Giantslayer: The Hill Giant's Pledge [IC]

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar readies his axe and is prepared when everyone else is.

[lostsole31]

Captain Bloodtusk shakes his head. "Sorry, we dropped Ms. Blix off a little bit ago, and set her ashore with our promised shipment."

[Admyral]

"No problem, thank you, sir," Gharmez replies. She joins the rest of the party preparing to go ashore.

[lostsole31]

So, the so-called heroes head out to the dam to investigate.

What do you do once there?

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar knows he is perhaps not the best for the job but will advance slowly using his skills to aid anyone who can determine how this dam was formed and how it could be disassembled.

Spoiler: Technical Information

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Perception and Know: Engineering

[lostsole31]

Abenor, who is surprisingly a little better at engineering than Aasgar, steps up with his friend, and then Galakhar follows behind both of them. They get out to the middle, and start discussing things. By this point, it is obvious that once again Galakhar is the superior scholar as regards engineering, though he is quite surprised that it was the elf over the dwarf to provide helpful insights.

Galakhar, looking around, says, "Something large ... and of prodigious strength, likely multiple of count ... made this damn. It was no animal, but had to have been fashioned by creatures with opposable thumbs as you can tell by the way that this stone is carefully fitted to that one, and a special mud-mortar was made. The entire thing is suspended on a thick bedding of branches and only dams the surface like a bridge, rather than actually damming this large river, which is why the water itself freely continues. It was purpose-made to stop shipping, and nothing else."

He stops speaking for a second, as if in concentration. "We are about to be attacked from below. Arm yourselves."

Just then, three large, greenish bipedal creatures burst forth from the water to stand upon the dam, but Galakhar's warning kept the party from being surprised.

Begin Round One ...

R1T23: Kurst seems to recognize the threat immediately even from the shore. "Freshwater merrows! Aquatic giants of lakes and rivers! Hides like thick leather. Ogre mentality - savages and degenerates!"

He is not idle during this time, however, as he is calling this out as he moves on the dam while taking out his bow and shoots. His shot illustrates the thickness of its hide as his arrow bounces.

R1T22-21: Just because the party isn't surprised, doesn't mean they are prepared, either. Aasgar finds himself flanked, and "Red" swings but wasn't expecting dwarves this day as its clawed arm extends too far and it tears a muscle (1 STR drain). Its savagery is such that it simply slashes with the other claw, which Aasgar dodges as well. Abenor isn't so lucky as Blue slashes him along the lower back for 9 mod and along the back of the neck for 4 mod.

R1T20: On shore, Lucette chirps in alarm.

R1T19: Galakhar quick draws his rapier and gets into his fighting stance, nodding back to Kurst. "I concur. Nothing to add." He does a sidestep while studying Green and stabs. The merrow hadn't expected their "prey" to be so ready for him, and is unprepared for the lightning fast thrust that catches it in the belly for 12. "Yes, only like thick leather, but my rapier is an awl punch."

R1T15: Abenor feels like the punching bag of late. He quick draws his daisho while getting into an aggressive stance. He performs his fading strike where he teleports behind his enemy and slashes Red in the right hamstring for 19. "Aasgar! Flank!"

R1T13: Gharmez, what do you do?

[Admyral]

Gharmez closes range on the beasts by walking out onto the dam. She brings her crossbow to bear on the closest creature, and fires.

Spoiler: Tech Info

Show

Move: 3 squares NE
Attack(Crossbow): Green (Giant Subtype?): Point Blank Shot : ATK: (1d20+11)[30] DAM: (1d10+2)[11]

[Admyral]

Spoiler: Critical 19

Show

Critical Severity: giant subtype?: (1d20+2)[7]
Damage: (2d6)[6]

[lostsole31]

R1T13: Gharmez closes range on the beasts by walking out onto the dam. She brings her crossbow to bear on the closest creature, and fires, striking the merrow in the back of its right upper arm for 14.

R1T8: Cici darts just ahead of Gharmez and Kurst, concentrates carefully while casting a spell, and then from the joined fingertips of both hands a sheet of flame rolls out over Green for 11 fire.

R1T7: Green slashes Aasgar across the top of his helm (9 DDP), though its second swipe clangs against the dwarf's armor.

R1T6: Aasgar, what do you do?

Kurst on deck, Red in the hole ...

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar, not liking his current situation of being surrounded, yet understanding Abenors request turns and moves to complete the flanking maneuver with Abenor. Adjusting his stance, he launches an attack with his axe swinging in a high arc overhead.

Spoiler: Technical Information

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MA: Move west 5' (unless these are 10' then he moves that distance) then north 5' (see above move) to engage and complete the flank with Abenor.

SwA: Circular Stance [ST1; Cannot be flanked, unless foe level 4+ higher.]

Attack using Risky Strike and Overhand Chop: (1d20+14)[28]

Damage: (1d12+18)[28]

Blooded [Region]: +1 trait bonus on weapon damage rolls vs. giants, goblins, & orcs.

Outflank (Ex, TW): Whenever he and an ally who also has this feat are flanking the same creature, his flanking bonus on attack rolls increases to +4.
* Whenever he scores a critical hit vs. the flanked creature, it provokes an AOO from his ally.

Defensive Training

If Aasgar is hit with a crit use Roll With It [Campaign]

[lostsole31]

R1T6: Aasgar - not liking his current situation of being surrounded, yet understanding Abenor's request - turns and moves to complete the flanking maneuver with Abenor. Adjusting his stance, he launches an attack with his axe swinging in a high arc overhead that strikes Red in the neck for 29, dropping the merrow.

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T23: Kurst steps back a few feet and shoots Green in the neck for 10, dropping the enemy.

R2T21: Blue looks at how quickly his kin were dropped and wants no part of this, and withdraws into the water.

Combat Ends!

The two merrow are put to the sword. They have nothing of value, and are kicked into the river on the downstream side. Aasgar's wound catches up with him (9).

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar takes off his helm and looks at it and gingerly touches his scalp.

"Ow..."

[lostsole31]

In looking over the bridge with Abenor, the very best Galakhar says he can do is to organize working parties that will take a total of 2-1/2 days, instead of 3 days.

[Admyral]

"I have never seen such a beast as these, " Gharmez says to Galakhar. "Any idea what they were?"
"And maybe more importantly, do you think there will be more?"

[lostsole31]

"Anthropomorphic awakened muskrats," says Galakhar glibly. "I doubt we shall see that one again."

[BuckGodot]

"Let's make that happen. I presume you mean to use the crew as well? Also, I have a potion that will make a person larger. Would that help?" Aasgar says in response to Galakhar.

[lostsole31]

Galakhar shakes his head. "That potion only lasts one minute, unless it's a more expensive version. Not enough for sustained work."

[Admyral]

"We should get to clearing this debris, and of course keep our eyes open for any more friends from the river, " Gharmez says to the group. "In my morning prayers, I will request Abadar's blessing to assist us in this arduous task."

Spoiler: Spell Preparation

Show

In next morning prayers, Gharmez will replace:
Cleric 1:Air Bubble x2, Comprehend Languages, and Protection from Evil with Ant Haul x4
Ranger 1: Longstrider with Ant Haul

[lostsole31]

Spoiler: ALCON

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CORR to above: Gharmez changes up her prayers now, not later.

At Cici's behest, Gharmez will do a channel burst for healing for the party. Cici tops the only two wounded - Aasgar and Abenor - off with a healing hex to each.

The plan is presented to the captain, including Gharmez' intention of spell changes, and he approves, and he actually asks that his own men get the benefit of the "brawny bug spell" so that the passengers (i.e., the PCs) can focus more on overall supervision of the project and standing by fresh in case of attack. Interestingly, it does a lot for morale, as now five chosen half-orcs get to feel like superheroes, and really appreciate Gharmez' allowance on giving some benefits directly to "dirty blue shirts" (whatever that means, as only a couple actually wear blue tunics).

Things progress so well today with Gharmez' liberal ant haul spells, that Galakhar estimates that the overall will only take a total of two days ... meaning that they should finish clearance enough for safe passage for the keel boat (and other boats) late tomorrow afternoon.

That evening after the working parties are complete and dinner has been eaten, Galakhar tells an entertaining story about a hero who tracked a dragon across the world, and below it, in a mission of vengeance.

That night, after all have gone to sleep, there is a faint dinging sound above the heads of both Aasgar and Abenor!

[lostsole31]

Sunday, 14 Pharast 4715 AR (Last Quarter)
Weather: 70/ 50 F. Light rain. Dry.

The next morning, what do you change for dailies as another day of dismantling the merrow dam is expected?

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar readies Encouraging Roar, Defending the Pride, and Dazing Attack. (GR) He prepares Warning Roar, Red Zephyr's Strike, and Scything Strike. (W)

[Admyral]

Gharmez prepares 10 Ant Haul spells and casts them as the Captain directs. "This should get us through this task a little quicker," she remarks.

[lostsole31]

As Aasgar begins his meditation, the chill air from the sudden dip in temperature affects him subconsciously, and akasha forms bands of elemental ice entwined throughout the fabric of a pair of gloves, lashing out to strike distant targets at his command.

Spoiler: Unlocked

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Unlocked minor veil Gloves of Lashing Elements [Cold].

He continues his minor meditations in the same general area, and weightless pins of silvery akasha form themselves in the wrist-cuffs of his shirt, granting him minor telekinetic abilities.

Spoiler

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Unlocked Cufflinks of the Telekinetic

.
Now time for the more powerful abilities....

Aasgar maintains the theme of cold and concentrates on his heart, his chest chakra, and glittering threads of frozen akasha suffuse his clothing giving the appearance that they are made of ice and frost. This enchantment will make his gloves of lashing elements [cold] more deadly with cold. In addition, he no longer feels the bite of cold, or heat, should it come to that.

Spoiler: Unlock

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Unlock Frostweave.

Now about his shoulders wraps of cloth garb him, glowing with a pattern that shifts and churns as he shapes his other veils.

Spoiler: Unlock

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Unlock Tactician's Tabard.

Aasgar, before we continue, will you lock 0, 1 or 2 essentia into the tactician's tabard (meaning will you shape and store up to 1, 2, or 3 other veils in the tabard)?

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar will choose 2.

[lostsole31]

As Aasgar realizes he can store more veils for tactical options at the expense of energy that he hasn't yet learned to really shift properly yet, he goes for discovery over energy management. For a person with the powers of a vizier but not the true training path, this is probably the wisest course of action. And so, while he cannot directly access the following without retiring frostweave, his mind and spirit wanders to see how he might shape the akashic magic within.

Should he need to hone his senses and understanding of others while easily piercing the veil that shows the hidden color ... the color of magic ... he forms lenses of air, fire, water, and earth to be connected to his headband chakra.

Spoiler: Unlocked

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Unlock Spectacles of the Sheikh (Headband).

However, he might need to convince someone - through truth or reason - of the rightness of his words, so from the same chakra he forms the means to subtly affect the receptiveness of his words in others.

Spoiler: Unlock

Show

Unlock Alluring Voice (Headband).

Another possibility, stemming from the last veil discovered, is less about convincing but more about speaking in a way that is to be heard without voice ... to speak directly to the mind of someone nearby.

Spoiler: Unlock

Show

Unlock Adamant Crown (Head).

---

The captain, once apprised of Gharmez's Great Gift, directs the placement of the many ant hauls across the whole of his crew, and while not an Abadaran, he has no problem thanking Gharmez and giving Abadar a little recognition for making his men mighty, indeed.

It is a hard day of work indeed, and Galakhar - like yestereve - is not helping in the kitchen but supervising efforts at the merrow dam. With Gharmez' spell and Galakhar's engineering supervision, the keelboat completely dismantles the merrow dam for all vessel traffic by late afternoon! It is too late to move onward today, as it takes time with the hitching and so forth of the horses, but that actually means the crew will dine well already camped, rather than trying to eat on the go for a late night mooring as happens sometimes.

Aasgar, are you happy using the frostweave through the day, or would you have any reason to switch that veil out with any of the others for some reason?

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar is happy with not changing anything at this time.

[lostsole31]

The party partakes of the meal, sitting with the captain, as the coxswain sits with the rest of the crew separately.

Something is wrong with the meal as everyone at your little circle - Captain Raag Bloodtusk, All of the PC and NPCs, and even little Lucette (Cici's weasel familiar) - feels uncomfortable. Looking over, you hear sounds of distress from the rest of the crew as well.

Everyone takes 4 poison damage from the tainted meal. This distress occurs 10 minutes after the meal is eaten, by the way.

Aasgar, Gharmez, roll a saving throw vs. poison!

[BuckGodot]

Saving throw vs. Poisson

Spoiler: Technical Information

Show

(1d20+14)[23]

Hardy (Ex): +2 racial bonus on saves vs. poison, spells, & SLAs.

[Admyral]

"I'm not feeling so great, " says Gharmez as she tries to keep from vomiting.

Spoiler: poison save

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(d20+6)[7]

[lostsole31]

Aasgar still doesn't feel good, mind you, but Gharmez takes 1 STR damage, as does Abenor. Lucette, Cici's familiar, also seems to be doing poorly.

"The meal is tainted!" Galakhar calls out, "Either the fish in the area was diseased or we were poisoned."

Gharmez, you feel worse than others, but it hasn't had a "mechanical" effect yet.

What do you (Aasgar and Gharmez) do?