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Message: <blockquote data-quote="darkbard" data-source="post: 9072578" data-attributes="member: 1282">Our intentions in response to Bita-Bahlin's challenge are as follows:What we want to do is (i) rely upon Arunny's oracular vision (likely a Perception check) to foresee the imminent arrival of Chanvati and Co, with the potential rhetorical leverage of Iron Gorgon Tribe "cured" to set up (ii) a Bluff check by Ibhea to create a distraction for their arrival.This would all be to even the combat odds but also forestall immediate hostility to establish a bit more of the "what's really going on" in the shared imagined space via the outcome of checks and concomitant fiction.Per [USER=6696971]@Manbearcat[/USER]:Of-level, Medium DC (16) for Perception and Hard DC (23) for Bluff (this is Bita Bahlin's sweet spot).Failure on Perception will mean that C, P, BB, & H are arriving, but it turns out that Bita Bahlin's forces are greater than expected.  Everyone is on-scene, but there is no offset by your dudes.  I'm increasing BB's forces in proportion.Failure on Bluff will mean that I'm escalating straight to combat and you guys suffer a -2 to Initiative as he's sussed out your ploy and countered it.Sound good?[HR][/HR]While Ibhea reads from his holy text and offers exigesis to the man called Gan and those assembled in Dolg Hana's agora, ARUNNY feels her outer senses recede, replaced by visionary sight. Flashes in quick sequence: the Half-Giant Pa'avu, who saved her from the demented warlock outside The Sanctuary of Light and Ibhea's merchant companion destroying a sentient fallen star; the two engaged in intense colloquy with a clan of Goliaths, unlike Pa'avu in may ways; the Half-Giants celebrating a vow with drink and beating drums around a great bonfire, not unlike the remains of the funeral pyre smoldering now in the agora; Pa'avu and the merchant leading the Goliaths on a war march; a great, pitched battle, the merchant's consort locked in combat with a horned man with too great a resemblance to her to be anything but her brother; the brother slain.And then Arunny "comes to," a new man speaking in the agora. A horned man making threats. Faint drums rhythmically beat in the background."Ibhea," she whispers, "I think there is to be battle here, and unexpected allies are yet to arrive. Hold him off for just a few minutes."[HR][/HR]Arunny makes a Perception Skill check to partake in oracular vision and sense the approach of allies, +15 vs 16 Moderate at level DC = autosuccess.[HR][/HR]At Arunny's words, IBHEA sputters as he culminates his declamation. And then he hears the drumbeats in the distance. Who or what can they be?The whisky priest glares at this figure from his past, and hatred rises in his breast."Bita-Bahlin!" he spits. "You always were mean-spirited, a bully. Even as children, you took the greatest delight in lording your power over those younger or smaller or weaker than you. And yet, like all bullies, you never did fight alone. Always a group of underlings and sycophants to back you up. I suppose nowadays you call them soldiers."He paces in front of the huddled Blessed, stalling for time, hearing the drumbeats grow closer."And that was you in Itirilmish, was it not? I thought I recognized your horned visage, even beneath that turban! Unless I am mistaken, there were unexplained deaths at the Museum of Relics. Your work, I assume?"Ibhea stops. Gestures at the Blessed."And now you would add the blood of more innocents to your tally, wouldn't you? Despicable. Well, I am no longer an urchin nor a weakling, and I won't stand for it. And these good folk of Dolg Hana, who defied you once already, will not have it. And now, we have the power to enforce that refusal!" His oration finishes with great power and eloquence. Just as the drumming rises to a crescendo that drowns out whatever words might come after, a fine plume of gritty sand kicked up by the many feet of an army on the march washing over the agora now, and the towering forms of the Iron Gorgon Goliaths racing toward the heart of Dolg Hana, weapons brandished and ready for a fight![HR][/HR]Ibhea makes a Bluff check, augmented by Beguiling Tongue to keep the Tiefling spellbound by his speech, to delay long enough for reinforcement to arrive, r(17) +13 +5 = 35 vs 23 Difficult at-level DC. Success.</blockquote>

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