Heart of Artifice: Part I--Engineered Enigma

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Let me know--it is Kharas's turn after all. His main options are--

A) Do as you wanted and withdraw completely, taking one AoO and distancing himself thirty feet from the nearest enemy

B) Five-foot adjust and Total Defense. No AoOs taken. The best turtling option.

C) Hybrid of A and B--Total Defense and then a single move retreat. This puts ten feet between himself and the nearest enemy, but it provokes three AoOs (albeit with the higher AC from Total Defense).

D) Just attack one of them and adjust

E) Something else (Infusion, Grapple, Disarm, Ritual Suicide, Something Else Crazy, Etc)

)

 

[Patlin]

ooc: I posted my turn above, as it seemed to me Velmont was assenting to the full defend and 5' step suggestion.

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Yeah, I wasn't sure, since he said 'Seems like an option'. He's pretty fast to post, so hopefully we'll find out soon enough )

 

[Patlin]

(OOC: Yeah, I wasn't sure, since he said 'Seems like an option'. He's pretty fast to post, so hopefully we'll find out soon enough )

ooc: Yeah, mostly commented since we posted nearly simultaneously and at least on my setup your post (481) started a new page. Didn't want you to miss my action!

 

[Velmont]

I'll take B)

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Started a new page for me too. But I have a habit of going back a page whenever I start a new page, so I did see yours. That said, it isn't a bad idea at all to point it out either)

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Stepping around the opponent who doesn't have an ally on his side, Kharas pulls his shield up into a completely defensive stance, sacrificing every attack opening in order to defend all his weak points.*

*The spark-shooter tries another electric attack, but Kharas barely avoids it by side-stepping, and he easily catches the air blade of the other opponent on his shield.*

*Meanwhile, Anvuss hurtles towards the completely uninjured ranged opponent and strikes hard and fast, likely causing a nasty bruise on his opponent's chest beneath the armour and piercing deep with the cold iron spikes. Still, it will take more than that to drop this opponent.*

"He's gone on the defensive so his Clank can strike at our heels. Fall back and protect Fen," the first soldier instructs, adjusting his wolf's head helmet slightly as he and his partner head back at opposite banked curves to come in on either side of Anvuss.

*The speaking guard's attack strikes at a perfect point and would have been a vital blow if his opponent was not a Warforged. As it is, the concussive blow still rings deep, even with the adamantine reinforcements protecting Anvuss.*

(OOC: Grrr, a confirmed critical (requiring two very high rolls to pull off, mind!) gone to waste by that accursed Light Fortification 7 damage to Anvuss after DR, so he's at 19.

Kharas again. More turtling? Only one enemy is adjacent to him)

 

[Patlin]

Anvuss is pleased to have drawn the soldiers away from the injured Kharas, who would surely have been much more seriously hurt by that last blow.

Anvus will attack the "spark shooter" again and take a 5' step. He'd prefer to avoid flanking, so if there is a column or corner he can put his back too, he'll head for it.

Attack Electric Crossbow Wielder (1d20+5=15, 1d8+3=10)

ooc: 7 damage of 26 hp

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: There are such, but he can't get to a column for a few more five-foot steps, and even then, they can still get a flank unless he goes to the very corner of the entire room. As for Kharas, while the critical threat would have hit, it wouldn't have confirmed thanks to the Total Defense bringing Kharas's AC up to 22, though with DR, it is true that Kharas would have felt that attack more)

 

[Patlin]

ooc: A step closer is good enough for the moment. If the crossbowman is still up after the attack, Anvuss will need to stay close enough to threaten him anyway.