[Pathfinder] Hewligan's Rise of the Runelords: The Hook Mountain Massacre

[Rhun]

Danth waits quietly and patiently for Jovik to return from scouting out the homestead of the Grauls. His gaze lingered on the rangers, now mostly restored, and armed and armored with the gear that Jokad had brought them. He hoped that they could be relied upon to provide cover fire and rearguard for the Wolves. The cleric figured that if they fled or failed, he would probably have to keep Jovik and Jokad from tracking them down and killing them.

He smiles to himself, and one hand caresses the beautifully wrought golden holy symbol at his neck. Who would have thought that adventuring would be so complicated?

AC: 22, Hit Points: 56/56

[sblock=Spells Prepared]
- Level 0: Detect Magic, Light, Guidance, Read Magic
- Level 1: Command, Bless, Shield of Faith, Divine Favor + (d) Cure Light Wounds
- Level 2: Deific Vengeance (CD), Hold Person, Lesser Restoration x 2 (normally Resist Energy, Silence) + (d) Heat Metal
- Level 3: Summon Monster III, Magic Circle vrs Evil, Dispel Magic + (d)Searing Light
- Level 4: Restoration x 2 (normally Holy Smite, Summon Monster IV) + (d) Fire Shield
[/sblock]

 

[hewligan]

Jovik scouts ahead. Much to his chagrin, Jakardos silently follows. The ranger is just as skilled as Jovik, perhaps more so, when it comes to the art of stealth. He glides alongside Jovik, silent amidst the forest, his eyes panning the woods ahead. Neither men talk. It would not be appropriate, and besides, Jovik has nothing constructive to say.

They reach the homestead after a few minutes. Both men crouch for a few moments, absorbing the sight before them, as if needing a minute to let the depravity of it sink home.

The dead ogres have been staked upright, their bodies tied to roughly hewn tree trunks that have been dug upright into the soil. The ogres, all five of the ones killed by the party the previous day, slouch strangely against their supports in a rough circle in the ground directly in front of the homestead. A warning perhaps.

But it is not the strange sight of seeing the five dead ogres staked into the earth that so shocks Jovik and Jakardos. It is what 'decorates' them.

Each ogre, their head tied back hard against the wooden stake to force it to stare forward, has its mouth cut open wide to the back of the head. Each mouth, in turn, is stuffed with the limbs of some humans. At the base of each ogre sits the stump of a torso, or a head. 3 dead humans, their bodies decorating the ogres, as if providing one last meal to see them into the afterlife.

3 dead humans. 1 too young to think about.

There is no sign of life.

 

[Fenris]

Thinking back to the scarecrows that came to life back outside Sandpoint, Jovik whispers "Those things better not come to life" to himself. Turning to Jakaros Jovik whispers "3 more deaths you are responsible for. Let us get the others and finish this."

 

[frostrune]

My idea of a plan...

[sblock]Do we have a means of lighting the house on fire?

Here is a bit of a plan I had rolling around in my head...

1) Danth casts Protect vs Evil and Bull STR on Jokad.

2) Use fire arrows/ scorching ray to catch the house on fire from a reasonable distance; at least 30'. Jokad stalks out right into the middle and calls them out.

3) He stands about 20' from the house door. Rages and 'readies' to throw the Impaler at the first ogre to make it out the door (Vital Strike). Activates the 'Pulse of Despair' ability** (all within 30' must make WIL DC 16 save or be shaken; target hit must make additional DC 16 WIL or be nauseated for 1 rd). Quick draw Whitefire.

** He will only throw and activate it IF he is assured of getting a few of them in the Pulse. If only one charges out he will wait until he closes to melee range and fight with the spear until he is swarmed, THEN activate the pulse.

4) Jokad gets swarmed and goes into a hacking slashing frenzy while the rest of you pepper them at range or move up into the fray.

Explanation: With BULL STR, Prot vs evil, Rage, PWR AT, and species enemy: Giant - Jokad will be bad ass. AC 22 HP 86/72 melee AT +16/+11; Dmg 1d8+15 +1d6 fire. I'm willing to take the majority of the punishment here in the hope that they are too stupid to realize we have baited them into a crossfire. The rest of you need to hit hard from the edges.

Adding a twist to this... if Danth has a Protect from elements: fire, he can also cast that on Jokad and allow Kael to drop fireballs on the ogres massed around me with a reasonable chance I can dodge the damage (decent REF save +6, DR 20 fire)

Thoughts? comments?[/sblock]

 

[Rhun]

OOC: Danth doesn't have Bull's Strength or Resist Energy currently prepared, since we didn't rest from his earlier spellcasting.

Also, note: If we burn down the place, we will likely lose any and all loot. Certainly a metagame reason not to do so, but I thought I would point it out.

 

[Fenris]

OOC: Jovik can stand there and take the fireballs as well. And on full defense I have a pretty good AC as well. And jovik won't care about the loot. I can work with this plan. But I wouldn't mind a good old fashioned bull rush. Break in to the door and sweep through the house. They may be in the barn now too, and we might not get them all.

I say we re-sweep the barn, then head to the house. And go through room by room. Maybe we leave the rangers out side to cover anyone trying to head out the back? Come on Frosty, I know that is tactically sound, but Joakd missed out on a lot of that visceral killing. You know he wants to do this the Shoanti way. Be able to stare into the ogre's eyes as whitefire puntures the spleen and you feel the hot, sticky ichor of your enemy's blood as he dies in front of you.

 

[frostrune]

I say we re-sweep the barn, then head to the house. And go through room by room. Maybe we leave the rangers out side to cover anyone trying to head out the back? Come on Frosty, I know that is tactically sound, but Joakd missed out on a lot of that visceral killing. You know he wants to do this the Shoanti way. Be able to stare into the ogre's eyes as whitefire puntures the spleen and you feel the hot, sticky ichor of your enemy's blood as he dies in front of you.

True. Jokad is all about the blood and guts but... he is smart enough to know this is supposed to be just a warm-up for us getting to the fort. He doesn't want to lose anyone before we get there. Our chances are small enough as is. Fighting in the open lets everyone participate without necessarily being in mortal danger (except me).

No BULL STR is no biggie. No protection vs energy: fire... means Kael please don't nuke me. Jokad doesn't much care about loot either BUT we may not need the fire to smoke them out. Simply walking out there and calling them a bunch of bad names might accomplish the same thing.

I like the idea of re-sweeping the barn first though and maybe see what happens from there. Seems doubtful stealth will work as well this time. Then the best laid plans are out the window anyway.

Sooo... I say stealth for the Barn, go from there.

 

[hewligan]

OOC: Lost a big post Below is my brief synopsis:

The group head for the barn. After a careful search they find the place is empty.

 

[Rhun]

"Onward to the house?" suggest Danth, after the search of the barn proves fruitless. "The ogres must still be here."


Prior to entering the place, Danth will cast Magic Circle vrs Evil.

 

[frostrune]

Jokad glances over again at the gory display of dead ogres and a shiver runs down his spine, "Do we know how many people are missing from last night's raid?"