The Broken Land [IC]

[TheOneHawk]

Turning to the rest of the group, Akdar starts whispering quietly. "They're just rats, but they've been mutated by magic and could pose a danger. Need a remind you where we are? This land is dangerous enough with leaving potential enemies behind us in an unknown ruin. Either we ascertain they aren't aggressive, or we kill them." Turning back to Riizak, he nods and makes a cutting gesture towards his throat.

[ylvathrall]

One of the rats chitters something and pulls another piece of hardtack out of the bag. They appear to still be focused on their meal.

[Chaltah]

Noticing that the rats weren't really paying attention he takes a deep breath and starts moving toward the pair, trusting that the others would be behind him if the things attacked. He wasn't sure just how the mutations affected these creatures but their size alone was staggering in his book. Riizak keeps his shield in front of him, sword behind it for the time being, trying his best to appear nonthreatening as he moved, trying his best to remain as quiet as possible, his eyes never letting the rats leave his field of vision.

Spoiler: OoC

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Stealth roll (1d20+2)[18] Riizak will also move to AA6 with double move of 20ft

[TheOneHawk]

Seeing the rats lack of reaction to Riizak's advance, Akdar shrugs and moves into the room himself. Must either be really hungry, or the magic addled their brains too much to be a threat. Doing his best to remain quiet, he passes the table and heads behind the wall across the room, looking to see what else is here.

Spoiler: OOC

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Stealth! (1d20)[9]

... Crap I forgot I don't have wisdom in the flesh (stealth) anymore. Decided on Desna over Irori. Dammit. Oh well. I'll head to AI 12, but I'm pretty sure that got me heard.

[Prehysterical]

Bolten's curiosity gets the better of him. It's better to see the thing rather than stand back and let your mind come up with something worse. He looks on as Riizak moves forward.

Spoiler: OOC

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Bolten moves to Z11

[ylvathrall]

Riizak doesn't make any obvious noises as he approaches the rats, but as he gets closer one of them sits back and turns in his direction anyway. It takes a few slow steps towards him, sniffing the air. Akdar is less graceful, though, his feet scuffing on the ground as he crosses the room. The other rat instantly bolts over in his direction, squeaking. Its movement is oddly clumsy and halting, probably due to a visibly malformed front leg.

Peering around the corner, Akdar sees a kitchen area separated from the refectory by a thin stone wall. Any food in the kitchen is long since gone, destroyed by time or vermin ages ago. It does have an inhabitant, though, another large rat lying in the middle of the floor. This one doesn't seem to be a mutant, although it is obviously unwell.

Spoiler: OOC

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Map updated. I'm assuming that Adisse and Wisteria just maintain about the same relative position as they have been.

[Chaltah]

The rat's approach put Riizak into defense mode. He wasn't too sure until he saw the second rat turn and 'bolt' toward Akdar. He raps his sword against the shield in hopes that his companion will hear it as much as it would distract the other rodent long enough for Akdar to defend himself. He stands his ground waiting to see what this other rat would do that was in front of him.

Spoiler: Ooc

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Riizak will ready an action to attack the rat in front of him and use his move action to alert Akdar to the potential threat if possible

[Dondasch]

Seeing a rat moving towards Akdar, Adisse chooses to intercept it before it can try anything. She drops the pebble, grips her sword tightly, and strides up to the rat, maneuvering around the table. Once there, she channels magic into her sword, then strikes.

Spoiler: OOC

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Free action to drop the pebble
Free action to switch to a two-handed grip
Move action to AE12
Swift action to activate Arcane Strike for +1 damage and overcoming DR/magic
Standard action to attack with her longsword. If (1d20+4)[17](17) hits, she deals (1d8+7)[11] damage.

[TheOneHawk]

Seeing the rat stumble towards him, Akdar swears quietly to himself and reflexively casts the defensive spell he had prepared for the day, hoping its ward would keep him safe from the rat. Only after he's finished casting it and the barrier was in place did he realize he had channeled the energy from that spell to hearl Riizak from his fall. "How in Desna's name..." he mutters before shrugging and moving towards the rat. The sanctuary effect appeared to be working just fine, so he might as well help Adisse.

Spoiler: OOC

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Using a point of mythic power to cast Sanctuary on myself, should last for 3 rounds. Moving to AG12

[ylvathrall]

Adisse closes easily with the rat. While its hide is oddly thick and tough for such a creature, it isn't terribly quick to react, and she is easily able to stab through its torso. The rat is grievously injured, but manages to snap at her one more time before it slumps to the ground, bleeding out.

The other mutant rat leaps at Riizak, biting ferociously and swatting at him with one oversized paw.

As this goes on, another rat moves out from the kitchen area towards Akdar. It starts to bite at him, then hesitates as the defensive spell attempts to keep its aggression at bay. Perhaps its mind is too simple or too hungry for the magic to work on it, though, because it manages to continue the attack.

Spoiler: Attacks

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Bite at Adisse: (1d20+1)[4]
Damage: (1d4+1)[5]

Bite at Riizak: (1d20+1)[14]
Damage: (1d4+1)[2]

Slam at Riizak: (1d20+1)[4]
Damage: (1d3+1)[2]

Bite at Akdar: (1d20+1)[8]
Damage: [roll]1d4[/roll

Spoiler: OOC

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So the rat made its save against the sanctuary effect, to the surprise of everyone including the rat. The one that Adisse hit was reduced to 0 HP, nice job hitting the target head-on there; when it bit you it dropped to -1 and started dying. Adisse does notice that her sword isn't cutting as deeply as she would expect (it's got DR and Arcane Strike isn't getting through it).

Riizak's readied action does take place before the rat's attacks, and obviously if he kills it those attacks are null and void.

Other than that, it is now your turn again. Map has been updated.

[Dondasch]

The rat's bite doesn't come anywhere near Adisse, and it drops before it gets a second chance. Adisse notices the new rat going for Akdar 'Another?' and moves up next to Akdar. She channels magic into her sword once more, and slashes at the critter, hoping this be a bit less durable.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move action to AG11
Swift action to activate Arcane Strike for +1 damage and overcoming DR/magic
Standard action to attack with her longsword. If (1d20+4)[24] hits, she deals (1d8+7)[14] damage.

[Chaltah]

As the rat closed Riizak strikes out at the rat as it closes, its teeth coming nowhere near him, and he calls out to the others "Move swift friends. Strike them down" as he said this, he could almost feel that his words had more power than normal as he looked toward Akdar and Adisse wishing he could give them more aid.

Spoiler: Ooc

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Riizak is using his Marshal's order 'advance' to give his allies an extra 5 or 30 feet of movement that doesn't count toward their move action. (1d20+3)[15] to hit the rat. (1d6+1)[4] if it hits

[Prehysterical]

The first few seconds of the battle go too fast for Bolten to react. Eventually, however, he snaps out of it and moves forward to help Riizak. Bolten swings his trusty hammer at the rat.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Bolten moves to AC6
A: (1d20+2)[8]
D: (1d8+1)[8]
C: (1d20+2)[12]
CD: (2d8+2)[9]

[TheOneHawk]

I shouldn't have been able to cast that. How did I cast that? I... Lady Desna must have smiled upon me this day. Snapping out of his confused train of thought by Adisse skewering the second rat, he bows briefly to the young bard. "Thank you for your assistance, Adisse. Your skill with the blade is evident, and greatly to my benefit today." Turning his attention to his allies, he decides a single rat is unlikely to be a major threat to them and heads towards the bag they had been feeding on to see if anything could be salvaged.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move to AD 3. Also, cast detect magic and try and cover as much of the room as possible with it. I can get there and cast during this combat round due to advance. I should also have one round remaining on my sanctuary.

[ylvathrall]

Adisse easily skewers the rat through the heart and it drops to the ground, instantly dead. The other rat is proving more difficult, though; it slips aside from Bolten's hammer, and Riizak's sword glances uselessly off its hide. It then continues to thrash and flail, biting and swatting.

Spoiler: OOC

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Bite against Riizak: (1d20+1)[10]
Damage: (1d4+1)[3]
Critical confirmation: (1d20+1)[2]
Critical damage: (1d4+1)[3]

Slam against Bolten: (1d20+1)[8]
Damage: (1d3+1)[3]
Critical confirmation: (1d20+1)[17]
Critical damage: (1d3+1)[4]

Spoiler: Akdar

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You don't detect any magical auras in the area. Looking at the bag, it seems like most of the contents have been spoiled or ravaged by the rodents, but you could probably sift out a handful of usable items given a chance.

[Prehysterical]

Luckily, the rat's clumsy striking fails to harm even the unarmored dwarf. Bolten swings again at the mutant.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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A: (1d20+2)[8]
D: (1d8+1)[2]
C: (1d20+2)[8]
CD: (2d8+2)[6]

[Dondasch]

"Thanks!" Adisse replies, before moving on to help the others, spurred by Riizak's words. She attacks this rat as she did the others, seeing no reason to abandon an approach that was bearing such good results.

Spoiler: OOC

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Two Move actions (one from Riizak's Advance) to AC4, flanking with Riizak
Swift action to activate Arcane Strike for +1 damage and overcoming DR/magic
Standard action to attack with her longsword. If (1d20+6)[12] hits, she deals (1d8+7)[13] damage.

[Chaltah]

Riizak manages to keep the rat's bite from striking and smiles as Adisse comes to his aid, providing some flanking for him. He tries to make it work to his advantage and takes another swing at the rat with his sword, not bothering to move himself since he had a strategic position.

Spoiler: Attack

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Riizak will strike at the rat once more
Attack: (1d20+5)[18] for flanking. if it misses I will use a surge to try and and improve my hit
Surge: (1d6)[6]
Damage: (1d6+1)[4]
Crit: (1d20+5)[14]
Damage: (1d6+2)[3]

[TheOneHawk]

Akdar looks up at the continuing fight with concern. "Do you require assistance? I have no additional spells prepared that I feel would be useful here, I apologise."

Spoiler: OOC

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Yeah, I'm basically just skipping turn. Akdar will keep looking through the bag for salvage.

[ylvathrall]

None of your attacks really seem to be doing much to the rat. Riizak manages to connect, but can't seem to cut through its hide. The rat continues to writhe frantically, frothing at the mouth as it bites and swings at you.

Spoiler: OOC

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Bite against Riizak: (1d20+1)[21]
Damage: (1d4+1)[3]
Critical confirmation: (1d20+1)[4]
Critical damage: (1d4+1)[2]

Slam against Adisse: (1d20+1)[15]
Damage: (1d3+1)[2]
Critical confirmation: (1d20+1)[6]
Critical damage: (1d3+1)[2]

Spoiler: Akdar

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I'll go through what you find in the bag after the combat's over, since it would probably take at least a couple of rounds to sort through the contents and find anything useful.

[Chaltah]

The rat somehow managed to get its teeth into him, the kobold wincing in pain as he felt the teeth find purchase. He swings again, to try and cut into its hide again "I think we can handle this Akdar. It's just tougher than i would have imagined a rat to be"

Spoiler: Attack the rat

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Attack: (1d20+3)[7]
Damage: (1d6+1)[4]
Crit: (1d20+3)[9]
Damage: (1d6+1)[5]

[Dondasch]

"Oof!" Adisse exclaims as the rat's oversized paws slams into her. She slashes at it, enchanting her sword once more.

Spoiler: OOC

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Swift action to activate Arcane Strike for +1 damage and overcoming DR/magic
Standard action to attack with her longsword. If (1d20+6)[7] hits, she deals (1d8+7)[10] damage.

[Prehysterical]

Spoiler: OOC

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I'm just going to bite the bullet here.

Seeing that the rat is starting to inflict injuries, Bolten makes the difficult decision to expend one of the spells he had been saving. Bolten reaches for the rat, the familiar feeling of electricity crackling between his fingertips.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Melee Touch Attack: (1d20+1)[7]
(1d6)[1] electric damage

[TheOneHawk]

Ceasing his rummaging in the pack, Akdar looks over at the continuing combat worriedly. "Should we perhaps retreat? Are we overmatched? I do not claim to know much of combat but I do believe we are losing."

Spoiler: OOC

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Yeah, just skipping. Please someone roll something decent.

[ylvathrall]

The party continues to assault the rat, even using magic against it, but their increasingly flustered attacks come nowhere near to actually hurting it. Meanwhile, the rat continues to thrash and bite, not seeming the least bit inclined to retreat.

Spoiler: OOC

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Bite against Bolten: (1d20+1)[6]
Damage: (1d4+1)[4]
Critical confirmation: (1d20+1)[2]
Critical damage: (1d4+1)[4]

Slam against Riizak: (1d20+1)[4]
Damage: (1d3+1)[2]
Critical confirmation: (1d20+1)[19]
Critical damage: (1d3+1)[4]

[Chaltah]

Riizak growls in frustration as this abomination refused to take a hit and swings again, trying to at least cut into this thing and make it bleed.

Spoiler: Attack the rat (take 4)

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Attack (1d20+5)[8]
Damage: (1d6+1)[2]
Crit: (1d20+5)[25]
Damage: (1d6+1)[5]

[Dondasch]

Adisse swings at the damnable rat again, not even bothering with magic this time.

Spoiler: OOC

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Standard action to attack with her longsword. (1d20+6)[17].
I'm considering using Surge or Fleet Charge, so won't roll damage yet; other rolls will be made in the OOC thread.

[ylvathrall]

Adisse's sword finally manages to connect with the rat, splitting its skull wide open. The creature twitches a few times and then dies, collapsing in a pool of foul-smelling blood.

Spoiler: Akdar

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Much of the bag's contents are ravaged and worthless, but you manage to sort out the following usable equipment:
2 masterwork daggers
2 units of trail rations
7 doses of black powder
50 feet of silk rope
3 sapphires
2 stones of an unusual yellow-green color
125 copper pieces
65 silver pieces
50 gold pieces

[Halae]

"Truly, masters of combat, every one of you," Wisteria says wryly. It's clear why she didn't take part - her hand is still held in the same spellform as before, so she's maintaining it, "What's in the bag?"

[Chaltah]

Riizak was ever so glad that mess was over and vowed to improve his skills with the weapon in hand. He couldn't risk not being able even to strike down the most simple of creatures like this. Gazing from the dead rat to Adisse he he gives her a toothy smile and nods "Thanks. This rats hide was tougher than I expected" at Wisteria's comment the kobold just sighs and walks over to Akdar to see what he managed to rifle from the pack. He didn't see much there that would be useful to him but it was a lot of items they could use along the way. "Did you see anything worth while on the other side of the wall?" Riizak asks as he points toward the kitchen area.