The Shackled City - Golarion Prelude

[Maidhc O Casain]

[sblock=OOC]Just to make sure I understand, it sounds as though we're pretty well surrounded by the swarm. If this is the case, even if we get the wagons loaded up there's no place for them to go, correct? Assuming that's the case, I'll do the following - if my mental image isn't correct let me know and I'll go back to the drawing board.[/sblock]

Val looks up at the sound of creaking from the gates. Seeing them buckle under the massive weight of the swarm, he shouts to the drovers, "The gates are giving way . . . move a couple of the wagons in front of them to shore them up! Quickly, now, before they fail!"

 

[ahayford]

[sblock=ooc]The swarm has not completely encircled the outpost. The insects have just reached the west gate and have just begun their trip around the walls. It will take them 3 rounds to reach the east gate. The east gate is still open.[/sblock]

 

[Shayuri]

"Now! Light it!" Nia turned around and realized no one had really thought about how to do that. It seemed a bit far to throw a torch, especially with the gate bulging with bugs.

She grabbed one of the javelins from the loop at her back and tied a bandage of linen around it just behind the head. Then she plunged that tip into one of the jars that still had some oil in it...deep enough to get that cloth into it.

"Torch!"

One of the guards held out a flaming brand, which Nia lit the cloth from, turning the javelin into a busily burning branch...but still balanced for throwing. This she demonstrated by running to the gate and hurling the improvised weapon at the squirming mass of bugs that were greedily devouring their own deaths on a funeral pyre!

 

[Walking Dad]

OOC: I wanted to have Wilbur run away at round 3 at the latest... He can neither really help the others, nor can his 'attack' spells affect mindless targets.

 

[ahayford]

OOC: I will retcon round 3 for Wilbur

After throwing the vase of oil on the pyre, Wilbur locks eyes on the oncoming swarm. Something about the way the swarm moves like a single amorphous creature echoes some of his darkest memories. Wilbur turns on his heel and runs for the east gate.

OOC: Round 5 Retcon

Wilbur find himself in the company of Garthun's men as he reaches the east gate and heads along the path toward the main trade road.

 

[jkason]

Caytis Maggerin, half-elf magus

Caytis watches the flaming javelin throw with clear anxiety, ready to draw his own bow and try to a similar maneuver with one of his arrows if the javelin goes long.

OOC: Don't imagine with a target that size that it wouldn't hit, but seems like decent fluff. FYI, if it's possible to tell a round before that the gates are going to fail, the round before the bugs reach the other gate (whichever comes first), Caytis will cast Shield on himself. Only lasts a minute at this level, so he wants to hold off as long as he can.

[sblock=mini-stats]
HP: 10/10 AC: 15 AC(T): 12 AC(FF): 13 Init: +02
BAB: 00 CMB/CMD: 00/12 ACP: -1 ASF: 00 Spot: +05

Saving Throw Total Base Mod Misc Special
Fort: 03 2 +1
Ref: 01 0 +2 -1*
Will: 03 2 +1

* -1 Reflex (Wyrm Blooded trait)
** Conditional: Immune sleep, +2 vs enchantments, +4 vs acid

Weapon Attack Damage Critical Special
Quadrens +2 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Quadrens, Spell Combat +0 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Composite Shortbow +2 1d6 20/x3 Range 70 ft.

* Conditional: +1 attack with Arcane Pool enhancement.

Arcane Pool: 5/5 remaining

Spells Prepared:
* 0 Level (3): Prestidigitation, Detect Magic, Light
* 1st Level (2, DC 15): Shield, Shield[/sblock]

 

[ahayford]

Nia’s spear archs gracefully over the wall like a comet falling to earth. It lands in the pyre with a thump. A dull *wooooooooooooooosh* blasts the heat of the pyre’s ignition back into the faces of all those present at the gate. Flames engulf the mass of insects and reach up to lick the darkening sky. A horrible squeel echoes across the jungle as the beetles crawl over each other to escape the deadly flames. The insect carapaces pop like fried harvest grains as they succumb to the heat of the burning pyre releasing a foul odor and thick black smoke that rises from the pile of dying beetles. The swarm near the gate darts in all directions, losing much of its cohesion, but many of the bugs continue around the wall to the north and south. However, it does seem that you have stemmed the tide of insects. The remaining host still pouring out from the jungle has now diverted away from the burning corpses of its brethren. The beetles are now crawling back into the bush.

A scream shatters your moment of victory and draws your eyes to the north. Something has spooked Tamecia’s horse and she has lost control of it. The horse races towards the east gate and out the compound. Tamecia has scrambled into the now horseless cart with her girls and is swinging her staff at something on the north side of the cart you cannot see.

-----

Wilbur and Garthun's men have made it a decent distance down the path connecting to the trade. Glancing behind him, Wilbur sees whats left of the swarm being to make its way around the output.

 

[ahayford]

[sblock="Caytis and Svexyn"]Over the screams and roar of the flames...you think you can hear faint scratches coming from the bottom of the gate. [/sblock]

 

[jkason]

Caytis Maggerin, half-elf Magus

Caytis swears.

"They aren't all gone," he calls out. "There's something scratching at the gate. Keep an eye out, but let's deal with whatever's after Nia's people first."

The half-elf hisses something unintelligible, and his breath actually becomes visible. Green gas pours forth from his mouth and gathers in front of him. The young magus plunges his hand into the gas, sweeping it in a small circle, and the gas ignites. The quick flash of emerald flame takes on the distinct shape of a warrior's shield, but when it dissipates, there is nothing but the barest wavering in the light to suggest a spell is in place. Apparently satisfied, he draws his quadrens and nods.

[sblock=ooc]gah. Can't draw a weapon as part of a move until next level, so this round it'll just be spell and draw:

Standard: cast Shield. +4 AC (19 total) for one minute.
Move: Draw weapon.

His intention is to close to the wagon at best speed next round.[/sblock]

[sblock=mini-stats]
HP: 10/10 AC: 15(19) AC(T): 12 AC(FF): 13 Init: +02
BAB: 00 CMB/CMD: 00/12 ACP: -1 ASF: 00 Spot: +05

Conditions: Shield (+4 AC). Current AC: 19

Saving Throw Total Base Mod Misc Special
Fort: 03 2 +1
Ref: 01 0 +2 -1*
Will: 03 2 +1

* -1 Reflex (Wyrm Blooded trait)
** Conditional: Immune sleep, +2 vs enchantments, +4 vs acid

Weapon Attack Damage Critical Special
Quadrens +2 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Quadrens, Spell Combat +0 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Composite Shortbow +2 1d6 20/x3 Range 70 ft.

* Conditional: +1 attack with Arcane Pool enhancement.

Arcane Pool: 5/5 remaining

Spells Prepared:
* 0 Level (3): Prestidigitation, Detect Magic, Light
* 1st Level (2, DC 15): Shield, Shield[/sblock]

 

[Fangor the Fierce]

"You head there to help then, I'm going to see what's happening on the other side..."

With that, Svexyn deftly uses the added boards and reinforcements to clamber up the gate and take a peek over the wall. He tries to see if the scratching noise is something that can be dealt with or run away from. He then jumps down the distance he clambered up, relaying the information to anyone near.