The World of Athema (IC)

[Proven_Paradox]

((Sage will prefer to stay near the middle of the group, regardless of what formation is chosen. He will defer further decisions on such matters to the more martially oriented characters in the group.

Rolls:

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Spot, Listen x2: (1d20+1=4, 1d20+3=8, 1d20+1=18, 1d20+3=20)STILL can't see s**t, Captain!

[Threeshades]

((Kilbain always walks in front (this means in front of the main group he sure doesnt want to stand in the tracker/scout's way), as he likes to be the first one to fight the hordes))

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Listen 1. (1d20+8)[25], 2. (1d20+8)[17]
Spot 1. (1d20+2)[18], 2. (1d20+2)[10]

[fendrin]

Hekesh

Hekesh takes up position 15' back and 5' to the left of Bresk.

OOC:
Guessing at Sage's & Kilbain's positions...

.B..
..K.
.S.M
H...

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spot1 - (1d20+0)[9]
spot2 - (1d20+0)[14]
listen1 - (1d20+0)[7]
listen2 - (1d20+0)[3]

[Zimmia]

Paggan can take rear guard

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Spot1: (1d20+3)[17]
Spot1: (1d20+3)[12]
Listen1: (1d20+3)[14]
Listen2: (1d20+3)[10]

[Sxoa]

(Something like this I think...)


If that's too cozy for people then spread out/back a square. Miyuki will remain where she is in regards to Bresk.

[dyslexicfaser]

I reckon Edgar will mirror Miyuki's position on the left side.

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spot1: (1d20+4)[12](16)
spot2: (1d20+4)[9](13)
listen1: (1d20+4)[15](19)
listen2: (1d20+4)[14](18)

[Sxoa]

[TheMeanDM]

Bresk follows the tracks for quite a ways, the group following behind him--picking their way through the forest.

Soon, after what feels like ages, Bresk stops a moment as he spies a clearing in the forest. The edge of the clearing is about twenty feet from where Bresk stands.

(rolling for Bresk)
spot/listen 1
1d20+1=6, 1d20+1=16

spot/listen 2
1d20+1=19, 1d20+1=19

Sage, Kilbain, and Edgar all hear something moving around quite loudly, shuffling through the clearing it would seem. Miyuki then sees something through the trees, just as Bresk holds up a hand to stop.

Once everyone stops, they get a better view. Through the trees you see a very large brown-furred form moving through the clearing, it's back is to the group. It moves slowly, deliberately. Then it pauses a moment. You don't see any movement, and the creature does not turn around.


*****
"Don't make a sound." a voice whispers low, but loud enough for everyone can hear.

A man seems to suddenly "appear" from the tree Hekesh was standing next to. He is literally wearing leaves, branches, and moss as his clothing.

His arm moves upward, and you see that he wears a bladed gauntlet, covered with a darkening material. The blades are about half as long as a man's forearm. Slowly and quietly his hand pulls back a leaf-covered hood to reveal his face.

The skin of his face is...painted...with some kind of substance. The paint is patterned with green, brown, and black 'paint'.




"You are lucky it's upwind." he says ominously.

[Threeshades]

"What be upwind?" Kilbain asks without his voice lowered a bit and lifts his axes in anticipation.

[TheMeanDM]

"It's an owlbear." he says plainly. Which means that you haven't come for it, you've come for me."

He shrugs. "You'll have to get in line and wait your turn. He came after me first." he says, chuckling lowly and pointing his clawed hand at the bear.

"We've been hunting each other all morning."

[fendrin]

Hekesh

"Yes, Mr. Redfern," Hekesh whispers back. "we are here for you, but I think that it would be in everyone's best interest if we take this beast down and bring it in with us as well."

He quickly examines the clearing, trying to come up with an effective plan against the owlbear.

"Sage, do you have any magic that would distract it? An illusion of prey would be ideal. Alternately, Paggan or Bresk probably have the best chance of surviving an attack by it... The rest of you should spread out, and when it goes after the distraction, try to surround it."

[Proven_Paradox]

As the ranger appears, Sage litterally jumps, clapping his hands over his mouth and making a sound something like, "MMMMMMMhmhmhmHMMMPH!", doing his best to muffle his cry with his hands. As Kilbain speak, it sounds almost like shouting to the gnome, provoking another noise from Sage ("HRrrrrmmmm!"), and finally, at the word 'owlbear,' he whipmers a bit ("Mmmmmmmph!")

Taking a moment to allow his nerves to calm, he responds to Hekesh, saying, "I-i-illusions aren't my usual spell selection. I have s-something to blind him, though, or root him in place, if that'd be better..." His attention is divided between the owlbear and the ranger, still obviously nervous.

[Sxoa]

Miyuki whispers "I strike much harder if I can catch the beast flat footed. Strike first, strike last as the scorpion. Mr. Redfern, if this beast impedes our discussion by right of first claim then I am afraid me must relieve him of this burden...". She loosens her katana its sheath feels the arcane energy course through her.

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Initiative: (1d20+6)[16]
If we do have action points then (1d6)[3], if not, well no harm done

[Zimmia]

Paggan has a moment of trouble tearing her eyes from the owlbear and back to the task at hand. "I could charge it... get its attention so that you can catch it unawares Miyuki. Is there any other way to evade it?"

[Sxoa]

It appears that avoiding it is not an option as it has claimed "dibs" on Mr. Redfern's attention.

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Alas I need it to be flatfooted specifically, not just distracted. Though after round 1, flanking will be of use too

[Threeshades]

"All I need that thing ta do is get inta tha range of me axes!", Kilbain looks at Miyuki: "If'n ye want ta catch it by surprise, go an' sneak up ta it, lass. Once ye made yer attack I will charge an' take on its flank. How's that sound?"

[TheMeanDM]

"Whatever you have planned, I suggest you do it soon." the camoflauged man says, tilting his head up toward the sky. "The wind is starting to shift. We don't have much time before it will pick up our scent."

He points to the right side of the clearing. "I will be attacking it from there. You do what you like." he says, then puts his hood down. He moves slowly and quietly off into the forest, disappearing into the foliage.

[Threeshades]

"I agree, I will charge it soon too. So do what ye must now or ne'er, lass."

[Proven_Paradox]

"A-allow me to blind it first and I think you'll have no trouble doing whatever it is you plan to do. I shall cast that spell as you move..." Sage says nervously and quietly.

He will do his best to coordinate his Glitterdust spell with the others' charges, centering the effect so that it completely covers the owlbear, but leaves space so that allies can reach the beast without falling victim to the spell's effects themselves. Will save DC 16 or the beast is blinded, and regardless it takes a -40 to hide checks. ((And also looks fabulous!))

Initiative: (1d20+1=11)

[dyslexicfaser]

Edgar

Edgar frowned. "Our task is Redfern, not hunting owlbears, but I suppose it would be a good deed to rid the area of this beast, if it is what killed those men. I will follow Redfern's lead. Good luck." Without another word, Edgar stalks after the green-painted man.

Initiative: (1d20+5)[10](15)

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Hide and Move Silently, in case I need it to follow Redfern:
Hide: (1d20+5)[3](8)
MS: (1d20+5)[18](23)

[Sxoa]

"I am alas not well trained in matters of stealth," Miyuki says as she gets a far off wistful look in her eye for just a moment. "I am however trained in the matters of speed and sword." With that Miyuki bolts across the clearing with inhuman speed, drawing her blade and slicing at the beast in one smooth motion.

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well lets hope my big talk doesn't fall flat in the face of dice rolls
swift action to use expeditious retreat arcane stunt
tumble checks in case they're needed: (1d20+8)[11]
jump checks in case I need to clear any brush or what have you (modified by the spell): (1d20+20)[21]
iaijutsu for if I hit: (1d20+9)[21]
attack roll (+2 from charge): (1d20+9)[29]

I'd grumble about the pile of ones in my damage, but I hit well enough so no problem
18 damage presuming no DR or the like.

[Zimmia]

It appears the time for talk is over," Paggan says as Miyuki slips off and she draws her scimitar and charges the owlbear.

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Initiative roll: (1d20+1)[10]
Attack: (1d20+6)[20]
Damage: [roll]1d6+[/roll]
edit: rolled a 6 in the OOCthread

[TheMeanDM]

{table=header]PC/NPC/Monster | Initiative
Silas Redfern | 20
Miyuki | 16
Edgar | 15
Owlbear & Hekesh | 12
Sage | 11
Paggan | 10
[/table]


Still need:
Kilbain
Bresk
Hekesh

[fendrin]

Hekesh

"I wish I had more time to prepare, but that's gone out the window."

Hekesh concentrates on his training, and reaches into the pouch hanging at his side. Gripping a wooden disk painted with red and white on one side, he speaks in a monotone about a third of an octave below his normal voice.
_{"Ichi Ni San Chi!"}

Shifting his guisarme into a battle-grip, he strides confidently into the clearing.

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initiative - (1d20+2)[12]
Cast True Strike
Move to a point 30' from the owlbear.

[Proven_Paradox]

Sage bites his bottom lip as the others move forward, and begins waving his hand through the air, chanting "Ortano! For'diguma!" in a voice slightly deeper than he normally speaks with. He ends by pointing a finger at the owlbear, mentally guiding the energies so that he does not cause his allies to be in the cloud.

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Same action as I mentioned last post.

[dyslexicfaser]

Edgar

Edgar swiftly approaches with Redfern on silent feet, fist raised to punch that owlbear in the head.

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Attack roll: (1d20+3)[8](11)
Damage: (1d6+2)[2](4)

[Threeshades]

With a grin Kilbain raises his axes: "Arright then!"
With a thundering battle cry he charges onto the owlbear and lets his right hand axe fall.

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I make a charge
Initiative: (1d20+3)[7]

Attack: (1d20+8)[22]
Damage: (1d10+5)[7]

[Seribro]

((OOC: Crap! I'm away for just a few days and you guys walk into both mister steelclaw and an owlbear at once?! Great, here comes my initiative(1d20+3)[7]))

A slightly nervous grin appears on Bresk's lips as he watches the powerfull lumbering beast. A strong talisman it would be if he could get a claw from such a formident opponent. As the group prepares, Bresk carefully takes out his bow and spans the string. From the quiver he retrieves three arrows, placing two between his teeth and one on the string. His head tilts sideways, looking for Redfern and Hekesh, waiting for the sign to attack.

But just as he looks aside, the whole damn party rushes by and charges head first past him towards the beast as if it was nothing more then a fat pig. Completely bluffed and astunned, he watches the horde's charge for a couple of secconds before he finally snaps out of it and pulls the string back out of all his might. The arrow whistles through the air, aimed a bit higher to avoid hitting his allies in the back, and missess the creature by at least five feet. Bresk barks out a curse or two and grabs another arrow from between his teeth.

[fendrin]

OOC:
2 questions.
1) Are people delaying until after Sage's spell?
2) Are we getting a surprise round? If so, I need to edit my post.

[TheMeanDM]

Yes, this is the surprise round.