The Last Paladin IC (Frosty)

[Maquise]

"I found Mira, but I can't do anything for her; my magic doesn't work."

[Frosty]

Orc-slayer in hand, she rushes into the tent to see exactly what Lyanna means. "What happened?"

[Maquise]

You find Mirabelle bound to a post in the middle of the tent. Her sword has been removed; you still have her shield from the battle at Linedakaima. She appears unconscious but still alive.

[Frosty]

"Why doesn't your magic work? I'll revive her. You CUT her bonds! Worse comes to worse I put her on my horse and we leave."

Karrin moves up to Mirabell, and tries to infuse her with holy positive energy to revive her.

Lay on Hands: (2d6)[4][4](8)

[Maquise]

Mirabelle awakens slowly. As her bonds are cut, she looks up at you, and wordlessly throws her arms around you.

[Frosty]

Karrin's eyes sheds a few tears and she gives Mira a quick kiss on the mouth as she hugs back. Karrin only allows the hug to last for a second or two before she says, "The orcs heard us. Let's get out of here. Here's your shield and a special sword."

The paladin quickly leads Mira back to Trombe, hoping that their way is not obstructed. If it is, she'll cut down any orc in her way!

(Did the orcs leave Mira clothed and armored, or did they take everything?)

[Frosty]

Karrin adds, "This sword is enchanted to be especially effective against orcs."

[Maquise]

Mirabelle bows her head, whispering hoarsely, "Thank you. I didn't... thank you."

As you hand her the sword, the runes on its blade begin to glow a bright cherry-red. Mirabelle, surprised, holds the sword away from her for a moment, before swinging it experimentally. Retaking her shield, seems to regain her full strength. (she is fully armored)

You can see from within the tent large silhouettes surrounding the tent, and they begin to let out a great din of shouts.

[Frosty]

Karrin Ye
HP: 60/60  AC: 24  Saves: 10F / 6R / 6W
Conditions:  Gave Lyanna the Cloak of resistance +1 (saves already adjusted), LoH 5/6

Trombe
HP: 55/55  AC: 17  Saves: 11F / 10R / 6W
Conditions:

"Come on, we're BREAKING through to my horse." instructs the paladin to her two companions. "TROMBE, COME!"

Karrin, greatsword in hand, charges out back towards Trombe.

(As a Large Quadraped, Trombe's Light Load limit is 399 pounds, so even with the 3 of us, he should still be able to run right? It'd be a bit crowded of course.)

Spoiler

Show

Karrin:
Power Attack: off
KArrin is moving out the back, leading the other two. If she is blocked, she'll probably attack. She also called for Trombe to come running.

[Maquise]

You charge out of the tent to find that Trombe has beeen restrained by a group of orcs. He otherwise appears unharmed.

Gorgeroth stands before you; you are surrounded on all other sides. He carries a large axe with a particularly terrible-looking head. He raises a hand, and all goes silent.

[Frosty]

Karrin stops and doesn't actually attack. The orcs are not attacking yet, amd maybe they don't need to fight ALL the orcs. Holding up her hand to signal Lyanna and Mirabell to stop. The paladin holds her sword with confident, and stares coldly at Gorgeroth. "YOU..."

[Maquise]

The orc warlord nods. "You were there, at the fort. You freed my prisoners, summoned the creature of fire, and cut your way through my army. It will take me a great deal of time to rebuild."

[Frosty]

"Yes, I was at the fort. I bested Müraaz in battle. I ran behind your lines to wreck havoc. You are a worthy opponent, Gorgeroth."

[Maquise]

"You understand us better than I first thought. We are not so different."

[Frosty]

Karrin shakes her head. "You are worthy in ability, as you obviously have boeh physical prowess and the ability to lead a large group. You and I understand strength. Where you and I differ are where we put our talents. With demons and devils roaming our lands...EVERYONE's lands...YOU spend your time and effort destroying and hurting your fellow humanoids. YOU are exactly the kind of person the evil outsiders like to USE and PLAY like a fiddle. Whether knowingly or not, you are being their pawn, destorying the remaining cohesion of us humanoids, so that we have NO chance to win againt the fiends. You and I are different."

The paladin sighs. "I give you one chance. One chance to make peace and play nice. If you will set aside your pillaging ways and help us fight against the fiends, I will not kill you."

(this is a combination Intimidate and Diplomacy attempt I guess?)

[Maquise]

"No.

I shall enlighten you, as mighty Ken Rhö enlightened me. You seek to unify the weak, pathetic creatures that inhabit this land. I have seen the fiends as what they are: the will of Ken Rhö. They show us the true purpose to aspire to: nothing. This world is mindless; I have no goal but to revel in bloodshed and collect as many skulls for Ken Rhö so I may earn my place in his Legion of Slaughter. "

[Frosty]

Karrin smiles, baring some of teeth. "And if I or my companion..." begins Karrin as she points to Mirabell. "...collects your skull, will you still have a place in Ken Rho's legion?"

[Maquise]

Gorgeroth laughs. "You cannot defeat me."

[Frosty]

"Shall we put your claim to the test?"

[Maquise]

Gorgeroth raises his axe. "Now we fight!"

INIT:
Karrin: (d20+1)[3]
Mirabelle: (d20+1)[12]
Lyanna: (d20+2)[21]
Gorgeroth: (d20)[14]

[Maquise]

Lyanna chants in a soft, melodious tone. She then moves farther left.

Gorgeroth charges you next.
AoO: (d20+9)[25], (2d6+4)[9]
You can't slow his pace; he lands a might blow with his axe.
Take 18 damage.

[Frosty]

Karrin, her shoulder bleeding heavily, says to Mirabell, "Mira, NOW! While he's distracted!" The paladin waits for her friend to get into position (she has to because her init is lower).

(Oh, one of Karrin's prepared spells is Hero's Defiance, so if Karrin falls to 0 or below, she'll immedaitely spend a LoH and heal 3d6 to herself.)

[Maquise]

Mirabelle moves to flank Gorgeroth.

She then, with great strength, strikes at her hated opponent. The blade flashes blood red as it drops. Gorgeroth moves to try and parry, but Mirabelle scores a mighty blow. The warlord is nearly crippled by the strike.

[Frosty]

Karrin Ye
HP: 42/60  AC: 24 + 4 vs Gorgeroth  Saves: 10F / 6R / 6W
Conditions:  Gave Lyanna the Cloak of resistance +1 (saves already adjusted), LoH 5/6

Trombe
HP: 55/55  AC: 17  Saves: 11F / 10R / 6W
Conditions:

While Karrin does want to give the killing blow to Mirabell, she is compelled by her desire to protect others, and goes in to try to end this fight as quickly as possible. Taking a moment to focus on the evil orc warlord, she strikes at Gorgeroth's neck.

Spoiler

Show

Karrin:
Power Attack: On
Swift Action: Smite Evil on Gorgeroth
Standard Action: Attack Gorgeroth
Attack (+4 Smite, +2 Flank, -2 PA): (1d20+13)[16]
Damage (+5 Smite, +6 PA): (2d6+15)[4][3](22)

[Maquise]

You manage to stagger the weakened orc warlord. Lyanna ducks in to harry Gorgeroth, allowing Mirabelle the chance to deliver a final blow.

Mirabelle swings an underhanded strike at Gorgeroth. He tries to parry it with his axe haft, but Mira quickly alters her angle so as to bind the axe between her shield and sword. With a twist she shoves the axe downward, causing its spike-end to nail Gorgeroth's foot into the ground. She then bashes with her shield, knocking the pinned orc on his back. After driving her boot-heel into his gut, she throws her full weight onto her sword, impaling the orc. The blade sinks all the way to the cross guard.

[Frosty]

The paladin, seeing the life drain out of Gorgeroth's eyes, says a quick prayer for his soul before she looks around and shouts to the other orcs. "Ken Rho has spoken! Gorgeroth, who lost to members of the 'weaklings' races, was not worthy! What are YOUR chances?"

[Maquise]

One of the orcs says, "Only a few of us followed Gorgeroth's beliefs, and they have all been slain. The rest of us were wounded in the fight. So long as you do not try to harm us, we will let you take what you wish; we have not the strength to fight you."

[Frosty]

Karrin looks to Lyanna. "What do you think? They sound sincere?". To Mirabell she says softly, "You did it, Mira. You have stopped a menace. What do you want to do with the rest of his people?"

Karrin sheaths her sword as she walks to the orc who spoke. "You did not share Gorgeroth's beliefs, yet you followed his leadership. Why? Was it purely out of fear for your lives?"

She gestures to the tents. "As for your possessions...tell me what you have, and who you took them from."

[Maquise]

"I couldn't say. If they're lying, they are very good at it. Orcs aren't known to be very smart, but if they are good liars, they could use the belief that they aren't good liars to- oh forget it."

Mirabelle slowly stands, drawing her sword out and wiping its blade slowly and deliberately. Without looking up she says, "I think, you should decide their fate. I'm not very objective at the moment."

The orc shakes his head. "We are not timid as goblins. He was a great warrior, and won many victories. So we followed him; it is our way. I will not beg forgiveness for being an orc. We have gathered little in the way of treasure; most of our loot was food and slaves which we bartered with. Our weapons and armor we crafted ourselves."

[Frosty]

Karrin shakes her head. "No one should ever apologize for being a certain species, orc or otherwise. The people you've taken must be set free, and I will not take your food except enough to feed the people as I escort them back to their lands. Whether you can keep your weapons and armor will depend on what you plan on doing from here on out. What are your plans?"

She takes a little while to use her supernatural sensing of evil, looking at the orcs. "You should never apologize for being an orc, but you might apologize for causing bringing grief onto others. I have a few ideas on how you might do that, but I would hear your plans first."