Beyond Myria (Iron Heroes) IC

[Gygaxphobia]

The eyes of the scaled beast remain hard and locked onto Noj, the shield moves slightly, flowing with the feint but not too far away from the centre-line.

Noj's boot rolls off the edge of the shield as the creature pivots slightly and batters at his sword with a powerful parry. The axe bounces off the light-weight sword and slashes backhanded, cutting into Noj's shoulder and slicing a thin wound across the aide of his neck and cheek as he spins away.

As the two eye each other, trying to second guess their very different opponent, the glint of bronze swings into view with Vesha's cry. The armoured creature parries with both axe and shield, making sure to deflect the heavy blow, and then sinks backwards into a defensive crouch, ready for further attacks. Noj looks on, ready and waiting for an opening that doesn't seem to be there just now.

Another high flight of arrows strike the lead archer on the far side. Ingvar and Jyn hit the creature consecutively high in the chest, knocking it backwards and down.
Mynas shot punches into her mark again, making it grunt but the arrows falls away from the fine metal rings, to be lost below the bridge.

The archer behind scurries to pick up the bow, launching a shot at Mynas that goes too high.

*Vesha needs to make a Balance check DC12, due to attacking two abreast on the bridge*

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...avaprison9.jpg

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Noj needs to soak a 4hp wound (axe)
Noj and Vesha currently gain flanking on creature #1

[The Great Skenardo]

Noj Onadare
Noj winces at the axe slice and growls
"Ach, this is no way to have a fight."
With sudden jinking motion, Noj moves left, then right, dodging forward and behind his current opponent. Standing next to the other lizard, Noj crouches down and springs to the side, hoping to check the lizard right off the bridge to the magma below!

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Declare Dodge on Lizard #2, Then move (provoking AoO from #1 and #2 vs AC 27 and 28 (respectively) to V22. Use Bull Rush to try and push #2 one square backwards (off the bridge).
Skill trick: Try to use jump to both gain momentum and reduce the chance of him taking me down with him. Try DC 18 Jump for +2 on the Opposed Strength check.
Jump - (1d20+9)[15]
Opposed Strength - (1d20+3)[5]

Note: if I gain the Dodge token and fail to push him off, burn the Dodge token for +1 AC vs. #2.

[Grymmheart]

Deciding it is worth depleting her store of arrows in defeating the remaining archer, Jyn reaches for another projectile, all the while she continues her encouragement to her companions.

"Forget precision. Hit as hard as you can," she yells as she sets up for her shot. With fury driving her pull, she stretches the bow string to the point of breaking, placing all of her anger into the shot. Her desire is to cause as much damage as possible if the arrow strikes its target. She releases the arrow with prayers to her ancestors that death strikes true.

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hp 42/45
rp 5/45

Believe was HP 45/45, RP 41/45 before day started, to 36 dmg, restored with resere points to drop RP to 5. Took 3dmg from 1st hit, none from second.

uses 1 beast token, down to 3. move action to gain more tokens, just in case.
beast lore - (1d20+4)[12] divide by 5

Uses attack challenge for added damage. Taking Moderate (-4) attack penalty for added damage (+3).
att - (1d20+5)[17]
crit - (1d20+5)[6]
dmg - (1d8+4)[8]

Edit arrows 3 left

[Ozzy_G]

Vesha seems to have already taken Jyn's advice to heart, as he tries to smash down the creature with sheer brute force... and kind of totters on the edge.

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balance - (d20)[15]
Spending a move action to gain 2 tokens.
attack - (d20+5)[14]
Spending 2 tokens for +2 strength and con for 4 rounds.
damage - (2d6+14)[24]

[Helfdan]

Ingvar the Wolf

Ingvar sees how perilous the bridge has become for the shaman and the Avalanche man. The odds must be shifted. He carefully sights along his arrow, and lets fly at one of the creatures' trident haft, as the reptilian attempts to block Vesha's mighty cudgel.

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OK... stunt time :)

Will attempt to Inflict penalty (-2 to defense) on Vesha's foe.
I believe the mechanic is to compare base attack checks... here we go
(1d20+9)[27]

Move action to get a token-- up to 5
HP: 12/41
RP: 28/41
Arrows: 4

[Kain_Tempest]

Thyr listens to Jyn's warning and knocks another arrow, taking careful aim at the soft spots of the lizard's head and losing focus on the rest of the battle. before leading the missile launch.

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((Thyr takes a -4 Attack penalty in order to gain +3 damage to her attack on lizard 2. She also takes a -4 defense penalty so that she may benefit from a +4 damage bonus next round.))
Attack - (1d20+3)[18]
Critical - (1d20+3)[4]
Damage - (1d6+4)[7]

HP: 37
Reserver: 30
Arrows: 5 or 14

[Gygaxphobia]

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Opposed Strength vs Noj (1d20+2)[21]
Opposed Attack vs Ingvar (1d20+6)[19]

[Gygaxphobia]

Noj raises his blade high and as the scaled beast sees the opening and swipes low at his legs, Noj vaults over the weapon, crouching and springing into the next lizard.
Mynas' arrow flies past, and shatters on the chest of the rearmost warrior (#2). At one with the chaos of battle, Mynas' has her next arrow up fast and ready to go.

It gasps in pain and raises it's shield in time to meet Noj's shoulder thrusting him back and hacking at him viciously. The wound scores down Noj's shoulder, opening his leather tunic down the sleeve to the elbow and it starts to pour. Strangely the first sensation is the sudden heat of the fire on the newly exposed skin.
After the swipe, the lizard (#2) limps backwards briskly, bleeding profusely from several arrow wounds.

Again with his back to the foe, Noj is heedless as Vesha bellows and swings at the lizards face (#1), facing it chest to chest in a wide stance to keep his balance. As yet unwounded the creature weaves about, ducking back, when suddenly the shaft from Ingvar catches the bottom of it's shield, threatening to spin it out of it's hand.

Staggering to recover it's grip, the armoured fiend is off balance as Vesha's blow comes from way up high. The gleaming brick of metal smashes into the top of it's head, piledriving it's skull through it's shoulders and downwards. It's ribs crack on it's hips and it's legs collapse under the force.

Jyn's arrow is on course, but misjudging the distance it falls short of the last, unwounded archer.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...vaprison10.jpg

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Mynas gains 3 weapon tokens for her successive hits, and can use them with the bow. The power of the emotion held at bay inside her lends her a focus she's felt very rarely.

Noj sponges up a 6hp axe wound, soaked to 5hp.

Vesha takes lizard #1 from unwounded 23hp to -1hp in one blow, we'll ignore DR and call it death by massive damage. One Ferocious Cookie is in the mail. (Which only hit because of Ingvar, so you might want to let him have a nibble - if Bears share.)

Jyn just missed because of the range increment. I'm assuming you're firing at number 6 as you were after the archers, please use creature numbers!

[Grymmheart]

Jyn moves in frustration. Notching an arrow for future use, she quickly moves into postition near Mynas.

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decided on not speaking beast lore bonus this round for flavor, (Jyn tired of talking), and moving to Q-22 just past Mynas, although I expect she is gone by the time Jyn gets there

[Ozzy_G]

As the lizard is smashed into the ground, Vesha looks around, spittle frothing from his mouth, for another enemy. But Noj is in the way, so he steps around his ally and runs right up next to the Lizardman, skidding and raising his maul for a blow.

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Since I can't change, I can't attack this turn as the creature's slightly too far, so Vesha is just hustling to AB 22.

[The Great Skenardo]

Noj Onadare
Bleeding heavily, Noj spits his frustration at the lizardman in front of himself, but his expression changes when he hears Vesha's roar. With the lightning-quick movements of a man who knows the sound of an oncoming avalanche, Noj bursts ahead quickly, putting the lizard between himself and the mad fury that is the berserker, actually managing to outpace the stocky blue-skinned man.

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Noj knows better than to be in the way: double-move to just behind the lizard-man. Provokes AoO vs AC as before, but Noj should be there before Vesha gets there: you might get to charge yet!

[Helfdan]

Ingvar the Wolf

Ingvar grins fiercely as Vesha smashes down his foe. He fixes his sights on the distant archer, as he readies another arrow.

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Standard action to Assess creature #6: +2 to defense vs him, +2 to hit him
Move action to get a token-- up to 4
HP: 12/41
RP: 28/41
Arrows: 4

[Kain_Tempest]

Thyr's arms trembled from the strain of pulling the bowstring back as hard as she could and aiming to the far distant archer. She steadily paced foward, getting a better line on her target. She began to recall Vorryn's tutelage in the art of a single deadly blow with an arrow. A night watchmen could be silenced with a single strike to the face or eye, but only if there was enough force. She grit her teeth as she pulled the bow back further and then planted her feet. At the last moment she shifted it towards the last remaining melee fighter and fired, lancing the shot at it's throat.

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((They moves to S22 and targets #2. Her defense challenge activates and she gains a +4 damage bonus. She burns 1 weapon token in order to use Expert Strike on #2, improving her attack by +1. Furthermore, she is prepared to burn 2 weapon tokens should her damage total be less than 8 damage. She will continue to maintain the -4 defense penalty for a +4 damage bonus the following round.))
Attack - (1d20+8)[14]
Critical - (1d20+8)[15]
Damage - (1d6+5)[6] or 8 (-2 weapon tokens)
Arrows: 13

[Gygaxphobia]

Opposed Strength, Vesha - (1d20+4)[12]
Opposed Strength, Lizard#2 - (1d20+2)[21]

[Gygaxphobia]

The retreating lizard moves warily as Noj sprints towards it, careful to watch for a tricksy move. Thyr's bow swings around suddenly and it flinches, but the arrow shoots past straight and at high speed to smash on the wall over the far side of the cavern.
Noj double-steps and veers to one side but the blow never comes and soon the wounded foe is confronted with Vesha's hurtling rampage instead as the shaman rages towards it dragging the bloodied maul behind.

The two collide in a heavy mess of muscles and bone. The crunch of the metal rings as they bunch up against the shield is audible, and suddenly the lizard thrusts forward with it's strong legs, driving Vesha back.

It hacks back at Vesha as he peddles back to regain his balance, then suddenly the forked tongue flicks out -longer than you would have believed- and lashes at the golden sun amulet clutched in the shaman's hand...

AoO - (1d20+6)[19]
Disarm - (1d20+6)[26]

[Gygaxphobia]

damage for Vesha to soak - (1d8+2)[3]

The axe bites hard into Vesha's forearm on the downstroke. He clenches his teeth to pour his hurt back into his foe and drive him down when the long tongue wraps around his other wrist. The sun amulet comes away, held gingerly by the forked red stripe for an instant before it lashes back and the mouth closes around it.
The fiend resumes it's stance and watches for Noj's attack.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...vaprison11.jpg

[The Great Skenardo]

Noj Onadare
Noj grits his teeth, the time for bravado and posturing done. With a brutal movement, he crouches and hooks his sword in front of the lizardman's foot and pulls, muscles heaving as he attempts to throw the creature to the ground!

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Sigh. Let's try that Improved trip idea again.
Touch Attack - (1d20+10)[17]
Opposed Strength - (1d20+2)[18]
if successful,
Attack - (1d20+10)[17]
Damage - (1d6+3)[5]

[Grymmheart]

Jyn cringes as she catches sight of the amulet being pulled from Vesha's cutches. Moving forward, she reassess the situation, trying to determine how best her pair of companions can best defeat the amulet holding beast. Seeing an opening she yells, "Noj, Vesha remember it's subtle movements will belie it's true plans. They move less than it would seem."

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no tokens yet, I guess if my roll fails, we can assume my info is wrong, but no real negative impact in description if feat. Beast lore feat says if my roll fails to gain token I say something that can worsen actions.

move to U21, std act to gain tokens, free action to use token to grant +4 flank, hopefully you rule i can see Noj.

war leader - (1d20+4)[14] greater than 10 equals 1 token, 20 equals 2 tokens

[Kain_Tempest]

"Progenitor!" Thyr snarled, both at the missed shot and the gulping down of the Mark of the Sun. "Hold it down and just gut the thing!" Thyr barked as she moved forward and nocked another arrow. She couldn't dare attack the gluttonous bastard without endangering the pendant, so she turned her attention to the further foe.

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((Move to Y22 and attack #6. Since I didn't get to deal damage last turn, I wasn't able to burn my 2 weapon tokens meant for steady aim. Therefore I'm adding them to this roll instead. Also, as always, taking the -4 defense penalty for another +4 damage bonus next round.))
Attack - (1d20+7)[8]
Critical - (1d20+7)[9]
Damage - (1d6+5)[6] or 8 (-2 tokens)
Arrows: 12

[Ozzy_G]

Vesha doesn't seem to be in any sort of frame of mind to be careful not to risk breaking the amulet inside the lizard's mouth, but just smashes his maul at the creature as hard as he can, screaming like an enraged beast.

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soak - (d4+1)[3]
Take a move action to get 2 tokens.
attack - (d20+5)[24]
Spending 3 tokens to get +3 damage.
damage - (2d6+15)[19]

[Gygaxphobia]

Thyr can't take her eyes from the battle as she aims at the last archer, and her arrow launches upwards, lost in the darkness of the cavern ceiling.
Vesha's maul swings across and up, then the blow comes inevitably down from the side, catching the lizard fiend in it's armoured shoulder and threatening to swat it entirely from the bridge, taking the amulet with it.

As the blow connects, Noj swipes it's legs away and the creature topples forwards onto it's shield to protect it's face. Vesha's maul swings a huge arc with the built up momentum and he finshes the creatures with a downward drive to the back of it's skull. With a loud *CLANG!* the skull is crushed in a syrup of blood and gore which swills around the inside of the metal disk.

[Grymmheart]

Realizing that her advice to her companions came too late, Jyn clamps her mouth shot and moves closer to the remaining lizardman, before taking aim and firing one of her three remaining arrows. Putting as much force behind it as possible, she draws to the extent of her bow and releases, eyeing the flight of the arrow.

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moving to U25 I guess, no map at work to confirm that is free, starting from U21.

att - (1d20+4)[5]
crit - (1d20+4)[10]
dmg - (1d8+3)[4]

taking -4 to hit and +3 dmg

[Helfdan]

Ingvar the Wolf

The rangy huntsman moves up along Mynas. " 'Ware your windage, lass!"

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Move forth
free action to give 2 tokens to Thyr (costs me 4)
standard action to gain 2 tokens

[Kain_Tempest]

Thyr ignored the huntsman vocally, but as she hurried to the next vantage point on the remaining lizard, she adjusted herself to allow for the flow of the air in the cavern. Again, she took careful aim, not expecting a reaction from the lizard, who may be too focused on staying behind cover. How would it react to such an aggressive approach?

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((Move to AE22 and take another shot. Burn the two tokens that Ingvar provided on Expert Strike x2 for +2 Attack. Drop defense by -4 for +4 damage next round. Keep marking the remaining 2 weapon tokens for a Steady Aim bonus. (Granted, I'm actually cheating like a scoundrel over being allowed to keep my tokens, so if GP puts the hammer down, the steady aim will likely be the effect that won't happen).))
Attack - (1d20+9)[17]
Critical - (1d20+9)[28]
Damage - (1d6+5)[8] or 8 (-2 Weapon Tokens)
Arrows: 11

[Ozzy_G]

Vesha howls in triumph, and runs off down the bridge to the other end, looking wildly around for more targets, the amulet seemingly forgotten. When he sees the other lizard, he howls in devilish glee.

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Moving up next to the final lizard.

[Gygaxphobia]

The remaining fiend scurries from it's hiding place, keeping low and retreating back with an arrow clenched in one claw. Finding a place in it's outcropping of rock it nocks the arrow and looses quickly. The shot seems to stray past Noj as the obvious target and thunks instead into Vesha's shoulder.
Some kind of retribution perhaps, the shaft breaks on the solid mountain man but the head and it's subtle oily coating threatens to seep into his blood...

Ingvar's shout is timely as Thyr pauses to get the shot on target. Her shot is neat and true, piercing the creature through it's left forearm.

Noj and Vesha turn from the carnage and ruin of the dead foes left behind them and charge heedlessly towards the archer's vantage point. As Noj sprints in, Jyn checks her shot to avoid hitting him and the arrow veers left to smash on the rock.
The wounded lizard whips a vicious forward curved knife from it's belt and slashes clumsily at Noj, it's wounded left hand now too weak to fight him well.

It occurs in a moments thought that both of the archers were left-handed, an oddity perhaps and nothing more.

The gaping chasm looms close to the right hand side, a whining blustering breeze flows around above it. Although warm air, it is markedly cooler than the heat over the lava lake and threatens to make you dizzy as the exertion makes your blood pound.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...vaprison13.jpg

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Vesha needs to soak a 5hp arrow wound. Fortitude save DC 14 required if he takes any damage.

Although I want to see tokens in action (especially Thyr's since she's been unlucky using them), in this case those tokens shouldn't be transferred between targets. That doesn't actually make a difference this time since the damage doesn't change anyway.

I'll assume that Thyr delays until Ingvar gives her the tokens, again it doesn't make a difference but technically she needs too.
God I hate using rules :D

[Gygaxphobia]

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Frankly we know this fight is over so I'm going to move it on.

Noj flicks his blade and neatly removes a claw from the hand of the lizard and it drops the knife, unable to hold it.
As Vesha rages towards it the lizard scurries backwards but the heavy maul swings past and breaks a knee-cap, bringing it down. Vesha sways drunkenly towards the edge of the chasm as the swing throws him off balance and he lurches forward to regain his footing. Before he can swing again, Noj has skewered the scaled creature up into it's chest and eases it down off his blade with his other hand.

Vesha growls and looks about, taking a step northwards. You gather round and see the corridor retreats into the rock, carved out from stone, the path paved in flagstones. In the distance the darkness has a red glow as something burns in a larger space at the end.

"Stopp sprit snakket. Det vei er forrædersk, ikke en tøddel sti du burde ta lett." The voice of the Guardian rumbles across the lake from behind you.

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Halt spirit talker. That way is treacherous, not a path you should take lightly.

Breathing heavily, you take a minute to recover and take stock. The heat burns in your lungs and the sweat pours from every part of you. Water is an immediate need, but exhaustion threatens to take you as well. The heat, fumes and lack of fresh air as well as the exertion of the fight has taken it's toll.
You need to cool down, rest and drink soon.

The bridge is littered with corpses. You all have some cuts and bruises you need to consider. The Mark of the Sun is somewhere within the body of a dead lizard. And one of you is travelling lighter than you have ever travelled before, despite the weight of a stone in your heart.

[Ozzy_G]

Vesha at last calms down, huffing and puffing, and leaning on his maul. Someone... needs... to get... the amulet...
He turns to the great fire spirit, and bows.
Vil du vite hvor å restaurere solen , stor sprit? he shouts over the lake of fire.

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Do you know how to restore the sun, great spirit?

[Gygaxphobia]

The Guardian turns his head only as he regards Vesha. His body faces square-on towards the cave still and from this angle you can only see his chest and head.

Crossing his arms the crimson bearded giant frowns and snorts a great gush of orange and blue flame through his nostrils.

"Deler Kess kan ikke svaret din spørsmål og ingen av to kanne Jeg. Nettopp idet ettall pakt avtaler å vokte det hekserier , en annen sel det rite hvis du snakke. Vendigo er sluheten , ikke bare er deres rites kraftfull og innviklet bortsett fra de likeledes sel leppene av dem det knipe seg."

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"Sharik Kess cannot answer your questions and neither can I. Just as one pact agrees to guard the sorceror, another seals the rite of which you speak. Vendigo are cunning, not only are their rites powerful and complex but they also seal the lips of those that bind them."

The Guardian looks down and frowns some more. Something below appears to have disturbed it. It turns slightly and bends at the waist, reaching out of your sight below the bridge.
When it straightens once more, it's huge hand reaches up to the bridge near where it stands by the cave. The massive red fingers open and drop two shiny objects on the stone with a heavy *THUNK-CLANKLE*.
The metal is just darker than silver and it gleams bright like the moon reflected in water. Shaped like fangs of a huge beast the two ingots are smooth and pure, any blemish or cankle removed by the purifying fire.

Ho-ooot! whispers Failune Very hot.

[Grymmheart]

Jyn lets exhaustion wash over her as the last lizardman falls to her companion's blows. Moving like a frozen corpse, she moves to the fallen body of the nearest beast. Examining the creature closely, she tries to catalog all of the findings she perceives.

Eyeing the guardian as it speaks to the group and answers Vesha, she says "I agree we should not proceed too quickly. Our wounds are too severe and our resources low. Whether we rush in now to face potential foes before they set up a resistance, or take our time to heal, probably makes little difference. But time will give us a chance for information. Maybe we can speak with Raenis further to gleem more advice and allow me to absorb more history. But first let's scavage some gear, and I believe that battleaxe looked more useful than my simple spike ball weapon."

Jyn continues her search of the bodies and even goes as far as to strip the creatures of the armor. Marveling at the craftsmanship, she sizes up the mail to her own proportions and wonders what modifications may be needed to allow her to wear it.

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Trying to see if any gear can be worn by the group. I believe you mentioned ringmail, which would suit a man-at-arms nicely and battleaxes. I could edit more into this post if want, but plan on healing others (no handbook at work to check on binding wounds rules to restore immediate hitpoints), and also need to try and secure arrow/arrowheads.