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Age of Ice and Blood: A Pathfinder System Heroic Fantasy Quest

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Arc 15 Post 41: Into the Fray
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    • Into the Fray ​

    Eight of Olweje-hamba (Olweje Descendent), 1349 A. L. (After Landfall)

    All about you is chaos, the blazing torches of soldiers and the calls of those who knew not friend from foe, but in such a time men will oft look to those who speak the loudest, or at least with the most authority. Thus you do: "There's a monster in the manse, we've come to help you slay it," must be a relief to those half-trained boys and elders leaning on their spears that are most of the men at arms of House Koire. Among them you spy a familiar face, one you cannot put a name to for you had seen him last in the spring, but you know he is one of those who trained at Wayfarer's Respite.

    You hail the man, the hunter at your side and somehow quick to take advantage of the morsel of trust while he has it and so you make your way into the courtyard, all save Tom who had been left behind in the care of some of the temple guards which had finally been dislodged from their masters' hiding place.

    "It will seek a dark place to dwell in, to hide its horror from the world," the hunter explains as you rush forth, moonlight mingling with the glare or torches on ruddy bronze and bright steel. "Though it has no mind as the husk does the best knows to hide its ugliness and it can be cunning in its feeding." The words are spoken with conviction and with authority enough that the guards agree to let you into the building south of the main courtyard, the home of the kitchens, the larger root pits... and the racks for smoked and slated meats.

    According to your new companion the beast will try to live on 'dead' meat even though its stomach rebels against it, so it nests close.

    "It heals as swiftly as a a soul-drinker," the man glances at Esha. "All but fire and blessed weapons, but it cannot stand the sight of its own malformed visage in a mirror, even a polished shield can be enough to pin it in place for a moment that it may be struck with bolt and spell."

    Before he can say another word there is a screech from up ahead followed by an all too human scream, thankfully of fright and not of pain. Some one must have heard the wrong thing at just the wrong time.

    "What's on the other side of that door?" you snap

    "The old kitchen ovens and the spits, they haven't been used since the lord's father Ikomi guide his soul, they were supposed to be torn down and replaced with a new wing for the family to live in, but then the old lord died and the young lord..."

    The man cuts himself off, likely realizing he is about to talk about matters that might embarrass young Odorin. If embarrassment is all the boy will have to worry about before the night is done then he should count himself fortunate seven times over.

    How do you make your entrance?

    [] Write in battle plan

    OOC: Mechanically this thing has regen 5/fire and Lawful, you guys do not have a source of lawful damage but you to have fire and you can of course you can just try to push through it by main force. Trouble is how you get through the door since that is a very good place for an ambush and the thing is clearly on the other side from the scream.
     
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    • Considering the other half is kind of a mind controller, shouldn't we tell everybody to vacate the building so that they are not caught in its deathrattle?
     
    Going for what I hope is an effective method to at least smoke the Beast out of it's hiding place, or maybe even kill it if we're lucky.

    [X] Kill it with fire! (Or in this case hurt and annoy it with fire, and hopefully smoke it out, but the point stands...)
    -[X] "If the creature lives, then it must breath. Rather than follow it into a sure ambush, we can first attempt to smoke it out. If we are lucky, perhaps it will succumb to smoke and flame, and none here will need to risk themselves against the monster."
    --[X] Order the House Koire guards to retrieve as much cooking and lamp oil (or whatever flammable liquid they have at hand) as they can quickly gather, along with old rags, rope, and other kindling. Whatever is available in nearby outbuildings, workshops, the newer kitchen, etc.
    ---[X] While the Koire guards go about their task, order the Temple soldiers to form groups to guard the other two exits, and ask one or more Hunters to accompany each group. The creature might not be ready to flee yet, but that could soon change.
    ----[X] Once the flammable materials are gathered, have them made into three large bundles of oil-soaked rags, kindling, rope, etc. using Zaia's guidance on how to best create thick, choking smoke. Zaia will contribute a vial of Alchemist's Fire and a Smokestick to each large bundle for added effect. If there are any barrels available to hold the bundles, they would be ideal for this purpose. Smaller bundles will be made if there are enough materials, suitable for throwing through the building's windows, if it has them.
    -----[X] The pyrotechnics will then be lit aflame and pushed, rolled, or tossed through each exit/doorway, along with thrown through any suitable windows.
    -[X] If necessary, Inge will use her Drench cantrip to deal with any fires that look like they might spread beyond the old kitchen building, while the gathered guards, soldiers, Hunters, and our group stand watch for an escape attempt by the Beast.
    --[X] Everyone will be instructed to remain vigilant for possible Mind-Affecting effects being used against them or their fellows. The cornered Beast is not the only threat loose upon the grounds, after all.
     
    Arhin said:
    But the scream means that there is a hostage there. Am I mistaken?
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    This creature appears too simple-minded to bother taking hostages. From the description in the chapter, the scream was interpreted as one of fright, so someone probably caught sight of the monster and shouted in fear. Hopefully they ran away at that point, because otherwise they're probably already dead.
    Shine said:
    [X] Goldfish
    I've not a clue how to fight such a beast, so here we are.
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    I wish we had a better idea of what it actually is. The Hunter's description helps, though. It's a living creature, though probably some sort of Aberration, and it's Regeneration is countered by Fire damage and Lawful weapons. Setting the building on fire is a good way to hurt it in a way it cannot easily recover from, and the smoke should cause it issues like any other creature which breaths air. We probably won't kill it like this, but we might get lucky. Even if it doesn't die, we should at least be able to force it to flee the building, possibly while disoriented and suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation. That's as a good a time as any to attempt to kill it.
     
    I fear that with this strategy we set the whole bulding on fire. Yes, Inge could control fire, but Drench is only a cantrip, it is not that powerful.
     
    Arhin said:
    I fear that with this strategy we set the whole bulding on fire. Yes, Inge could control fire, but Drench is only a cantrip, it is not that powerful.
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    That's not a bad thing. It's a stand alone building that is old and disused, and was actually scheduled for demolition. If it catches fire and burns down, that is just more smoke and fire the monster has to deal with. Inge is only meant to prevent the fire from spreading beyond this building.
     
    Vote closed.
    Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Aug 25, 2022 at 2:21 PM, finished with 17 posts and 5 votes.
    • [X] Kill it with fire! (Or in this case hurt and annoy it with fire, and hopefully smoke it out, but the point stands...)
      -[X] "If the creature lives, then it must breath. Rather than follow it into a sure ambush, we can first attempt to smoke it out. If we are lucky, perhaps it will succumb to smoke and flame, and none here will need to risk themselves against the monster."
      --[X] Order the House Koire guards to retrieve as much cooking and lamp oil (or whatever flammable liquid they have at hand) as they can quickly gather, along with old rags, rope, and other kindling. Whatever is available in nearby outbuildings, workshops, the newer kitchen, etc.
      ---[X] While the Koire guards go about their task, order the Temple soldiers to form groups to guard the other two exits, and ask one or more Hunters to accompany each group. The creature might not be ready to flee yet, but that could soon change.
      ----[X] Once the flammable materials are gathered, have them made into three large bundles of oil-soaked rags, kindling, rope, etc. using Zaia's guidance on how to best create thick, choking smoke. Zaia will contribute a vial of Alchemist's Fire and a Smokestick to each large bundle for added effect. If there are any barrels available to hold the bundles, they would be ideal for this purpose. Smaller bundles will be made if there are enough materials, suitable for throwing through the building's windows, if it has them.
      -----[X] The pyrotechnics will then be lit aflame and pushed, rolled, or tossed through each exit/doorway, along with thrown through any suitable windows.
      -[X] If necessary, Inge will use her Drench cantrip to deal with any fires that look like they might spread beyond the old kitchen building, while the gathered guards, soldiers, Hunters, and our group stand watch for an escape attempt by the Beast.
      --[X] Everyone will be instructed to remain vigilant for possible Mind-Affecting effects being used against them or their fellows. The cornered Beast is not the only threat loose upon the grounds, after all.
    Click to expand...
     
    Arc 15 Post 42: Hollow Words
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    • Hollow Words ​

    Eight of Olweje-hamba (Olweje Descendent), 1349 A. L. (After Landfall)

    Rather than fighting the thing head on you decide that it would be wisest to try to smoke the thing out. You thus order half the Koire soldiers do gather such oils and kindling as could be readily be brought to hand while the other half are set to guard the other entrances. Thankfully the new kitchen is near enough to the old that both tasks are easy enough to start... alas things do not go so smoothly. All the commotion in the courtyard finally catches the attention of someone in the House.

    Though you had hoped to see Odorin since this evening when you had been looking to buy some land your stomach sinks when you finally catch sight of his approaching. He is not alone, two body servants trails after him, quickly drafted to the task not not of any martial bearing to judge by the fact that they have brushes in their hands, but it is not they who trouble you. At his left hand walking just a step behind is a young woman who looks perhaps a few years older than him, her fair as a bright sunset, her eyes hooded like the coming night.


    But as she moves through the moonlight with grace worthy of any highborn lady of the city that is not what strikes you. James had given you and accounting of the mysterious woman who had come to Wayfarer's Respite, leaving a gift of jewels and a dark spirit behind and though you might have dismissed most of them for coincidence you very much doubt there are many ladies about with an odd glyph tattooed under their chin. Looks like she had not left chased by the Purple as you had thought, if she did she circled back.

    "Sir knight?" Odorin sounds more confused than angry, his eyes a little unfocused as she leans on one of the servants. "What are you doing here?"

    "Ware Hollow," the hunter hisses low as he reaches for his weapon, a barbed whip that snaps in the night air.

    From the building behind you more beastly noises resound

    As one of the servants opens his mouth to answer him the woman places a hand on his arm and says soothingly. "I am sure this is all just a misunderstanding." She turns to you. "Isn't it?"

    "It would be a shame if the boy has to die," the voice that pierces your mind is as cold as her outer manner is warm, emotionless save for an echo of rage. "Go now, I mean you no ill will strangers... leave the hunter."

    it is not even a question that passes through your mind to take her envenomed bargain, the only question is how to fight her... and how to save Odorin.

    [] Write in battle plan

    OOC: There was supposed to be a countdown in rounds before the hollow arrived, but since you guys did not enter the old kitchen immediately she got here in the middle of trying to set the place on fire.
     
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    • Well, the timing here could be better, but now that an enemy has presented itself, especially one with mindfuckery powers, we cannot afford to let it talk or give the Beast a chance to join it in battle.

    Hopefully this time Esha's Blindness spell will actually land. If so, it might be the first time so far. Fingers crossed!

    [X] No Time For Banter!
    -[X] "Beware, she is the monster's master and an enchantress herself!" Roland exclaims to everyone nearby.
    -[X] Esha uses her Soulward ability as a Swift Action to bolster Roland's Will saves and targets the Hollow with a Blindness spell.
    -[X] Inge targets the Hollow with a Snowball spell.
    -[X] Zaia drinks a Targeted Bomb Admixture extract in preparation for targeting the Hollow with a Tanglefoot Firebomb next round.
    -[X] Wanderer Rages as a Free Action then Charges the Hollow using Reckless Abandon, intending to Bullrush it away from Odorin.
    -[X] Roland (assuming her is in Pride Leader's Stance and using Indomitable Presence) uses Encouraging Roar as a Swift Action and follows in Wanderer's footsteps, Charging the Hollow using the Panthera on the Hunt maneuver.
    -[X] The soldiers and guards continue their assigned tasks and the Hunters move to engage the Hollow or prepare to deal with the Beast, as they choose.
     
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