Well it seems that Tonk and Blade are planning to stay, so that pretty much means that the choice of running is out.
Let's then do the short rest. Dex will pull out his lute and begin performing the song of rest, which adds +4 to any healing surges you decide to use. He will save his majestic word ability for the upcoming fight.
Dextyr returns to the encampment and pulls out his lute. He begins strumming out a mournful sounding melody. It is an old Imperium ballad about a group of hero's who are preparing themselves for battle, a battle from which they most certainly will not return, as the odds are stacked against them, and they are worn and beaten.
He looks around to the others as he plays, "Seems like another battle approaches us friends. Lets prepare ourselves and make them pay a heavy price. If they are to defeat us then let us take as much of their blood with us as we can."
He then cracks a huge smile and gives a chuckle. "And after we defeat this next group of would-be bounty hunters, we really must go pay those lawyers and Mr. Applethorpe a visit"
Blade returns from the necromancer's corpse with the note crumpled in his hand and a pair of small vials filled with a green substance. He hands them to Tonk, "These vials will burn our enemies and the wounds will continue to fester after the initial contact. Don't waste them" Blade says flatly.
As Dextyr plays his tune, Blade sharpens a tiny nick that had gotten on the blade of his weapon during many battles. The whetstone makes a scraping sound that somehow accentuates the haunting nature of the bard's battle hymn. The dried blood of his enemies is on the deva's face, his arms and his clothes, the avenger makes no move to clean it off instead knowing that if this is to be his final battle, Maros will be better faced by having the blood of your victims as evidence of your skills, Blade thought.
After they'd recovered their strength, Blade stands up, stretches his muscles, swings a few testing swings of his weapon, the axe whistling through the air. Nodding to himself, the deva turns to the others and in a surprisingly jovial mood pats Dextyr on the shoulder and adds "Aye, who wanted to live forever anyway" with a laugh, the first time you've heard the avenger laugh, it was an odd sound coming from the normally serious Blade. The smile fades from his face quickly though and he says "Punch Brothers, if we are to die on this field today, know that I have lived many lifetimes and this collection of warriors is the finest I've ever seen and I'm proud to have fought at your sides." with a genuine note of sincerity in his voice, clasping each persons shoulder in a soldierly farewell.
ooc
Blade will spend 1 surge to top up leaving him at 6/9 surges left.
Tactics
Ok, so last fight went fairly well for us I think, but it cost Blade his Daily and AP. We are strikers right? Let's keep up the Focus Fire. Blade & Tristan should lead as we've got more surges than Tonk (i.e. more than 0). Mikara and Dextyr work well from the distance. Perhaps Tonk can perform some guerrilla style attacks? Hide in the trees, pounce and disengage? Hide, sneak up rinse and repeat.
Acid
Alchemist's Acid
When shattered, this glass vial releases a spray of acid.
Level: 1
Price: 20 gp
Alchemical Item
Power (Consumable • Acid): Standard Action. Make an attack: Ranged 5/10; +4 vs. Reflex; on a hit, the attack deals 1d10 acid damage and ongoing 5 acid damage (save ends); on miss, half damage and no ongoing acid damage.
Dextyr finishes his song and carefully packs away his lute. As he stands and draws his longsword he seems refreshed. Giving the sword a few practice swings he nods in agreement with Blades words. "I too feel honored to have fought in battle with you all, and if today is to be my last, then I will die in the company of friends." Dextyr gives a couple more practice swings of his sword and then continues,
"Mind you, after seeing us in action I am certain that it will take a mighty force indeed to defeat us this day. We shall be victorious..." He finishes by thrusting his longsword into the ground at his feet and then does a final check of his gear to make sure he is ready.
OOC
Dex will spend 1 healing surge bringing him back to full. He now has 5 left.
stat block
Dextyr M’rgan
stat block
- Male Half-Elf Bard 1 Current Conditions: none Senses: Low-light vision Passive Perception: 11, Passive Insight: 17 AC:17, Fort:13, Reflex:13, Will:15 Speed:5 (w/ heavy armor) Temp Hit Points: 0 Hit Points:[28]: 28 Bloodied:14, Surge Value:7, Surges [10] Used:5 Action Points: [1] Second Wind: available Powers Virtue of Valor (1/round, ally within 5 squares bloodies or kills enemy, grant 4 temp hit points) Guiding Strike Vicious Mockery Majestic Word [2] Words of Friendship Shout of Triumph Eldritch Blast Stirring Shout - used Inspiring Word *Cloak of Distortion: Ranged attacks over 5 squares (-5 attack).* Group Diplomacy: All allies within 10 squares of Dextyr gain a +1 bonus to Diplomacy checks.
I'm for leaving after a short rest. If we can make any progress while we're resting, I'm for leaving in the direction of Daunton, so we can draw this insanity to a close. If not, I suggest striking out for Daunton after we rest regardless of what's on the road ahead. Not cowardice as much as greed .
I'd like to at least pretend like we're making progress toward our adventure's objective (which, I can't even remember clearly without researching the first several pages of this 39+page adventure. I just know it has something to do with proving to a halfling in Lauto's temple that we killed Marglesplat or whatever his name was).
Joe, if in the future you rule that an action will cause my character injury, please give me an opportunity to abort.
Quote:
Originally Posted by renau1g
"These vials will burn our enemies and the wounds will continue to fester after the initial contact. Don't waste them" Blade says flatly.
A maniacal laugh bubbles out of Tonk's throat.
After listening to his comrade's speeches, Tonk shakes his head.
"Why you make like the Gloomy Gus, yes? Is no time for the gloomy! Is no time for the think about the maybe die! I no think the sad thought! Pfft! Is just fight. In fight, is always chance for to die, so is no deal that is big. So, is time for to be happy! We is do what we is born for to do, which is for to make the bad person think again about bad life choice."
"Now, next fight come soon, so is much important for to stick together and go two or three or four on one bad person. Keep with the move. Stick to the cover, but no more than two or three second. Aggress! Aggress! Aggress!"
"I is much hurt, so is time for me to be smart and stick to shadow."
Mikara is not exactly the noblest of the group, but she's disturbed that the others simply want to wait here for the enemy.
"Let's not tarry here.
It is noble not to run.
Advancing's better!
Thus I suggest we move toward Daunton's streets
perchance that our adventure's goal we meet.
If conflict should arise along the way,
I'm sure we'll live to fight another day."
From the shadows, Tonk says, "I fine with run away, too! Move! Move! Aggress! Aggress! Is silly for to stay here and wait, because terrain no suit us. Is maybe for to get to town and rest at temple."
Mikara follows Tonk's lead, tearing into the woods at breakneck speed, but keeps her distance, so that she doesn't draw fire his way.
Actions
Move: Double Run (I believe that gives me 18 squares, but I grant CA) E12, E13, E14, D15, C16, C17, C18, C18 DT, C19, C19 DT, C20, C20 DT, C21, C22, C23, C24, C24 DT
As Dextyr finishes making sure his gear is ready, both Mikara and Tonk voice their desire to head back to Daunton.
"I agree with those two. We've caught our breath, so now lets get moving and head back to town. If we run into those Lord of Thunder and Lord of stone guys on the way, well, we'll deal with that when we cross it. Let's move out."
Looking at Blade Dextyr adds "We are not retreating or running away - we are choosing the battlefeild, and I for one could use a change of scenery"
OOC
Well we have taken a short rest so the next encounter is probably almost upon us.
I do agree that we should not just sit and wait for them, but instead we should begin heading to town. We have our hit points back (well most of us anyway), and our encounter powers so even if we can get a head start on the next group of bad guys by a few rounds, it will get us that much closer to Daunton, and the end of the adventure. So instead of hiding in the bushes we should start heading back to town. If the next encounter catches us on the road, then so be it.
"However we phrase it, we did not come into these woods for the purpose of fighting all these mercenaries. We have no reason to fight them except to save ourselves. And call it retreating or running or whatever you like, but doing so is preferable to fighting a fight you won't survive." Tristan cracks a grin at this and adds, "Not that I don't think we'll survive. We've proved our mettle today, and they'll be sorry they came after us!"
With that, the elf slips into the trees after Tonk and Mikara.
OOC
Sorry for not chiming in on this yet, I was on the road most of yesterday ... you guys sure know how to make a thread explode
So, basically I agree with all of you. I'd like to move towards Daunton as much as possible, but I also think we're not going to get away from this next fight, so preparing ourselves as much as possible is good. IE - resting and healing up as much as we can.
Tristan will spend one surge, which gets him to full with Song of Rest. He has 5/9 surges left. And yes, I still have my daily left. I was planning to use it on that necromancer last fight, but the opportunity never really presented itself. I guess that's OK, because now I have it for this one
Tristan Moonblade - Male Elf Avenger (Dayna) 1 Passive Perception: 21, Passive Insight: 14; Low-light vision AC:17, Fort:13, Reflex:15, Will:15 -- Speed:7 HP:28/28, Bloodied:14, Surge Value:7, Surges Left:5/9
Action Points: 0, Second Wind: available Powers Bond of Pursuit
Overwhelming Strike Angelic Alacrity
Channel Divinity
Elven Accuracy
Oath of Enmity Oath of the Final Duel
Luckblade Group Awareness: All non-elf allies within 5 squares of Tristan gain a +1 bonus to Perception.
"However we phrase it, we did not come into these woods for the purpose of fighting all these mercenaries. We have no reason to fight them except to save ourselves. And call it retreating or running or whatever you like, but doing so is preferable to fighting a fight you won't survive."
"We have every reason to fight them, in glory of Maros. We have provided many glorious battles for him and that is enough reason for me. I would like nothing more than to die in glory of Maros." Blade adds.
There is a sudden crack of thunder, and the sky opens up with rain, churning the ground underfoot into mud almost instantly. A second later, the ground rumbles again and the rock Mikara is standing on begins to shift and crack. Mikara jumps free just in time as the shards of rock break off and fall to the ground. Something imprisoned within the rock hunches and stretches, and at last breaks free! Where there used to be a monolithic stone now stands a rocky humanoid figure, 15 feet tall, like an ogre made of stone. It bellows at the heavens, and is answered by a roll of thunder and another flash of lightning. The stone elemental's massive head creaks back and forth, scanning the ground for squishy humanoid targets.
OOC
Ok, seems the voting has changed and we are now moving on. Fine by me, I'll just have to find a new map for the next encounter. In the meantime, running away from this fight is a skill challenge!
So, what I have is:
Mikara: spent 2 surges, at 24/24
Tonk: spent 0 surges, at 3/24
Blade: spent 1 surge, at 29/29
Dextyr: spent 1 surge, at 28/28
Tristan: spent 0 surges, at 20/28
That right? Tristan, you sure you don't want to spend a surge?
Ok, now that you know what you're up against, fight or run? If you choose to fight, place yourselves on the map (and I'll need Init from Dextyr.) People who've made Stealth rolls, place yourselves somewhere you'd be hidden. If you choose to flee, those Stealth rolls will be your actions for the first round of the skill challenge: complexity 4 (10 successes before 3 failures), DC 15 for most rolls.
I guess I blew a third of the skill challenge already, but I'm still going to try to get away, so let my stealth check stand, and I'll try better luck next time on the skill challenge.
That right? Tristan, you sure you don't want to spend a surge?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sessadore
OOC
Tristan will spend one surge, which gets him to full with Song of Rest. He has 5/9 surges left. And yes, I still have my daily left. I was planning to use it on that necromancer last fight, but the opportunity never really presented itself. I guess that's OK, because now I have it for this one
Blade was entering the forest when the stone elemental appeared, the roar of the creature causes the deva to turn and he stares at the foe with a wide grin. He is ready for the next battle.
OOC
FYI Joe, Tristan spent 1 surge to get back to full
All, with an enemy here, Blade won't be backing down so I guess start him at G16, as he was just about to leave the area to head back to Daunton.
If (and ONLY if) it's possible to do this and still run away (without taking damage or suffering penalties to skill checks)....
With an annoyed sigh, Tonk appears from the brush behind Blade and smashes the avenger over the head with his mace. (Minor Action: Blade is Hunter's Quarry; Standard Action: King's Castle v. Reflex (1d20+6+2=26, 2d8+4+2d6+1d6+1=25))
When Blade doesn't go down, Tonk whacks him again for good measure. (Spend Action Point. (Since we earned one for the last milestone.) Disheartening Strike: v. AC (1d20+6+2=18, 1d8+8+1=10))
All damage is non-lethal.
Tonk then picks up his unconscious friend's body and runs like hell...
Oops, missed that in Tristan's healing surges. I'll add it.
If some of you want to stay and some of you want to run, I'll interpret the success or failure of the people who are fighting as adding successes to the skill challenge for the runners, as they sacrifice themselves to delay the creature. (No defined rules, I'll just eyeball it. Getting yourself killed could still be a success if you make a bunch of successful attack first...)
About intra-party conflict: it's up to Blade if he wants to go along with this, as an in-character way to let his character flee. If he doesn't like the idea, Tonk can make the attack but it will automatically miss. Basically it works like Dark Pact warlock powers - the target has to agree to any action that causes damage.
If he doesn't like the idea, Tonk can make the attack but it will automatically miss.
So, is it possible to change Tonk's action? If I had known that the chance of success was not dependent on my character's action, then I would not have engaged in it.
I went back and edited my actions with more specific stuff, I realized I forgot to put myself on the map. Please read (in doing so, I also realized that I didn't link my rolls. Shame on me).
ren
IMO (and feel free to disagree), I think you should let Tonk do this, it would be a shame if a creative chestnut like this were not rewarded with game play .
OK so Idon't know about the rest of you, but Dex is all for the skill challange right now - and that is coming from a guy who has about the worst skills possible for another chase / run / flee skill challange.
If Blade wants to sacrifice himself while the rest of us get away, that's cool with Dextyr.
I don't think Tonk should waste his time, and an AP in getting Blade to come along - as well, that would put even more of a strain on Dextyr's healing abilities trying ot get Blade back up to fighting condition when the time comes.
Here's how I see it. If we loose the skill challange we have to fight the Rock dude where ever he catched us. If we win the skill challange we have to fight the rock dude at the gates of Daunton, with possibly some help from the guards or something. So just like the last one we have to fight this thing either way - just if we win the challange, we have an advantage, if we loose, a disadvantage.
Dextyr turns as the ground shakes and the rock behind him begins to crumble and form into a humanoid shape. He spots blade turning to face the creature while the others dive into the woods and attempt to escape.
"BLADE!" Dextyr shouts, "This is not the time or place for this fight. Make Maros proud and be a cunning warrior as well as a brave one and lets get to a more advantageous position".
Dextyr hopes to play on Blades utter devotion to Maros and get the stubborn Deva to join the rest of them and flee.
Dextyr then moves away from the creature in the opposite direction as his comrades di and calls out to the creautre hoping it can understand either his words or his actions. "HEY rock boy - Bet you're too slow and stupid to catch me before I can make it back to the cottage", and with that Dextyr takes off into the woods, hoping to lure the creature away from the others.
.
.
.
Linear Mode
And yet another word from our sponsors
