Kulan: Knightfall's Crisis in Bluffside Game [IC]

[Knightfall]

"No more mercy," Captain Camburn says as he steps forward and swings his sword at the Loyalist four times. The first two strikes are so fast that the soldier can't react in time. The Loyalist barely manages to block the last two strikes.

 

[Knightfall]

Big Tim shifts his stance up the street and swing his greatsword at the man called Butcher. The blade cuts a deep wound in the man's torso and takes another chunk out of the corner of the building. Tim brings the blade around again but this time the man avoids it easily, as the swing is a bit clumsy. Tim swings again but Butcher deflects it away with his own blade.

Tim sees absolutely no fear in the man's eyes.

On the other street, Custodio shifts around the doppelganger and casts a healing spell on Petronille while on the defensive. "You need to retreat. Do not throw your life away."

The healing energy flows into her and seals the worst of her wounds, yet she strikes out at the doppelganger one more time before move back behind Commander Oakfirst. The doppelganger manages to swing its blade and inflict a small cut on her left shoulder blade.

Up the other street, the Dusk assassin notes the arrival of Oakfirst and his personal Elites. She turns an flees without a second thought.

"Sir, that one's getting away!" The Regular shouts out to Custodio.

"Let her go, stay on the doppelganger," Custodio orders.

Down the street past the candle shop, the two Brelish Thugs also note the arrival of the commander and his Elites. Each one takes a step back and pulls out a potion and drinks it down. A moment later, a woman dressed in the garb of a wizard steps out of the warehouse and moves towards Akos, Big Tim, and Falen.

She keeps her focus on Akos as she mixes a pinch of dust with a few drops of water. She shouts out arcane words and looks to the sky. A powerful storm of ice envelops the area around the loremaster, the half-ogre knight, and the half-hobgoblin unseen seer. Hailstone pummel them and ice chills them to the bones. The ground becomes slippery under their feet and it becomes hard to hear anything but the pounding hailstones.

 

[Knightfall]

Akos grimaces in discomfort as the spell manages to bypass his protections. He is very angry and focuses it on the enchantress down the street. In a flash, he's at the edge of her spell and steps out of it. Then he moves quickly down to the woman and shifts past her to her right and then steps behind her.

The look on her face makes the Loremaster's day. She is shocked, bewildered, confused. She didn't expect him to be slipperier than her spell. The other Loyalists around her are just as surprised. She didn't have a weapon out and the thugs only had their crossbows ready. It was simple matter to get by them. They should have been better prepared.

Waldo really needs better servants.

Akos turns and faces the woman. She is horrified. She knows he could steal her soul with a word. Instead, Akos spits out an angry epitaph at her and the other Loyalists. He cows them into submission with a blistering vow that has all four of them cowering in their boots.

"D-da... mn y-yo... u," the enchantress is barely able to speak. She is frozen in fear... her eyes wide.

Akos can se that the woman isn't just an enchantress. A longsword is belted to her hip in a fine scabbard. She tries to move her hands to it, but she it too afraid to move. She also has a sheathed dagger on her belt and bow and quiver on her back.

OOC: @Neurotic, I left it to you to add your own words in for Akos' demoralize.

 

[Knightfall]

In the Shop:
The Brelish Thug reloads his hand crossbow and takes aim at Tuck. However, the weapon fails to fire for some reason and when he tries to fix it, the crossbow snaps in two. He manages to barely get the bolt away from his hand so he doesn't poison himself but the weapon is ruined.

---

Outside the Shop:
Down the street from Akos, the Regular and Custodio are not having much luck against the doppelganger. The guard steps towards the shapechanger and tries to skewer the creature with his halberd but he misjudges his footing and nearly thumps himself in the stomach with the weapon as the blade gets stuck in between two cobblestones on the street.

The doppelganger seizes on the opportunity and tumbles past Custodio and the guard to come up behind the Regular. Both Custodio and the Regular manage to swing their weapons, as the shapechanger tumbling isn't perfect, but neither one of them hits the doppelganger.

The doppelguard drives his blade into the Regular's back. The man yells in pain. Custodio can tell that the Regular doesn't have much left in him. He's taken too many hits.

---

End of Round 6

 

[Knightfall]

Start of Round 7
Tim watches as the Butcher manages to get his balance and then disappear back into the candle shop. The man is soon out of sight of th knight. Inside the shop, Tuck is focused on the Loyalist in front of him. The man swings his longsword again, but he isn't putting all his strength behind it, as he shifts to a defensive stance.

Down the narrow street from Tim, another Loyalist appears out of the warehouse. He moves towards Akos then shifts to his left and swings his sword but Akos avoids the blade. The man carries a shield with him. He leaves himself open for Akos to counterattack.

Then, a moment later, another Loyalist appears out of the warehouse and rushes towards Akos and tries to grab the Loremaster. He isn't wielding a blade, but the man does have a dagger on his belt. Instead, Akos sees that the man has spiked gauntlet that is made out of cold iron. He sees that the other Loyalist also has a spiked gauntlet but it isn't made from cold iron.

The man manages to get a hodl of Akos' arm and he tries to grab the Loremaster in a bear hug. "I have you now! The master will reward me if I bring him your head!"

"Bring him down!" A voice from inside the warehouse yells.

Akos can't see the person who yelled, but he can hear many more people moving around in the warehouse. He hears boots stomping on the floor, metal scraping again metal, and shouts of angry.

"We fight to the death!" The voice yells again. "Give no mercy! Expect none!"

Voices raise in a cheer that is both intense and fanatical. "TO THE DEATH! TO THE DEATH!"

 

[Neurotic]

Akos runs through the fight, not really caring for the minor risks of injury. The caster is the focus of his ire, but all close enough to see him cower
"Listen well, for your insolence has kindled the flames of my fury. How dare you stand before me, a mere mortal, challenging the might of the fey. Know this, fool: I am the chosen vessel of the Summer Queen herself, Titania, and her summer host stands at my side, their power coursing through my veins.

I am never outnumbered, for I carry the essence of the fae within me. In their presence, your petty numbers crumble to dust, for their enchantments are woven into the very fabric of my being. So tremble before me, for the wrath of the Seelie Court is unleashed upon you.

You shall taste the bitter consequences of your audacity, as the fury of the summer storms descends upon your wretched soul. Your feeble defiance will be quelled, your existence shattered, the might of the fey flows through me, and in their name, I shall vanquish you. Beware, the wrath of Titania herself shall consume you whole!"

As the idiots fall to the ground, one tries an ambush and gets nicked in the process. His companion however manages to catch Akos off guard, his reaction focused on the one who attacked him. He knows there are people trained in quickly responding to multiple openings, but he is no combatant. Noticing the cold iron gauntlet, he does not like his chances here. Being grappled and already with exhausted teleport options, he is in a pickle.

That doesn't mean he cannot do anything, not everything Titania grants to him are spells. And he can invoke her without risking additional attacks. Blast of warm summer air flows from him carrying the vitality of late summer day into the wounded soldier
"Stand fast, soldier, you're on the right side of history! "

"Casters! Fireball or otherwise bomb everything around me! Now!"
He hopes his own resistance will keep him alive while burning the enemies cowering around him and fighting him.

OOC: note Akos takes +1d6 damage from steel weapons but has DR 8 / cold iron Also, if he is still in the grapple next time he comes to, he casts grease from the wand again, this time on his own armor Healing blast uses turn attempt Eldritch blast is Supernatural, doesn't provoke, doesn't require concentration check

Spoiler: Actions

Opportunity attack vs thug; damage: 1D20+6 = [19]+6 = 25
1D4+1 = [2]+1 = 3 - HIT! and I forgot +4 from knowledge devotion so the results are 29 and 17 for confirmation and 7 damage
Crit confirmation: 1D20+6 = [7]+6 = 13 +4 = 17

Grapple: 1D20+6 = [13]+6 = 19 - high, just not high enough - if this is affected by Knowledge devotion bonus the result is 23 (grapple says BAB + Str, but it also says 'normal attack' so you call @Knightfall )

Standard: healing chained blast into the soldier fighting a doppelguard and chain to Petronille
Eldritch chain healing blast: 1D20+7 = [6]+7 = 13
3D6+4 = [3, 3, 1]+4 = 11
BAD ROLLS! BAD! Still, touch 17 should be enough assuming again Knowledge Devotion works
Petronille heals 5

 

[Aust Thale]

Falen:
Falen grits his teeth as the magical ice storm pummels him. It is at this moment he realizes how beaten his body is. Bloody, black, and blue, he quickly surveys the array of combatants and allies. Akos magically jumps out of the ice and finds himself far too close to the warehouse. This seemingly endless stream of fodder is a concern. As is the Butcher. As is this sorceress. Falen could hear shouting on the other side of the building; he would assume reinforcements had arrived. All this over a candle-maker, indeed. He then hears the battle yells of the fodder coming out of the warehouse. He sighs. More carnage. He glances at the body of the dead dwarf merc. He glances back at the Dusk assassin and the other poor sop who waded into his blade. He turns back toward Akos and the fodder, and trudges through the ice 15’ west along the candle shop wall. Reaching it, he taps his magical belt, and nearly instantly feels the deepest of his wounds heal. They never healed aesthetically through magic. The scars would remain for months before they disappeared. However, for battle, it would permit him to fight longer. He changes his visage again, this time to Akos, and shouts, “You twots keep prattling on about fighting to the death. We’ll give you the chance.”

 

[Knightfall]

Akos runs through the fight, not really caring for the minor risks of injury. The caster is the focus of his ire, but all close enough to see him cower
"Listen well, for your insolence has kindled the flames of my fury. How dare you stand before me, a mere mortal, challenging the might of the fey. Know this, fool: I am the chosen vessel of the Summer Queen herself, Titania, and her summer host stands at my side, their power coursing through my veins.

I am never outnumbered, for I carry the essence of the fae within me. In their presence, your petty numbers crumble to dust, for their enchantments are woven into the very fabric of my being. So tremble before me, for the wrath of the Seelie Court is unleashed upon you.

You shall taste the bitter consequences of your audacity, as the fury of the summer storms descends upon your wretched soul. Your feeble defiance will be quelled, your existence shattered, the might of the fey flows through me, and in their name, I shall vanquish you. Beware, the wrath of Titania herself shall consume you whole!"

"D-da... mn y-yo... u," the enchantress is barely able to speak. She is frozen in fear... her eyes wide.

As the idiots fall to the ground, one tries an ambush and gets nicked in the process. His companion however manages to catch Akos off guard, his reaction focused on the one who attacked him. He knows there are people trained in quickly responding to multiple openings, but he is no combatant. Noticing the cold iron gauntlet, he does not like his chances here. Being grappled and already with exhausted teleport options, he is in a pickle.

The Loyalist bear hugs the Loremaster, trying to prevent him from using any of his fae magic.

Falen:
Falen grits his teeth as the magical ice storm pummels him. It is at this moment he realizes how beaten his body is. Bloody, black, and blue, he quickly surveys the array of combatants and allies. Akos magically jumps out of the ice and finds himself far too close to the warehouse. This seemingly endless stream of fodder is a concern. As is the Butcher. As is this sorceress. Falen could hear shouting on the other side of the building; he would assume reinforcements had arrived. All this over a candle-maker, indeed. He then hears the battle yells of the fodder coming out of the warehouse. He sighs. More carnage. He glances at the body of the dead dwarf merc. He glances back at the Dusk assassin and the other poor sop who waded into his blade. He turns back toward Akos and the fodder, and trudges through the ice 15’ west along the candle shop wall. Reaching it, he taps his magical belt, and nearly instantly feels the deepest of his wounds heal. They never healed aesthetically through magic. The scars would remain for months before they disappeared. However, for battle, it would permit him to fight longer. He changes his visage again, this time to Akos, and shouts, “You twots keep prattling on about fighting to the death. We’ll give you the chance.”

The Loyalists trying to overwhelm Akos keep their focus on him. Well, those of them that can move. The enchanter, thugs, and other soldier remain frozen in fear.

Zenpher takes advantage of the situation and strikes out at the cowering soldier. The man can only whimper as the halfling Elite's blades slices into the man three times. The Loyalist drops to the ground, unconscious.

In the Shop:
Tuck tries to use Vinny's magic to the best of his ability against the other Loyalist, but man holds his own and dodges and blocks the kobold urban ranger's sword thrusts.

---

That doesn't mean he cannot do anything, not everything Titania grants to him are spells. And he can invoke her without risking additional attacks. Blast of warm summer air flows from him carrying the vitality of late summer day into the wounded soldier
"Stand fast, soldier, you're on the right side of history! "

"Casters! Fireball or otherwise bomb everything around me! Now!"
He hopes his own resistance will keep him alive while burning the enemies cowering around him and fighting him.

OOC: note Akos takes +1d6 damage from steel weapons but has DR 8 / cold iron and crystal in his buckler takes 1 off before it gets to him (for the next 9 hits) Also, if he is still in the grapple next time he comes to, he casts grease from the wand again, this time on his own armor Healing blast uses turn attempt Eldritch blast is Supernatural, doesn't provoke, doesn't require concentration check

OOC: As I've noted in the OOC thread, Eldritch Blast is a spell-like ability that does provoke an AoO and requires a Concentration check (Complete Arcane, p. 7). It also requires somatic components, which I'm willing to forego. You will have to make a DC 20 Concentration check for using a spell-like ability while grappling, and if you don't want Akos to take an AoO, you must make a DC 19 Concentration check for casting defensively *. If those Concentration checks are both successful, Akos is able to fire the healing eldritch chain and won't take an AoO. If he fails the second check, only one of Loyalists will get an AoO on him. (I'm fairly certain the Loyalist he is grappling doesn't get an AoO.) The other Loyalists are all still cowering until Akos' turn ends. * I wrote DC 17 on the OOC thread, but after looking at the Complete Arcane errata, I discovered that for a blast shape, you use the spell level equivalent, which is 4th for Eldritch Chain. Otherwise, Eldritch Blast is considered to be equivalent to a 1st-level spell.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Tim is non-plussed. He blinks once, dumbfounded. He cannot believe that this "butcher" would skip out on the battle like this. Tim decides to follow The Butcher into the shop, in order to educate him on the proper courtesies of battle; calling a tactical retreat is one thing, making a strategic move is another, but talking in such a condescending tone, about the inconvenience of "adventurers," and then having the nerve to slip away like that, was a very grating thing to Tim's nerves. ~Why do these idiots trash talk so much, and then turn tail when someone calls them on it? No matter. Even without the trash talking, this threat cannot be allowed to escape. He is a wanted criminal of the highest order.~

Tim tries to cross the area of the Grease spell, but is unable to; he almost loses his balance and falls. But not quite. Instead, he steadies himself, and ceases moving, in order to regain his equalibrium.

OOC: 1d20+1 = 8; Failed DC 10 by 2 pts. Five point failure required to fall. Tim does NOT fall, but is unable to move for the remainder of the round.

Tim calls out, desperate to pursue the villain, "Falen! Release your Grease spell! The Butcher is getting away!"

As he says this, he retrieves a potion from his belt pouch, preparing to drink it.

OOC: Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds, 2d8+10. I will roll for it next round, when Tim actually drinks it.

 

[Knightfall]

In the Shop:
Vinccenzo breathes a sigh of relief when the Loyalist falls, but he's not out of danger yet. He can feel the poison spreading through his body and he feels sick. He wishes he had some antivenom or a potion that would cure the poison, but he does have two potions that can help him. He ponders for a second and then digs one of them out of his pack on the floor and drinks it down. That will have to do for now.

He checks to see how Tuck is doing. The urban ranger is fighting hard against the Loyalist. He also sees the thug behind the counter looking at the ruins of his hand crossbow. At least, he can't poison Tuck with it.

OOC: Will confirm with @ScottDeWar_jr which potion he wants Vinny to drink.

---

Outside the Shop:
Up on the wall, the Regular reloads his crossbow and fires again. Rhumyr easily avoids the bolt and rushes towards the Regular. Luckily, he can't charge up the stairs but he quickly closes the gap.

"You cannot win," Rhumyr says. "There are more of us than devils in the hells."

On the street below, Oakfirst moves and fires his bow. He targets one of the cowering thugs and the arrows sinks in deep to the roguish Loyalist. The male Elite, Burchard, reloads his heavy crossbow. The female Elite, Emelia, moves up the side street with Oakfirst to go to find Big Tim.

Captain Camburn sees the commander target the thug and he uses his hasted movement to rush forward to attack that same foe. He near trips on the cobblestones but his blade still manages to sink deep into the man's leg. The thug gasps in pain, but cannot yell out due to the fear that Akos inflicted.

The captain leaves himself open to a counterstrike from the Loyalist standing next to his grappling ally who is trying to hold Akos down. The Loyalist's sword strike doesn't even come close to hitting Captain Camburn.

Tim tries to cross the area of the Grease spell, but is unable to; he almost loses his balance and falls. But not quite. Instead, he steadies himself, and ceases moving, in order to regain his equalibrium.

OOC: 1d20+1 = 8; Failed DC 10 by 2 pts. Five point failure required to fall. Tim does NOT fall, but is unable to move for the remainder of the round.

Tim calls out, desperate to pursue the villain, "Falen! Release your Grease spell! The Butcher is getting away!"

As he says this, he retrieves a potion from his belt pouch, preparing to drink it.

OOC: Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds, 2d8+10. I will roll for it next round, when Tim actually drinks it.

Tim steadies his footing over the two dead foes under his feet as he digs out one of the healing potions.