic actions in service to the speed of posting. Also, the modded PC should never be made to do anything that is remotely dangerous. In the example above, if Sadar asks Gormuk to hold to the Magical Stone of Erratic Catastrophic Explosions, or even unknown purpose magical stone, that would not be okay.

PC god mod NPC

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Here, there is a bit more freedom. Basically, you should never have an NPC say anything that I would potentially have to undo. The NPC would never commit to any terms or say anything that would influence you or another PC. However, for instance, after you've agreed to the merchant last proposed price (that I made), then you are free to god mod the remainder of the transaction.

DM mod PC

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I will do this occasionally under the following circumstances:

• To provide emotions or action you do not control or entirely control (for instance fear effects or actions under confusion)
• To provide information that you don't know your character would know (I'll also often do this over PM)
• The first post, when I shuffle you all about
• To progress the narrative (for instance having your character enter a room they were invited into rather than wait for everyone to post “I enter the room”
• More importantly, for actions in combat (and possibly elsewhere), I will force your character to take an action (or possibly to take no action) if everyone else has acted and we are waiting on you for a bit. I hope this will never come up, but to be realistic, it will.
• Some instance I'm probably forgetting...

[SanguinePenguin]

NPCs

Spoiler: Allies and Guards

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Name	Race	Sex	Role	Status	Attitude	Speech
Sofh al Ustadh	Kelesh	Female	Professor of Ancient Osirion	Alive	Friendly	#2266ff
Zetath al Ustadh	Kelesh	Male	Professor of Mathematics and Numerology	Alive	Friendly	#0000FF
Sergeant Tuthani	Vudrani	Female	Lower City Guard	Alive	Friendly	#006400
Lieutenant Zira Haviksoog	Vudrani	Female	Dogtown Guard	Alive	Friendly	#cc6622
Captain Ryaa al Hisan	Nidalese	Male	Head of Dogtown Guard	Alive	Friendly	#dd4444

Spoiler: Rivals, Villains, and Criminals

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Name	Race	Sex	Role	Status	Attitude	Speech
Saqr al Izarin	Unknown	Male	Crime Lord	Alive	Unknown
The Alchemist	Unknown	Unknown	Dangerous	Alive	Unknown
Hariq’Aswad	Elf	Male	Nyarlathotep cult leader	Alive, Captured	Hostile	#888888
Gregorix Damasio	Chelaxian	Male	Hired muscle	Alive, Captured	Unfriendly	#B22222
Rat Bone	Halfling	Female	Dogtown Information Broker	Alive	Indifferent	#885522
Kathalra al Rath	Gnoll	Female	Spotted Hide Slaver	Alive	Unfriendly	#AA00FF
Jaghun	Gnoll	Male	Spotted Hide Slaver	Alive	Unfriendly	#66AA66
Sapha	Kelesh	Female	Sapha’s Gang	Alive	Indifferent	#559955
Phinnaeus	human?	Male	Sapha’s Gang	Alive	Friendly	#ff0000
Gallwu	Kelesh	Male	Sapha’s Gang	Alive	Friendly	#8B4513
Palla	Half-orc	Female	Sapha’s Gang	Alive	Indifferent	#008000
Purheegee	Gnoll	Male	Spotted Hide Slaver	Dead	Hostile	#8B4513

Spoiler: Merchants

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Name	Race	Sex	Role	Status	Attitude	Speech
Kamil al Shiysha	Kelesh	Male	Hookah Lounge	Alive	Friendly	#aa77aa
Paggron	Goblin	Male	Alchemist Shop	Alive	Indifferent	#800000
Erthin	Vudrani	Male	Craft Carriages	Alive	Friendly	#B22222
Galtho Thiranyi	Vudrani	Male	Write Stuff	Alive	Friendly	#A9A9A9
Belinda al Thrakow	Kelesh	Female	Witch	Alive	Indifferent	#EE82EE
Hlaspek al Varr	Gnoll (exiled)	Male	Spice Merchant	Alive	Unfriendly	#FF8C00
Alanna	Vudrani	Female	Caravan Broker	Alive	Indifferent	#AAAAAA
unknown	Ulfen	Male	Caravan Broker	Alive	Indifferent	#AAAA00

[SanguinePenguin]

Spoiler: Events

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Spoiler: Gozren 24, 4722 AR: Qlippoth horde & searching for Sofh

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A horde of qlippoth burst into the market after a man in yello turban interacts with a strange rod. The heroes, coincidentally in that location, dispatch the monsters. An artifact merchant, Zetath al Ustadh, begs them for aid in finding his captured wife, Sofh. Her caravan never arrived from Solku. They speak with a gnoll spice merchant, Hlaspak al Varr, and negotiations go... suboptimally. The party heads to the daystall caravans and get a lead to a gnoll slaver, Kathalra al Rath, in dogtown. She insists she doesn't know about this, but Jaghun, another gnoll in the bar, says he knows who took her and gives you an address. Jaghun’s lead proves false, as he simply sent the PCs to kill some street urchins he didn’t like. After a fight, the urchins enter into an uneasy truce with the heroes. Dalnu, briefly held captive by these people, joins the party in their search for Sofh. The street urchins tell the party that the sewer-dwelling Purheegee, Jaghun’s son, is likely the one who has Sofh. With the exception of Dalnu, the heroes spends the night there.

Spoiler: Gozren 25, 4722 AR: Rescuing Sofh & a day in jail

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Kali departs in the morning. An old muckraker tells the where gnolls are in the sewer. The heroes descend into the sewer, fight some rats, and find some old treasure. They then attack Purheegee and his mate. A gnoll child flees and alert the Zephyr guard. The heroes rescue ten sick and beaten women who were caged there, Sofh among them. The Zephyr Guard arrives and brings the heroes to prison. A few hours later, a Captain al Hisan makes a deal with the heroes to get rid of their problem, if they solve the issue he is having with the drug known as Bliss. The party split a large room in a hotel.

Gozren 26, 4722 AR: Rest, items sold, runes transferred, talismans affixed.

Spoiler: Gozren 27, 4722 AR: Hunting Bliss

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Meet Kamil al Shiysha at the Hookah Lounge. Learn Bliss is being sold by a Chelaxian merc named Gregorix. Tracked down Sofh and Zetath's home, visited the two. They promised to invite you over soon. Asked around about Rat Bone, the information broker. The halfling found the party, and sold them information on Gregorix, including where he would be a little before dusk. The party buys kaftans and coffee, and waits for Gregorix. They follow him north to a compound on the coast.

After waiting until dusk, they creep into the compound through the water. They witness an incredibly aged elf preaching to an audience. When they move to investigate, the crowd sees them. The elf commands them to capture you, and cut down nearly twenty unskilled, but eager assailants.

Investigating finds Kharesh charmed by an alien creature, who later identifies itself as the Scry of Leng (among many names). The party is oblivious to its presence for the moment and follows the elf underground. He reveals himself to be Hariq’Aswad, a priest of Nyarlathotep. He offers bliss to the party, but discussion sours and battle ensues. The party narrowly defeats him, Gregorix, and a very feral gnoll. Gregorix notes that Saqr al Izarin will kill all of you.

After getting Kharesh to do some odd tasks at its behest, Scry further charms Gurmok and communicates with the others telepathically in every tongue simultaneously. The creature says so disturbing things, but only reacts hostilely when Dalnu tries to lead Hariq’Aswad away. The party fight the creature and narrowly survives. Gregorix flees during the battle, but Dalnu manages to pick him off at range.

Spoiler: Gozren 28, 4722 AR:

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The party ransacks the compound for valuables, brings Hariq’Aswad and Gregorix back to Katapesh. They report to Captain al Hisan.

[SanguinePenguin]

XP: 290/1000

Loot!

Spoiler: Locations of Note

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Katapesh

Spoiler: Dogtown

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The Rabid Dog - gnoll bar (Moss Pelt, Jaghun, Kalratha al Rath)
Guard barracks / Prison (Lieutenent Zira Haviksoog, Captain Ryaa al Hisan)
Sapha's Gang hideout (Sapha, Palla, Gallwu, Phinnaes)
Sirocco Asylum - sanitarium

Spoiler: Lower City

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Guard barracks / Prison (Sergeant Tuthani)
Azure Star - fancy restaurant

Spoiler: Inner City

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Katapesh University
Home of the al Ustadhs (Sofh and Zetath)

Outside of City

[Prehysterical]

Glad to be in!

"I, Mauricio, shall reserve the color of purple to denote my speech."

[Kirjath]

Thank you for setting all of this up, I look forward to having a good time with everyone.

I think a good light blue would fit Kali just fine, unless someone else really likes this color.

[Gwynfrid]

Thanks for picking me! I'm delighted to be in such esteemed company.

My color will be my favorite Teal.

I'll post a cleric sheet by morning.

[Starbin]

Kharesh Hammerfist, wandering sand dwarf monk from Osirion

Thanks for the opportunity! I’ll use this one for speech and such. Bold is usually loud or emphatic, italics are whispers, italics w/o quotes are thoughts.

Spoiler: Picture

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Spoiler: Background questions

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1) Do you know your father and mother? Kharesh barely remembers them, as they died when he was a youth.
If there are no known natural parents, who raised you? He was initial raised by his parents, then was raised by the townsfolk (like a community orphanage with no centralized location)
What are their names? Kal'ra (father) and Quera (pronounced Ker-rah, mother)
Are they alive? No. Father was killed by a sand scorpion, and his mother was in an attack by desert wyrms
What do/did they do? His father was a hunter, and his mother was a teacher.
Where did/do they live? They lived just outside the city of Tar Kuata.
What is your relationship with them then and now? As a child, the relationship was normal.

2) Do you have any siblings or close extended family members? No other family that Kharesh knows of.

3) Why is your character in Katapesh? He is on a journey of reflection on the road to self-perfection. The city was the latest destination on his path.
How do they feel about the city? Kharesh is intrigued by the exoticism and otherwordly feel of the city. He is hopeful he can find challenges to his continued personal growth.
How committed are they to staying there? As much as it challenges him, he will remain. Or until called to continue his journey.

4) What did your character do before this? He grew up learning a smattering of skills, as the orphans of his town lived with several families over the course of their childhood. However, once he was of age, he turned to a martial path and joined the Ouat as an aspirant.
In what way do they interact with their previous life? He has since departed the ranks of the Ouat and forged out on his own, due to philisophical differences. Having been gone from home for nearly a year, so he has no real interaction with monastery. However, he still uses the skills he learned from them.
How did they receive training in their class? As an aspirant to the Ouat.
What motivates your character to adventure in general? He seeks challenges to find self-perfection, while maintaining a tie to his dwarven heritage.

5) What are your character’s long term goals (‘no goals’ is a fine answer)? Self-perfection. But while the answer is easy, the path is long and arduous ... and it may never be achievable.
How committed are they to these goals? Totally. That is the purpose of his journey. However, as he moves along, he doesn't want to lose site of who he is and where he came from.
What might cause them to change these goals? If he began to see that self-perfection meant sacrificing the traditions of the past, and forgetting who his people are and where they came from, it would severely challenge his perspectives on what 'self perfection' means.

6) Is there anyone who your character hates or who hates your character? Kharesh doesn't hate anyone - there's never been a reason, and such petty emotions feel like they are incongruous with the end path of a monk. Whether someone hates him, however, is debatable. He does not think he's given any cause for hatred, but that's in the eye of the beholder, not the beheld. The Ouat were ... disgruntled ... over their difference in approaches to perfection, and his subsequent departure. But it did not seem like hate.
If none of those apply, how would you best describe your relationship or lack thereof? With regards to the Ouat, the main point of contention is whether one must give us the traditions of the past and connections with one's people in order to achieve one's true self. The Ouat believe all of those things are distractions and should be cast aside and washed away. Kharesh feels differently.

7) What are your character's hobbies? Kharesh has few hobbies, per se. He finds the most fulfillment in training, and performing various katas to calm his mind and focus his soul. However, shortly after his arrival in Katapesh, he realized he does enjoy seeing place and objects of significant historical significance, especially as they apply to dwarven clans.
Are there any particular reasons your character enjoys these things? The training helps him focus, and release any stress he might have, while ensuring his body and mind are strong to face trials and tribulations of the future. His fascination with the historically significant ties to his strong ties to community and tradition.

8) One stranger in trouble asks your character to help them, why do you help? Because the challenge is one he cannot refuse, and when someone from the community reaches out, it is customary for all to help them.
Another stranger in trouble asks your character to help them, why don’t you help this one? Just because you seem honest and true does not make you so. All that glitters is not gold, and not all who wander are lost. When Kharesh senses deceit or duplicity, he will be reluctant at best to lend his aid.

9) An opportunity arises that your character is uniquely poised to capitalize on - it could be very dangerous, but there could be a sizable reward. What makes your character want to do it? The challenge itself! Danger is simply a stone upon which one can test themselves - steel sharpens steel.
What makes them go along with it despite initial reservations? Self-doubt is the antithesis of self-perfection ... just because the task is hard and failure is possible does not mean it isn't worth attempting.
What fails to motivate them to go for it? If the task is something the requestor could easily do themselves. Kharesh is not a servant or errand boy. Additionally, if the true intent is for purposes he cannot support, he will turn away from the task ... or perhaps even stand in the path to prevent it.
What forces them to turn the opportunity down? Only when he has previously pledged his support to another legitimate task (presuming both are equal in scope and importance).

10) The campaign will begin at the Katapeshi grand bazaar, a sprawling, nearly city wide weekly mercantile event where anyone who isn’t out buying is selling.
Why specifically is your character there? (Hint: wanting to buy something may be a good idea.)
As he often does, Kharesh seeks any trinkets that speak to his dwarven ancestors, or weapons of dwarven-make that strike his fancy. He also keeps an eye out for manuscripts of ancient and modern martial arts techniques

[DrK]

Thanks for the inclusion
I look forward to the game. PF2e will be a learning experience for me
Sadar will speak in bold if that’s okay as on a phone that’s as much as I can manage sometimes

[Gwynfrid]

I realized I'm still hesitating between cloistered cleric and warpriest. Plus, I'm traveling for work right now, meaning there's less online time (other than for work...). I may need a couple more days, sorry about that.

[BelGareth]

Nice, thanks!

I'll take...green?

[Starbin]

Nice, thanks!

I'll take...Orange

This is different from the color I chose ... how?

[BelGareth]

This is different from the color I chose ... how?

it's not.

it's also bold....le sigh

[SanguinePenguin]

I realized I'm still hesitating between cloistered cleric and warpriest. Plus, I'm traveling for work right now, meaning there's less online time (other than for work...). I may need a couple more days, sorry about that.

No worries - I will probably start the IC once I am ready. You should have plenty of time to wrap up the sheet before it is needed.

[SanguinePenguin]

Okay, IC thread is up. I will keep checking over sheets, and we will await Gurmok.

There was significant godmodding to move you about, but in your first IC post, please describe your character and feel free to interact with those around you. I also encourage you to read the content from the other players, at least for a moment, to help you familiarize yourself with their character's personality.

It is absolutely unnecessary, but if there are strong reasons any of you think you may have met another of the characters before, feel free to sort that OOC (here or discord). Short of long lost twins, anything you want to come up with should be fine (no connections at all are also completely fine).

[Gwynfrid]

Here is a character sheet for Gurmok, goblin cleric of Irori. I might purchase some more equipment but otherwise I think he's done.

[SanguinePenguin]

I meant to do this earlier, but forgot. As a "reward" for the time investment of filling out the background questionairre, I wanted your character to be trained in additional fitting lore skill reflecting this background. I went through the sheets (no problems spotted by the way), and picked out what I think are reasonable additional lore skills your character would have based on hobbies, history, etc:

Sadar - lore(gnolls)
Kharesh - lore(pahmet)
Gurmok - lore(Irori)
Gex - lore(Nex)
Kali - lore(woodcraft)
Mauricio - lore(midwifery) (which you already have, so feel free to use the slot on something else)

If you think something else is more fitting, let me know. You can add that you are trained in that lore skill to your sheet.

[BelGareth]

I meant to do this earlier, but forgot. As a "reward" for the time investment of filling out the background questionairre, I wanted your character to be trained in additional fitting lore skill reflecting this background. I went through the sheets (no problems spotted by the way), and picked out what I think are reasonable additional lore skills your character would have based on hobbies, history, etc:

Sadar - lore(gnolls)
Kharesh - lore(pahmet)
Gurmok - lore(Irori)
Gex - lore(Nex)
Kali - lore(woodcraft)
Mauricio - lore(midwifery) (which you already have, so feel free to use the slot on something else)

If you think something else is more fitting, let me know. You can add that you are trained in that lore skill to your sheet.

what is Nex ?

EDIT: lol, i know what it is, Thanks!

[Gwynfrid]

Skill added to my sheet, and thanks.

what is Nex ?

EDIT: lol, i know what it is, Thanks!

Classic case of the character's who's way more knowledgeable than the player

[BelGareth]

Skill added to my sheet, and thanks.



Classic case of the character's who's way more knowledgeable than the player

lol, yeah, I was scratching my head and then realized I had put that into his backstory!

[Kirjath]

It occurs to me that Kali is probably making a request, so a Diplomacy check is most likely required. On the off-chance it is, I'll roll here if that's ok (or I could post again in the IC thread if that's more appropriate).

Here goes an untrained diplomacy check:
(1d20+1)[21]

[SanguinePenguin]

Maddening Display (Will DC18)
Sadar - (1d20+5)[16] (1d4+1)[3]
Kharesh - (1d20+7)[8] (1d4+1)[4]
Gurmok - (1d20+8)[19] (1d4+1)[4]
Gex - (1d20+5)[12] (1d4+1)[3]
Kali - (1d20+5)[10] (1d4+1)[5]
Mauricio - (1d20+7)[12] (1d4+1)[2]
Zetath - (1d20+7)[13] (1d4+1)[3]
Yellow - (1d20+3)[14] (1d4+1)[5]
Person - (1d20+3)[23] (1d4+1)[4]

Crit success: unaffected - Person
Success: stupefied 1 for 1 round - Gurmok
Failure: stupefied 1 for 1d4+1 rounds - Sadar, Gex, Kali, Mauricio , Zetath, Yellow
Crit Failure: stupefied 2 for 1 minute, and confused for 1 round - Kharesh

Kharesh will randomly attack targets in range. If you think he would draw a melee weapon to do so, he can use an action for that. Otherwise, he attacks Zetath or spidery-thing 1. (d2)

[Starbin]

Well let's see how crappy this will be ...
Random target - (1d2)[2]
1 = Spider Thingie
2 = Zetath


EDIT: Sigh. Of course it did ...

[SanguinePenguin]

Damage to yellow turban (1d6)[6] (1d3)[1]

Daze Vs Dc 16 X1 - (1d20+5)[24]

Revolting Display (Will DC17) (stupified included)
Sadar - (1d20+5)[18]
Kharesh - (1d20+5)[17]
Gurmok - (1d20+8)[13]
Zen - (1d20+5)[25]
Gex - (1d20+4)[8]
Kali - (1d20+4)[5]
Mauricio - (1d20+6)[25]

Crit success: unaffected - Zen
Success: sickened 1 for 1 round - Sadar, Kharesh, Mauricio
Failure: sickened 1 - Gurmok, Gex
Crit Failure: sickened 2 and stunned 1 - Kali

[SanguinePenguin]

Reflex Damage (1d6)[3]
Sadar - (1d20+7)[24] 1 damage
Gurmok - (1d20+3)[10] (includes -2 for being mounted) 3 damage
Zen - (1d20+8)[17] 3 damage

Gex attack Fort saves
X1 - (1d20+6)[7] 6 damage (2 bleed)
X2 - (1d20+6)[24] 1 damage (no bleed)

[SanguinePenguin]

Gex attack Fort saves (cont'd)
swarm - (1d20+9)[28] No Damage
Sadar - (1d20+6)[15] 1 damage (no bleed)

[Prehysterical]

Devising a Stratagem against X2: (1d20)[20]

Edit: Changing targets due to X1 being incapacitated.

[BelGareth]

Gex vomitting:

(1d20+4)[6] vs dc 17
(1d20+4)[23] vs dc 17
(1d20+4)[17] vs dc 17

[Gwynfrid]

Reflex Damage [roll0]
[roll1] 1 damage
[roll2] (includes -2 for being mounted) 3 damage
[roll3] 3 damage

Gex attack Fort saves
[roll4] 6 damage (2 bleed)
[roll5] 1 damage (no bleed)

Indeed, I was way behind... Fixed my post accordingly. Also, thanks for the point about -2 for being mounted, I had missed that entirely.

[SanguinePenguin]

Fort:
B - (1d20+3)[18]
P1 - (1d20+6)[12]
P2 - (1d20+6)[10]
P2 - (1d20+6)[14]

Sadar AoO: (1d20+9)[20] Damage: (1d10+4)[8]