Chapter 3: The start of a rebellion?

[Tendolhorse]

Gor bumbles through the town square. He feels awkward as though the random citizens of Yukorcity gaze at him with suspicion. The half-orc quickly shuffles towards the Ox and Arrow. Familiarity rushes through him as he recalls passing the establishment before his capture.

[Valkyrion]

As Gildor opened the door to the inn, shouting issued from the streets. Looking to the right, the sorcerer saw a squadron of guards rushing down the cobblestone street, heading to the large market square where the inn laid. Gildor was about to turn back into the inn when he noticed Gor in the center of the square! Taking a quick glance between Gor and soldiers, Gildor guessed that the soldiers had spotted the half-orc. "Friends, Gor's in trouble!" the sorcerer yelled back to Bebop and Paror.

By the time he looked back at the scene, the guards had cleared a path through the crowded square lined with merchant stands and now formed a loose semicircle around Gor Ramheart, who stood next to a large fountain in the center of the square. The armored soldiers gave Gor a wide berth, while a few lightly armored mages stood behind them. The leading mage called to Gor: "By decree of his Majesty Lord Braga, you, Gor Ramheart, are under arrest for escape from confinement and the murder of High Lord Ignatius! Come quietly, or your death shall be swift upon you!" Civilians gathered a few feet back from the perimeter, watching intently to see the criminal's reaction.

 

Hope that's a good description.

Here's the dimensions I had in mind: Market square is ironically a circle with radius of 8 squares. A fountain with radius 2 is situated at the center of the square. Gor has his back against the low wall of the fountain, and the guards surrounding him are 2-3 squares away from Gor's square, with mages outside the perimeter. The outer 3 square radius of the market square is lined with crowds of civilians (difficult terrain), and market stands covering an area of 2x3 squares (obstacles/cover).

[Tendolhorse]

"Trapped like a sewage rat."

Gor mutters an ill-willed word. His body brushes up against the fountain behind him. The door to the inn opens and a quick glance reveals Gildor walking out. Perhaps the situation wasn't quite as dire. A man in the back says a few words. Gor ignores him to concentrate on a strategy. He pulls out his axe; both hands grapple the shaft tightly. The battle is imminent and the outcome is in favor of the enemies. However, Gor may have a chance. After all, nothing is more dangerous than a cornered animal. Right?

"You want me, Braga pawns? Come and get me!"

 

I rolled pretty low on initiative, so if I'm allowed to go ahead of the guards, Gor will go into total defense.

[Olorian]

The battle outside the Ox and Arrow Okay, here's the battle grid! (thanks to Valkyrion for the inspiration )   attachment deleted Go = Gor Ez = Ezekiel Gi = Gildor Pa = Paror Di = Digana Be = Bebop g1-3 are guards: dressed in black plate armor, with black helmets with a white line running vertically down on it. They carry halberds and large axes. D1-5 are mage-like law enforcers, dressed in black robes, each holding an orb in one hand. C = a person from the crowd. These are salesmen, customers, elderly people, kids, and they are of various races. They are neither allies nor enemies, they can provide cover if they are in line of sight, they are difficult terrain to move through but they (probably) won't stop your move. Fountain= 1 square high brick structure, with a large statue of Lord Braga on top, splashing water from his eyes and ears. Dotted lines: roads. Solid circular line: the square. This isn't a physical border Solid rectangles/squares: buildings, one, two or three floors high Purple squares: market stalls, basically they are tables with a purple cloth roof; these are difficult terrain Initiative: Paror and Gildor can go first (in random order), then the enemies take their turn. After that, everyone in random order. Fifth player character: I will put up a DM seeking player post looking for a fifth player character, since I am guessing Sixgunninja won't return. If you have recommendations, PM me and point those people to the app thread. I'll put the link in the OOC thread. Game on!!

[Valkyrion]

Gildor pushed past a few civilians to get a better angle on the fight, slowly drawing Festus's staff. "Be ready to fight," he told his friends. "I can't imagine for this to pass without the spilling of blood." The hooded sorcerer clenched his hand as if holding an invisible orb. The air within his grasp began to shimmer and writhe. He watched apprehensively for the moment when one of the guards would try to attack Gor.

 

Minor: Draw Defensive Staff.
Move: Move to P-21, moving civilians to get a clear shot from P-21 to J-15.
Standard Action: Ready Thunder Slam. Trigger: One hostile enemy moves to a square adjacent to Gor.
Immediate Reaction: Thunder Slam 10 vs. Fort of triggering target. 20 thunder damage and push the target 3 squares to G-14.

HP 31/40; AC 16 Fort 15 Ref 17 Will 15; HS 4/7
Arcane Reserves: Disengaged

[Naresh]

 

Here is my Forced lovingly crafted post

Paror sees the guards and tips his imaginary (or invisible) hat "It seems our dear Garthak has brought some of his pandering followers from the rustic heights...

As Gildor moves Paror slips past him and tries to lose himself in the crowd, knocking into a young brunette woman as he dashes past, twirling on his heels, slowly losing momentum he winks to the girl, flicks her a gold piece and continues his deft movements through the crowd, Hiding is but one small respite before the ignoble come to stand and fight, before the incandescent furies fall and shattered honours die with gall... As merchant stars collide at night and raging passions fear the lasting fight. The Purple Lord soars and skulks like hidden shadows and fearing the fecklies familiarities that feud between the pale lights... lost in his own thoughts he bashes a fat merchant on the shoulder and sends a few errant trinkets flying Two shoots and a scalding monkey" he calls back

 

Stealth Check: 19
Using Power Fleeting Ghost (full move and no penalty to stealth)

Moving as far into the crowd on the left of the map as possible, about L or M 21 I guess
Unsure if I can take a double move action with no penalty... if I can, I'd like to move closer, J17 or 18 or so

[Fon]

'Oh, is that a fight?'

Somewhere behind the mass amount of people, a red scaled dragonborn tiptoes and peers over the crowd with curiosity in his eyes. He scans over the half-orc, then at the guards, before looking back at the half-orc again.

'Hm... What's going on?'

[Olorian]

The half-orc growls, "You want me, Braga pawns? Come and get me!"

At the same time, Gildor manages to push away an elderly couple and their 4 year old grandson, causing some scolding and angry looks from some of the other market visitors, and attracting the attention of one of the guards. Then, a purple shadow flows past the sorcerer and the old people, bumping into some lady and a merchant, but a second later no one notices the man beneath a strikingly similar colored market stand. The Yukolites, even the one who looked up at Gildor, turn their attention to the half-orc outlaw at the fountain. One of the black robed mages says in a commanding tone, "Lay down your weapons, criminal!" As all of the guards and mages move closer a few paces, the guards warily keeping their halberds in front of their bodies, while the mages all wave their free hands over their orbs. The globes seem to be made of melon-sized, smooth obsidian rock. Nothing remarkable is seen, then, but suddenly Gor feels he can't move his legs as the guards close in on him. "You're coming with us," the guard in the center says to Gor, "now DROP THAT AXE!" A sudden rush of wind blows off the guard's helmet, revealing the balding head of an angry human. The bald guard picks up his helmet and puts it back on, while some of the people in the crowd start shuffling backwards, away from the angry looking half-orc.

 

Please include your own hit points and defenses in each of your posts.

Conditions
Gor: immobilized (save ends)

Notes:
Gildor's thunder slam missed. I made it so that at this time the guard hasn't noticed the source of the gust of wind.
In the map, I'm not keeping track of all the movement paths of the civilians, and which one Lodrin represents is still to be seen, as soon as he decides to interact with any of you. As of now, he hasn't occurred to anyone as someone special.
Paror does not have cover/concealment from his stealth, but his stealthed move does cause him to be 'lost in the crowd' and seen as a regular market visitor; giving him combat advantage should he attack this turn.

Next round: all players are up! Post whenever you're able. (Intiative and the order in which things happen = posting order)

 

attachment deleted

[Naresh]

Paror darts forward, dodging people and stalls as he rushes forward and unleashes a quick attack against the approaching attackers! He also makes a mental note to talk to the brunette after the fight is over

 

Paror will be moving into a position to hit D1,2 and 3
Blinding Barrage (vs AC, D1,2,3)
To Hit: 22/16/28 (Blinded until end of my next turn if hit)
Damage: 18 (half on miss)

Paror: HP 39
Defense: 19/14/19/16
Surges: 7

[Fon]

The red dragonborn continues to watch, until the purple shadow run past in front of him. The dragonborn turns his head in an attempt to identify the purple shadow. However, that attempt is hindered by the crowd around the market stall.

'No good, I can't see what's going on.'

The dragonborn apologizes to the merchant, as he moves forward and accidentally knocks a few trinkets down from the stand. He continues to squeeze through the market stalls, and stops at the very stand where the purple shadow was.

 

Actions Move: Move to J18.

Stats Lodrin Thunderhammer, the Dragonborn Warlord HP: 45/45 Healing Surges: 8/8 PP: 14 PI: 12 AC: 20 Fort: 17 Ref: 13 Will: 17

[Thamewolf]

Bebop cringes as he steps out the door to see what Gildor is talking about. "Hellfire take Braga and his ilk! Well, apparently they know what we look like..." The little gnome strides out into the open space to get a good look at the surroundings, stroking his red goatee nervously as he considers whether he might talk them down. He is about to open up his mouth to speak when he sees his strange new acquaintance, Paror, dart out to unleash a barrage on the robed guards. This won't end well... Bebop thinks as he draws his wand and points it at the guard in front of Gor. He is so baffled by the turn of events, his words come out somewhat jumbled, "Run quick from these goons, Gor, don't be harpooned! Right is on our side, for our friends that have died!"

 

Move: to O19
Minor: draw wand
Standard: Song of the New Dawn 14 vs. AC for 9 damage, Gor can roll to save twice and take the highest result if this actually hits

 

AC 18, Fort 15, Ref 17, Will 12, HP 41/41, Surges used 4/9

[Valkyrion]

Gildor put his palm to his face as his attack managed to only remove the guard's hat. At least we still have the element of surprise... he thought. The sorcerer took a deep breath and tried to maintain his focus on the guard directly in front of Gor. Gildor raised a clawed hand to the skies above, and a small, dark cloud started to form above the guards' heads. "Now!" Gildor cried, and a blast of powerful lightning streaked from the cloud, landing in the midst of the unsuspecting guards.

 

Standard Action: Dancing Lightning 17 (with combat advantage) vs. Ref of G3. On a hit: G3 takes 25 lightning damage, and all creatures adjacent to G3 take 4 thunder damage.

HP 31/40; AC 16 Fort 15 Ref 17 Will 15; HS 4/7
Arcane Reserves: Now Engaged

[Zeppo007]

Mikela had been keeping the merchant busy while Rufus rooted stealthily beneath his stall for rotten fruit when the commotion began. The merchant looked around furtively before snatching the coin from Mikela's gloved hand and tossing her an apple. As the merchant hurriedly threw crates of fruit onto his rickety cart Mikela watched as the the half-orc bellows his challenge. This is interesting a voice in her head says suddenly says. "Yes Rufus it is. Be ready to move quickly my friend. This might be what we have been searching for." A huge head with large razor sharp tusks protruding from it's lower jaw pokes out from beneath the merchant's stall. Bits of rotten fruit and melon rind still hang from the creature's mouth as it surveys the scene. Mikela draws a staff from her back and reveals it to be a steel trident as she loosens her concealing robes. as the guards clash with the half-orc she makes her decision. She strips the veil from her face revealing a face covered with tawny fur. She then drops her robe to the ground showing her fine armor crafted from the pelt of a desert lion. Spotting two guards moving in from the south she gives her lizard companion a few short orders and moves off towards the guards.

"Hey squirrel-breath." She shouts at the leading guard "Wanna dance?" The guard looks over at the advancing beast woman and his eyes suddenly grow large as he sees the tusked beast shadowing her movements. Rufus darts around behind the guard as Mikela thrusts her trident at the guard's face. Electricity crackles between the trident's tines raising the hair on the guard's head as it nears his body.

 

Turn Mechanics Move: Mikela to S9, R8,Q7,P7,O7,N7,M7M7 Rufus to R10,Q10,P10,O10,N10,M9,L8L8 Minor: Declare D4 Hunter's Quarry Standard:At-Will - Beast, Martial, Weapon Standard Action - Melee weapon Target: One creature Attack: Strength vs. AC Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage. Effect: Before or after the attack, your beast companion can shift 1 square.Circling Attack vs D4 with CA (Rufus shifts to K7 before the attack) 14 vs AC for 13 Lightning Damage

Combat Stats Mikela AC/Fort/Ref/Will: 19/17/16/15 HP: 38/38 Bloodied: 19 Healing Surges Used: 00/06 Second Wind: [-] Death Saves Failed: [-] [-] [-] AP: 1 Status: Normal Hunter's Quarry: D4 Rufus AC/Fort/Ref/Will: 19/16/16/14 HP: 46/46 Bloodied: 23 Healing Surges Used: 00/02 Second Wind: [-] Death Saves Failed: [-] [-] [-] Status: Normal Powers: [-]Synchronized Strike [-]Longtooth Shifting [-]Fox Shift [-]Paired Predators [-]Distracting Team Class/Racial Features: Hunter's Quarry: Extra 1d8 damage upon nearest enemy I can see. Beast Companion: Use actions to control beast companion.

[Tendolhorse]

With the enemies advancing, Gor tries to deftly escape, however, he discovers his feet planted firmly against the ground. "No matter," Gor thinks confidently.
He hears Bebop demanding that the half-orc flee from the fight. Unfortunately, the gnome's cries fall on ignorant ears, for Gor has never run from combat and he doesn't plan on it now.

Crystals begin to build up around his body. As usual, a cold chill enters the air. Gor's body crackles as he sways; his head tilts back and forth slightly to keep all three guards in view. A section of the town square gets frozen over as ice mystically emanates from the half-orc. He notices the guards shivering. "The cold is brutal," he ponders, smiling.
His legs brush against the fountain again. Slick ice replaces the rough stone underneath. The ice travels throughout the fountain, freezing the water in place. Perhaps one may even walk upon it.

The moment the ice reached its maximum distance, Gor swings his axe, forming powerful crystals pulled straight from the air. The blade of his weapon barely reaches his enemies, however, the ice particles do the most work. They attack those closest, threatening them with frostbite and chills.

 

Ugh...
Font of Life: 20 (if Bebop hits) 2 if not (though Gor's not moving anyway)
Attack of 16 vs. G1 AC
Attack of 12 vs. G2 AC
Attack of 16 vs. G3 AC
Damage of 7 (Half if Miss)

If we didn't rest up or do anything since the previous fight, then I suppose my stats look like this:

 

<Gor Ramheart> Stats:21/54 HP ; 0 THP ; 20 AC || 20 Str ; 16 Con ; 10 Dex ; 11 Int ; 12 Will ; 10 Cha ||18 Fort ; 12 Ref ;14 Will || Heal Surges Left: 8/12

If we did, then I wish I used a healing surge... :/

[Olorian]

The purple poet's daggers fly and cut across the mages' foreheads, causing a pool of blood to drip into their eyes. One of them (D2) is quick to wipe this away, the others are cursing and keep on rubbing their eyes with their wizard's sleeves. Bebop's rhyme doesn't strike the right note, while Gildor shows his control over the elements. His thunderstorm blasts into the guard facing Gor, and the man's body shakes from the sudden torrent of electricity... the thunderclap propels into the other two guards' faces, but also into the half-orc's. The moment Gor starts to turn into an icy warden, two newcomers show the nature of their alignment and attack the wizards in the south part of the square. The furry woman first receives a mean kick from one of the civilians she tried to run through. Then her trident misses the mage by an inch, while her companion keeps the man's backside threatened by two large tusks.


Gor's frozen form gives him the power to strike, but his cold muscles have lost some speed. But the ice particles bite into the guards' feet and immobilize them for a moment, face to face with the half-orc. Meanwhile, the rusty dragonborn moves closer, but doesn't act yet... From the inn's doorstep, Digana conjures a ball of fire and flings it at the wizards... but the ball is extinguished as if flies past the frozen fountain. Ezekiel readies his hammer and charges the soldier nearest to him, but in his anger he misses his mark.

The guards swing their halberds, one of them hitting Gor in the kneecaps, another hitting Ezekiel in the hip. Both are knocked off their feet. The two mages to the west keep rubbing their eyes, screaming, "Aaahhh, my eyes, my eyes!!", and one of them starts to walk anyway, and he bumps into one of the market stalls. The only Yukolite that managed to wipe his eyes clean, turns on Paror with anger. "Eat flame, you purple monster!" A drop of liquid flame erupts from the black orb, and falls down on Paror's head, where it turns into a shower of magma, causing a large burn on the rogue's cheek. The mage next to Mikela lets his obsidian ball hover in front of him, and it explodes in her's face, but the force is too weak to cause any harm. This trick is copied by the other one, with more succes: the lizard is blasted in the face by a surge of force.

Meanwhile, most of the people in the market square try to find a way out of what is soon to become a bloodbath....

 

info Combat mechanics Paror hit D1 and D3 for 14 damage and blinds them for one turn, and deals 7 damage to D2. Fon only moves. Bebop misses (would also have missed if +2 for CA had been added). Gildor hits G3 for 25 lightning dmg, and G1, G2 and Gor for 4 thunder dmg. Mikela's circling strike misses. Mikela is kicked by a civilian (2 dmg) Gor hit by G3 (9 dmg and prone), Ezekiel hit by G2 (13 dmg and prone) Paror hit by D2 for 8 fire damage. Rufus hit by D4 for 7 force damage. Conditions Gor: immobilized (save ends) - still applies due to Bebop's failed attack negating Gor's second roll. Prone. Ezekiel: Prone. G1, G2: immobilized G3: bloodied, immobilized D1, D3: blinded (1 turn) D4: Hunter's Quarry (green star) Notes: 1. Combat advantage from not being noticed is over for everyone. The guards are aware of other hostile agents, and no one is hidden by stealth anymore. 2. Let's assume you took more than 5 minutes while walking from the castle to the city, so you can spend healing surges as if you had a short rest before the start of this encounter. I'm sorry not to have mentioned this. But be sure to subtract any HP that you've suffered this battle (see the Combat Stats). 3. Purple stalls and Yellow Civilians are difficult terrain! Civilians are neutral, not allies, not enemies. But if you try to run through them they might kick you (like Mikela experienced). 4. light blue area around Gor: difficult terrain for enemies Next round: all players are up! Post whenever you're able. (Intiative and the order in which things happen = posting order)