The Fall of Magic (IC)

[Overlord Rion]

Zircon's Axe hits a weak point in the Ant's defenses, but the tenacious creature stays up. It attempts to give him a taste of his own medicine and succeeds. The Ants on Adn's case both move closer and attack. Their tried and true tactic of making him dodge into the other's attack continues to work. Jorm charges the ant keeping Padma down, using his scythe to actually pry off the mandibles, breaking them in the process.

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Zircon takes 4 damage and is going to need a grapple check against a DC 20. Adn also takes 4 damage and needs a grapple check against a DC 16.

Initiative

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Jorm
Aisling---Up now
Padma
Adn Bear
Garel
Zircon
Worker Ants 3
Worker Ants 5-6
Woman's Ant Mount

Map

[Strawberries]

Aisling keeps singing, despiting feeling an urge to curse when her bolt flies wide, not hitting the ant-riding woman. Well, at least she is taken out of commission a few seconds later Could have been worse, really. She points her crossbow to the ant that's nearest to her - the one that has been attacking the orc - and shots again.

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Shooting in H3 (at Ant 3)
attack - (1d20+7)[14] (+1 bard, +2 base, +2 dex +2 flanking)
attack - (1d8+1)[5] (+1 bard)

[RCgothic]

Padma
My moment of triumph from having neatly bisected the leader is short lived, as one of the ants manages to score a huge gash on one of the few bits of me left unprotected. It manages to grab my sword arm in its pincers, and I'm just about to punch it in its ugly monstrous face when Jorm strikes it off me. Again with the helping...

"Thanks, but I didn't need help." I can't help sounding petulant, though I didn't mean to offend; just frustrated that the ant got through my guard!

I kick the ant corpse off me, searching for new targets... Springing back into action I recover my focus and launch myself back into the thick of things!

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Move to K8 via L5. (2 AoO from ant mount. AC 23,12,22
Swift action to recover Steel Wind.

Steel Wind Manoeuvre:

Attack1 vs Ant5 (1d20+9)[26]
Critical Confirm (1D20+12)[18]
Damage roll(1d8+4)[11]

Attack2 vs Ant6 (1d20+9)[15]
Critical Confirm (1D20+12)[21]
Damage roll(1d8+4)[9]

[3drinks]

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Opposed grapple check vs DC 20

(1d20+9)[20] (5 Str, 3 BAB, 1 Music)

[Overlord Rion]

Aisling's arrow harmlessly deflects off of the ant's armor. Both Zircon and Adn manage to shrug off the ant's mandibles. Adn attempts to counterattack, and hits home, with the ant's head taking a distinct CRUNCH as it actually goes through the ant's head.

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Going to assume Ant 6 BTW. Since you...uh...rolled a crit there buddy.

Initiative

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Jorm
Aisling
Padma
Adn Bear
Garel---Up now
Zircon
Worker Ants 3
Worker Ants 5
Woman's Ant Mount

Map

[Keegan__D]

Ants are dropping like flies, and the battle nears an end already. Are the others okay?, he asks Jorm, as he moves around the battlefield, slicing up the foes.

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Attacking Ant 3

Warpike
Attack: (1d20+10)[25]
Damage: (3d6+10)[24]
Crit Confirm (20): (1d20+10)[24]

Taking a 5ft step to G7 if Ant 3 is still up, to make the gore attack. If Ant 3 is downed by the warpike, I'll move to J6, obviously avoiding the AoO.

Horns
Attack: (1d20+9)[28]
Damage: (1d8+7)[14]
Crit Confirm (20): (1d20+9)[17]

[3drinks]

"Pfft. Damn pests. Make a mockery of me and my mighty axe, I'll teach them!"

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If Garel doesn't kill the ant in front of me at H6, I'll use the full attack action to finish him off, then make a five-foot adjustment to I7. If he does drop it, then I'll make the five-foot adjustment to I7, and use the full attack action on the guy on J7.

Primary Hand: (1d20+9)[16] (+3 BAB, +5 Str, +1 Music)
Off-Hand: (1d20+9)[22] (+3 BAB, +5 Str, +1 Music)

If I hit...

Primary Hand: (1d8+6)[13] (+5 Str, +1 Music)
Off-Hand: (1d8+3)[11] (+2 Str, +1 Music)

[Overlord Rion]

In a flurry of blows the two ants drop from the onslaught. The woman's Ant mount attempts to grab at Padma again, only to miss again, heedless of its imminent death.

Initiative

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Jorm (Held)
Aisling---Up now
Padma
Adn Bear
Garel
Zircon
Woman's Ant Mount

Map

[Strawberries]

That went... well, really. Who'd have thought? Aisling thinks to herself. It seems the threat is almost over. With that in mind, she shoots again, at the last standing ant.

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attack - (1d20+5)[16] (+1 bard, +2 base, +2 dex)
damage - (1d8+1)[5] (+1 bard)

[RCgothic]

Padma

At the same moment Aisling fires at the last remaining ant, I plunge my sword straight towards what I judge to be its heart!

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Emerald Razor Manoeuvre:
Attack vs touch AC: (1d20+9)[23]
Confirm Critical: (1d20+11)[16]
Damage: (1d8+4)[7]

[Wyntonian]

"See, now that's what happens if you won't be all peaceable-like with a gentleman of orcish blood with a giant club such as meself. Didn' I warn you? I think I warned you." Adn speaks to the ant's corpse as he tugs the club out of its skull. He then turns and leaps on top of a fallen ant's corpse and strikes at the woman who appears to command them.

Actions and Rolls

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Move to K5, standing on the corpse of the dead ant. Standard to attack the woman on the ant.

Attack: (1d20+7)[25]
Damage: (3d8+6)[17]

[Keegan__D]

Garel moves calmly over to the last standing ant, reaching over Bear, and takes his turn attempting to slay the stubborn creature.

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Move to K6
Warpike
Attack: (1d20+10)[27]
Damage: (3d6+11)[25]
Crit Confirm (20): (1d20+10)[18]

He turns to Jorm, a concerned look upon his face, Are the others okay? he asks again.

[Overlord Rion]

The combined fury of the team causes the ant to fall with the force of a freight train. By the looks of it, the rest of the attack on the town is finally receding. No one managed to retreat, they just all died. The question directed at Jorm is instead answered by Almaz, who looks...visibly more vigorous.

"That was nothing! About a decade ago this town was besieged by redcaps. I showed them what for, of course, but in any case, we'll take care of the cleanup. All of you need to go. Quickly. They know you're here."

[Keegan__D]

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Assuming we're out of initiative, then

Garel walks over to the tiny sage, and lowers himself as best he can to meet his eyes. What is the lead at Naldaer? Who sent these beasts? What is the 'Mirror Pathway'? How do you know so much? There are many things left without answers. You must tell us all you know of the subject, so that we can put an end to this plight. The questions poured out if him as quickly as the developing situation.

[Overlord Rion]

Almaz sighs, and motions for the others to start the cleanup. "Look, the truth is what we have told you is basically all we have. It's augmented a little by small visions I get. Small flashes, nothing more. If we find anything else out, we'll let you know." Jorm passes by Padma, and hands her a small stone.

"You'll need this. Trust me."

[RCgothic]

Padma

I take the stone with a nod, stowing it in one of my bags.

[Keegan__D]

Very well, then. Garel rises to his feet, and looks out in a random direction, for dramatic effect. Where must we go?

[Overlord Rion]

Garel feels a poke, right around his knee. "Uhm, that's west, north is that way." Almaz couldn't help but snicker slightly, as the moment was too perfect.

"Well, get going. Go go go go!"

[Keegan__D]

Garel went to grab his few belongings. Though he was glad to be getting back on the road, not knowing much more about the quest bothered him. Once he finished, he returned to talk with Almaz. What are we to do once we arrive?