Deadly Delicacies
Log Info
- Title: Deadly Delicacies
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Aimarra, Jozi, Sjach
- Place: Swampy Wilderness
- Time: Sunday, March 14, 2021, 3:10 PM
- Summary: The TarRaCe wants to serve Manticore Gumbo, Manticore steak, Manticore tailsteaks, Manticore Poison-gelateau, Manticore mock-dragonwings, and Manticore Sausage. All that's missing is the Manticore. A party of hunters is sent into a swamp to get one. Battle ensues. They are victorious, but only barely, with one of their number terribly wounded.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing in the Swame =-=-=-=-=-= Aimarra 5'1" 128 Lb Half-Elf Female Brown hair and eyes, breastplate, leathers, pointed ears. Jozi 5'8" 148 Lb Half-Orc Female A brunette half-orcess with a sunny disposition. Sjach 7'0" 268 Lb Sith-Makar Male Lithe emerald and charcoal sith male. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Deadly Delicacies
As the reputation of the TarRaCe and its three Masterclass Lucht Siuil chefs grow, so do the demands of the culinary conniseur. Enter Theodore Higgens Clankslip the Third, the procurer of strange meats for the demanding palette. A gnome with a wagon, he has a most interested collection of knives in this portable butchery, which even has some enchantments to slow, or hasten, certain processes. It helps with the marinades.
Today's menu has an extravagant 'Surf & Turf' offering, specifically: Manticore Gumbo, Manticore steak, Manticore tailsteaks, Manticore Poison-gelateau, Manticore mock-dragonwings, and Manticore Sausage. All the ingredients are ready, with the exception of the Manticore.
Which is why Theodore Higgens Clankslip the Third and his merry band of hired-hunters have gone as far as his wagon will carry them, into a swamp, to hunt for Manticores.
"Remember! Don't let the Manticore eat me or the horses." Theo says, as the wagon wheels start to sink in the bog and he struggles to get the horse team to back it out. He has a small paper package for each person, "Here, take these."
Hunting a manticore had sounded easy enough to Aimarra, and so she had signed up cheerfully enough. Money was money, after all. "You might want to stay to the road, then," she suggests to the Lucht. "We can bring it out on a sledge if we need to, and you won't want dirt or mud in the meat." So saying, she unlimbers her bow from her back and looks around at her companions.
Sjach had been a bit reticent about accepting this job- he was not one to kill for the sake of killing, though also no stranger to killing for food. It had taken some convincing that hunting this particular beast wouldn't have a deleterious effect on the ecosystem, before he had agreed to go along. But go along he had- and discovering that their destination is a swamp seems to have lifted his spirits somewhat. Even if it is still much too cold, the damp soil and earthy scents please him. He has been traveling with his bow unstrung, until now. After some moments of basking, his spines twitching lightly, eyes lidded, and nostrils flaring as he takes in scents reminiscent of home.
Finally, he comes to his senses. He leans his glaive against a tree for a moment, and strings his bow. With that done, he slips his arm through the bow to carry it over his shoulder, and grips the glaive once more.
The trip was a bit of an odd one for Jozi. She doesn't usually hunt for profit, but, Manticores can be pretty dangerous if they go afield looking for entertainment, so... here she is.
The Half-orc has ber bow knocked but not drawn as she sweeps the shadows and high places for danger or quarry.
GAME: Aimarra rolls knowledge/nature: (17)+9: 26 GAME: Jozi rolls profession/farmer: (20)+6: 26 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (13)+6: 19 GAME: Aimarra rolls perception: (17)+11: 28 GAME: Jozi rolls perception: (7)+9: 16 GAME: Sjach rolls perception: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Sjach rolls perception: (15)+7: 22
The packages have a very pungent smell. It might be bait, smells like something a cat would like to eat. Manticores are big cats. Sorta.
Enamored as he is with the swampy terrain, Sjach is distracted for a moment- but he eventually realizes he's been handed something- his nostrils flare again. "What iss thiss?" he asks their employer, before sniffing at the packaging again. His tongue darts out past pointed teeth as he stares at the paper parcel. "It ssmells deliciouss." he adds after a moment.
Aimarra doesn't get all that far in before she pauses, goes completely silent, and strings her bow as soundlessly as she can manage. An arrow is slowly drawn from the quiver and nocked, and she looks around for the other two, trying to catch eyes. She's quite clearly seen something, and she turns her eyes back to her quarry as quickly as she can.
"That... sounds... like an excellent... idea." Theo says, pulling on the reins and working his horse-team to reverse the wagon. Slowly it creaks out of the muck and backwards down the road. "Something that will help! Y'all be careful now."
The marshland spreads out before the hunting party. Warm enough to have melted, it's a shallow bog of frigid standing water and last year's grasses. There is the occasional half-drowned, determined tree and a shimmering scum of oils and detrius that collected over the winter.
Approximately fifty feet into this marsh there seems to be some raised ground, a low island, barely above the water, with a lot of trampled and standing grasses. Even a few cattails.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+16: (2)+16: 18 (Manticore percp for bait, party)
Jozi meets Aimarra's eyes as she nocks too, and she nods and her compact bow is brought up to point of aim and drawn slowly back to mitigate the deep creak of the weapon. There's a flickered glance about to survey the cattails and rises of grwoth, "Gets deep over by that second clump o'cattails, y'all. Mind yer step." she advises in a low tone.
"That's not the only place," Aimarra warns in a hiss, looking off to her right at a section of bog where the water surface seems to shimmer more. "Spread out."
GAME: Sjach rolls stealth: (20)+4: 24
Sjach nods his head silently to the other two as they point out patches of deeper bog. He lowers slowly into a crouch, his tail sprawling out behind him in the shallow water, as he begins to creep forwards slowly- barely above the shallow, fetid water. His glaive is still held at the ready for the time being, but he is sure to keep the bow on his back above the water's surface as he creeps forwards.
Movement in the swamp!
The Manitcore is alerted, the wagon's retreat was not hard to miss so it spent a few moments seeking things to pounce. It was obvious to Aimarra, it's obvious to everyone now as it hovers up into the air. It is barely ten feet off the ground, the massive dragon-like wings creating a strong downdraft that blows loose debris about in a cloud. Last year's leaves, grasses, whatever loose dirt managed to dry enough in this place, it's all blown into a billowing cloud that covers the low hill.
It's obscured at this distance, the cloud hinting at where is still is.
GAME: Jozi rolls stealth: (14)+-1: 13 GAME: Jozi rolls profesion/farmer: (7)+profesion/farmer: 7
Well, it knows something's here.
In the same hushed tone, Jozi says, "Let's split up quiet, when yer in a good spot, I'll try an get it's attention.' before, working within the constraints of her armor, the half-orc tries to quietly slog off away from the others, but the bog makes it slow going.
GAME: Aimarra rolls stealth: (11)+7: 18 GAME: Aimarra rolls knowledge/nature: (13)+9: 22
Aimarra doesn't need to be told twice. Without bothering to reply to Jozi, she sets off in the opposite direction from the oruchess, padding as silently as her boots will let her on the sodden ground *squelch squelch*. Her own bow remains above the level of the water, held horizontally and with an arrow nocked but only half-drawn.
She nearly falls across the deep space she hadn't spotted until it was close, but puts a toe in and draws it back almost too late.
GAME: Sjach rolls stealth: (6)+4: 10
Sjach ducks low and his nictating membranes close, providing a translucent cover over his eyes as the dust and debris is kicked up by the sudden and violent flight. He makes a faint click of disappointment in the back of his throat as their target is obscured from view. He carefully sets down his glaive and pulls out his bow, knocking an obsidian-tipped arrowhead as he inches forwards through the swamp.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+16: (20)+16: 36
The Manticore keeps hovering it seems, the billowing cloud stationary over the dry ground. Ripples spread out from the small island, tiny waves whipped into being by the beating of heavy wings. It can't be seen, but it can be heard. Especially when it Roars.
>>ROAR<<
A spray of spikes fly out of the cloud. Large darts from its tail, they spread in a thin cone which is still wide enough to hit each hunter. The ones that miss splash into the bog where everyone was.
It's firing blind.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "So, rolling attacks, 1 each, if they hit there's still the 50 concealment miss chance." <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Aimarra, Sjach, Joze, and 1d3 random last spike" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "2 on Aimarra" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (19)+10: 29 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (11)+10: 21 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "over 50% hits" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d100: (57): 57 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d100: (16): 16 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (9)+10: 19 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (10)+10: 20 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "hits Jozi, over 50% really hits" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d100: (90): 90 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+7: (6)+7: 13 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+7: (1)+7: 8 GAME: Manticore damaged Aimarra for 13 points. 24 HP remaining. GAME: Manticore damaged Jozi for 8 points. 23 HP remaining. <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Oh. Need Fort Saves. DC18, Aimarra and Jozi" GAME: Jozi rolls fortitude: (19)+8: 27 GAME: Aimarra rolls fortitude: (5)+6: 11 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d2: (2): 2 GAME: Manticore Poison damaged Aimarra's Dexterity for 2 points. 2 total damage.
Yet seems deadly accurate with its tailspikes. Aimarra and Jozi feeling a sting, while Sjach shrugs one off with his armour.
GAME: Jozi rolls stealth: (3)+-1: 2 GAME: Jozi rolls profession/farmer: (20)+6: 26 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "2 squares!" <OOC> Jozi says, "x11 y16"
Thunk!
Jozi's eyes bug momentarily, and reflexively almost bites through her lip as the manticore's blind shot ludges a stinger deep into her thigh. She huffs a slow groan through her nose and continues trying to make her way along to set up a pincer. She hesitates as her boot ends up deeper than she'd expected, but that gives her some reassurance in case more of those pinions come down. There's a quick look to see if her teammates are set up for the show, but she has to relax the draw of her arrow before the muscle ache makes her aim tremble. She'll have to snap one off once she's got sight again is all.
Manticores can shoot a bunch of tailspike volleys, maybe five more.
he area directly around the island looks shallower, in general, there might be deep spot here or there. This marsh has some deeper channels in it, but is generally isn't that deep of a bog.
GAME: Aimarra rolls knowledge/nature: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aimarra rolls fortitude: (9)+6: 15 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d2: (2): 2 GAME: Manticore Poison damaged Aimarra's Dexterity for 2 points. 4 total damage.
Aimarra bites off a curse at the sting as one sinks into an opening in her armor, and it's mere seconds before she begins to tremble uncontrollably. It's a trial to make herself move forward, but she pushes herself into moving, seeking cover in the water at the corner of the island and crouching down, leaning on the edge of the hummock to steady herself.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+16: (10)+16: 26 (Manticore Perception)
Sjach ducks his head away from the spike that glances off his shoulder plate- as it seems as though catching the creature off guard is no longer on the table, he rises from the waters and then hustles through the water. Slick scales move more easily though the water than softskin clothing, but unfortunately, it is cold and he is wearing trousers. Still, he trudges onwards, glaive held at the ready incase the creature comes rushing out of the dust cloud towards him.
As Aimarra gets within the dust cloud, the sound of the Manticore is much louder and it is visible as a hazy form behind all the flying reeds and leaves. There's still too much between it and Sjach, he can't see the beast; it may not be able to see him.
It can hear him however, and there's a rattle of its tail then the whistling of more tail spikes flying through the air.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "two attacks Sjach, 2 Jozi, same 50% miss if they hit." GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (19)+10: 29 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (10)+10: 20 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "1, over 50% hits" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d100: (38): 38 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (20)+10: 30 (THREAT) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25 (CONFIRMED) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (7)+10: 17 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d100: (34): 34
Its aim is deadly! Luck saves the adventurers, and some of the downdraft blows the Manticore's missiles awry. Sjach feels one strike his armour. Jozi is momentarily transfixed by a dot that seems stuck at a point on her vision... but the spike misses.
They all splash harmlessly into the water.
GAME: Jozi rolls weapon6: (2)+6: 8 GAME: Jozi rolls intimdate: (20)+intimdate: 31
Wait, is that a-?
Oh, shi-!
SSHHHHUNK!
Taking that hair-parter as an omen, the half-orcess looks to her fellows to note their positions and deems them sufficient.
She brings her bow up to bear and draws it taut with a low, heavy creak and looses the arrow into the cloud with a fierce roar worthy of any Yrch chieftan, be they Angorite or Korite.
GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon1: (6)+6: 12 GAME: Aimarra rolls fortitude: (16)+6: 22
Wielding a bow is difficult, as shaky as Aimarra is, and not knowing now where the others are, she can only shoot, but her shot goes wide.
GAME: Sjach rolls weapon2: (7)+4: 11
Sjach's motions speed up as the water becomes shallower, and as he steps upon the shore of the central island, he casts his eyes upon the Manticore finally. He inches closer still, holding the glaive out- he jabs at the beast, but misses. Trying to drive it from its dust cloud and into the open air.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, it's flying by you Sjach, you could take an AOO" GAME: Sjach rolls weapon2: (19)+4: 23 GAME: Sjach rolls damage2: aliased to 1d10+3: (1)+3: 4 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (6)+12: 18
The Manticore was in the same place it rose into the sky. It's a clumsy flier, perhaps it preferred to attack with tailspikes instead of shifting around. However, Jozi's bellow gets its attention.
Attention and ire. It respondes with an equally loud roar. It will not be challenged in its own swamp. The lizard with the flailing pole-blade is ignored, even as Sjach lands a glancing hit.
The Manticore soars, lumbering through the air to splash down beside Jozi, swiping with a huge paw. They scrape across the Oruch's armour, a near miss.
The hot, fetid breath on her face stinks almost as much as the bog does.
<OOC> Jozi says, "dropping the bow, slash with my orcish claws, draw warhammer" GAME: Jozi rolls weapon2: (14)+8: 22 GAME: Jozi rolls 1d6+5: (4)+5: 9
The creature's landing leaves the normally sunny half-orc drenched in swampwater and flowing with adrenaline.
Great Mother, see us through.
Casting aside her bow, Jozi's own, albeit crafted claws are swift on the return, only hers bite true, leaving a trio of crimson slashes across the leonid monstrosity's breast. Her other hand, meanwhile deftly slips her prong-faced warhammer out of the frogs of her belt into a proper working grip, "Like you MEAN it! COME ONNNN!" she bellows.
GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon1: (11)+6: 17
From the other side of the island, Aimarra appears to be struggling a great deal, her bow shaking and her aim going wide. When that happens, though, she climbs up onto the dry bank of the island and out of the swamp water.
<OOC> Sjach says, "I'll drop my glaive, take a 5' step back out of the dust cloud while drawing my bow, and fire." GAME: Sjach rolls weapon10-4: (16)+6+-4: 18
Sjach hisses as the manticore flashes overhead, the sith swings his glaive once more, tearing a shallow gash in the creature's belly as it flies overhead. Then he plants the haft of it into the soft ground. He takes a step back into the water, readying his bow and knocking an arrow as he does so- then he looses it towards the creature, but it glances off it's thick hide.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Rmm.. The manticore takes its best shots... bite claw claw" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (3)+12: 15 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (13)+12: 25 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (16)+12: 28 <OOC> Jozi -_-; <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "two hits" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d4+7: (4)+7: 11 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d4+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Manticore damaged Jozi for 23 points. 0 HP remaining. (DISABLED)
There's a screech as blood is drawn, a horrible feline yowl with tremendous power behind hit. The Manticore's maw snaps at Jozi's head, teeth closing in front of her nose.
It's the claws that catch. The orc is battered like a cat toy, knocked one way, then the other. Powerful blows that knock the edges off her vision, making her feel faint.
Unconsciousness, then death, are near.
GAME: Jozi casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 2 DC: 13 GAME: Jozi rolls 1d8+2: (3)+2: 5 GAME: Jozi damaged Jozi for -4 points. 4 HP remaining. <OOC> Jozi says, "ok, gonna put the job in for the 3p 50%" GAME: Jozi damaged Jozi for -15 points. 19 HP remaining.
Oh... he....
- ... he meant that...
Jozi, reeling and bloody from the onslaught she'd called down, staggers back from the beast, her blood pattering like rain in the bogwater from the ragged rents in her armour.
From the sundered flesh beneath.
Her clawed hand comes up to her collar and she whispers a prayer to the Mother and cradles a hand against one of her wounds, causing the wounds to scab over and partially mend.
"Caught me... mouth open... there..."
GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon1: (9)+6: 15
Another arrow from Aimarra does little but fly off into the swamp, and she looks about ready to cast down the bow in disgust.
GAME: Sjach rolls weapon10: (2)+6: 8 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you all have a free re-roll, btw" GAME: Sjach rolls weapon10: (15)+6: 21< GAME: Sjach rolls damage10+1: aliased to 1d6+0+1: (4)+0+1: 5
Sjach doesn't allow his missed shot to deter him, and scaled fingers draw another arrow between his knuckles from the quiver at his hip. He lifts his bow, brings the arrow up, knocks it, levels his aim, and once again looses an arrow. This one sails through the air with a satisfying 'thwip' and sinks into the flesh of the Manticore. "Sssha, Have care!" he calls across to the wounded Jozi. "Try to keep ahead of it."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "So 1, 5' and keep attacking Jozi,
2-5, launch tailspikes at Aimarra and Sjach,
6-7 fly over and melee Sjach,
8, fly over, AOO from Sjach and melee Aimarra"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d8: (3): 3 "tailspikes"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "2 Aimarra, 2 Sjach"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (4)+10: 14
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (10)+10: 20
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (10)+10: 20
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (16)+10: 26
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "looks like, 1 hit Aimarra, 1 Sjach. Fort DC18 please"
GAME: Aimarra rolls fortitude: (15)+6: 21
GAME: Sjach rolls fortitude: (19)+6: 25
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+7: (1)+7: 8
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+7: (5)+7: 12
GAME: Manticore Tailspikes damaged Aimarra for 8 points. 16 HP remaining.
GAME: Manticore Tailspikes damaged Sjach for 12 points. 11 HP remaining.
The Manticore's roar of triumph is cut short as more arrows come his way. Hissing like a teakettle he turns and whips his tail towards Aimarra and Sjach. More spikes fly, splashing into the water, and striking the pair.
While they leak ichor, it doesn't seem to have any effect.
The badly wounded half-orc, staggering nearby is ignored.
GAME: Jozi rolls weapon3-2: (19)+7+-2: 24 GAME: Jozi rolls 1d8+4: (5)+4: 9 <OOC> Jozi says, "claws 18+ is a threat" GAME: Jozi rolls weapon2-2: (13)+8+-2: 19
Althea must smile upon her rambunctious child, as the wounds mend much more surely than Jozi would have expected from one of her blessings.
Taking that as a sign of favor, rather than a warning of 'you may want to run, now', the half-orc moves back in to press the attack as the creature continues to snipe at her allies. An offense she will not abide!
Alas, while her hammer soundly clonks against the leonine creature, her claws merely ruffle it's fur.
That last arrow was enough for Aimarra, who growls and tosses her bow to the ground in frustration. Steel rasps free of leather and she storms over towards the manticore, caring little now for its opinion on the matter. She just wants it dead.
GAME: Sjach rolls weapon10+1-4: (5)+6+1+-4: 8
Sjach knocks yet another arrow, holding it drawn for a few moments as he tries to get a clean shot on the thrashing creature over Aimarra's shoulder. Then one of the vicious barbs strikes him in the shoulder, finding a gap in his breastplate that allows it to embed itself in his armpit- he lets out a hiss of pain, and looses the arrow wildly. It sails high overhead, no threat to the manticore. He drops his bow on the dry ground, grabs the glaive that he had left standing there, and prepares to assist the others in surrounding the beast.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay. It's doing a disarm attack on Jozi, and 1 claw, and the other claw on Aimarra" GAME: Jozi rolls weapon3: (11)+7: 18 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+14: (8)+14: 22 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "claw attacks, Jozi then Aimarra" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (2)+12: 14 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (7)+12: 19 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d4+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Manticore damaged Aimarra for 12 points. 4 HP remaining.
Feline surprise is a thing! Those familiar with it clearly see the Manticore startle as the dead thing becomes not-dead thing, and attacks him with a hammer again.
Hissing, he snaps at the half-orc again, a deft an nimble bite that leaves her wondering what was bitten off. He was going for her hammer? It seemed.
And then that package the gnome gave her is in its mouth. He's gulping it back. A claw-swipe interrupts any further thoughts, but it falls short.
Not so the swipe at Aimarra. As the elf gets within range the Manticore flicks his paw and tears long furrows with his claws. It looks bad and feels worse.
<OOC> Jozi says, "5' to x10 y15 and cure light for aimarra" GAME: Jozi casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 2 DC: 13 GAME: Jozi rolls 1d8+2: (3)+2: 5 GAME: Jozi damaged Aimarra for -5 points. 9 HP remaining.
Jozi has a brief spike of panic as the jaws close. The chewing.... and.... she still has her hands!
Aimarra, however, is in rough shape, and she moves back and to the side, touching her collar again as she whispers to Althea, asking her to soothe the hurts of her slender daughter, then lays a gentle hand upon her, infusing her with healing warmth.
GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon4: (11)+6: 17
Aimarra is only just on her feet, blood flowing freely from those furrows, and the Mother's healing only does so much. When she does lash out with the sword, it skitters over the tough hide, but finds no purchase, her shaky self lacking the strength to punch through.
GAME: Sjach rolls weapon2: (12)+4: 16
Sjach moves up with his glaive gripped in his scaled hands, sloshing through the bog water. He moves up to behind Aimarra- as she goes low, he goes high, swinging his glaive over her head to try and catch the manticore off guard- but to no avail, as his blade catches nothing but a few strands of the beasts mane.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "1 Aimarra, 2 Jozi, 3 Sjach" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (3): 3 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "everybody gets an AOO as it does a flyback attack on Sjach, it's flying back to the island" GAME: Sjach rolls weapon2: (3)+4: 7 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I forgot last time, but if you hit and do damage it has to make a fly check" GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon4: (20)+6: 26 (THREAT) GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon4: (19)+6: 25 (THREAT) GAME: Aimarra rolls 2d8+4: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Jozi rolls weapon2: (3)+8: 11 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "fly check, DC10" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20: (12): 12 (Fly Check) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (9)+12: 21 (Claw Sjach) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d4+7: (6)+7: 13 GAME: Manticore damaged Sjach for 13 points. -2 HP remaining. (DYING)
The Manticore is not exactly surrounded, but it's facing more creatures than it can bite and claw. It also can't count very well. With a yowl it leaps into the air, passing over the hunter's heads.
Aimarra stabs up, slicing along the manticore's belly as it passes over. It wavers in flight, but continues.
Sjach swings his glaive ineffectually once more as the beast comes flying overhead- and the manticore's claws rake across his throat for his trouble- drawing red blood from the Sith Makar whos grip on his glaive loosens. He reaches feebly for the wound, but he hasn't the strength to lift his arms. His knees give out, and his scaled eyelids droop- the spines on his skull laying flat, as he collapses into the murky waters.
Jozi swipes with a claw, but it is too high.
The Sith'Makar at the back receives a swat from it's paw.
The beast passes on, flying to its low island and landing.
The Manticore's flight seemed even more clumsy and awkward, if that's possible.
The hunters are grouped together, it's at range, with some spikes left. It probably fling them again.
GAME: Jozi casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 2 DC: 13 GAME: Jozi rolls 1d8+2: (3)+2: 5 GAME: Jozi damaged Sjach for -5 points. 3 HP remaining. GAME: Jozi rolls sense motive: (13)+9: 22
After her lackluster swing, trying to capitalize on the creature's flight, Jozi sees it lay the sith down. "No!" she cries, and begins to chant her final plea to Althea as she makes her way to his side, alighting her infused hand upon his chest to mend his wounds to the extent her gifts allow. She looks at the creature, now at range and she asides, "We're bunched up, scatter!" even as she affixes another set of blades to her bare hand, "I'm outta spells. Gonna hafta be down ta steel."
GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon4: (5)+6: 11 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "rrrg. Do you want to use your re-roll?" <OOC> Aimarra says, "Yes." GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon4: (13)+6: 19 GAME: Aimarra rolls 1d8+2: (3)+2: 5
Aimarra seems to have already realized the same thing, even as Jozi shouts it, but she takes off running, as best she can amid the water and her own shaking, and plunges her sword into the creature one more time, leaving yet another mark.
Sjach blinks in confusion as the light comes back to his eyes, and his spines bristle. He grips the glaive once more, and then sets its haft against the muddy bottom of the water to push himself back to his feet. "Sshaa... I ssaw the death-singing dragon..." he utters, turning in place to regard the Manticore.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Manticore is doing a disarm on Aimarra, then 2 claw attacks" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+13: (3)+13: 16 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you get an AOO Aimarra. Is your CMD reduced from your Dex damage?" GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon4: (20)+6: 26 (THREAT) GAME: Aimarra rolls weapon4: (20)+6: 26 (THREAT) GAME: Aimarra rolls 2d8+4: (5)+4: 9 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (15)+12: 27 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (19)+12: 31 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d4+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d4+7: (8)+7: 15 GAME: Manticore damaged Aimarra for 27 points. -18 HP remaining. (DEAD)
The manticore swipes at Aimarra, trying to wrest the sword from her hand, but shakes or no shakes, she's still quick enough to keep a grip on it, and she snarls, "Not today, creature," plunging the sword into its side again, perilously close to where its heart would be.
The large cat-scorpion-dragon thing, the magical abomination, yowls in primal pain. Its eyes flash, tunnel vision on the elf, turning on her. The first swipe is impaired, the sword in its chest binding, painful, but the claws land solidly and tear through the ranger's armour.
The follow-up flattens her, battering her down into the muck like a toy. All the strength and weight of the Manticore on the tips of his razor claws.
Darkness grabs her before the water cushions her fall.
GAME: Jozi rolls weapon2: (7)+8: 15 <OOC> Jozi says, "gonna use my reroll" GAME: Jozi rolls weapon2: (7)+8: 15
Jozi is only briefly relieved as everyone gets moving, as they end up swarming the monster, and worse, Aimarra is brought low with what look to be terrible wounds. Wounds she no longer has the power to do anything about. She surges forward, then, roaring in denial and outrage, and her claws whistle past the creature's face without biting, but at least it knows she's there.
Blood trickles.
GAME: Sjach rolls weapon2: (16)+4: 20 GAME: Sjach rolls damage2: aliased to 1d10+3: (6)+3: 9 <OOC> Sjach says, "I'll toss it somewhere just outside the manticore's reach." <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "throwing past it, or somewhere to a side of it?" <OOC> Sjach says, "To the side, 10 10" <OOC> Aimarra says, "I forgot all about the packages."
Sjach shakes his head to dispell the fog of near death from his mind, and sees the creature brutally trampling Aimarra right before him. He hefts his glaive high overhead, and leans in, lashing at the creatures shoulders and neck in return for the wounds it gave him. He recalls the delicious smelling something their employer gave him- sodden, by now, with swamp water and more than a little blood of his own. After his attack, he tears it from his belt and tosses the dissintegrating package near the Manticore- in the hopes it will distract the beast, but for a moment.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (4)+12: 16
The Manticore dropped Aimarra, it's happy about that. It remains confused by Jozi, she was dead, shouldn't she stay dead. While this thought is happening, the beast gets two distractions.
A glaive across the muzzle, which is painful and really focuses the thoughts, then Movement!
One of the yummy things, that's much easier to deal with. He swipes dismissively at the orc, which misses, then moves over to the reeking wrapped package.
<OOC> Jozi says, "slash-slash" GAME: Jozi rolls weapon2-2: (14)+8+-2: 20 GAME: Jozi rolls 1d6+5: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Jozi rolls weapon4-2: (13)+7+-2: 18 GAME: Jozi rolls 1d6+4: (5)+4: 9
She's really, really angry, Jozi is.
With the Manticore, for what it's done to Aimarra, though in truth, she knows the beast was as much defending it's life as anything.
At herself, certainly, for failing to get everyone through safely. As it is, all three of them have nearly died at this creature's claws, and one of them...
One of them may not be an 'almost'...
Eyes swimming in anguish and fury, the half-oruch cries out in savage wrath as she slashes at diagonals across the beast, one carving a great three lane furrow in the beast, and the second gouging a smaller strip of hide free...
- ...but that seems to do the business, as the Manticore is finally laid low.
The Althean turns, then, eyes torn to see if anything can be done for her frequent partner.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, make a pose for that then. DC15 to stabilize I believe" GAME: Sjach rolls heal: (9)+2: 11
Sjach wastes no time when the beast goes down. He casts aside his glaive, and stoops low to hook his sinuous arms under Aimarra's limp ones. He drags her out of the water and up onto the blood-stained island, turning her over so that he can try to apply pressure to her still bleeding wounds and staunch the bleeding. "Sshaa... thiss one doess not know ssoftskin bodiess. Thhe blood doess not sstop." he hisses over at the Orcess.
So much blood.
The Manticore is defeated, slashed, stabbed, sprawled out on his mud island. A half-eaten packet in his mouth. His last thoughts were about food, perhaps he died happy. He bleeds everywhere, a red stain spreading through the water around him.
It's hard to tell at first whether the half-sil ranger is actually breathing or not. Great gashes are torn clean through her armor and bone-deep into her flesh, entrails visible between the furrows amid the muck and the bog-soaked clothing, and there are still two of its spines protruding from her skin. The usually brown-as-a-berry ranger is now ghost-pale, her weapons scattered in every direction across the island, but in tending to her wounds, the pair will find her left forearm wrapped in a thin layer of cloth and tied off, like a bandage. It's soaked through, now, and a hideous set of long-healed bite marks that no manticore on Ea made are visible beneath them.
GAME: Jozi rolls heal: (20)+7: 27 <OOC> Aimarra says, "Spellcraft check to know what the mark is." GAME: Sjach rolls spellcraft: Trained Use Only: 0
Jozi pulls off her claws and settles to her knees beside Aimarra as Sjach takes the initiative in her treatment. She's.... alive, but... the damage.
"Mother guide my hands." she exhales in desperate <yrch-speak> and gets to work, cutting stripes of cloth and using a couple of belts to keep bandages in place, or slowing blood flow to sundered limbs. As she does, she asides, "Sjach... pouch on my belt, on my left hip, has a goblin knife in it. I need ya ta dig it out, an flip the levers till ya get the boat option."
She looks up as she has some of the major wounds staunched, naked fear and guilt in her eyes, "She's alive, but that's a fragile thing, an we need ta carry her outta here, away from the filth." She turns back to her task, making another soft invocation, then:
"It..... it's not looking good."
Sjach moves his bloodied hands away as Jozi's much more expert ones take over, and he does as instructed. He reaches for the goblin army knife at her hip, plucking it out and regarding it in abject confusion. He does as instructed though, picking at the levers- and casting glances towards the wounded Aimarra. He eventually finds the correct option, and throws the army knife to the ground as the fold out boat springs forth from the unlikely small object. "Sshaa, thiss one will help to move her. And collect her thingss." he says- feeling rather useless as Jozi works. "The sssmall ssoftsskin can collect hiss prize himsself." he utters, clearly displeased with some aspect of the job- his spines bristle in agitation as he glances from Aimarra to the fallen Manticore.
By the time Jozi is done, Aimarra at least has a pulse and is breathing. It's too fast, and more than a little fluttery, and she still isn't responsive, but given the severity of her wounds, that may well be a mercy. Cleaning those and seeing that she does not take fever on top of the poison will be a tall task indeed.
Theodore Higgens Clankslip the Third arrives with amazing alacrity and a small coracle that he uses to paddle over to the island. He can see the hunter's work from a distance and calls out, "Excellent! Excellent!" Then, "Weren't there three of you?"
Drawing closer, he spots Aimarra, being bandaged and a little boat being prepared for her. "Oh dear, She doesn't look good. Best get her in the meat cooler. Yes. That's the ticket."
The gnome stares at the swampy battlefield, the scattered weapons, the blood on the water. He makes a popping noise with his mouth. "So... you didn't use the bait packets first, to get it drowsy. Right, right, right... I knew I forgot something. Well, at least you got a spice packet in while it was still alive. A little excitement, vigorous circulation of the blood. Should have distributed it nicely."
He claps his hands together briskly, attempting to move on, "Well looks like it all worked out. Mostly worked out. Everyone is still stan... still not dead. Excellent, excellent. Yes, well lets load up the Manticore and your friend and we can get back."
Sjach turns towards the Gnome then, and he picks up his glaive once more. He points at the gnome with it, glaring at him, "Forgot?" he wonders. "Thiss wass an exorcisse in excess. You are the poisson that your city sspreads. Perhapss the empress is wrong, afterall." he hisses, spinning the glaive around and away from the gnome to hook the glaive to his back, and wordlessly begins helping to shift Aimarra into the fold out boat.
Dinner service was a little late that night.
Combatty
Battlemap
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mflh0s9035c&secret=s3h52i5n2si"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Also, you're in a marsh/shallow bog, 1' of water, so it counts as difficult terrain, 2 square to move 1 square. There may be deeper sections of water you could use for cover."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I'm using the k/nat a little weirdly, but if you make a DC20 you can say 'oh, over there is some deeper bog' for 1 unoccupied square, within a standard move of you, 5 over, you get 2 squares."
<OOC> Cryosanthia wants to avoid messing a lot with the map, "Deeper squares give you a bonus to AC and worse movement. Is the main tactical advantage."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "The deep sections: The water in a deep bog provides cover for Medium or larger creatures. Smaller creatures gain improved cover (+8 bonus to AC, +4 bonus on Reflex saves). Medium or larger creatures can crouch as a move action to gain this improved cover. Creatures with this improved cover take a -10 penalty on attacks against creatures that aren't underwater."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I wasn't thinking of them as traps as more places you might hide and snipe from, water foxholes. They would slow you down, but they had a huge AC bonus. I thought if I put them down it would force you to run certain ways instead of picking the approaches you wan."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Details on the dust cloud: the draft from its wings creates a hemispherical cloud with a radius of 60 feet. The winds generated can snuff torches, small campfires, exposed lanterns, and other small, open flames of non-magical origin. Clear vision within the cloud is limited to 10 feet. Creatures have concealment at 15 to 20 feet (20 miss chance). At 25 feet or more, creatures have total concealment (50 miss chance, and opponents cannot use sight to locate the creature)."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Cloud is not 60' radius, it's as big as the brown mud-island, the next 5' square out"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you're still counted as 25' & beyond currently though"
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
>> 23 Jozi 4 <<
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20 Aimarra 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)
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14 Sjach 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)
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6 Manticore
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==============================================================================
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
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|Aimarra |HALF-ELF |Rgr | 37 | 37 |20/17/14 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
|Jozi |HALF-ORC |Ftr/Inq | 31 | 31 |19/17/12 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
|Sjach |SITH-MAKAR|Rgr | 23 | 23 |21/18/13 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Aimarra |HALF-ELF |Rgr | 24 | 37 |18/17/12 | 18 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
|Jozi |HALF-ORC |Ftr/Inq | 23 | 31 |19/17/12 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
|Sjach |SITH-MAKAR|Rgr | 23 | 23 |21/18/13 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
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|Aimarra |HALF-ELF |Rgr | 24 | 37 |18/17/12 | 18 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
|Jozi |HALF-ORC |Ftr/Inq | 19 | 31 |19/17/12 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
|Sjach |SITH-MAKAR|Rgr | 23 | 23 |21/18/13 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
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|Aimarra |HALF-ELF |Rgr | 16 | 37 |18/17/12 | 18 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
|Jozi |HALF-ORC |Ftr/Inq | 19 | 31 |19/17/12 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
|Sjach |SITH-MAKAR|Rgr | 11 | 23 |21/18/13 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
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|Aimarra |HALF-ELF |Rgr | 9 | 37 |18/17/12 | 18 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
|Jozi |HALF-ORC |Ftr/Inq | 19 | 31 |19/17/12 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
|Sjach |SITH-MAKAR|Rgr | 11 | 23 |21/18/13 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
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|Aimarra |HALF-ELF |Rgr | 9 | 37 |18/17/12 | 18 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
|Jozi |HALF-ORC |Ftr/Inq | 19 | 31 |19/17/12 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
|Sjach |SITH-MAKAR|Rgr | 3 | 23 |21/18/13 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Name | CHP (T) | HP |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Aimarra.......| -18 | 37 |
| Jozi..........| 19 | 31 |
| Sjach.........| 3 | 23 |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~