Chapter One: The Life of a Slave

[eldritchknight]

Pavek moves to engage the group to the southeast of his group, using his long reach to his advantage.

Actions

Move E, E, S, S, S and attack M6a. That's a mul, right?

Edit

Indeed, thanks Var for pointing that out. I've changed my action to reflect I meant east, not west.

[Vardaen]

"Gaz, follow Pavek!" Balderac moves to mirror the larger Pavek, keeping the formation of the group in tact. "Don't over extend, stick together. Take out the small groups first." He doesn't attack yet from his location, watching the Elves north of him to make sure he puts up a defense against them.

Display

Move, E,E,S,S,S (I believe ek posted West and ment East).

Ready Action: Attack first person to move into a threatend space. Fighting with Expertise -3Att/+3AC. Using Deflect, Lesser vs attacks against me, each time.

[TetNak]

'Gaz' is happy to do so, following along with Pavek, and immediately sprouting a form of mental, innate, energy to protect himself. His claws are at the ready, wanting to swat out at the nearest enemy for the simple self-survival it shall provide.

Action

Inertial Armor

[Trogdor]

OOC

Yes, it's a mul.

Also, I'm assuming that everyone put up Inertial Armor, etc. before the fight. Psionic powers are visible unless you make a DC 15 Concentration check when manifesting. Since it would be bad to be seen using psionics here, you certainly would have done it before being the focus of attention. So Tet, Gazziija gets an action.

V: for Balderac to cast a spell secretly, you can make a Bluff check as a move equivalent action (vs opposed Sense Motive check). Here you can expect some minuses to these Sense Motive checks for distance, kicked up dust, and shouting. So its a fairly safe bet. and remind me again what that spell does ...

Initiative

Round 1 Initiatives: Gazziija 20.5, Pavek 20.4, Balderac 20.3, Horth 20.2, Baako 20.1, Group Six 19, Group Five 17, Group Four 16, Group Two 14, Group Three 13, Group One 12, Group 8 10, Group Seven 1

Italics indicates a character has gone.

With your short respite over, Pavek rushes into action. He's badly injured, that much is clear to anyone who looks at him. But quickly he proves that even a badly-injured half-giant is not something to be taken lightly.

The former gladiator strides over to the nearby pair of muls. The two are not nearly as bad off as their attacker; clearly they have some fighting experience and have managed to hold their own in the fight thus far. But that was before they ran into a half-giant.

Pavek stops several feet away from the pair and makes a mighty swing at the closer of the two muls. His target tries to dodge away, but is caught in the side of the head by a fist nearly as big as Baako. He reels from the blow and is only barely able to keep his feet.

Roll

Pavek: Move, Attack M6a, 22 Hit, 12 subdual damage (it's good to be a half-giant!) The mul is reeling.

[TetNak]

With his Inertial Armor already brought to bear, Gazziija moves along with Pavek. After the half-giant has pummeled one of the muls, Gazziija attempts to do the same, and strike. It is a good thing is already knows how to use his claws, and is not as clumsy as some that cannot use their own arms and legs for battle. He sweeps his claw at the same creature Pavek hit, hoping to down him quickly.

Action

Attacking the same mul Pavek attacked

[Eanwulf]

Baako roars loudly as he charges the wounded mul. The feral savage, smelling wounded prey, then rushes towards the staggering mul.

Action

As long as the spot it open - Move E, NE, E, S and then attack the mul (subdual damage kick to the shin, etc.) If by some chance the mul falls, alter movement to attack the neighboring mul instead.

[Vardaen]

Balderac remains in formation but doesn't attack, he is watching the northern set of elves, keeping sure to alert the others and defend the group's flank if they get attacked from that side.

OOC

Not sure if you are waiting on me or not, but readied action.

[Trogdor]

Initiative

Round 1 Initiatives: Gazziija 20.5, Pavek 20.4, Balderac 20.3, Horth 20.2, Baako 20.1, Group Six 19, Group Five 17, Group Four 16, Group Two 14, Group Three 13, Group One 12, Group 8 10, Group Seven 1

Italics indicates a character has gone.

Code: Select all

MAP
|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
|...|...|...|E1a|E1b|...|...|...|D2a|h2b|H2c|...|...|...|...|...|h3a|...|
|...|...|...|E1c|E1d|...|...|...|...|M2e|H2d|...|...|...|...|...|H3b|...|
|...|...|...|E1e|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|G4a|M4b|...|...|...|...|...|...|
    |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
    |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|h5a|M5b|H5c|...|...|
        |...|...|Baa|Hor|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|H5d|H5e|...|...|...|
        |...|...|...|...|...|Bal|Gaz|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
            |...|...|...|...|Pav|...|M6a|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
                |...|...|...|...|...|M6b|...|...|...|...|...|...|G7a|H7b|
                    |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|E7c|...|
                            |...|...|...|...|...|D8a|D8b|...|...|...|...|
                                    |...|...|...|D8c|...|...|...|...|...|
                                        |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|

E = elf   D = dwarf   H = human   h = half-elf   M = Mul

With the mul still reeling from Pavek's blow, Gazziija rushes forward to take advantage of the situation. The bird man lashes out with a claw that the mul barely avoids. But in doing so, he moves into range of Gazziija's beak, which tears a cut in the mul's shoulder. The bird cleric glances over to the guards. But despite their admonitions against deadly injury, they seem unconcerned with the attack.

Roll

move/attack M6a: miss/hit 2 points of damage

Then, as injured as he is, Balderac determines that some discretion is in order. He simply follows the others in a large pack and remains ready for any attack by the elves to the north. He knows that all he has to do is remain standing to win an escape from the worst of the slave pits.

Roll

move/ready

Horth, perhaps the one most comfortable with unarmed combat, moves next.

OOC

Holding off on Baako's move until we see what happens with Horth.

[Trogdor]

Initiative

Round 2 Initiatives: Gazziija 20.5, Pavek 20.4, Balderac 20.3, Horth 20.2, Baako 20.1, Group Five 17, Group Four 16, Group Two 14, Group Three 13, Group One 12, Group Eight 10, Group Seven 1

Italics indicates a character has gone.

Code: Select all

MAP
|...|...|...|E1e|h2b|M2e|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
|...|...|...|E1a|E1b|D2a|h3a|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
|...|...|...|...|E1d|H2c|H3b|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
|...|...|...|...|E1c|H2d|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|G4a|M4b|H5c|...|...|...|...|...|
    |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|M5b|H5e|...|...|...|...|...|
    |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
        |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
        |...|...|...|...|...|Bal|Gaz|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
            |...|...|...|...|Pav|Hor|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|
                |...|...|...|...|Baa|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|G7a|...|
                    |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|E7c|H7b|
                            |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|D8a|D8c|...|
                                    |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|M8d|...|
                                        |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|

E = elf   D = dwarf   H = human   h = half-elf   M = Mul

Seeing that the mul in front of them is on his last legs, Horth rushes forward and makes a clean strike that drops the fellow slave like a falling rock. Not a movement is wasted, as the psychic warrior pulls back into a crouch, ready for the next attack.

Roll

Move/Attack 17 '€" hit for 7 damage

Baako takes up the rear, and moves next to the remaining mul. With feral fury, the halfling strikes a blow to the mul's groin '€" no punches are pulled in this fight. For a moment it looks like a disabling hit. But at the last moment, the mul twists in place and Baako only hits him in the thigh.

Roll

Move/Attack '€" rolled: 24 (crit threat) confirm: 5 (fail) '€" 4 damage

Then the group pauses as they take a moment to watch the other combatants in the pit.

Immediately the remaining mul facing your group draws away from you. Horth takes a swipe at his retreating form, but the mul ducks beneath the blow. Desperately he calls to the group of nearby dwarves and makes an offer of assistance. Having lost two of their original number, the dwarves agree, and allow him to join their formation. Alliances are made quickly during this fight.

Roll

Horth's AoO: 8 (miss)
Mul's Diplomacy Roll: 21 (success) '€" he becomes M8d (and has a Move action remaining to use in their initiative)

Then, the group of mostly humans in front of our heroes makes a bold move that, for them at least, proves to be foolish. Seeing the lone mul and half-giant encircled by enemies, they determine that even with a half-giant involved, five-to-two-odds are too good to pass up. But their folly is proven when they approach. The half-elf in the group moves forward and is struck by the half-giant before even as he moves in to attack, the half-giant's reach allowing him to strike first. The half-elf drops before he can even get in his first blow. A human follows, but shies away from the half-giant. And he is clearly shaken as his own strike flies wild. The mul is more clever. He expects that the half-giant will be hard-pressed to defend against multiple attackers. So he works to make the best of the half-elf's sacrifice. But he too is surprised as reflexes no doubt honed in the gladiatorial pit allow the half-giant to strike out again in his defense. The mul is staggered by a powerful blow, but still manages to get a strike in on the half-giant. Another human follows, he too getting slammed by the half-giant, and he too dropping before he can even make an attack. There is a reason, it seems, that the half-giant and the mul are still standing. Finally, the last human in that group moves. But he has learned from his companions to be careful of the half-giant. He moves up to attack the mul, but his opponent blocks the blow instead.

Now it's time for the half-giant and his companion to fight back. And fight back they do. The half-giant brings his fist down on the mul's head, crushing him into the ground, and deep into unconsciousness. The mul at his side follows suit with a powerful blow to the sternum of one of the humans. Clearly these are a pair that are not to be messed with.

A mixed group then rushes the pack of elves, hoping to weaken them enough and take their protected position near the edge of the circle. They seem stronger and healthier than many of the slaves in the circle. But their skill doesn't match up. A few feeble blows are struck, and the elves seem unimpressed.

The elven counterstrike is immediate and equally weak. A few blows strike home, but more miss their target. Fatigue is clearly taking its toll on both these groups.

The remaining pair is torn. Wisdom says stay put and let other people fight. But would that anger the templars? It wasn't worth the risk. The two have a brief conversation and then charge towards the scrum with the elves. Squeezing the others between them seemed to be their best hope. And with luck, the fight would be over before the elves could finish them off. Their attack catches the group attacking the elves by surprise, injuring one and nearly knocking another off his feet.

Finally the last two groups move into action. The dwarves, along with their new mul ally, find themselves in an unenviable position. Somehow all three groups in sight have a half-giant among them. They move swiftly towards the far group, looking to take down the lone elf before the half-giant can react.

They move quickly, and two land blows. But the elf manages to stay on his feet, if barely. The mul, who had recently faced you, follows behind, still working to get his bearings.

Then the final group acts. The elf makes a wild swing with his hand, but it does no good. The three dwarves, however, seem somewhat taken aback by it. The half-giant doesn't move position, but strikes over the elf's head at one dwarf. As he does so, the human moves forward and strikes at the chest of the same dwarf, who crumples at force of the double attack.

And now, with twenty-eight combatants remaining in your quadrant, Gazziija once more has the opportunity to act.

[Vardaen]

Balderac shouts out, "Avoid the giants, they will be the death of us with that reach of theirs." He looks around, "The elves seem pretty scrawny." He points back to the north the way the group just came from. [E1c]