jakarta
OCC Tread: https://forums.giantitp.com/showthre...rk-Release-OOC 
“Stay inside the stones. Do not try to leave. You will be destroyed if you try to leave.”

The momentary blinding light when the bag is pulled off your head clears to reveal no captors to fight, no cell, no cage, no roof…not even a bag. Even the shackles and other binding are gone.

The others around you at at-least 3 times “arms-length” certainly aren’t Institute staff or guards. You recognize some of them from glimpses between cell doors or passing in the halls. A rather motley crew of various skin tones and heights.

You are in a amphitheater of stone blocks, the highest of which form a semicircular wall. The other side is …. Open?  A short beach and a bay of a still lake. The horizon of the grey sky meets the water in the distance.  They sky above you is likewise grey, but seemingly daylight.

There is a “ring” of 2 ft dark grey boulders. On the open side of the amphitheater they stop about a yard from the water. On the closed side they sit on the stair step seats leaving about 3 rows open.

There are laughs and giggles from a few of those around you. One short guy vanishes, though his giggles move toward the water.


 https://images.halloweencostumes.co....pire-cloak.jpg 
 

One overdressed pale man rises into the air with a crackle. He gets about 45 ft into the air before crossing the stones…. A circle of sky flicks to blue right above him, and a shaft of light catches him like a searchlight. He gasps as he catches fire. His neck starts to flash and goes “beeb BeeP BEEEEEEP!” and silently detonates into a flash of light. The flaming dust that remains has just enough time to start reaching the floor when another “Beeb Beep BEEEEEP! “…. The accompanying detonation isn’t as silent, and the parts of you and the others facing the water are suddenly coated by a warm, red spray. Where the invisible giggler apparently crossed the stones near the water is marked by a red sunburst of gore. You find yourself picking a mix of invisible skin fragments and visible, bloody organ parts off yourself.

You notice your orange prison jumpsuit and the collar around your neck.

“Get the idea?” says the  Authoritative
 disembodied voice who had  previously suggested staying inside the stones.
Paddywagon Man
The enormous goblin doesn't respond, but an unnervingly long, almost elastic tongue slithers out to lap up some of the gore.
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Paddywagon Man 
 The enormous goblin doesn't respond, but an unnervingly long, almost elastic tongue slithers out to lap up some of the gore. 
 

@paddy: Weirdly, the invisible parts are tasteless.
Esprit15
   Great,    Mentha thinks to herself.   Alright, escaping here is going to need a little more planning. And maybe some ”study.” Surely there was a way to remove these collars…   A look of disgust crosses her face at the dead bodies - well, the  remnants  that could no longer be used as dead bodies.   Such a  waste  of a good corpse.  

Her expression changes to one of forced subservience.  “Uh huh, I think we understand.”  She looks around at the eclectic collection of criminals around the room.  “So what do you want from us. Where do we sit and what do we do,  Captor? ” 
jakarta
"You can sit in the first row without losing your heads." replies the voice.

It is feminine. Someone used to being obeyed.
Palanan
Tess tensed as the shroud was pulled from her head, —held herself still, pale copper eyes narrowed slightly at the sudden light, breathing in the scent of humid lakeside air, cold stone, and an unfortunate whiff of the massive green  thing  nearby.

She kept herself still as the voice spoke—one of the overseers?  It sounded different—and fought against flinching when two of the others were ripped apart as they tried to escape.

It was a nightmare, this one under the open sky; another nightmare from the cruel manipulators who delighted in their trade.

 Lady in Shadow sustain me , she thought urgently, and waited to see what further cruelties were forthcoming—what sadistic games they might be set to in this arena, what inhuman methods of execution they might receive as their final punishment.

 Sustain me , she thought again; and waited silently, motionless, playing their murderous game and vividly awake to any scent or sound that hinted at escape.


 
 Spoiler 
Perception
 (1d20+14)[ 16 ] 
 
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 16 (16 T/10 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 57/57 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +6 
 Conditions: without equipment  
 
  
Lewis slowly opens his eyes and kneads his shoulders. He doesn't move any more than necessary, nor does he take any steps. His thoughts are muddled, but it's enough to keep himself under control. The absence of the familiar blade feels almost like a wound, but for now the tiefling forbids himself to think about it - the main thing now is to survive.

When the woman's commanding voice sounds again, the man listens, trying to determine direction. But the bodies of the two fugitives, crushed in the dust, are sobering enough to warn him against rash action. Lewis waits.

 (1d20+14)[ 23 ]  - trying to determine, where's the speaking woman.
Esprit15
  Oh how generous…   Mentha makes her way to the seat that was offered by the feminine voice.  “Anything else that will get us dusted? Casting, rude words, fighting, the like?” 
jakarta
Lewis:  
 Spoiler: check result  
 It's like she isn't here. Like the voice is magically projected.
 


"Just use common sense. Don't probe for boundaries that are lethal."
Esprit15
Mentha shrugs. The tattoo along her arm glows as she mumbles a spell. Nothing appears to visually change about the woman.
 
 Spoiler 
Casting False Life:  (1d10+9)[ 15 ] 
 
jakarta
"You should save your spells until you know your assignment time table." admonishes your invisible new boss.
Esprit15
Mentha looks pointedly over at the oversized goblin who licked up viscera from a fellow prisoner, and then back in the general direction of the voice.  ”I know exactly what I did, how long it lasts, and why I cast it.

“But speaking of needing spells later… what  assignment  are you referring to? I thought my assignment was go to a cell until they burn me at the stake.”  Her eyes seem to shimmer and even more powerfully bright green than before.
Palanan
Tess barely glances at the impossibly long tongue drawing reddish smears into the lopsided maw.  She’s seen worse at her time in Gravesend; she won’t let herself be distracted now.

As for the puckish, defiant gnome—  Mouthy thing , Tess thinks, but remains silent and still.  For her part she won’t speak up; but the mouthy gnome is useful in her own way, testing a different set of boundaries.

And it seems those boundaries allow for a certain leeway in terms of speech, at least—suggesting that this new female overseer has a strong enough need for Tess and her companions that she’s willing to overlook verbal challenges.

A need… outside , by the look of it: a need that involves talents and arts, brute force and subtle magic, employed by those who are already lost to the world, easy to use and easy to dispose of.

Tess has no intention of being either; but the semblance of cooperation is something she has learned well in recent years.  She will listen, she will play whatever game is in store; but already a plan to win her freedom is tickling through her mind.
jakarta
"If you'd rather complete your  current[  assignment, after this briefing you can return to your cell and you'll be taken to your  stake  at noon.

I'm Waller. I run an exchange program. Your institution is loaning you to me in exchange for resources and services that I can provide. I'm offering to house, execute, or otherwise dispose of you in such a manner that you are  very  less likely to...bother its interests again.

This may benefit you. You might die in a manner more to your liking, delay your death, die more quickly than rotting in a cell,.... Or at least get out to  play  a bit. If you do your job especially well, you might even be released into an appropriate environment after a few missions.

Today's mission is to obtain a dwarf for me.

One Mr. Granite Stone. Architect. Inventor. Technical consultant.

He is currently in the company of some giants. Giants that are ravaging a few kingdoms and eating the human and demihuman citizens.  We aren't sure of Mr. Stone's status. Prisoner, Employee, Employer, Guest, Appetizer.... We don't know
I don't care.  Rescue or abduct him, or retrieve his corpse in condition for resurrection or questioning. What happens to the giants doesn't matter, though I wouldn't recommend trying to take them all on.

So your options.

Return to your cell and be barbequed later...
Step across the stones and die now...
Have a nice little outing and live a bit longer...maybe have some of what you consider  fun . You'll even get some of your toys to play with.

Think it over. "
Palanan
Tess has made her decision the moment the female overseer stops speaking.

But  damned  if she'll let them know that; and so she keeps quiet for the long, long seconds that follow, waiting for someone else to speak up first, and quietly hoping it'll be the mouthy gnome.
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 16 (16 T/10 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 57/57 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +6 
 Conditions: without equipment  
 
  
Lewis stays silent until the woman's voice, calling herself Waller, clarifies the situation. Then, seeing that no one is in a hurry to speak first, the man answers:   "I'm in. Do you have a picture of this dwarf?"  
Esprit15
 “Nothing to be thought over. I’m  always  happy to delay the executioner’s flame another day,”  she says cheerfully.  “Point us in the direction and consider it done!”  More time to learn to free herself from the collar as well.
Palanan
"I'm in."  Tess speaks as soon as the mouthy gnome has finished.  "How far is it to where this dwarf is?  Are we taken there, or do we have to get ourselves there?

"And how long do we have to get it done?"
jakarta
(standing outside airport waiting for late ride)

"We believe he may have a beard. He is probably less than 6 ft tall. Um...2 meters...cubit and a half?"

Waller sounds both irritated and amused.
Esprit15
 ”Looks like a dwarf, answers to Granite Stone. Helpful.”  Well you’ll get what you pay for, Ms. Waller.
jakarta
"Mr. Stone keeps a low profile, and dwarves aren't that photogenic.

You will be taken to prep rooms, fed, given 12 hours of comfortable rest and spell preparation time, given access to your equipment, and supplied for a week's excursion. We think this should take you less than a day, but if he isn't at the expected location you have leeway to track him down.

You will be transported to a scout near Stone's last confirmed location. The scout will guide you in.

We will be watching. You go off task you die. "
Palanan
'What if the task takes us somewhere that isn't obvious to your watchers?"  Tess asks.  "How can we let you know that what might look off-task to you is actually on-task and helping us finish the mission?"
jakarta
"Don't be raping and pillaging farm stead's, eating too many noncombatants, ect...

Also, when we watch, we may look, we may hear, we may know.

You might be   damned if you let us know   how eager you are to accept before the  Mouthy Gnome  speaks...

@Tess  
 Spoiler: only Tess hears 
 "but we will know.  Don't be too paranoid to think. It is expensive to keep it on all the time, but we will check and know  intent. "
It is a bit creepy to hear her in your mind.
 


@ Everyone:
"Any requests for breakfast and lunch?"
Esprit15
 “The mouthy gnome has a name, she’ll have you know,”  Mentha says.  “Though I guess my future colleagues  wouldn’t  know it yet. Mentha Peprit. Alchemist. Arcanist. Autopsist. Anthithesis…t. I’m sure we’ll we’ll be  good friends  by the end of our second job together~”  She looks to the rest of the prisoners with emerald eyes and a smile that didn’t make it into those eyes.

 “Come on, you’re all so sombre! You all just got your hourglass turned back over! Take some joy. Season your eggs and meat for a change!”  She looks off to the direction she decided the voice was coming from.  “That’s also my request for breakfast - seasoned eggs and sausage. The nicest spices you’re willing to spend on us  lowly vermin of society.  Maybe some sort of red fruit alongside it. Come on angel blood, smile a little. What’s on the menu for lunch?” 
Paddywagon Man
 "Yessssssss. I'll come! My request is in my nickname! Cannibal... Jeffy!

A new... cellmate to share this rest with, soon, I'm  famished ." 

The goblin grins widely and toothily and looks about at the other prisoners.
Esprit15
Bones grow out of Mentha’s body and shape themselves into a protective shirt of armor, as if to answer Jeffy’s look of hunger.
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 16 (16 T/10 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 57/57 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +6 
 Conditions: without equipment  
 
  
  "I'm not hungry,"   - and here Lewis doesn't say a word that isn't true, cause right now he's much more eager to know, how to get out of the situation. Still, he adds:   "Well, I'm no goblin, so you might stay your tongue away from me."  
jakarta
“Give your lunch request to your cell guard.”

A beat after she says this everything goes dark.

A second later the lights return and you are in a cell larger than your previous one.

Jeffy:

There wasn’t a mirror in your pervious cell.
You look at your refection. There is still a bit of gore that hasn’t been licked off your jump suit.
As you point at it with your (dominant) hand…
The gesture isn’t mirrored by your reflection….Its dominant had moves too.
“Huh?”/”Huh?”
You both said that.
This isn’t a reflection.

Insert Spider-man meme.  https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/10...iderman-mirror 

“Breakfast is served.” says the voice of Waller.

Clink, clank, clink. Clink…..
A single metal vial clatters to the floor between you. There are letters on it.
Z…E…R…K!!!
Looks like 1 dose….

(player options:
1.	You can “Talk this out.” with yourself…maybe enter play with 2 identical characters…
2.	THUNDER DOME! You can roll out combat with yourself and let me know how it goes…
3.	You can decide what happens just describe the aftermath of Auto Cannibalism or Cooperation with Yourself. )
jakarta
“Give your lunch request to your cell guard.”

A beat after she says this everything goes dark.

A second later the lights return and you are in a cell larger than your previous one.

Everyone but Jeffy:

The cell contains a bathtub filled with steaming water. There is a small table next to it with bars of soap of various colors and bottles of hair and body cleaners. There are also combs, brushes, various hair tie ribbons, and razors. A sponge floats in the bath water. The tub seems perfectly sized for your body. A big fluffy town, a smaller towel, and a bathrobe are on a hatrack pole next to the tub.

In another corner of the room is a comfortable looking bed with a feather mattress, pillows, sheets, and blankets. On the floor is a meditation mat before a low table that could act as an alter.  There is also a writing desk and a chair. (Everything you might need for spell preparation. If you have a spellbook, it is on the table.) At the foot of the bed is an open trunk containing your clothes and armour (and holy symbol).

In the third corner is a counter holding toast, bread, various pastries and muffins, pots of various jams and spreads, fried potatoes, raw vegetable slices, seasoned meats, eggs cooked in various ways, a large platter of fruits, and a bowl of porridge with bear meat. There is enough here for 3 people. There are also small jars of salt, pepper, honey, and vinegar. A picture of iced water is next to steaming pots of coffee and tea. There are also containers of red, orange, and blue juices as well as cream. There is a large coffee mug with your name inscribed on it, a plate, a bowl, and a set of cutlery and a pair of chopsticks.

A sand dial marked for 12 hours begins pouring out.

(If you don’t request anything different, a platter of various sandwiches appears at lunch time.)
Esprit15
Mentha sees her cell and smiles. Sure, it was a gilded cage, but with some nice cushions even a gilded cage can be comfortable for a while. Mentha eagerly strips and enjoys the bath as long as it stays warm. It’s the nicest soak she’s ever had in her life.

Dirt free and smelling faintly of vanilla, the gnome digs into her breakfast with gusto, looking over her returned supplies. Even the last of her black onyx was there. She wonders whether it would be possible to procure some bodies for assistance with the job. After all, they selected a necromancer for assistance. It seems only right that they’re willing to accept she  be  a necromancer. She slices open a pomegranate and begins plucking out the little red bits of fruit. That she wasn’t able to eat like this normally was the  real  crime, not her spot of eldritch entity worship. And the grave-robbing. And the murders. Anyways, the mug was a nice touch.

 “Excuse me, sir?”  she asks the guard, now mostly dressed in her proper adventuring gear.  “Something lighter and more modest for lunch would be lovely when that time approaches. Also, question as well as a contingent and slightly gross request. Do you know whether my benefactors care about, ah,  proper  necromancy? And if not, do you have a morgue that I could peruse for materials? Under close supervision, obviously. I just have a  little  preparation i would like to take care of in my downtime.” 
jakarta
 

A few minutes after you finish your breakfast, a pair of guards return with a small hand drawn wagon.

"Here's what we had laying about."

Looks like he raided the kitchen.... and maybe a laboratory....

The wagon contains:
the bodies of 3 white direrats.
The bones of 2 goats.
5 chicken carcasses
2 ducks
an anatomy school teaching skeleton (female half elf) already wired together.
jakarta
As you wonder at the wagon contents, the guard hands you a sack before backing out of the cell and locking the door behind him.

No, it isn't another small body.... it is 100 black gemstones. The good stuff!
Esprit15
 🎶Merry solstice to me🎵  The gnome’s eyes seem to light up with a necromantic glow as the bodies are presented to her.  “Thank you kindly, sir.”  She looks at the altar and considers desecration… yeah! If you’re making something, might as well do it right.  “Another errand: Two vials of unholy water, ten pounds of silver dust, and a scroll of haste. I can pay for them.”  She counts out 47 platinum pieces and five gold pieces from her bag if the man is amenable.

Either way, as she preps the bodies, Mentha frowns to the half elf skeleton.  “Shame I got to you too slowly. Could have put some nice meat on those bones if you were only a day cold.”  A shrug, and two onyx gems shoved into the mouth like all the others. She places the ducks back in the cart. Skeletons couldn’t fly, and she wasn’t going to waste her time zombifying something that would still die to a single sword slash.
 
 Spoiler 
If possible, using Desecrate on the altar. Not sure if it counts as a generic one or one dedicated to my deity specifically.

Animate Dead: Creating Bloody Skeletons out of everything but the ducks. 22/100 gifted onyx consumed.
 
jakarta
He leaves the money and returns with twice what you asked for, and a silver chalice and a silver dagger.

 
 Spoiler: answer and a question 
 generic. No one seems to be stopping you  from casting   desecrate  .

If you are making zombie chickens, what is wrong with ducks?
 
Paddywagon Man
The two Jeffys find the situation quite mirthful! Two Jeffys opens up all kinds of new capers... new ways to baffle and frighten the prey. There is an unnervingly synchronized burst of ear-piercing laughter.

They'd find it more mirthful if there weren't only one dose of Zerk, though. And presumably only one butchering axe, something Jeffy's taken a great deal of perverse pride in and wouldn't care to give up for some doppelganger. A tussle of biting and punching quickly breaks out between the two that flattens much of the room.

Eventually, both their rubbery bodies beaten bizarrely out of shape like wet clay and covered in bloody toothmarks, the Jeffy who'd come from the stone circle outside claims victory and voraciously devours the Zerk, the other sulking a moment before melting like candle wax to find a new shape of his own... if he can't be Jeffy, perhaps a toothy cyclops or two-headed ogre, something fun to wear until he's back on top and wearing his goblin green.
jakarta
There is no axe, and they are both "the Jeffy from the circle". The room is empty and bare...

You have to tear yourself apart with your bare hands with only the walls and floor as bludgeons...

Does the winner eat the loser? Or do both survive?

...
Esprit15
As the skeletons begin to ooze blood and rise, Mentha turns to the guard.  “I’m curious - why the chalice? And why the generosity? I’d think you would be sparing  every  expense for us, rather than none. Bars aside, this is the nicest I’ve ever eaten and lived in my life.” 
jakarta
"One if the guys thought you needed a silver chalice to make holy water. We are just giving you the crap we have in storage taken from evil people. None of us have any use for this unholy st....stuff.

As for the rest ... You play nice, you get nice. You give us attitude, we'll feed you to yourself.

You want to keep up the good living, maybe get some nicer things...then there is something extra you can do for us...

 
 Spoiler: the Necromancer's secret mission: 

The giants have a second in command named Mane. He has a long head of hair and a neck beard. Resembles a loin. Kill him. Not their chief. Kill Mane. He is smarter and more efficient. We don't want him taking over.
 
Esprit15
Mentha listens to the job offer, and her eyes seem to twinkle again.  “That can be arranged. I’ll make  sure  to bring evidence.” 
Paddywagon Man
 
 Originally Posted by jakarta 
 There is no axe, and they are both "the Jeffy from the circle". The room is empty and bare...

You have to tear yourself apart with your bare hands with only the walls and floor as bludgeons...

Does the winner eat the loser? Or do both survive?

... 
 

They are both alive, and have beaten and bit their way to a tenuous and likely temporary pecking order where the winner gets to keep being Jeffy and the loser finds a new face to wear for the time being. They can both change their appearance at will with their malleable bodies so it's an easy enough conundrum to smooth over.
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 27 (18 T/20 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 66/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: -  
 
  
Sudden relocation (teleportation? or he was knocked off and simply dragged away?) disturbs Lewis, but he tries not to show this. However, he assesses the prepared room furnishings, washes and tidies himself up. He doesn't order anything specific, observing the guard's reaction and, after getting a set of sandwiches, eats some of them, leaving some for packing in the bag.

Then he carefully inspects all of his equipment, checking for changes, damage, magical markings, and the like, and wears it.
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Paddywagon Man 
 They are both alive, and have beaten and bit their way to a tenuous and likely temporary pecking order where the winner gets to keep being Jeffy and the loser finds a new face to wear for the time being. They can both change their appearance at will with their malleable bodies so it's an easy enough conundrum to smooth over. 
 

(Let's make this cinematic.)

The door to the cell, which wasn't there before, opens. A large guard stands looking disinterested, holding a small paper-wrapped package in one hand. He gestures towards the loser while addressing the winner.

"You gonna eat that, or do you want this egg-salad sandwich?"

--Cut scene--

Jeffy is shown to another cell, sprayed off with a fire hose, tossed a towel, then dropped into a straw-lined cell. The packed sandwich lands on his head as an afterthought.

A few hours later he awakens to a checkered tablecloth covered trunk with a wooden cup of water, a cheap wooden bowl of porridge with a couple chunks of meat, and a paper sack containing what he doesn't know to be the leftovers of everyone else's breakfasts.

There is no cutlery, and the cup has "Jeffy" scrawled in blue crayon. No one would object if Jeffy tries to keep the bowl or table cloth. The trunk contains his non-weapon and non-alchemical gear.

--Cut Scene--
The guard steps into what is now the loser's cell.  Other guards enter and place a bucket of water, a tray of sandwiches, a sponge, and a bedroll around the goblin. One hands a clipboard to the head guard. He takes the pen and, thinking aloud, adds a notation. "Ok...prisoner...um..J2. Number?...ah... just copy the other one...dash 2."

Looking at the beaten goblin, "Ok...we weren't expecting you to live...so clean up, eat, get some rest, and we'll figure out what to do with you in the morning." The goblin is then left to his own devices for a while....

When "J2" awakens he finds two stacks of neatly folded clothing, a tray of food, another bucket of water, a wooden cup with "J2" written on it, and an empty backpack.

The clothes seem to be a choice. Olive fatigues, with an olive singlet, olive boxer shorts,  black socks, and army boots are in one stack. The fatigue pants have a drawstring instead of a belt.

The other stack seems to be a purple clown or ringmaster costume.  
 Spoiler: clown costume 
 
 
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Xav 
       
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 27 (18 T/20 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 66/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: -  
 
  
Sudden relocation (teleportation? or he was knocked off and simply dragged away?) disturbs Lewis, but he tries not to show this. However, he assesses the prepared room furnishings, washes and tidies himself up. He doesn't order anything specific, observing the guard's reaction and, after getting a set of sandwiches, eats some of them, leaving some for packing in the bag.

Then he carefully inspects all of his equipment, checking for changes, damage, magical markings, and the like, and wears it. 
 

(Seems like you were moved by a teleportation or illusion effect. You aren't sure which, or if you were moved...or the room.)

(I'll put part of this in the "open" and hide parts in spoilers.)

The last grain falls from the hourglass.

The cell door opens. A trio of large guards escort a dark skinned woman into the cell. One guard places a  bag  on the table.

The woman speaks. You recognize Waller's voice.

"You will soon be taken to a preparation room. The collar will be switched for something more comfortable and stylish.

The bag contains the Goblin's weapons and potions, and additional equipment that we are making available to you.. You may arm him when you reach the insertion point. The goblin is a zerk addict. We will entrust each of you with a box containing his drug. The box is protected so that only you can open it, and only one dose may be removed at a time.

Each vial of zerk can be administered in 2 ways. Unscrew one end, and the dose can be drunk. On the other end there is a rubber cap covering a needle. Stab him firmly, and the dose will auto inject. The zerk has been mixed with a mild healing potion, so don’t worry about damaging him. You shouldn’t risk taking a dose yourself. It isn’t worth it, not even once."

 
 Spoiler: Secret mission for Lewis: 

You have 6 regular doses and one special one. The one with the black spot.  It will kill him in 30 seconds. You know he is a cannibal who will kill you and anyone else for fun if he ever escapes our control. You know he can never really be trusted.  He will turn on you as soon as the zerk doses are finished. If he doesn’t return from this mission, you know it is for the best…

Also,
We have an item we want you to test. It might help you out in a jam. You push the button on this ball and toss it near a creature. A miniaturization effect will trap it in the ball. If you press the button again, the contained creature will be released in 6 seconds. Try not to lose the ball, and try to bring back an interesting creature. We will reward you for a good sample. (it is softball sized)
 


Remember, your mission is to retrieve the dwarf. That said, any intelligence,... information, maps...that you might retrieve would be appreciated. Some power has been organizing giants of different breeds. They have been working together and coordinating assaults. This is concerning, BUT... your mission is to retrieve Granite Stone."
jakarta
All: Please note (here and on your sheet) anything from your cells that you are adding to your inventories, including anything from the food/utensils provided.

 Tess: Your room is almost identical to Mentra's and Lewis's. After you have rested and prepared your spells you receive a visitor.
[SPOILER=the visitor]https://comicvine.gamespot.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/11174/111743204/8981930-tala.jpg/SPOILER]

 https://comicvine.gamespot.com/a/upl...81930-tala.jpg 
The tall reddish woman seems to be some sort of elf, fey, or tiefling. She speaks with an exaggerated accent.

“I am Tala. We are both practitioners of the Crafts.

 
 Spoiler: Tess's secret mission 1: 
I have received a vision. Somewhere underground beneath the Giants’ house is an ancient temple obtaining a relic. Retrieve this for me, and I will ensure you are rewarded in a way that meets your mystical interests.

They also asked me to have you test this."

She pulls out what looks like a hand crossbow handle tipped with a small cup. (think rubber dart gun or Dialek arm)

"This is an extractor for magical effects. It can steal magical powers. If you encounter an active spell, or a magical creature, or a spell caster…press the end against it and pull the trigger. If successful, one of the 5 gems in the handle will glow as it stores the spell. ..Ah.. we don’t know how well this works. Bring back some samples, and you will be rewarded in kind.”
 


She pulls a small box out of somewhere...
"This is for the goblin. He is addicted to Zerk, a drug that gives him strength.
This box contains the drug. The box can only be opened by you, and if you will it so. It cannot be opened if you are under distress, and only you can remove the vials containing the drugs.

Each vial of zerk can be administered in 2 ways. Unscrew one end, and the dose can be drunk. On the other end there is a rubber cap covering a needle. Stab him firmly, and the dose will auto inject. The zerk has been mixed with a mild healing potion, so don’t worry about damaging him. You shouldn’t risk taking a dose yourself. It isn’t worth it, not even once.

 
 Spoiler: Tess secret 2: 
You have 5 regular and 2 special doses. The two with the raised bumps…Contain a sedative that will take effect after 1 minute. He might still be able to walk…"
 


"Wait here just a while longer. You will be taken to the departure preparation area soon. "

She turns, and will leave if uninterrupted. 

Edit: player seems to have withdrawn.
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Esprit15 
 Mentha listens to the job offer, and her eyes seem to twinkle again.  “That can be arranged. I’ll make  sure  to bring evidence.”  
 


"I'm sure you will." The guard withdraws and is replaced by a new visitor.
 
 Spoiler: the visitor 
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/11174/111743204/8981930-tala.jpg
 

 https://comicvine.gamespot.com/a/upl...81930-tala.jpg 
The tall reddish woman seems to be some sort of elf, fey, or tiefling. She speaks with an exaggerated accent.

“I am Tala. We are both practitioners of the Crafts.

 
 Spoiler: Another secret mission offer: 

They also asked me to have you test this."

She pulls out what looks like a hand crossbow handle tipped with a small cup. (think rubber dart gun or Dialek arm)

"This is an extractor for magical effects. It can steal magical powers. If you encounter an active spell, or a magical creature, or a spell caster…press the end against it and pull the trigger. If successful, one of the 5 gems in the handle will glow as it stores the spell. ..Ah.. we don’t know how well this works. Bring back some samples, and you will be rewarded in kind.”
 


She pulls a small box out of somewhere...
"This is for the goblin. He is addicted to Zerk, a drug that gives him strength.
This box contains the drug. The box can only be opened by you, and if you will it so. It cannot be opened if you are under distress, and only you can remove the vials containing the drugs.

Each vial of zerk can be administered in 2 ways. Unscrew one end, and the dose can be drunk. On the other end there is a rubber cap covering a needle. Stab him firmly, and the dose will auto inject. The zerk has been mixed with a mild healing potion, so don’t worry about damaging him. You shouldn’t risk taking a dose yourself. It isn’t worth it, not even once.

 
 Spoiler: secret 2: 
You have 5 regular and 2 special doses. The two with the raised bumps…Contain a sedative that will take effect after 1 minute. He might still be able to walk…"
 


"Wait here just a while longer. You will be taken to the departure preparation area soon. "

She turns, and will leave if uninterrupted.
Esprit15
 “Cannibal  and  a drug addict. Gonna be a fun one. Suppose that puts a bit of a time limit on this mission then. How often does he need to be doses usually?” 
jakarta
Tala replies, "It depends on how often you need him to be an enraged killing machine."
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 25+4 (16+4 T/20 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:37/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Reistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage  
 
  
Nale had been silent so far, eating, washing and keeping his head down. His dirty grey hair was in dire need of a hair cut, but at least it was clean now. His muscular frame showed that he had not been starving. The offer had been good enough for him - going out, killing giants, bringing back a dwarf, dead or alive. That was something he could work with. Being free of the suppression collar would have made it easy to escape. But why bother, if they were going to employ him for something he'd enjoy doing. For now, only a sheen of ectoplasm covered his body, but if need be, he could turn it into chitin like armor in the blink of an eye.

He waited patiently for the mission to begin, letting little sparks dance across his knuckles.
Stelio Kontos
Torsten, a regular, boring human of about average height and build and really no remarkable features, sat in the front row when offered, eyeing his, er, colleagues, with a mixture of suspicion and disdain.  He shot the self proclaimed cannibal a look that assured that he'd not be a pleasant snack to try to nibble on.  Otherwise, he kept silent, eyeing the others as they spoke and making a note of who to stay away from as much as possible (which, at this point, was everyone), and wiping the bit of ichor that came from the collar victims off his hand without even a hint of disgust.  At least now he knew just what godforsaken mess he'd been roped into.

At the offer of breakfast, he raised an eyebrow slightly, considering the offer.  He hadn't really had a proper meal in a while, and probably wouldn't again.   "Steak.  Eggs.  Potatoes."   Whether that request was for breakfast, or lunch, or both, wasn't made clear.

Upon being transported to his cell, he took a few minutes to freshen up with the bath water and sponge, and a few more to store away some of the provided food for safekeeping.  It was hard to tell how long they were  actually  going to be out, and somehow he knew that if they were providing a week's provisions, they really expected it to take a week, even if it was, allegedly, a one day in and out.  It was never a one day in and out.

And then he laid down to rest, in a comfortable bed for the only time in quite a while.


   Torsten Kor   
M LN Human Slayer (Sniper, Stygian Slayer),  Level  9,  Init  6,  HP  85/85,  Speed  40'
 AC  19,  Touch  15,  Flat-footed  14,  CMD  26,  Fort  8,  Ref  11,  Will  5,  CMB  +11,  Base Attack Bonus  9
 *can use deadly aim for -3 atk/+6 dmg* +1 composite longbow [+2 str], distance (durable arrows)   +15/+10, or +13/+13/+8 rapid shot (1d8+2, x3)
   +1 longsword   +12 (1d8+2, 19-20/x2)
 Studied Target adds +2 atk, +2 dmg sneak dmg: 3d6+6, +9 more if Deadly Range applies,     ( ,  )
   Mithral Chain Shirt, +1  (+4 Armor, +5 Dex)
 Abilities  Str 14, Dex 21, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 10
 Condition  None
jakarta
(There will be a few edits to the post as I add individual briefings. Jeffy, J2, Nale, and Tor will be here. I'll only update completed briefings, so if you see yours you may go ahead and respond.)

Jeffy, Nale, Tor:

A while after you dress the cell door opens.

 http://www.latourdesheros.com/ltdh/i..._%28BBB%29.jpg 
 

A short bald man with thick goggles and angular ears enters the cell. He looks like he might be part elf or goblin. He seems completely confident as to his safety.

“Salutations, I am Doctor Silva.”

 
 Spoiler: Jeffy's breifing 

“I see you are familiar with injection spears. This is a similar device used to collect samples of interesting organisms."

He holds out a hand sized device.

"We think you may encounter a shape shifter. We are very interested in shapeshifting creatures. If you collect samples for us, we will make you happy.

The needle is 2 inches long. It isn’t necessary to fully insert the needle. Only deep enough to get blood or whatever fluid contained in the creature.

The needle is enchanted and an amalgam of iron and silver around an adamantine composite core.

Note the 2 cylinders. See the liquid in the small cylinder? It is injected when the needle is inserted and will suppress the resistance to damage that many shapeshifting creatures possess. The larger cylinder has an automatic vacuum system that will draw the sample into the collection chamber. The chamber will preserve the sample. A viable sample can be taken from any living creature, or within an hour of death if the body is reasonably unaltered by heat or chemicals. Sample any suspected shape shifter.

However, if you find a better candidate after already filling the camber, you can push this button and the chamber will empty and reset. Just be careful where you point it, the fluid will squirt from the needle. The resistance suppressor cannot be refilled outside the laboratory, so that function will only work once. (Treat device as a dagger). “

He gives you 2 sampling devices.
 


J2:

 
 Spoiler: J2's briefing 


(exactly the same, except exchange "shape shifter" for "infernal creature...Devils or Demons or hybrids of such creatures"

"I also have a gift for you. This is an Acidic Hand Crossbow +1 (d6 acid). There are the 10 (MW) bolts in the case. This additional case contains a few special bolts. There are 5 obsidian headed bolts, 5 bolts of fear, 5 bolts of confusion, and 5 bolts of laughter. I suggest you use them on your opponents, instead of using them on yourself.

Wait a while longer, and you will be taken for final preparation."
 



(off camera Dr. Silva mutters about De ja vu while walking between cells)

Nale and Tor: The odd, bald man explains that your goblin team mate is addicted to a drug called Zerk, that it enhances the goblin's combat capabilities.  As they don't trust the goblin  cannibal  you will be holding his drugs as a reason for him to keep you alive.  Each of you will have a small enchanted box that only the assigned individual can open. The box will not open if you are under duress, and will self-destruct if you die. Each dose is in a tube. You can unscrew one end to let the goblin drink, or stab him with the needle on the other end (soft rubber cap).

Nale: 
 Spoiler: Nale secret mission 

"As we say, we don't trust the goblin, and it seems now there are two of them. This arrow is for you. If it is a Bazerker Arrow. It carries an extra potent dose of Zerk, which as been, ahem, spiced.  When you need your escape covered, shoot one of the goblins. He will become an uncontrolled killing machine until he is destroyed. This should cause enough of a distraction that you might leave the area.

I'm told you are a hunter. We would have you collect some special trophies for us. We are interested in the ...special... parts of monsters. The parts with venom or powers. When you can, harvest the venom glands, breath organs, eyes...etcetera.  We will reward you for good samples.  This is a  Game Bag of Miniaturisation .  Place the specimens within.  To help you obtain them, here is a  Dissection Kit (+2), and 3 Daggers, one each of Silver, Cold Iron, and Obsidian. (Each is a +1 Dagger).  
 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 25+4 (16+4 T/20 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:37/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Reistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage  
 
  
Nale nodded along as the man explained. Finally he said in a rhaspy voice that hadn't been used in a while:

 "I understand and I will comply. When are we going to be set loose?" 
Stelio Kontos
Torsten frowned.   "Lovely.  Anyone else with particular psychoses that we ought to know about?" 
jakarta
Tor and Nale: The steaks served with your personal pastry buffet were good. You aren't sure which animal they came from, but they might have been beef of some sort. The potatoes were good as well, the orange and purple ones were sweet, but the white ones were what you were expecting. Getting boiled baby potatoes, fried potatoes, and mashed potatoes was a bit excessive. The side dish of steamed pumpkin flesh with cracked seeds was also well prepared.

Tor:  
 Spoiler: Tor secret mission 

"There is something special we want you to do. This arrow is   Non-lethal (+5) and Silvered . The node on the long tip is designed to become embedded in the targeted creature and detach. The enchantments on it are not your concern.

Shoot the Giant chieftain or other high level member of their command structure. Then DO NOT KILL that Giant. (Out running an errand, will complete in next post)
 
Paddywagon Man
"J2" has grown rather fond of the new purple coat, and (still quite sore and angry about losing to Jeffy) has gone as far removed from his old look as possible. Lanky, long-armed and impossibly thin, though with the same exaggerated and elastic mouth and teeth...

 
 Spoiler: Jack Slide is born 
 
 


Hopefully Jeffy dies horribly soon so he can be back into his old groove... but they're both too fond of plots and plans to throw away the benefits of a similarly-minded accomplice before having some fun of it first!

Both of them are rather curious about their assigned bounties, and hope to get a proper taste.
jakarta
Tor (conti): 
 Spoiler: Tor secret 2 


Dr. Silva continues, holding up a white shafted arrow with a heart shaped board-head and pink fletching.

"This relic is a Cupid's Arrow (+5, Anti-evil, Cold Iron). It can be as lethal as any other arrow, but it is better used by an experienced archer who can choose a non-fatal shot. It will make the target fall in love with the first appropriate person it sees. It may come in handy to help an ally find love on the battlefield.

Wait here a while longer, and you will be taken to the final preparation room."
 
jakarta
(Note anything you are taking from the cell in an IC post and add the it items to your sheet. I don’t want to be persnickety about it…but if you are casting Watchful Hound or whatever, let me know. No one says anything if you take anything.)

You are escorted from your cell and taken to a room lined with large, white, high-backed chairs. You are gestured to sit, and the mood in the room indicates that this is not voluntary.

Once seated, you are suddenly restrained as though the chair has just grown around you.

Men in white coats approach and warn “Don’t move. We don’t want these to go off as we replace them.”

A small fetish of colored beads is attached to your neck, and the collar is then removed, though you don’t see exactly how this is accomplished.

On a bench in front of you the technicians go though your gear, attaching fetishes to weapons, shields, spellbooks (around the front cover), and other larger items. “There is both a destruction and tracking element to these devices. They assure that when teleported your gear will go with you in most cases. “

You are offered a small tent, a bedroll with blanket, a water skin, and a quiver of 20 arrows. (note if you are taking any and add to your sheet. )

You will also be given 2 potions of Cure Moderate Wounds and 2 of Inflict Moderate Wounds (previously mentioned in the OCC).

Your chairs seem to have wheels concealed in the lower frame, as they move easily as the men move them into a larger room. There you meet the rest of your “team”, who are all similarly restrained in chairs. The chairs are arranged in a circle facing each other.

There is a new person in a purple costume (J2).

Wallers voice floats above you. “These beads are designed with shapeshifters in mind. They will either change size with you or merge with your bodies if you change shape. If you are teleported your gear should teleport with you and arrive nearby, but the process isn’t exact so we aren't handing you your equipment. You can claim it upon arrival.

Try not to spend too much time in anti-magic fields. The beads are tied to the embryo…turn on the  Silence …”

You don’t hear anything as you scream from the burning, piercing pain from your lower back…

After a moment the pain dulls and with a *pop* your hearing returns, catching the ends of oaths and curses from your teammates.

“…and if the enchantment from the beads doesn’t keep the embryo from hatching… it’s like an egg or seed…you will have a rather painful death a few hours to a couple days later. These things are fatal but inconsistent as to growth rate. You certainly don’t want to be giving them Zerk.

Speaking of which, most of you have been briefed as to the situation with our goblin friends. They are both Zerk addicts.

Remember goblins, these are friends…not food. Each has a Zerk box. If your friend dies, the box goes away and no Candy. If your friend is scared of you, your friend can’t open the box.”

The white coated men place the zerk boxes (metal box about the size on a sardine tin) at your feet, followed by a pile of your other gear.  You notice that the beads seem color coded to match each person with his or her gear.

“Mentha and Lewis, please stand.”

They find themselves free of restraint and do stand.

“Lewis, this bag contains Jeffy’s things. You may decide what to give him and when. Mentha, this bag is for J2. Also,…” A guard hands a cabbage head sized blue stone. “…this is a retrieval beacon. When you have acquired Mr. Stone, trace the runes and make sure you are standing close to everyone you want to bring back with you.” (Full round action to activate) "Your pets are in the bag with the unclaimed extra gear." (the undead are in the bag of holding. They have  beads .)



Lewis: Your sword is on top of your pile of gear. There is a  bead string  attached to the hilt.

Lief:  (player hasn’t posted yet, if there is no post in a few rounds we will just say the Druid got lost in transport or something) A stuffed teddy bear is placed in your lap. You immediately know that it is your companion, somehow transformed. There is a bandage on the back and a  bead collar  around the neck.

Everyone: (are there any other animal companions/familiars/mounts/pets I have overlooked?)
jakarta
( hold up there a bit Nale. Only Mentra and Lewis were released from the restraints. You the rest will be released in the next scene.

Go ahead and give me a reflex save. If you pass , the scene will play out as you have already described. Otherwise, it is just the cool thing you were planning to do )
Pyrophilios
 
 Originally Posted by jakarta 
 ( hold up there a bit Nale. Only Mentra and Lewis were released from the restraints. You the rest will be released in the next scene.

Go ahead and give me a reflex save. If you pass , the scene will play out as you have already described. Otherwise, it is just the cool thing you were planning to do ) 
 

Reflex save
 (1d20)[ 12 ] +9 (+4 immediate action from my elan resistance ability, if necessary)
jakarta
Waller continues, “You will be meeting the advanced scouts. Flag is a human. Looks like a human….reddish brown hair, grey eyes..probably has a goatee or short beard by now. This bag is for him.” A greasy paper sack is pushed into Lewis’s arms.

“The other scout is Legolass. Elf female…looks like an Elf female. Her sigil is an L inside a circle inside a square.

If you get separated from the group, return to the checkpoint the scouts will show you, or the drop zone you are heading to now…before we kill you.

If you want to say a prayer, now would be the….What?  Well…just toss him in and give the potions to Lewis…Don’t give them to him until just before you expect to fight.”

A man-sized figure in a black hood is unceremoniously tossed into the center of the circle. He appears to be bound somehow (straight jacket). A simple burlap sack (about 40 gal/.75 cubic meter) is thrust into the arms of the already burdened Lewis.

“The doctors say that the best way to avoid the nausea is to”

*PoP!*

Suddenly you Aren’t in the chair, and you are hit with bright light, cold thin air, and a wave of nausea.

 Fort Save DC 13 to avoid being sickened. 
 Reflex save DC 14 to remain standing or you fall prone  (move action to stand).


As you get your bearings you realize that you are on a snow covered field with firs and mountains in the distance on all sides.

“Look out!” The warning draws you attention to an Elf Female standing beside a…snow boulder?

 Spot/Perception Check DC 13.   
 Spoiler: If you pass the check 
 there are human sized legs sticking out from under the boulder.
 


She turns to face away from the snow boulder, her arms waving in a casting motion. A wall of multi-colored bricks appears before her, drawing your attention over the wall to the….

FLAMING MAMMOTH being ridden by a FROST GIANT holding a GIANT SNOWBALL, flanked on either side by a line of OGRES (8 total ogres.) They are charging and are about 140 ft away by the time your brain registers the need to DO SOMETHING NOW!

Aside from the items Mentha and Lewis are holding, your gear has been jumbled a bit by the transport and is in a heap in the center of the circle.
---
 DC 14 spot/perception  to spot the one item you want right now,
then move action to retrieve it.

Failure indicates a full round action to get your item.

If the item is in a bag or other storage device, you still need the action time to get the item out of the bag.

To simulate the confusion of the situation, first round initiative is by order of post. We will roll initiatives next round.

--- The party starts jumbled in the blue circle. Declare where you are at the end of the "surprise round" by map coordinates.
jakarta
 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing 

The center of the party start circle is approximately E12.
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 25+5+4 (16+5+4 T/20+4 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:36/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage  
 
  
With a groan Nale got to his feet. Rolling his shoulders, he moved his head back and forth until an audible click gave him the desired relief. Next his skin began oozing ectoplasm that quickly began to harden into a black, chitin like armor, leaving only his head uncovered.

Next he quickly picked up his giant sword and nodded. With a look to his companions he said:

 "Are you all ready to hunt? There are giants that need killing." 

Immediately after that, a translucent disk of force appeared before him, ready to block incoming attacks.

 
 Spoiler 

 Move action  pick up +2 Oversized Longsword

 Swift action:  activate Time skitter maneuver
 
 Spoiler: Time Skitter 
Time Skitter
Discipline: Riven Hourglass (Boost); Level: 3
Prerequisites: One Riven Hourglass maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: Self
Duration: See text

DESCRIPTION

By accelerating your personal time-stream, you speed up your movements and accelerate your blows for a few moments. After initiating this boost, you gain the benefits of a haste spell for a number of rounds equal to your initiation modifier (4) (+1 to attack rolls, AC, initiative, and Reflex saves, a +30-foot enhancement bonus to movement speeds, and one extra attack when making a full attack).
 

 Standard Action:  Harness Powerstone (Force Screen)
 
 Spoiler: Harness Powerstone 
Harness Power Stone
The aegis can manifest a single 1st-level power from a power stone stored in his power stone repository as if it were a known power, with an effective manifester level of 1. This effective manifester level does not make an aegis eligible for feats and prestige classes requiring a manifester level, nor does it allow him to activate other power stones without a Use Magic Device check. The aegis may manifest the chosen power as many times as his power point pool will allow, but changing to a different power (either within the same power stone, or within another power stone in the repository) requires a move action and flushes the old power from the power stone (so power stones with multiple powers lose one power, but the rest are unaffected; power stones with only a single power are flushed and dissolved). If this customization is lost or removed, any applicable attuned power is flushed from the power stone. The aegis must be at least 3rd level and have the Power Stone Repository customization to select this customization. This customization may be selected a second time beginning at 5th level; doing so allows the aegis to manifest a second 1st-level power from a power stone (either a second stone, or a second power in an already-selected stone). The aegis may freely alternate between these two powers (or any others gained via Harness Power Stone customizations) when manifesting, but trading out either power for a new power flushes out the sacrificed power as usual.

Force Screen
Discipline psychokinesis [force]; Level gifted blade 1, psion/wilder 1, psychic warrior 1

MANIFESTING

Display Auditory
Manifesting Time 1 standard action

EFFECT

Range Personal
Target You
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Power Points 1

DESCRIPTION

You create an invisible mobile disk of force that hovers in front of you. The force screen provides a +4 shield bonus to Armor Class (which applies against incorporeal touch attacks, since the force screen is a force effect). Since it hovers in front of you, the effect has no armor check penalty associated with it.
 

 Free action:  Form Astral Armor
 
Esprit15
Mentha shrugs off the nausea easy enough, though the sudden cold could have been better forewarned by the woman. The gnome does a quick check - head, arms, legs, fingers, toes. Nothing missing, so a good teleport in her book. She turns around, and laughs.  “Oh I am going to have  fun  with you.” 

Bones grow out from her skin again as she points off at the mammoth and hisses an incantation. She then scampers behind the brick wall, offering a smile to the elven woman.  “This seat taken?” 
 
 Spoiler 
Casting Blindness on the mammoth - DC 20 Fortitude save
Moving to E9
Manifesting her armor.

Initiative for next round:  (1d20+2)[ 4 ] 
 
jakarta
The mammoth attempts to resist.

 (1d20)[ 14 ] 

Edit: and does easily.
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 27 (18 T/20 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 66/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: -  
 
  

Few words are spoken by Lewis. In fact, he says a short:   "Noted,"   - after the briefing, and the only thing that causes the grimace of discontent on his face is the fact that his sword was still kept away from him. The sudden teleport fails to catch tiefling by surprise, - he turns out on his feet, not feeling any special discomfort. He immediately drops all the bags, bales and other stuff, examines the surrounding area, finding the scouts - one alive, another, seems, not so much - and a crowd of enemies heading to the group. And then he heads for his sword. The moment he holds the hilt, his mind reunites with the blade's consciousness, and from this moment Lewis feels confidence. Now things are suddenly looking much better, and a mere frost giant isn't enough to spoil the mood. The man casts a quickening spell and And fills the poisonous storm, rapidly unfolding around, with the energy.

 
 Spoiler: ACTIONS 
I'm getting 2 arcane potential points at the combat start, due to Adrenal Potential
Move - retrieving the sword
Standard - casting Haste on everybody around, and getting 1 arcane potential point for casting
Storm is activated (free action), I'm refluffing it a bit, so that it looks a little more appropriate - as a grey poisonous cloud of miasma. Radius - 45', Height - 95'. Any creature within the Storm at the end of Lewis' turn is subject to a vile akashic toxin.
All 3 arcane points are transferred to essence and allocated to a Storm veil.
Swift - changing the Storm's properties: Save - Will, DC 22 or nauseated.
All allies, including scouts, are protected from the Storm's effects - they automatically pass any saves and treat all damage as 0.
 
Stelio Kontos
 “The doctors say that the best way to avoid the nausea is to”

*PoP!* 

Torsten's body finished that sentence for him, with an unhealthy mix of stomach contents flying out into the snow.

Despite that, he noted quickly his precious bow scattered amongst the pile of random stuff; he grabbed for it, and in a swift roll scrambled past the elf behind the wall, ready to poke his head around it and launch a hopefully impressive fusillade of arrows.

 
 Spoiler: GM questions 
Do I have my sniper goggles on?  I'd like to.  They don't do much without a weapon in hand :)

One action to grab bow and arrows (I have an efficient quiver), or two?  If two, consider both my actions to instead be grabbing the pair.
 

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Laundry list of saves rolled in Discord:
Fort = 12 (failed, sickened)
Reflex = 28 (stylishly passed)
Perception: I can't fail either
Initiative, when the round ends: 25

Actions:
Standard to grab bow and arrows (hopefully both?)
Move, hopefully, to E7 on the map
Swift: studied target on the frost giant
 
jakarta
(Tor has his goggles.

1 action for now, one for quiver.)

The guy in the hood and straight jacket gets covered in steak-and-potato vomit.

Will/Moral check for ogres
 (1d20)[ 2 ] 
 (1d20)[ 5 ] 
 (1d20)[ 9 ] 
 (1d20)[ 18 ] 
 (1d20)[ 19 ] 
 (1d20)[ 2 ] 
 (1d20)[ 13 ] 
 (1d20)[ 15 ] 
jakarta
Counting from the north, ogres 1,2,3, and 6 stop momentarily in confusion, staring wide eyed at the swirling yellow storm that just appeared before them.
(they will only take one move instead of running. I'll update positions at end of round.)

The party is all now standing in yellow snow, as the storm veil has interacted with the snow a bit.
Paddywagon Man
 
 Spoiler: Saving throws 

Jeffy:  (1d20+7)[ 12 ]  Fort,  (1d20+12)[ 32 ]  Ref
Jack Slide:  (1d20+7)[ 12 ]  Fort,  (1d20+12)[ 30 ]  Ref
 

 "FOOOOOOOOOD!" 

Jeffy and Jack both look overjoyed to be unbound and presented with a veritable buffet of pungent ogre flesh - though they're currently lacking their best carving tools.

Jeffy grabs his beloved, well-used butchering axe, though a bit clumsily. Without his wayfinder and ioun stone he... doesn't really know how to use it properly, embarassingly. But he wouldn't go a battle without it, and punches Jack's over-long nose into his squishy blue head in rebuke when they both grab for it.

 "Hkeeeeeh! Jeffy's axe! You're too WEAK to be Jeffy!" 

Jack teeters back, grumpily, and grabs a syringe spear.

 "Be strong Jeffy then, mr FFFAT! Sneaky Jack, clever Jack will be getting tears and meat when ogres are chewing you!" 

The teleporting sickness catches up a moment later, and they each aggressively vomit on the other.
Infernally Clay
      
  Leif Fochlucan 
 Aasimar Druid
HP: 75/75, AC: 25
Conditions: None
Spell Slots: 1st: 6/6, 2nd: 5/5, 3rd: 4/4, 4th: 3/3, 5th: 2/2

Animal Companion:
Iorek, Medium Bear
HP: 72/72, AC: 25
Conditions: None  
 
  

“What the bloody hell is going on?!” Leif yells as she falls out of the portal and onto the snow, looking around for Iorek to make sure he’s safe. She’ll deal with whatever else is happening after that.

 
 Spoiler 
Fortitude save:  (1d20+9)[ 28 ] 
Reflex save:  (1d20+4)[ 6 ] 
Perception checks:  (1d20+19)[ 36 ]  and  (1d20+19)[ 39 ] 
 


Leif falls flat on the ground, her face buried in snow, and as she gets up to survey her surroundings she notices legs sticking out from the snow and where her gear is. The most pressing matter to her, however, is freeing Iorek from the teddy bear. She does that first. That means Iorek can help whoever it is buried in the snow while Leif gathers everyone’s equipment.

 
 Spoiler 
Leif uses her move action to stand from prone and then her standard action to free Iorek.
 
jakarta
A bear suddenly appears in front of the Druid.
jakarta
The man who was tossed into the circle just before the teleport has somehow escaped his bonds. He pulls off his hood while crawling across the ground. He almost slithers...right to the bag of his gear.

Meanwhile...The ogres advance 30-90 ft according to each's level of confusion...

The frost giant throws an ice bolder at Jeffy. attack  (1d20+13)[ 23 ] , dam  (1d8+17)[ 21 ] )
And the mammoth advances to... (1d20+14)[ 28 ] 

And the rider  (1d20+18)[ 25 ] 
jakarta
And the mammoth advances to...(1d20+14)[28]
And the mammoth advances though the edge of the storm unaffected...
And the rider (1d20+18)[25] is likewise unaffected...

The FIRE Mammoth charges (trample + improved bull rush = no AOOs rules the GM) right though the party members still in the LZ circle.

(Party members in the path roll REF vs dc 29 or take dam  (1d8+14)[ 21 ]  (blunt) +  (2d6)[ 10 ]  (fire) and be on fire for  (1d4)[ 4 ]  rounds, save for half of the physical damage and to avoid being on fire)

Also, scorching heat emanates from the Mammoth. Anyone within 5 ft of the path of the mammoth Fort save dc 21 or take  (2d6+14)[ 17 ]  fire damage (save negates).

(anyone remaining adjacent at the end of his turn, making mellie attacks without a reach weapon, or passing within 5 ft in subsequent rounds are subject to the FIRE AURA. dc 21 or 2d6+14).
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 25+5+4 (16+5+4 T/20+4 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 48/76 
 PP:35/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage  
 
  
And as quickly as he had gotten up, Nale landed back on the ground. At least the snow kept him from getting roasted by the flame aura

 
 Spoiler 

Ouch, that will be hard save to make
Spending one PP to activate Resilience for +4 to roll

Reflex save  (1d20+13)[ 17 ]  31 damage
Fortitute save  (1d20+14)[ 28 ]  no damage
 
jakarta
The snow in the area is now simmering piss.
Infernally Clay
      
  Leif Fochlucan 
 Aasimar Druid
HP: 27/75, AC: 25
Conditions: None
Spell Slots: 1st: 6/6, 2nd: 5/5, 3rd: 4/4, 4th: 3/3, 5th: 2/2

Animal Companion:
Iorek, Medium Bear
HP: 24/72, AC: 25
Conditions: None  
 
  

Saves:
 
 Spoiler 
 Leif's saves:
Reflex save:  (1d20+4)[ 19 ] 
Fortitude save:  (1d20+9)[ 14 ] 

Iorek's saves:
Reflex save:  (1d20+6)[ 12 ] 
Fortitude save:  (1d20+6)[ 17 ] 

So both take 48 damage.
 
Paddywagon Man
 
 Spoiler: Saving throws 

Jeffy:  (1d20+10)[ 28 ]  Reflex,  (1d20+5)[ 7 ]  Fort
Jack:  (1d20+10)[ 11 ]  Reflex,  (1d20+5)[ 19 ]  Fort
 


The two acrobatic murder goblins are a bit slow on their feet from all the vomiting but shriek and do their best to roll away from the trampling mammoth!

Both are, unfortunately, trampled thoroughly and lit on fire. But they rally pretty quickly and know just what to do! They stop, drop, and roll - directly under the mammoth, slashing and hacking at it with their weapons mercilessly, the flames on their bodies extinguished hopefully along with the beast's life.
Paddywagon Man
Jack, somersaulting like a more civilized cartoon cannibal than the obese log-rolling Jeffy, plans to stab with the tragically unloaded syringe spear... but it turns out rolling underneath a burning mammoth is not actually the excellent idea it had seemed at first. He bumps up against its leg, foiling its attack and leaving him in prime stomping territory.

 "Ehhhh... hello, nice friendly beast." 
 
 Spoiler: Jack 

 (1d20+8)[ 18 ]  for Up Close and Personal attack (FAILED BECAUSE OF POOR ROLLING TECHNIQUE)
 (1d8+9)[ 13 ]  piercing plus  (5d8)[ 25 ]  Hidden Strike damage, and mammoth provokes an attack of opportunity at the start of its next turn.
 (1d20+8)[ 27 ]  Vital Strike
 (2d8+9)[ 15 ] 
 
jakarta
The decidedly unfriendly beast tries to stamp the goblin.
stamp  (1d20+15)[ 28 ] , physical damage  (2d6+7)[ 10 ]  and fire  (2d6)[ 7 ] 
Esprit15
Mentha gives a whoop as the giant and mammoth rush by her, heat warming her face.  “Now  that’ll  wake you up!”  She hides the disappointment at her earlier spell failing. It was a long shot, but now that they were closer she had a lot more options. She circles around the other woman taking cover behind the wall. The skeletal serpent tattoo on her arm gives off a faint glow as she begins her spell. When she completes it, a wave of fear seems to emanate from the tiny gnome.

 
 Spoiler 
Move to B6

Cast Fear, Will Save DC 24 for the Giant and the Mammoth
Pass: Shaken for 1 round
Fail: Panicked by Mentha for 9 rounds
 
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 27 (18 T/19 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 28/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: Hasted, on fire  
 
  

And without even having time to swear, Lewis was enveloped in a fiery aura and almost crushed by a huge animal. Just having time to rejoice at the fire-resistant skin, the tiefling swings his blade, testing the strength of the mammoth skin, after which he teleports to the side.

 
 Spoiler: ACTIONS 
(1d20+13)[24] - Reflex
(1d20+10)[15] - Fort
Both saves are failed, so Lewis gets 48-10 damage (fire resistance).
Lewis gets 1 arcane point from Lingering Adrenaline
Black Blade gets 1 arcane point (now 2 total)

Then he uses Lunge (gets -2 to AC and 10' reach) and attacks mammoth via Spell Combat (-1 to hit for attacks) and Warp Assault for 1 point:
Swift: Black Blade Strike (1 point for +3 to damage)

 (1d20+17)[ 28 ]  for  (1d6+19)[ 22 ]  damage
 (1d20+17)[ 19 ]  for  (1d6+19)[ 22 ]  damage - haste
 (1d20+15)[ 32 ]  for  (1d6+19)[ 20 ]  damage - warp assault
 (1d20+12)[ 21 ]  for  (1d6+19)[ 24 ]  damage

And warps away via Warping Surge to F18
Gets 1 arcane point from using Warping Surge and uses it to put 1 essence into Storm. Now Storm Will save DC vs nauseating poison is 23 (creatures make their saves only at the end of Lewis' turn, but this time, I guess, all passed them).

Lewis arcane points: 0
Black blade arcane points: 1
 
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Esprit15 
 Mentha gives a whoop as the giant and mammoth rush by her, heat warming her face.  “Now  that’ll  wake you up!”  She hides the disappointment at her earlier spell failing. It was a long shot, but now that they were closer she had a lot more options. She circles around the other woman taking cover behind the wall. The skeletal serpent tattoo on her arm gives off a faint glow as she begins her spell. When she completes it, a wave of fear seems to emanate from the tiny gnome.

 
 Spoiler 
Move to B6

Cast Fear, Will Save DC 24 for the Giant and the Mammoth
Pass: Shaken for 1 round
Fail: Panicked by Mentha for 9 rounds
 
 
 


The mammoth and Rider try to shake off the magical assaults
 
 Spoiler: Fear 

Mammoth will vs fear: (1d20+7)[ 23 ] 
Frost Giant Rider:
 (1d20+8)[ 21 ] 
 
.

 
 Spoiler: Save vs Storm Veil 

Mammoth will vs
 (1d20+7)[ 25 ] 
Frost Giant Rider:  (1d20+8)[ 12 ] 
 
jakarta
(Treating player actions to this point as simultaneous as the Mammoth doesn't act in response until its turn.)

Jack's attack: This mammoth has very tough barding/fur/skin. All attacks miss. Re-roll the vital strike damage, or mention in your next post how much it is.
Lewis' attack:
&gt;&gt;Then he uses Lunge (gets -2 to AC and 10' reach) and attacks mammoth via Spell Combat (-1 to hit for attacks) and Warp Assault for 1 point:
Swift: Black Blade Strike (1 point for +3 to damage)

(1d20+17)[28] for (1d6+19)[22] damage
 (1d20+17)[19] for (1d6+19)[22] damage - haste 
(1d20+15)[32] for (1d6+19)[20] damage - warp assault
 (1d20+12)[21] for (1d6+19)[24] damage 

42 damage (assuming all of Lewis' attacks are magical.)
----
Save results:
The Frost giant rider begins vomiting (over Jack) as the Mammoth flees south (run action, I'll count all the squares later. I duplicated the background battle-grid and made approximate placements on the next page)

PCs who haven't taken their turn before initive count 19 may take their turn before the mammoth moved.
PCs who qualify may take AoOs on the fleeing elephant.

Ogres run closer, crossing into the storm area.
will saves
1  (1d20+1)[ 14 ] 
2  (1d20+1)[ 17 ] 
3  (1d20+1)[ 8 ] 
4  (1d20+1)[ 15 ] 
5  (1d20+1)[ 13 ] 
6  (1d20+1)[ 5 ] 
7  (1d20+1)[ 8 ] 
8  (1d20+1)[ 3 ] 

Edit: all stop on the edge of the storm and vomit at the party.

LegoLass casts a spell and conjures a scattering of randomly arranged colored bricks on the field between the party and the ogres (Lego caltrops).
Infernally Clay
      
  Leif Fochlucan 
 Aasimar Druid
HP: 27/75, AC: 25
Conditions: None
Spell Slots: 1st: 6/6, 2nd: 5/5, 3rd: 4/4, 4th: 3/3, 5th: 2/2

Animal Companion:
Iorek, Medium Bear
HP: 24/72, AC: 25
Conditions: None  
 
  

Leif dives into the snow, dousing the flames around her, then begins to grow and shift into an enormous plant creature with a gaping maw filled with seemingly infinite teeth and attempts to latch onto the fleeing mammoth.

 
 Spoiler 
Leif wildshapes into a plant creature with  these stats , but treated one size larger thanks to Powerful Wildshape.
Leif uses Bite for her AoO and attempts to grab as part of the attack.
To hit:  (1d20+17)[ 33 ] , to damage:  (2d6+11)[ 18 ] 
To grapple:  (1d20+23)[ 26 ] 
 
jakarta
The giant flower hits but is unable to latch on. (is there anything making the damage magical?)

Reflex and fort save vs fire damage.

Does the bear do anything?
Infernally Clay
 
 Originally Posted by jakarta 
 The giant flower hits but is unable to latch on. (is there anything making the damage magical?)

Reflex and fort save vs fire damage.

Does the bear do anything? 
 

Iorek can just hang back for now against all this chaos.

Fort save:  (1d20+13)[ 29 ] 
Dex save:  (1d20+10)[ 25 ] 
jakarta
Both saves made.

---
(at end of round)
The man who was tossed into your teleport has been trampled and burned. He crawls to his bag and reaches in. He retrieves a small, ornate suitcase and and touches a gem in the center before collapsing.

The case glows and splits into sections which rearrange themselves into a standing, armored female form.

 "Directive?"  it asks.
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 25+5+4 (16+5+4 T/20+4 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 49/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage, Haste, Temporary: Fire Resistance 10 +20ft fly speed (total 80ft)   
 
  
With a little mental effort, Nale inured himself against the flames and increased his fly speed. Still burning like a comet, Nale took to the air, aiming for the northern most ogre with a dive attack, pulling back up sharply to get out of the reach of the monster.

 
 Spoiler 

Swift action: Rapid augmentation for Elemental Resistance [Fire 10] and +20ft fly speed [-2 PP]

Fire damage  (2d6)[ 3 ]  vs. 10 Fire resistance Edit: no damage

Regeneration ring: +1 hp

Move: 15ft up and forward towards the ogre at I5, staying at a hight of 15 ft above ground

Standard action: attack at flat footed, vomiting ogre

Power attack: -2
 (1d20+15)[ 31 ] , damage  (3d6)[ 12 ] + (2d6)[ 6 ]  electricity +20, if crit x2: Edit 38 damage total

Risk opportunity attack from ogre and move up 20ft to a total of 40ft height
 
jakarta
The blow nearly splits the ogre in half.
Esprit15
 
 Originally Posted by jakarta 
 Both saves made.

---
(at end of round)
The man who was tossed into your teleport has been trampled and burned. He crawls to his bag and reaches in. He retrieves a small, ornate suitcase and and touches a gem in the center before collapsing.

The case glows and splits into sections which rearrange themselves into a standing, armored female form.

 "Directive?"  it asks. 
 

Mentha gives a satisfied dust off of the hands as she returns to her spot.  “Yeah, your directive is to kill those ogres. Start with…”  she reaches for her crossbow and points it at the nearest ogre.  “That one.” 

…then she actually loads a bolt into the weapon.
 
 Spoiler 
Move to E9 and draw crossbow

Use standard action to load crossbow since move was used moving
 
Stelio Kontos
Relieved to have zipped out of the worst of the mammoth trampling -- but currently without arrows -- Torsten shook his head in disgust.  Anyone reading thoughts right now would sense   Of all the amateur...stupid...  

There was no sense coming to an ogre fight without at least something to fight back with.  He uttered a quick phrase, vanishing from sight, and went back in, as quietly as he might, to retrieve his quiver.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Cast invisibility on self.
Move back to wherever my quiver is, using Stealth:
 (1d20+37)[ 57 ]  includes invisibility stealth bonus; moving half speed is no concern since Haste is up.
 
angelpalm
 ♫ Eternal Black ♫ 
      
  Psycho Soldier Persephone 
 Android Awakened Blade
HP: 110/110, AC: 29 TA/FF 20/24
PP 48/57
Perception: 15   Stealth: 17
Conditions: None
 
 Spoiler: Buffs 
NA
 

  
 
  
 "Analyzing situation, I see.....engaging targets" , the suitcase woman says as she floats a few feet off the ground to get a better vantage point.

She raises her hands and what appears to be a small cloud of glass like dust emanates from them and spreads over the ogres.

 "This may prove more effective, their sensations are currently preoccupied."
 
 
 Spoiler: Actions 
😎
Move: float 15 ft into air and hover[dc 15/auto succeed]
Standard
She manifest  Holographic Projection 

It has a dc of 17 vs Will and has been augmented with these effects.


 If you spend 4 additional power points, you may use this power to override the sense of all creatures in the area. All creatures inside are treated as blind and deaf while inside the area of this effect. Making a will save to recognize that this is a figment does not negate the blindness, or deafness.

If you spend 2 additional power points, the area increases to 1 30-ft cube/level. 

Spread is 300 ft and duration is concentration.
 
Paddywagon Man
Jeffy is incredibly hurt but still has time to have a good laugh at Jack's expense as his once-time doppleganger is bruised, burned and squished. Time for ogre meat.

  "Bliind, yes? Can't see me. And not smart like Jeffy. Heeeeeh...."  

Jeffy extinguishes the flames englfing his rubbery body and then starts to compress, twist and lengthen until a very convincing ogre stands in his place.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Move action to extinguish flames, standard action to Disguise Self as an ogre, it's a physical transformation thanks to Malleable Form rather than just an illusion.
 (1d20+14)[ 32 ]  Disguise if they have time to be suspicious in all the chaos.
He'll 5-foot step backwards towards the ogres, like he's been blinded too and is stumbling away from the invaders.
 
Paddywagon Man
Both the gleeful Jeffy and the bruised, angry Jack take opportunistic swipes at the fleeing mammoth, of course.

 
 Spoiler: Opportunity Attacks 

Note - if allowed, they'll target the rider rather than the mount, though it doesn't change the rolls. They're able to use Vital Strike with one opportunity attack per round as well.
Jeffy, with axe:  (1d20+9)[ 26 ] ,  (8d6+11)[ 36 ]  damage
Jack, with a grumpy gauntlet punch:  (1d20+10)[ 13 ] ,  (2d4+6)[ 11 ]  damage

If allowed, they'll use reach and Combat Reflexes to attack the other member of the mounted pair as well, without Vital Strike

Jeffy:  (1d20+9)[ 21 ] ,  (4d6+11)[ 26 ]  damage
Jack:  (1d20+10)[ 26 ] ,  (1d4+6)[ 7 ]  damage


Also, as requested, here's a reroll of Jack's previous Vital Strike damage:  (2d8+9)[ 14 ] 
 
jakarta
(some adjustments after discussing the situations with the player, who hadn't seen the map.  It is now just 10 ft cubes of a force and illusion effect covering the ogres, and a 20 ft cube covering the mammoth and rider. Cubes grant a 20% miss chance for targets in (melee and ranged) or behind (ranged) them.)

will save for ogres to disbelieve the swarm

1. it's dead Jim.
2. [roll]1d20+3[roll]
3. [roll]1d20+3[roll]
4. [roll]1d20+3[roll]
5. [roll]1d20+3[roll]
6. [roll]1d20+3[roll]
7. [roll]1d20+3[roll]
8. [roll]1d20+3[roll]


Fort save for ogres to avoid damage  (2d6+9)[ 12 ] 

1. it's dead Jim.
2. [roll]1d20+6[roll]
3. [roll]1d20+6[roll]
4. [roll]1d20+6[roll]
5. [roll]1d20+6[roll]
6. [roll]1d20+6[roll]
7. [roll]1d20+6[roll]
8. [roll]1d20+6[roll]

will for frost giant
[roll]1d20+9[roll]
Fort for frost giant
(don't roll a one. bonus exceeds dc) [roll]1d20[roll]

will for mammoth
[roll]1d20+7[roll]
fort for mammoth.
[roll]1d20+14[roll]
jakarta
(forgot the slashes)
will save for ogres to disbelieve the swarm

1. it's dead Jim.
2.  (1d20+3)[ 10 ] 
3.  (1d20+3)[ 14 ] 
4.  (1d20+3)[ 10 ] 
5.  (1d20+3)[ 15 ] 
6.  (1d20+3)[ 17 ] 
7.  (1d20+3)[ 9 ] 
8.  (1d20+3)[ 6 ] 


Fort save for ogres to avoid damage (2d6+9)[12]

1. it's dead Jim.
2.  (1d20+6)[ 7 ] 
3.  (1d20+6)[ 22 ] 
4.  (1d20+6)[ 22 ] 
5.  (1d20+6)[ 9 ] 
6.  (1d20+6)[ 16 ] 
7.  (1d20+6)[ 9 ] 
8.  (1d20+6)[ 17 ] 

will for frost giant
 (1d20+9)[ 27 ] 
Fort for frost giant
(don't roll a one. bonus exceeds dc)  (1d20)[ 5 ] 

will for mammoth
 (1d20+7)[ 10 ] 
fort for mammoth.
 (1d20+14)[ 26 ] 
jakarta
(forgot the slashes)
will save for ogres to disbelieve the swarm

1. it's dead Jim.
2. (1d20+3)[10]
3. (1d20+3)[14]
4. (1d20+3)[10]
5. (1d20+3)[15]
6. (1d20+3)[17]
7. (1d20+3)[9]
8. (1d20+3)[6]


Fort save for ogres to avoid damage (2d6+9)[12]

1. it's dead Jim.
2. (1d20+6)[7]   Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes 12 damage
3. (1d20+6)[22]. Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes 6 damage
4. (1d20+6)[22]. Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes 6 damage
5. (1d20+6)[9].   Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes 6 damage 6. (1d20+6)[16] (doesn't believe this nonsense, takes 12 damage)
7. (1d20+6)[9].  Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes 12 damage
8. (1d20+6)[17] Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes 6 damage
will for frost giant
(1d20+9)[27]
Fort for frost giant
(don't roll a one. bonus exceeds dc) (1d20)[5]  No effect.  Takes 6 damage

will for mammoth
(1d20+7)[10]
fort for mammoth.
(1d20+14)[26]

Fear'ed mammoth thinks a swarm is chasing it. takes 6 damage.
Infernally Clay
      
  Leif Fochlucan 
 Aasimar Druid
HP: 27/75, AC: 25
Conditions: None
Spell Slots: 1st: 6/6, 2nd: 5/5, 3rd: 4/4, 4th: 3/3, 5th: 2/2

Animal Companion:
Iorek, Medium Bear
HP: 24/72, AC: 25
Conditions: None  
 
  

Leif moves closer to the ogres and then pierces the ground below her with spear-like vines, which erupt and try to strike the ogres. Iorek follows closely behind.

 
 Spoiler 
Leif moves within 45ft of the closest two ogres, avoiding obstacles as best she can, then casts Ice Spears.

DC 18 reflex save or take  (2d6)[ 5 ]  piercing damage and  (2d6)[ 10 ]  cold damage. Half if succeed.

Ogre 1 reflex save:  (1d20)[ 3 ]  vs 18 DC
Ogre 2 reflex save:  (1d20)[ 20 ]  vs 18 DC

To trip Ogre 1:  (1d20+18)[ 21 ]  vs 16 CMD
To trip Ogre 2:  (1d20+18)[ 29 ]  vs 16 CMD
 
jakarta
Two ice sculptures of roses erupt form the ground and skewer 2 of the ogres. They both fall to the ground prone.
 
 Spoiler: oger conditions 


All ogres have 20% concealment.

1. it's dead Jim.
2. (1d20+6)[7] Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes  12  27 damage, prone, Tall ice spike in square
3. (1d20+6)[22]. Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes  6  13 damage,  prone, Tall ice spike in square
4. (1d20+6)[22]. Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes 6 damage
5. (1d20+6)[9]. Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes 6 damage
6. (1d20+6)[16] (doesn't believe this nonsense, takes 12 damage)
7. (1d20+6)[9]. Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes 12 damage
8. (1d20+6)[17] Thinks he is fighting a swarm, takes 6 damage
 
jakarta
Flashback for Lief:

 
 Spoiler: Flashback 


As you wait for the mission to begin, you are visited by a strange red-haired woman with white, pupil-less eyes. She seems plane-touched.

"I am Tala. We are both users of Craft.

I have had a vision. Sometime soon on your travels you will find a temple or shrine underground. I sense an artefact there. Return it to me, and you will be rewarded.

As a show of my good faith and solidarity, Sister, here is a gift for you. Do not reach within unless you are in dire need of aid."

She gives you a leather pouch with a embroidered spouting seed. She leaves without further explanation.
 
Stelio Kontos
Well, at least there weren't a bunch of ogres and a mammoth stomping near him, that was a plus, Torsten had to admit.

Grabbing (finally) his quiver, he hoofed it back away from the enemies, still careful to make no sound as he went.


 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Grab quiver
Move 30' left on the map
Stealth check  (1d20+37)[ 55 ]  includes invisibilty
 
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Paddywagon Man 
 Both the gleeful Jeffy and the bruised, angry Jack take opportunistic swipes at the fleeing mammoth, of course.

 
 Spoiler: Opportunity Attacks 

Note - if allowed, they'll target the rider rather than the mount, though it doesn't change the rolls. They're able to use Vital Strike with one opportunity attack per round as well.
Jeffy, with axe: [roll0], [roll1] damage
Jack, with a grumpy gauntlet punch: [roll2], [roll3] damage

If allowed, they'll use reach and Combat Reflexes to attack the other member of the mounted pair as well, without Vital Strike

Jeffy: [roll4], [roll5] damage
Jack: [roll6], [roll7] damage


Also, as requested, here's a reroll of Jack's previous Vital Strike damage: [roll8]
 
 
 

Jeffy's attack hits the giant.
Jack's attack bounces off the Fire Mammoth, which only has a slight wound from the earlier attack.
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 29 (21 T/21 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 28/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: Hasted, on fire  
 
  

The appearance of new figures on the battlefield is quite distracting and doesn't allow to truly understand what's happening, so Lewis focuses on the enemies, intending to deal with the intentions of the allies later. As the mammoth flees, frightened by the magic of one of the tiefling's companions, the man focuses on the nearest remaining foes, the ogres.

 
 Spoiler: ACTIONS 
No AoO - Lewis is too far from the mammoth.
Lewis gets 1 arcane point from Lingering Adrenaline.
Black Blade gets 1 arcane point (now 2 total)

Lewis uses Warp Assault and Spell Combat (-1 to hit for attacks) to attack the ogres. He's able to teleport for a total of 45' between each attack (starting from F18), so, if after first (or second/third) attack one of the ogres is dead, he tp-s to another. Begins with the closest, then to the closest next.
Swift: Black Blade Strike (1 point for +3 to damage)

 (1d20+17)[ 33 ]  for  (1d6+19)[ 24 ]  damage
 (1d20+17)[ 34 ]  for  (1d6+19)[ 24 ]  damage - haste
 (1d20+15)[ 18 ]  for  (1d6+19)[ 22 ]  damage - warp assault
 (1d20+12)[ 21 ]  for  (1d6+19)[ 23 ]  damage

Gets 1 arcane point from using Warping Surge and uses it for a Sorcerous Guard (+1 touch AC, +1 save vs spells and spell-likes).

Lewis is burning from aura, but gets zero damage due to fire resistance (5).
Lewis arcane points: 0
Black blade arcane points: 1
 
jakarta
 
 Spoiler: Never mind. Lewis is ahead of the illusion 
  (1d100)[ 15 ] 
 (1d100)[ 6 ] 
 (1d100)[ 28 ] 
 (1d100)[ 31 ]  
 

Nothing to see here.
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 25+5+4 (16+5+4 T/20+4 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 50/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage, Haste, Temporary: Fire Resistance 10 +20ft fly speed (total 80ft)   
 
  

Nale continued with his methodical eradication of the ogres.

 
 Spoiler 

Move to I7 at 10ft height

Fire damage  (2d6)[ 8 ]  vs. 10 Fire resistance Edit: no damage

Standard Action: Power attack: -2 Ogre
 (1d20+15)[ 25 ] , damage  (3d6+20)[ 28 ] slashing+ (2d6)[ 10 ]  electricity, if crit x2: Edit: 38 damage total

Miss chance 20% (1 and 2 on  (1d10)[ 8 ] ) Edit: hit

Regeneration ring: +1 hp
 
jakarta
 A bit frustrated by the extra swings needed due to the illusion blocking his view  Lewis Warps around and kills ogres 5, 6, &amp; 7. He Severely wounds Ogre 8,  ending up at about J18.

(then the Illusion swarm attacks)

Nale dispatches Ogre 2.
Paddywagon Man
Quicker on his feet, the very angry Jack - forgetting any pretensions of being the smart and civilized one of the pair - douses the flames engulfing his suit before taking a few long strides forward and then launching himself, fist and pointy nose first, like a deranged ballistic missile through the closest ogre!
 
 Spoiler: Jack 

Move action to douse the flames, then a second move action to run up and leap 40 feet horizontally, over the caltrops and through the ogre, taking 10 on Acrobatics both to jump and to move through its space (success unless the ogre has at least 27 CMD)

Up Close and Personal swift action attack:  (1d20+8)[ 10 ] ,  (6d8+9)[ 36 ]  damage ([roll]1d8+5d4+9[/roll] if the Acrobatics somehow failed)
On successful Acrobatics and hit, he gets an opportunity attack against the hit ogre at the start of its next turn.
 


Jeffy, still in ogre form will turn and run towards the two closest standing ogres as well, as if fleeing from the interlopers - then burst out into a grin too wide and toothy even for an ogre at the last second, rolling past one hopefully surprised and blind ogre with a vicious kidney punch before tearing into the other with his axe.

  "WATCH JEFFY WIN A ZERK"  
 
 Spoiler: Jeffy 

Takes 10 to standing jump past caltrops and move through the northmost ogre's space with Acrobatics, successfully doing so unless the ogre has at least 29 CMD.

Up Close and Personal swift action attack:  (1d20+12)[ 31 ] ,  32  damage ( (6d4+6)[ 20 ]  if the Acrobatics somehow failed)
On successful Acrobatics and hit, he gets an opportunity attack against the hit ogre at the start of its next turn.

As standard action, Vital Strike on the other one, that Jack already targeted:  (1d20+10)[ 14 ] ,  (8d6+11)[ 42 ] 
 
jakarta
Leggolass somehow fires a bow one handed at an ogre.  (1d20+9)[ 21 ] , Dam  (1d6+4)[ 5 ] 

"Don't let Big Johan get away! He'll bring reinforcements and destroy the village!" shouts the elfess.

The mammoth continues to run another 160 south.

Jack misses at is Ogre.
Jeffy slaughters one, but misses the swipe at the other.
jakarta
Legolass picked off Ogre 8.

Fort save for remaining ogre.
 (1d20+6)[ 13 ] 

Will Save
 (1d20+3)[ 13 ] 

Ref save (why not?)

 (1d20)[ 7 ] 

Damage  (2d6+9)[ 20 ] 
 Attack roll on Jack if needed: (1d20+7)[ 24 ]  dam  (2d8+7)[ 17 ]  
jakarta
The still puking ogre gets shredded by "Angle's" force effect and attempts to retreat.

Jack gets an AoO.
Paddywagon Man
  "No! Jack! Jack wins a Zerk!"  

More concerned with Jeffy's absolute gall, he's barely even looking the last ogre's way as his arm reaches out a few feet past its normal length to give the runner a proper syringe stabbing before springing back into place.

 (1d20+9)[ 22 ] ,  (2d8+9)[ 18 ] 
jakarta
The last ore falls and the mammoth disappears into the forested distance.

Legolass begins digging at the base of the snowball.

"Hold on Flagg! We'll get you out!"
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 25+5 (16+5 T/20 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 51/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale flew back to the landing circle and began picking up his equipment - and took a moment to douse the flame around himself. He watched bemused as the elf tried to dig out her companion:

  "Two questions: Do you need help digging? And what the frag is going on here? Why was our landing zone under siege?"  

If indicated, he began to help remove the snow ball.
Esprit15
 “Make sure the goblin doesn’t break any of the ogres’ bones, I want to use them.”  Definitely not fast enough to catch up with a panicking mammoth, Mentha joins in trying to dig the man out of the snow.  “Sorry, wouldn’t have scared off the giant if I knew he would just ride off to get reinforcements.” 
Stelio Kontos
Torsten stilled himself, eyeing the giant carefully as he rode off on the mammoth.    An uneven gait, swaying a little to the left... light wind...  

Slowly he drew an arrow; a simple, regular one at that, and with a small puff of air let it loose at the giant as he rode off into the forest.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Studied target on the giant; that +2 attack offsets the -2 from sickness
2 range increments out = -4
attack frost giant:  (1d20+11)[ 31 ] 
damage, if it hits:  (1d8+2)[ 7 ]  base damage, plus  (3d6+9)[ 18 ]  sneak attack (and yes I can sneak attack from any distance, once/round)

I don't care about any cover or concealment, unless it's total (which, if I can see them, it's not)

(having typed all this up watch me roll like a 2 on the attack roll)
 
jakarta
"Yes! Help Please!" She digs frantically

(And I just got a popup notice that someone else has posted, so to be continued...)
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Stelio Kontos 
 Torsten stilled himself, eyeing the giant carefully as he rode off on the mammoth.    An uneven gait, swaying a little to the left... light wind...  

Slowly he drew an arrow; a simple, regular one at that, and with a small puff of air let it loose at the giant as he rode off into the forest.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Studied target on the giant; that +2 attack offsets the -2 from sickness
2 range increments out = -4
attack frost giant: [roll0]
damage, if it hits: [roll1] base damage, plus [roll2] sneak attack (and yes I can sneak attack from any distance, once/round)

I don't care about any cover or concealment, unless it's total (which, if I can see them, it's not)

(having typed all this up watch me roll like a 2 on the attack roll)
 
 
 

Nat 20. What's your critical damage?
jakarta
The giant stiffens in his saddle as the arrow causes a critical wound.

Of course, no one sees the invisible man make this long distance shot.
jakarta
With whatever aid is offered, the female elf digs until her shivering companion is pulled from the snow.

Teeth chattering, he looks around at the battlefield?

"Sit-Rep?"

"Johan and Smokey got away. Eight Ogres KIA. No sign of Albere or the other two ogres. Um.. That  ogre? is with us. Some sorta shapeshifter. Johan and Smokey are wounded and fleeing South."

She looks around for a moment..."Several wounds, mostly burns.. Two missing. Didn't see them run, so must be invisible. That," she points up to the storm, "is his doing." She gestures at Lewis.

"They ported in in a jumble right after you got hit with the snowball."

Looking at Nale, "The last  two insertions had problems with trees and cave walls, so we came to an empty field. We had problems with Johans associates last evening. They happened to find us while we were waiting for you. We didn't have a clear timing. "
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 25+5 (16+5 T/20 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 51/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale nodded, looking in the direction of the fleeing mammoth:

  "I see. So this won't be an infiltration mission after all. Probably for the best, considering half of our crew seems to be more of the flashy kind - myself included."  

His armor began to sprout a third arm, holding a shield.


  "I'm Nale - ex-member of the Immortals, and yes, most of them are dead now, very ironic, yada yada yada, heard it before. I guess I'm here, because big game hunting of non-sentients is illegal in the kingdom, but killing sentients is not, as long as the powers that be say so."  

He turned around to the others:   "Who are you, what are your specialties?"  
 
 Spoiler 

Using one reconfigure to switch out Darkvision, Improved Armor for Extra Arms
 
Paddywagon Man
The ogre turns back into the colossal, obese goblin from before as it starts tearing hungrily into the dead ogre.

  "Jeffy! Very special, me. Jumping. Rolling. Eating. Wand magic. Ugly weak one is Jack."  

The long-nosed skinny one in the purple suit, still putting on affectations of being the civilized one, maneuvers a chunk of ogre into his mouth with the syringe spear, following with a good squirt of ogre blood from its chamber for flavour.

 "No! Clever one Jack! Sneeaky one Jack!" 

Sitting angrily for a moment, Jeffy throws a chunk of ogre at Jack's head, then reaches out with one arm to snag the bag of holding on one of the hooks of his butchering axe, pulling it over.

  "Jeffy's better! If Jack can eat ogre... not good enough for Jeffy! Will eat... giant! Give Jeffy a Zerk! He'll catch the beast and tasty rider!"  

Jack squeals angrily and the two jump to their feet, locking arms and trying to shove the other over.

 
 Spoiler: Strength checks 

Jeffy  (1d20+6)[ 16 ] 
Jack  (1d20+6)[ 15 ] 
 


After a close struggle, Jeffy shoves Jack to the ground and kicks him, the already battered doppelganger losing a big of shape as he lapses into spongy shapeshifter unconsciousness. That out of the way, Jeffy retrieves a collection of items from the bag - a large bow, quiver, ioun stone, wayfinder, and a bottle of some sketchy-looking elixir.

  "Give a zerk or no chasing!"  
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (21 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 56/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale sighed:

  "Darn junky cannibals... but I guess you earned yourself a dose for good behavior. Catch!  

Nale tossed Jeffy one of the ZERK doses from the container.
Esprit15
Mentha tilts her head, pondering. She turns to the elf.  “Miss. Is that giant the chief? Or just some warband leader?” 

Of course, then someone else hands the junkie some before she can get an answer.  “Or we can do that. But Jeffy. I want the bones mostly intact. Ribs are fine, limbs are not, tusks are not. There will be  consequences  if I can’t get what I want out of that corpse, understand?”  The word ‘consequences’ has a surprisingly frightful chill to it.

As the goblin sprints off for happy fun murder times, Mentha stretches and walks over to the stuff pile to gather her things.  “If we’re doing introductions, I’m Mentha Peprit,”  the gnomish woman says from over the pile of stuff.  “As I said back in the cell, I have a little skill in alchemy, and some skill with magic, especially as it relates to the once living. Don’t really  do  the healing, positive energy thing  at all,  since that stuff has burned me since birth, but I can use it from wands well enough. So I can still at least roughly keep you on this side of the abyss. Hopefully you all can do me that same kindness.

“Seriously though? Do  not  give me cure potions unless you want a little gnome corpse. I have my own potions here,”  she says, flicking her cloak out a bit and showing the vials of black liquid.  “Use  them  on me if the worst should happen.” 
jakarta
Legolass answers, "Warband leader. They have been leading mixed groups of giants and goblinoids. Some other mercenaries. Mostly humans and half orks."
Paddywagon Man
 (1d4)[ 2 ]  strength boost from Zerk

As he chomps down on ogre and greedily enjoys the Zerk, Jeffy mumbles some instructions, holding out the suspicious liquid..

  "Will do it... but pretty hurt right now, sick! Took this from morsel's labratory. Makes big wings, sometimes. Sometimes, get real sick. Which morsel can magic my stomach better first?

Or... Jeffy can read his scroll, chase! Easier. Less fast. Less fun!"  
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (21 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 58/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Having accepted his role as minder for the goblin, Nale took a look at the scroll, making sure the sick goblin was cured.

  "Here, don't get yourself killed just yet. There is more damage to be done."  
Stelio Kontos
Torsten (now visible after having attacked, but if not will dismiss the spell) lowered his bow and extended his hand for a firm shake, if any wanted it.

 "Torsten Kor.  Best equipped to stalk and kill from a distance, preferably without being noticed.  So don't be mad if I go running away if we get ambushed.  Doesn't do to have anyone in my personal space.  Cramps my style.  And, uh, been a while since I've worked with anyone." 
 "Mr. Flagg, I suggest you get some warmth on those extremities before you freeze them off.  Do you have a fire pit set up?" 
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Paddywagon Man 
 Greedily taking the zerk before chugging back the other suspicious liquid, a pair of huge wings like grotesque, fused goblin hands wriggle free from Jeffy's back. After a few steps he takes a great running leap and starts flying, clumsily but quite fast, upwards and after the fleeing mammoth and giant.

 (2d8)[ 11 ]  strength boost from Zerk 
 

And  (2d8)[ 11 ]  healing.
Paddywagon Man
With the magic of the looted druidic scroll bolstering his limbs Jeffy goes sprinting in the direction of the fleeing mammoth, a huge and wicked-looking bow at the ready.

 
 Spoiler 
With his land speed now at 50 and covering 200 feet per round, he'll be able to catch the mammoth, though given its head start it might take a little bit. Greater Longstrider will last 5 hours though so there isn't a particular rush.
 
jakarta
Those sickened by the teleport recover now that their is a moment to catch a breath.

Flagg retrieves a potion from his pack and consumes it.

"I'm alright. No fire. We need to get out if the open and moving.

Can you turn that off?" He looks to Lewis, referring to the storm veil.


"Get your gear." he commands generally.

---
Spot checks
---

Mentha:  
 Spoiler: while you gather your gear  

You find a black pouch with a skull patch on it and a note safety-pinned to it.

"Mentha, you should leave something behind for the giants.
-Waller"

Looking in the bag...should I put this indelicacy?...will soon need to change your "Hello Zombie Kitty" panties.  
 Spoiler: visual aid 
.      https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1480...sr_gallery-1-1 
 


Black Blood Rubies. Glowing purple from being pre- desecrated. 100 of them. The really good $#1+ !

1 per mouth for fleshy undead or 1 per eye socket for skeletons. (Limit is caster level, not expense. Does not improve the number you can control. So long as you aren't dealing with multi headed creatures you can make 100 zombies or 50 skeletons) .

Somebody wants some undead chaos in your wake.
 
Esprit15
 “‘We just had these lying around from previous necromancers’ my ass,”  Mentha says, cheerfully placing the rubies in her pocket.  “Alright, orders from up top. We’re to leave a little carnage in our wake for the giants,”  the tiny woman says. She reaches into the bag of holding, and pulls up several skeletons - mostly animals, but one humanoid as well. Ignoring the animals she addresses the humanoid.  “Come on Georgina, gimme a hand and pull these guys closer together.”  The skeleton slackly begins to move toward one of the ogres, slowly dragging it through the snow toward another ogre.

 “Good, now pull that ogre over here.”  As the skeleton continues its duties, Mentha hops onto the ogre’s body and unceremoniously scoops out the late humanoid’s eyes with a silver dagger, humming a little tune to herself. She places two gemstones in the eyes, and returns to trying to pull the ogres together.  “Pairs would be  lovely  if you all wouldn’t mind?”  she says to the group.
jakarta
Flagg is not happy. "What orders? We Do NOT have time for this!"
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (21 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 58/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale quickly went over the jumble to pick up anything he had missed, but looked up irritated at Flagg:

  "Why the sudden rush? The giants have better mobility than our group and there is no chance to hide our tracks out here. Leaving behind a distraction will give us a far better chance.
You talked about a village - how far is that away? And why should we care about it? They are the ones settling in a giant infested region. Your army obviously doesn't care either and there was nothing in our mission briefing about saving civilians beyond the dwarf. Going off script might cause our watchers to trigger our collars."  
 
 Spoiler: spot check 

 (1d20+11)[ 30 ] 
 
Paddywagon Man
Jeffy will morph back into ogre form as he makes his pursuit... or retreat, as it hopefully appears.

 (1d20+13)[ 17 ]  Perception
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 27 (18 T/20 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 38/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: -  
 
  

First thing Lewis does after the last visible enemy stops moving, is stopping that bothering flame from trying to burn him alive. Surrounding poisonous storm slowly looses it's intensity, and tiefling heads to his belongings, picks up his bag, pulls out a wand from it, and casts a healing spell on himself. Only then does he survey his surroundings and address the people around him:  "Lewis Blackheart. Nice to meet you, ladies and gentlemen. This"   - he points at the Storm, -   "will calm down itself soon enough. And it won't hurt you. At least until you try to deal with me. So,"   - now he looks at Flagg, -   "Looks like it's going to come down to a direct confrontation?"  
 
 Spoiler: ACTIONS 
Stopping fire
Wand of Infernal Healing - on myself
 (1d20+14)[ 31 ]  Perception
 
Esprit15
Mentha stops humming and looks up from her work at the man and indignantly hops down into the snow.  “This one,”  she says cooly to the man, handing him the slip of paper signed by Waller. She then turns around and returns to the ogre corpses.  “And like Nale, I don’t see the rush. The goblin will take some time to catch up with the giant, kill it, and then return. You know, the thing you were  so insistent  on being important. And if we ditch him, he’s almost certainly going to go on a violent little rampage because his drug suppliers ditched him. And then my head may or may not explode. Bad ending.

“So no, I’ll continue doing what I’m doing, and you may help make it go faster, or not.”  She finishes scooping the last bits of eyeball from the second ogre and places a gem in each of its sockets, like the other.    “Jaiki, hezurdura odoltsua!”    she cants, magic power ringing out in her voice. Flesh putrifies and melts from the bodies of the ogres into a black and brown sludge, leaving only bones that seem to endlessly bleed crimson as they are invigorated with unlife.

 “But honestly, I’m a necromancer. I don’t  need  your help, your superiors merely  enlisted  mine.”  She climbs onto the skull of one of the bloody ogre skeletons and proceeds to order the duo to gather their late and future companions, and begins the process of animating them as well.

 
 Spoiler: Perception 
 (1d20+8)[ 13 ] 
 

 
 Spoiler: Animate Dead 
So if the gems bypass HD, is there anything preventing me from just making bloody skeletons? Because normally those are just skeletons that you spend twice the black onyx on, and count as twice their HD for the purposes of price and how many you can animate at once. I can spend twice the rubies if you would prefer that (so four per ogre) or I can do two rubies and an extra four black onyx to match the spirit of how many extra onyx go into making them. Whatever you want to do.

Either way, four castings of Animate Dead, eight bloody ogre skeletons.
 
Infernally Clay
      
  Leif Fochlucan 
 Aasimar Druid
HP: 46/75, AC: 25
Conditions: None
Spell Slots: 1st: 6/6, 2nd: 5/5, 3rd: 3/4, 4th: 1/3, 5th: 2/2

Animal Companion:
Iorek, Medium Bear
HP: 44/72, AC: 25
Conditions: None  
 
  

Leif casts Cure Serious Wounds on herself (recovering  (3d8+9)[ 19 ]  hit points) and Iorek (recovering  (3d8+9)[ 20 ]  hit points), visibly displeased that she was given no warning before being thrown into the middle of a war zone. If the group wants to argue amongst themselves they're welcome to. She isn't interested.
jakarta
Flagg stalks over and looks at the note.

Meanwhile, spot check result... Hey, where did that other guy go? The last one tossed in?

(the only one who might know his name is the un-introduced girl)
angelpalm
 ♫ Eternal Black ♫ 
      
  Psycho Soldier Persephone 
 Android Awakened Blade
HP: 110/110, AC: 29 TA/FF 20/24
PP 50/57
Perception: 15   Stealth: 17
Conditions: None
 
 Spoiler: Buffs 
NA
 

  
 
  


The strange woman looks at her surroundings, more specifically the beads that hang off of her and her newly found companions.
 "Greetings fellow combatants, it would seem that I have been thrust into quite a predicament.  Pray-tell, what purpose do these serve?"  She says while pointing at said beads.

 "Oh, how rude of me, I am Persephone, a self-actualized and wholly self-powered Paladin of my own noble cause."  She states as the air around her is temporarily shunted away from her as if by some unseen force.

 "Ah that is better, so again, the beads?" 
 
 Spoiler: Actions 
😎
She activates her portable psionic generator for a quick boost in pp in order to manifest Inertial armor.  And just as quickly deactivates it and switches on her Thrashing Dragon stance in order to prepare for future encounters.
 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (21 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 60/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale's left eyebrow rose and a sardonic grin appeared on his face:

  "So, you are some kind of psionic construct, aren't you. Looks like you were classified by our overlords as equipment, or... luggage. Those beads are part of their transport and control scheme, intended to keep us in line and on target. Besides tracking and scrying on us, they can trigger our collars to let some kind of parasite gestate in us. And the beads likely allow them to recover our equippment through teleportation. I wouldn't try to remove them, unless you know exactly what you are doing. If I see this right, you're programmed with martial disciplines and have at least some training with ectoplasmic shaping. Not bad for a girl made from luggage."  
Stelio Kontos
 "Neat trick"  observed Torsten as the self actualized whatevethehellitwas did its thing.

 "So, where are we going?"  he asked Flagg, picking through the pile of debris to retrieve his belongings and quickly slinging his pack onto his shoulders, while adjusting the various buckles and fasteners that had been thrown askew.   "Probably need a bit of time to muster up.  Weren't exactly wholly prepared to come out swinging.  How much do we know about where they're encamped?" 
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Pyrophilios 
 [TABLE][TR]


  "So, you are some kind of psionic construct, aren't you. Looks like you were classified by our overlords as equipment, or... luggage. Those beads are part of their transport and control scheme, intended to keep us in line and on target. Besides tracking and scrying on us, they c an trigger our collars  to let some kind of parasite gestate in us. And the beads likely allow them to recover our equippment through teleportation. I wouldn't try to remove them, unless you know exactly what you are doing. If I see this right, you're programmed with martial disciplines and have at least some training with ectoplasmic shaping. Not bad for a girl made from luggage."   
 

(close. The beads replaced the collars. It was implied that 1) the beads would kill you if removal was attempted. 2) they can kill you remotely. 3) If you spend too much time in an anti-magic field or otherwise remove the beads that the implanted parasite will kill you. 4)There is some teleportation-tracking function)

Flagg looks at the note.
"Dammit, Waller's gone crazy....and she probably meant to leave something behind in their compound when you leave, not to make an army and storm the place!"

He throws his hands up in frustration.
"Fricken Amateur Hour! Again!. I should have just stayed dead. I should have told Rhals and Waller where to shove it instead of agreeing to move to Fairy Land and LARP Dee-ANN-Dee!"

None of you have any idea what he is talking about, but Legolass starts standing behind him mimicking his gestures and mouthing his words as though she has heard it all before.
Esprit15
Mentha notes the woman’s reaction and smirks before returning to her work.  “He always this much of a whiner I take it?”  She raises two more of the ogres as bloody skeletons and has one carry her over.  “Kid, let me give you a tip.  Never  stay dead. You get a second chance at life, you  seize  it like a neck. Most folks,  this  is the best shot they’ll get at a second chance,”  she says, giving a slap to the ribcage of the ogre.  “I dunno all the words you said, but we were all on death row before this. Anything but unending torture beats that. And if Waller wants specific actions, Waller can state what those actions are. As is, she handed me a delightful toy. It would be terribly insulting and wasteful to not make use of her gift.” 
jakarta
 "Sudden rush? Direct confrontation?"  

Flagg is.... flagbergasted at your apparent stupidity.

"allRIGHT.  If yall want to take on a hundred hill giants, 20 ogres, 40 bugbears, 10 bearbugs, 2 cave bears, a pack of dire wolves, half dozen stone giants, a few dozen orcs, flock of giant goats, and...what's the difference between cloud giants, mist giants, and fog giants again? Doesn't matter, they got at least one of each. How the frack are you going to  directly confront  all that WITHOUT get-n ya rescue target kilt?"

Flagg paces in a circle for a moment as he attempts to get his regional accent and temper under control.

"It was going to be hard enough to get you to base camp before nightfall without being spotted by the hobgoblin patrols, but now you want me to do it dragging 8 ten-foot tall skeltons? THIS week, of ALL WEEKS, you want to be standing around in a field with corpses? Walking around with corpses. THIS week."

Looking at the Elf, "You and me should have just picked a night and gone in and slit all their throats. But No. Waller wanted Intel.

Would you hurry it up? You Do know what this week is, Right?"

(During the rant you all have time to pick up your gear.)
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (21 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 70/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale's listened impassive to the rant and answered:

  "Sounds a bit excessive for the whole army to roll out just to meet us - especially if they have a prisoner. If you wanted us at the base camp, then why the heck did you not port us there in the first place?
Have you seen our group? This was never going to be a stealth mission. This is a slasher play.
Anyway, some of us can fly, some can turn invisible. Shouldn't be too much trouble getting the dwarf out if they'd bring him here. Though I doubt that.

Oh and no, we don't know what week it is. In fact we don't know where, or when we are. The only thing we know is, that we must kill.

So how about, you explain the situation, instead of getting your panties in a twist."  
Esprit15
 “Correction:  We  have those resources. You just can’t see them yet. See the fun thing about these bad boys…”  she says, slapping the bloody wet skull of one of the ogres and getting crimson on both herself and Flagg,  “is that they self repair. I reckon each could take out a couple of the small fry, get destroyed, and nobody thinks anything of it until the bones pull themselves back together again and tear up more of their grunts before a priest gets involved and they learn how to  actually  destroy them. And every time they punch above their weight class, we have a new, bigger toy to play with. Which is why Jeffy killing that giant and his mammoth is important. If Johan is a warleader, they’ll likely honor his corpse and bury it once they destroy his skeleton the first time. Then it will get up and start killing again.

“Sounds like a wonderful distraction to me,”  the blood tinged gnome says with a grin.  “No direct confrontation, no glorious battles for us. If Nale wants to die valiantly, that’s his perogative.  I  have a prize to acquire.” 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (21 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 71/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale grinned:

  "I'm all for convenient solutions. Before I die, I'll take to the sky and wait a few minutes until I'm healed up again. And if your pets are as useful as you say, I might even be inclined to give you a ride."  
jakarta
Listen checks, and declare what space you are in.
Pyrophilios
[QUOTE=Pyrophilios;25833410]      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (21 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale cocked his head slighly. He wasn't sure if he just had heard something

 
 Spoiler 

Perception
 (1d20+11)[ 21 ] 

Nale stands at C8
 
Esprit15
Mentha keeps her ears open, mostly for signs of the oversized goblin. Her skeletons stand in a roughly evenly spaced group around her.
 
 Spoiler 
Mentha: G8
Ogre Skeletons: G4, G11, K4, K8, K11, K15, N4, N8

Perception:  (1d20+8)[ 28 ] 
 
Infernally Clay
      
  Leif Fochlucan 
 Aasimar Druid
HP: 46/75, AC: 25
Conditions: None
Spell Slots: 1st: 6/6, 2nd: 5/5, 3rd: 3/4, 4th: 1/3, 5th: 2/2

Animal Companion:
Iorek, Medium Bear
HP: 44/72, AC: 25
Conditions: None  
 
  
 
 Spoiler 
Perception:  (1d20+19)[ 21 ] 

Leif and Iorek will be pretty close to Nale by now.
 
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Infernally Clay 
       
  Leif Fochlucan 
 Aasimar Druid
HP: 46/75, AC: 25
Conditions: None
Spell Slots: 1st: 6/6, 2nd: 5/5, 3rd: 3/4, 4th: 1/3, 5th: 2/2

Animal Companion:
Iorek, Medium Bear
HP: 44/72, AC: 25
Conditions: None  
 
  
 
 Spoiler 
Perception: [roll0]

Leif and Iorek will be pretty close to Nale by now.
 
 
 

Roll Knowledge Nature for the druid and a WIS check for the bear.
Infernally Clay
 
 Originally Posted by jakarta 
 Roll Knowledge Nature for the druid and a WIS check for the bear. 
 

Nature:  (1d20+6)[ 17 ] 
Wis check:  (1d20+1)[ 5 ] 
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 27 (18 T/20 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 66/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: -  
 
  

Lewis calmly listens to Flagg, and after his speech just as calmly answers:   "We, obviously, are not too aware of the current situation. And you are not aware of what opportunities and resources we have. For example,"   - the man thinks for a couple of moments -   "I can call a storm that obstructs visibility and hides all these giant skeletons. From afar, it will look like normal bad weather, which is probably not uncommon here."  
 
 Spoiler: ACTIONS 
3 more charges of Wand used to heal up to full hp
Lewis is a bit to north-east from the teleportation point.
 (1d20+14)[ 19 ]  - Perception
 
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Infernally Clay 
 Nature: [roll0]
Wis check: [roll1] 
 

The Druid is confused. You are in the mountains. That sounded like the the non-frenzied range-finding tone of a large peudo-cephalo-squalus... possibly  Galeocerdo x maculosa ?

The bear starts sniffing himself.

A moment later, the sound repeat a bit louder.

 DAH-DUM.  

Flagg and Legolass look up, scan the sky, and glance at each other. "Tree line." they agree in unison and are fading into the distance off the map to the north before they finish saying the word.

----

Meanwhile, about a mile away on the battle map to the south, the mammoth and Jeffy re-engage.
The mammoth slows to catch its breath.

Jeffy, roll your bluff check if you want to run the "I'm an ogre" gambit.
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (21 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale looked annoyed at their fleeing liaison officers. He turned around towards the noise and began to fly straight up to get a better view from above on what was coming towards the group

 
 Spoiler 


Flying 120ft up to get a better view.
 
Stelio Kontos
Torsten wasn't quite sure of the exact reasons, but if the scouts thought being at the tree line was a good idea, that was good enough for him.   He took off sprinting to the north after them, seeking to find a nice sturdy one to hide behind once he got there.
Esprit15
Mentha doesn’t need to be told twice. Her and her skeletons head the same way.
jakarta
At what speed? Gnome or Skeleton?
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 27 (18 T/20 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 66/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: -  
 
  

Lewis shrugs briefly, and moves after the scouts.

 
 Spoiler: ACTIONS 
Lewis moves either using standard-action teleportation for 45', and then moving, or just runs - what is quicker.
 
Paddywagon Man
Jeffy, meanwhile, will try to approach the frost giant and mammoth, slowing to a more natural ogre running speed to avoid drawing extra suspicion.

  (1d20+14)[ 32 ]  Disguise

Looking frightened and frantic, he advances with his bow in one hand and axe behind his back. Readying himself, he'll take a desperate prepared bowshot at the giant if he makes to throw a boulder or spurs the mammoth to trample him.

 (1d20+10)[ 14 ] ,  (6d6+6)[ 37 ]  readied Vital Strike if attacked.

Otherwise, if allowed to get to within 20 feet or so unscathed, he'll drop the bow and burst back to his full magically enhanced speed, dashing past the mammoth and gutting it with his vicious axe!

 
 Spoiler 

By moving at half his speed (25 feet) Jeffy can make his acrobatics roll unless the target has at least 39 CMD, though this means getting closer and ending in melee range.

 (1d20+14)[ 33 ] ,  (4d6+12)[ 28 ]  plus  (5d8)[ 25 ]  and, on hit, Jeffy gets an opportunity attack at the beginning of its turn.

If they were so off-guard he can take a full turn rather than just one action he'll also make a Vital Strike attack.

 (1d20+14)[ 22 ] ,  (8d6+12)[ 40 ]  (plus  (5d4)[ 14 ]  if it's flat-footed)
 
jakarta
Nale scans the sky.
What that?!

(roll perception)
vs
stealth of creature: (1d20+8)[ 15 ] 
------------------
The giant and mammoth warily regard the "ogre" with a bow.

Perception for giant:  (1d20+22)[ 37 ] 
Perception for mammoth: (1d20+3)[ 15 ] 

sense motive for giant: (1d20+3)[ 11 ] 
Sense motive for Mammoth: (1d20+14)[ 33 ] 
jakarta
The giant says something that sounds rude and readies his spear as the mammoth trumpets alarm.

Jeffy takes a shot with his bow.  He hits.   (misread damage for "to hit")

(roll initiative to see if the tumble goes off before the mammoth)

initiative for Giant: (1d20+2)[ 13 ] 
Initiative for mammoth : (1d20+1)[ 13 ] 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (21 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale rose higher and higher, concentrating on the movement before him

 
 Spoiler 


Perception
 (1d20+11)[ 16 ] 
 
jakarta
How high is Nale now?

You see it. Between the countershading and the color shifting it is difficult to tell exactly what it is, but is is diving towards you out of the sun.

Roll initiative.
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 37 (22 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4+1 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage, Haste   
 
  

Nale had stopped at 120ft above ground, his sword and on his third arm his shield ready to receive whatever was coming for him, while accelerating his personal time frame.

 
 Spoiler 

Initiative

 (1d20+8)[ 17 ] 

Initiating  
 Spoiler: Time Skitter 
Discipline: Riven Hourglass (Boost); Level: 3
Prerequisites: One Riven Hourglass maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: Self
Duration: See text

DESCRIPTION


AD
By accelerating your personal time-stream, you speed up your movements and accelerate your blows for a few moments. After initiating this boost, you gain the benefits of a haste spell for a number of rounds equal to your initiation modifier (+1 to attack rolls +1 to defense (dodge), initiative, and Reflex saves, a +30-foot enhancement bonus to movement speeds, and one extra attack when making a full attack).
 

 
Paddywagon Man
 (1d20+5)[ 8 ]  initiative
jakarta
Initiative for sky creature:  (1d20+3)[ 20 ] 
---

Johan and Smokey charge, Johan hoping to run the stranger though with his spear.
to hit (1d20+26)[ 38 ]  dam  (2d6+17)[ 22 ] 
Paddywagon Man
  "Who the frack am IIIIIIII asks giant? I am - HUNGRY!"   Jeffy replies in Giant.

Lots of things Johan's thrown his way so far have been outside his comfort zone but Jeffy is quite used to people trying to skewer him, this is basic stuff! His ogre legs extend like springs for a brief second and he goes rolling and tumbling perpendicular to the charging pair, ending 15 feet away - just out of reach of the mammoth's tusks but close enough to set up an attack of his own!

  "And you're clumsy! And will be... delicious!"  

He lurches forward and pulls off a short spinning leap at the end to strike Johan rather than his crispy mount.

Edit: 25 to hit, 41 damage Vital Strike as standard action. (no swift action for Up Close and Personal as originally planned)
Stelio Kontos
Torsten slowed his breathing, as he had many times before, preparing for battle.

 
 Spoiler: Initiative 
 (1d20+6)[ 26 ] 
 
Esprit15
Mentha watches the man ascend to the sky, ready.
 
 Spoiler 
Initiative:  (1d20+2)[ 10 ] 
 
angelpalm
 ♫ Eternal Black ♫ 
      
  Psycho Soldier Persephone 
 Android Awakened Blade
HP: 110/110, AC: 29 TA/FF 20/24
PP 50/57
Perception: 15   Stealth: 17
Conditions: None
 
 Spoiler: Buffs 
NA
 

  
 
  
 "An odd predicament you all seem to be in...  Correction.  WE seem to be in."  Persephone states as she analyzes her surroundings and prepares to engage in combat.

Initiative[roll]1d20+12[/roll]

Perception[roll]1d20+15[/roll]


 
 Spoiler: Actions 
😎
 
Paddywagon Man
Jack continues to lie unconscious, apparently forgotten about despite the imminent return to combat.

 (1d20+3)[ 17 ]  Initiative
jakarta
 
 Spoiler: Look, in the Sky! It's a bird! It'a plane! It's a  
 
 


From 60 ft above comes the creature, a nightmare of aquatic horrors, flying!

(it won initiative, so it goes before Nales powers activate.)
Charging bite:  (1d20+10)[ 28 ] , dam  (3d8+5)[ 21 ] 

(then Nale will act, then we will start round in initiative)

-----------
The greatly offended frost giant tries to impale the impostor (as many times as he can).

Fill attack with spear.
  (1d20+23)[ 25 ] , dam (2d6+17)[ 22 ] 
 (1d20+18)[ 34 ] , dam (2d6+17)[ 26 ] 
 (1d20+13)[ 31 ] , dam (2d6+17)[ 19 ] .  crit×3)

(We'll see what happens with the mammoth after the pinball reaction)
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 37 (22 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4+1 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage, Haste   
 
  

Nale stepped aside and blocked the bite, recognizing the danger of the many tentacles. Nonetheless, he began his counter attack.

 
 Spoiler 


Swift action: Initiating  
 Spoiler: Time Skitter 
Discipline: Riven Hourglass (Boost); Level: 3
Prerequisites: One Riven Hourglass maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: Self
Duration: See text

DESCRIPTION


AD
By accelerating your personal time-stream, you speed up your movements and accelerate your blows for a few moments. After initiating this boost, you gain the benefits of a haste spell for a number of rounds equal to your initiation modifier (+1 to attack rolls +1 to defense (dodge), initiative, and Reflex saves, a +30-foot enhancement bonus to movement speeds, and one extra attack when making a full attack).
 


Fullround Action: Power Attack

 (1d20+15)[ 33 ]  damage  (3d6+20)[ 25 ] + (2d6)[ 8 ]  Electricity, if crit  (1d20+15)[ 20 ] 
 (1d20+15)[ 20 ]  damage  (3d6+20)[ 31 ] + (2d6)[ 9 ]  Electricity, if crit  (1d20+15)[ 20 ]  (haste)
 (1d20+10)[ 26 ]  damage  (3d6+20)[ 28 ] + (2d6)[ 10 ]  Electricity, if crit  (1d20+10)[ 11 ]  (Iterative attack)
 
Paddywagon Man
Jeffy rolls directly away from the giant, perhaps having bitten off more than even he can chew and wanting to get some distance between them. He tries his best to avoid the mammoth's swinging tusks and feet as he does...

 (1d20+28)[ 40 ]  Acrobatics

And, as misfortune would have it... fails.
jakarta
The mammoth tries to sledge hammer the "ogre" with his trunk.
Slam  (1d20+20)[ 22 ] , dam  (2d6+14)[ 26 ]  and  (2d6)[ 8 ] , ref dc 21 or catch fire for  (1d4)[ 2 ]  rounds.
(let me know if he pinballs this, and the distance Jeffy ends up from the mammoth, then I'll roll the mammoth's attack)

---

Nale's blade flash, and *SPOOF* the sky goes dark around him in an inky black cloud.

Nale is blind in a cloud.

The others see a 20 ft diameter black cloud around the clash in the sky, and then see part of the cloud fall the ground with a sick sh-thud.
Paddywagon Man
 (1d20+12)[ 31 ]  Reflex

Jeffy is clobbered quite unconscious by the mammoth's unexpectedly deft trunk work!
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 37 (22 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4+1 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage, Haste   
 
  

Nale immediately repositioned to get out of the cloud, focusing on his defense. When no more attacks came, he took a moment to reform his armor to clear his faceplate.
 
 Spoiler 


move 50ft towards the treeline and make a Perception check to see if there are any more enemies approaching

 (1d20+11)[ 24 ] 
 
jakarta
The mammoth connects, knocking Jeffy down and stunning him.

Groggily, Jeffy looks up as the Flaming Mammoth's trunk flares....
Of course the damn'ed thing can breath fire...

---
Jack feels it all. Every pain Jeffy had since they became separate. Every feeling of disgust, anger, envy towards Jack.
Every stomp and burn.
The searing pain.
The confusion of death.
The cracking of bone and spattering of organs after death.
The cooking from the heat of the mammoth.
The disintegration from the detonation of the beads and body..
Even the pain in the bone fragments as they collided with the bones of the giant and mammoth.

---

 Jack/Jeffy awakens screaming from the fire he isn't on.
He is soon knocked in the head by the axe and bow that *pop* into existence above him.

He has full memories of both Jack and Jeffy.
He isn't sure if the giant and Mammoth are dead or not. He just know that part of him is.

(intelligence check)

And there is a giant .....shark thing? at his feet.

---

"Can we get out of here now?"
Flagg is shouting from halfway up a tree.

"Follow me, stay under the trees and on the rocks as much as possible.

It is SHARK WEEK.  The one week of the years when sharks and fly and migrate over the mountains.
It is also Bulette mating season, so we need to MOVE!"
Paddywagon Man
"Jack" laughs raucously as he morphs back into his familiar Jeffy shape.

  "Ugly FAKE is dead! Like Jeffy PLANNED!

...hurt though. Won't eat hurt-fixer. Proooomise."  

He gathers all his gear. Though he's missing a few vital pieces that didn't make the trip back from the... other Jeffy's corpse. He grumble over this for a minute as he loads his syringe spear with another of his sketchy-looking alchemical elixirs.

  "Hmmm. But took my stuff. Getting it back now."  
jakarta
The gm starts sorting bulettes and sharks out of a toy box.
 
 Spoiler: toys, classic style 
 
 
 


So, who is going with Jack/Jeffy?

Meanwhile, Nale discovers that he is completely coated in an indelible black substance.
Esprit15
 “Wait a moment, Jeffy, there’s other dangers here, and if you just died over there then it’s safe to assume you’ll die if you go alone again.” 
Paddywagon Man
  "I DIDN'T! Fake did. Was stupid, not like me.

Not fighting now, just taking, clever and careful. If giant still there..."   he gestures to a scroll in his hand.   "Invisible Jeffy! And..."   he shakes the syringe spear.  "Ffffffun poison! Can't BREATHE!"  

He scratched his chin a moment before continuing, reading a bear's endurance scroll as he does.

  "But if sssmall wants to help Jeffy... fix hurts, or magic his stomach for no getting sick. Lend cloak! Wings potion... hard to drink!"  
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 37 (22 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4+1 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale used the remaining speed of his boost to reconnect with the group. To get rid of the ink, he banished his suit and reformed it immediately again, leaving behind black splotches in the snow. To the two guides he said:

 "You know, you could have just said: "Watch out for sharktopusses." Bad communication kills." 

He took a moment to collect a trophy in the form of a shark tooth, before following the group onward, patting the giant goblin on the shoulder:
 "I think we need to spend a few minutes in base camp to coordinate our approaches. Especially for flanking purposes. And you probably should use a proper restoration wand instead of a boosting scroll." 
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 27 (18 T/20 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 66/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: -  
 
  
  "How did you manage to deal with it? It was kinda hard to tell from here."   - Lewis asks Nale curiously, while moving according the scout's instructions. Sometimes it's better to listen to experienced people. The man was not at all eager to get between the mating bulettes. Whatever they were.

 
 Spoiler: ACTIONS 
Following the scouts.
 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 37 (22 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4+1 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  
 "Violence, a lot of it." 

Nale replied laconic
 "No fancy tricks - I just try to hit the thing as hard and as often as I can. In nine out of ten cases, that's enough." 
Paddywagon Man
Jeffy bares his teeth a moment at Nale's shoulder-patting but relaxes afterward, tucking his wayfinder into his pocket and giving his axe a practice swing.

  "Aright. S'go."  

He'll grumpily follow the rest to base camp.
jakarta
Legolass looks around at the group now following the scouts.
"Where's the other guy?"
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 37 (22 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4+1 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  
 "Got flattened by a mammoth, most likely." 

Nale replied absentmindedly, focusing instead on their surroundings.
 "So, Legolas and Flan, or whatever your name is, what did you do, to earn yourself this cushy little job?" 
jakarta
It is Legolass who answers.
"We aren't from around here. The Giants usually keep themselves in check. The tribes raid each other. But last year someone organized them and they conquered the kingdom of Geoff. Now the giants in this region are acting the same. Raiding in mixed groups. Using goblins and orc mercenaries. Giants in other regions are also starting to act organized. There was an attack on Sandpoint a while ago.

My adoptive home is threatened, so we are here acting as scouts."

Hours pass, and it becomes clear you are in the correct area. Well-worn paths, giant tracks, lair cairns of great boulders, and warning signs declaring (in rough giant) the rulership of Nosnra, Chief of the Hill Giants.

The scouts periodically have you wait under cover while they cover the worst of your tracks. Flagg grumbles about the undead ogres.

---
Jack/Jeffy, although he didn't actually get a dose earlier, begins to feel the withdrawal pains of zerk.

---
Stelio Kontos
Torsten had little trouble keeping up with the scouts, and leaving not much of a trace as he went along. He kept a wide berth from their new undead companions.

Eyeing up the situation, he remarked to nobody in particular  "So, plans?  There's a few pretty good vantage points up here, if we want to try to draw some out..." 
jakarta
 
 Spoiler: note, squares are 10 ft  

 
 

 
 Spoiler: exterior view 

 
 


The scouts lead you into a rocky, forested area. Flagg seemingly walks right into a bush next to a rock and disappears.
Leloglass gestures for you to follow. As you near the bush you see the hidden passage beside the rock. Following the path it winds between rocks, trees, and bushes and lead to the mouth of a cave.

Entering the cave, the passages soon widens and Flagg is uncovering an  Everburning torch . There are 2 bed rolls next to a brazier along one wall, and a shelf of dried fruits and meat.
Against another wall are blankets, quivers, bolt cases, and tinned rations.

It is a bit cramped with the ogre skeletons with the group.

You are bid to help yourselves with the food, blankets, and ammo. All the ammo is common. (note if you take anything with you.)

Flagg produces 2 scrolls and tapes them to the cave wall. One is a drawing showing the exterior of a rough building, and the other is a map diagram.
jakarta
Flagg begins a briefing, standing next to the drawings.

"The walls are made of mostly Douglas Fir with a little mortar. Most of the logs are around 3, 3 and a half ft think. The interior walls are mostly 2 ft thick. The giants aren't exact with their measurements.

Not many windows. The guard tower here has good visibility. They got the trees and brush cleared to 500 ft or more around the compound. The surrounding mile is a bit bare from them gathering firewood and sometimes grazing the goats.

We haven't been inside in the last few weeks since they brought in the direwolves. Before that, I was having my morning coffee under the chief's table while he had his breakfast, using his cave bear as a beanbag chair.

We should have just picked a night, poisoned their dinner and slit the important one's throats in their beds, but Waller wanted intel on whoever is organizing them.

They've moved in a lot of furniture since we were last in. No telling who is sleeping where now.

Some of the floors are just packed harth or bedrock. Most are rough hewed lumber.

The lower level is some kind of mine complex. Never could reckon what it is they are mining. They got giant apes on the lower level and we could never make friends with them like with the bears, so we never got down there.

They use orc slaves on both levels. Most of the bugbears and bearbugs were always on the lower level. Prisoners are in the lower level. They use ogres for guards in the upper level, but the watchtower and gate usually also have hill giant sentries.

That courtyard in the middle is where the direwolves are. Their master takes them on patrol inside and out when it suits him. That corner of the courtyard is where his office and quarters are.

They have been gathering the last couple weeks. Tonight is the end of shark week and a new moon. They have some party planned. They brought in a herd of cattle and have been cooking them, and about an ocean full of ale and mead.

There is a party of stone giants, at least one cloud giant, fog giant, and mist giant in there. Seems like diplomats. The chief has been showing them a good time. There have been frost and fire giants in there, but those left with raiding parties. They might have returned while we were out.

We think Stone is on the lower level somewhere. We were trying to intercept a human merk who was in there yesterday, but that went south on us.

We strongly suggest that you wait til midnight to attempt infiltration. A lot of them will be asleep, drunk, or at least distracted by the party. Most of them should be in the main hall. You ought to be able to sneak in and get down to the lower level to find Stone.

Our orders are to not engage, and see what happens in the aftermath. Follow the messengers or see who shows up to investigate whatever mess you make.

There is a big barn in the back a ways from the main compound. They keep the goats there. "
Paddywagon Man
  "Tttttthink better with Zerk.

But sneak into bottom... easy! Drink, make claws, dig like... like wriggling little mole or chewy dwarf. Under floor."  

Jeffy, looking a little sweatier and more feral than normal, holds out two potion vials of some sort.
Esprit15
 "Behave yourself and you'll get your drugs soon enough,"  Mentha says. Hm, that was a benefit of one of the Jeffys dying: Fewer arms to inject.

 "I still am partial to waiting until the frost giant on the mammoth tries to return, and then killing them both and sending them as a confusing distraction. Buuuuuut..."  the gnome looks at the building layout, clicking her tongue and rattling off questions and waiting for an answer before moving on to the next.

**

 "How brow beaten are the orc slaves? Willing to let dissidents pass through the camp on the promise of liberation? It can be a lie, just need to know if they're folks that need to be killed if they catch sight of you or whether a whisper of [don't alert them, we're friends],"  she says, suddenly switching to Orcish,  "will get them to look the other way once or twice." 

**

 "They have a second in command. Mane. What's his deal? And where would we find him?" 

**

 "What's the situation with the guards in the towers? Creature, their number, how do they do alerts, how often and when do they rotate?"  The prospect of killing a few orc guards and then animating them as a trap for the next guard shift amuses her greatly.

**

 "How many handlers do the dire wolves have? I assume not everyone in the camp. Might be able to make some chaos if we slit a few of those throats and then set the dogs loose on the camp while everyone else is passed out drunk." 

**

 "Are the diplomats sleeping separately, or together? Killing one of them would severely damage relations with the leaders of this war. Might even lead to a retaliatory squabble, a little  diplomatic incident  between giants." 

**

Finally she turns away from the map and claps her hands, looking to Flagg with glittering green eyes and a slight smile.  "Those are the things that  I  think about, glancing at this. As much chaos and confusion and strife as possible such that nobody wants to stay and continue a doomed and miserable raid. Convince their slaves to rebel or kill them - so long as they don't have any that are following orders, the result is the same. None of us have the magic or stamina to murder an army, but demoralizing one is so much easier." 
Paddywagon Man
  "HEY! Can murder army! Easy!"  

Jeffy looks genuinely hurt!

  "Want plan? Two dig potions! Jeffy and... fog girl dig under floor, or Nale. Gigglegnome is small, comes in Jeffy's bag easy. Surprise! Up from floor into mine, make some killing, bones fight and block the reefenforements. Tunnels, so no surrounding, no big army, can dig from trouble.

Get dwarf, make big fire in giant's house. Eat slaves. Zerk. Dig away."  
Stelio Kontos
 
 Originally Posted by Paddywagon Man 
   "HEY! Can murder army! Easy!"  

Jeffy looks genuinely hurt!

  "Want plan? Two dig potions! Jeffy and... fog girl dig under floor, or Nale. Gigglegnome is small, comes in Jeffy's bag easy. Surprise! Up from floor into mine, make some killing, bones fight and block the reefenforements. Tunnels, so no surrounding, no big army, can dig from trouble.

Get dwarf, make big fire in giant's house. Eat slaves. Zerk. Dig away."   
 

Torsten pursed his lips.   "Why don't ... why don't we keep that as our  backup  plan." 
 "Mentha asks good questions.  One to add.  Stone.  What do you think the odds are he's happy to be rescued?" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
I'll grab say four dozen extra arrows, why not?
 
Esprit15
 
 Originally Posted by Paddywagon Man 
   "HEY! Can murder army! Easy!"  

Jeffy looks genuinely hurt!

  "Want plan? Two dig potions! Jeffy and... fog girl dig under floor, or Nale. Gigglegnome is small, comes in Jeffy's bag easy. Surprise! Up from floor into mine, make some killing, bones fight and block the reefenforements. Tunnels, so no surrounding, no big army, can dig from trouble.

Get dwarf, make big fire in giant's house. Eat slaves. Zerk. Dig away."   
 

 “Much as I would  love  to create a few bulette zombies, that sounds like a great way to die with it being their mating season. So no, it seems we will be taking one of the standard entrances.” 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 37 (22 T/28 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4+1 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  
 "I like the fact that we can cut through the walls if necessary. Slaughtering ourselves one room after the other against a mostly drunken or hungover foe sounds like a lot of fun." 

Nale added with a smirk, now confident again about the mission.
 
"We could start by ambushing people going to the outhouse at night. Catching our enemies with their trousers down, so to speak."  
Esprit15
 “Speak for yourself. I have neither the spells nor the energy nor the desire to die killing hundreds of orcs and dozens of giants.” 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4+1 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  
 "I always speak for myself. Besides, you have your army of undead. Getting more raw materials should be in your interest, shouldn't it?." 

Nale looked around:  "Unless we have a very capable scout that can find the target without getting detected, we have to go room by room." 
Stelio Kontos
 
 Originally Posted by Pyrophilios 
 Nale looked around:  "Unless we have a very capable scout that can find the target without getting detected, we have to go room by room."  
 

 "I could probably pull it off, with a little help.  Don't really relish the idea of going in without any sort of escape plan, though." 
Paddywagon Man
  "Giant was real smart, saw fake ogre. But others... maybe dumb. Slaves, orcs. Won't ask scary Jeffy ogre for name.

If they do... kill EVERYBODY! Or, maybe, invisible scroll."  

Jeffy picks his teeth absently, nail extending and teeth shifting obligingly.

  "Could go with, be help."  
Esprit15
 “I actually planned on doing my own sneaking, so yeah, that’s fine by me.” 
jakarta
**

"How brow beaten are the orc slaves? Willing to let dissidents pass through the camp on the promise of liberation? It can be a lie, just need to know if they're folks that need to be killed if they catch sight of you or whether a whisper of [don't alert them, we're friends]," she says, suddenly switching to Orcish, "will get them to look the other way once or twice."

&gt;&gt; "It varies.  The ones on the upper level usually aren't chained. With these types some would probably run away if they could, but most consider themselves the lowest ranking members of the giant tribe. I don't know about gnomes, but they would never side with an elf."

**

"They have a second in command. Mane. What's his deal? And where would we find him?"

&gt;&gt;"You mean Jimbo? The one with the mullet and the neckbeard? If he isn't running things or standing next to the chief he is sneaking into the maids' rooms for some fun."

**

"What's the situation with the guards in the towers? Creature, their number, how do they do alerts, how often and when do they rotate?" The prospect of killing a few orc guards and then animating them as a trap for the next guard shift amuses her greatly.

**
&gt;&gt;"Usually hill giants with Ogre lackies. Sometimes a pair of bugbears. Sometimes some direwolves. Usually at least 2 at or inside the door and 1 in the tower. The ogres have problems opening the doors on their own. "


"How many handlers do the dire wolves have? I assume not everyone in the camp. Might be able to make some chaos if we slit a few of those throats and then set the dogs loose on the camp while everyone else is passed out drunk."

**
&gt;&gt;"There is the head trainer, who acts about like a wolf himself, and 2 assistants. They can handle the pack unleashed. But if he leashes a couple and hands the leash to a giant, the wolfs obey whoever is holding the leash. "

**
"Are the diplomats sleeping separately, or together? Killing one of them would severely damage relations with the leaders of this war. Might even lead to a retaliatory squabble, a little diplomatic incident between giants."

&gt;&gt;"The  Stone giants usually go to the lower level after dark. With the others it varies. Sometimes they kick a lower ranking giant out of his room. Other times they set up pallets in the great hall. Usually there are a lot of giant sleeping there. "

**
"Get dwarf, make big fire in giant's house..."

&gt;&gt;"There's moss and ferns growing on the roof. Bout a foot of mud and muck tracked across the floor inside. Maybe an inch of soot covering the ceiling and rafters. The air in there is usually smokey from the fire harths and torches. If it was easy to burn down, it probably already would have. "

**"Mentha asks good questions. One to add. Stone. What do you think the odds are he's happy to be rescued?"

&gt;&gt;"We don't know ANYthing about Stone. Don't even know how Waller thinks he's in there."

**"I could probably pull it off, with a little help. Don't really relish the idea of going in without any sort of escape plan, though."

&gt;&gt;Didn't Waller give you a  Runestone ?
(she did. The gnome has it. Full round to activate.)

**Giant was real smart, saw fake ogre. But others... maybe dumb. Slaves, orcs. Won't ask scary Jeffy ogre for name.

&gt;&gt;There is a lot of coming and going in there. Raiding parties coming in and out, new recruits arriving. Lots of different tribes and types.

If you act like you are supposed to be there, they probably will think that you do. That doesn't mean they'll all leave you alone. There is a fair amount of rough housing and sorting out the pecking order. Wouldn't try to get past the direwolves though. They tend to attack things that don't smell like giant."
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4+1 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  
 "Interesting. From what I hear, attacking well after dark is the best choice. Going in concealed as well. I can change my shape and size for about a minute at a time. I could also put Mentha within the protection of my ectoplasmic armor, so she would be disguised too. Our Cannibal should be able to blend in fine too. Our scout will have to sneak. What about our instant paladin?" 
jakarta
"What are you going to do about your bear?" asks Flagg as he looks at the Druid's pet.

"Then again, the Chief and his lady both have pet cave bears. It might not stand out too bad.'
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 27 (18 T/20 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 66/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: -  
 
  
  "I'll join the stealthy team. Now, do we have a way to smell like an ogre?"   - asks Lewis after listening the disposition and proposals.

 
 Spoiler: ACTIONS 
-
 
angelpalm
 ♫ Eternal Black ♫ 
      
  Psycho Soldier Persephone 
 Android Awakened Blade
HP: 110/110, AC: 29 TA/FF 20/24
PP 50/57
Perception: 15   Stealth: 17
Conditions: None
 
 Spoiler: Buffs 
NA
 

  
 
  
 "If you are needing me to as they say, blend in, I am more than capable, Sir Nale."  Persephone says to Nale.


 
 Spoiler: Actions 
😎

Persephone can use minor metamorphosis to disguise herself as whatever is needed.
 
Paddywagon Man
Jeffy's tongue snakes out to the nearest ogre bloody skeleton and comes back loaded with ogre gore like a macabre paintbrush. He lathers some over his rapidly-metamorphosing new ogre skin, then snakes it back out to reapply.

  "Schluuuuurp... eashy"   he mumbles in response to Lewis' question. He seems more focused on the man's zerk box than his eyes, though.
jakarta
Flagg and Legolass withdraw as far from Jeffy as possible.

"Now he smells like an ogre other ogres think  needs a bath because he smells like dead ogre." mutters Flagg.
Esprit15
 
 Originally Posted by jakarta 
 "It varies.  The ones on the upper level usually aren't chained. With these types some would probably run away if they could, but most consider themselves the lowest ranking members of the giant tribe. I don't know about gnomes, but they would never side with an elf." 
 

Mentha nods and flips her hair forward. The flowing, crimson hair shifts to a coarse, black mane that o secures her face. Flipping it back, the toothy grin of a goblin looks back at the party.  “Pepper has magics for this, yes. Funny little hat, taken from funny little man. He no need it anymore,”  she says in a scratchy voice reminiscent of Jeffry’s.  “Look like goblin, speak like goblin or orc, fit right in. Easy peasy. Good stealth is no be seen. Great stealth is be seen, but nobody care. Walk in. Do sneaky sneaky. Walk out. ” 
 
 Spoiler 
Hat of Disguise, for those wondering
 


 "You mean Jimbo? The one with the mullet and the neckbeard? If he isn't running things or standing next to the chief he is sneaking into the maids' rooms for some fun."  

 “Perfect,”  she says with a far less exaggerated goblin cadence.  “I want his skeleton. Flesh and blood optional, pulse not preferred.” 

 "Usually hill giants with Ogre lackies. Sometimes a pair of bugbears. Sometimes some direwolves. Usually at least 2 at or inside the door and 1 in the tower. The ogres have problems opening the doors on their own.” 

 “Sturdy towers…”  she mumbles to herself.  “Sounds good. And I take it they just report sightings by shout… Would be hard to kill a hill giant  and  their lackeys fast enough that it doesn’t at least get a shout out… But maybe I underestimate you all.” 

 "There is the head trainer, who acts about like a wolf himself, and 2 assistants. They can handle the pack unleashed. But if he leashes a couple and hands the leash to a giant, the wolfs obey whoever is holding the leash.” 

 “So we just need to get the dogs free of their leashes. Might even be a good way to get the handlers distracted.” 

 "The  Stone giants usually go to the lower level after dark. With the others it varies. Sometimes they kick a lower ranking giant out of his room. Other times they set up pallets in the great hall. Usually there are a lot of giant sleeping there.” 

  If I were a dignitary  I  would be  insulted. 

 "We don't know ANYthing about Stone. Don't even know how Waller thinks he's in there." 

The ‘goblin’ gets a slightly disgusted look on her face.  “You mean that old bat just  thinks  he’s there? ******* wizardy types, being cryptic and not telling **** to anyone.” 

 Didn't Waller give you a  Runestone ?
(she did. The gnome has it. Full round to activate.) 

Mentha pulls out the stone.  “In case of emergencies and/or success.” 
jakarta
Flagg clarifies, "There's a gong in the tower, and some of the guards and look outs carry horns.
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  


Nale nodded at the paladin:  "Good, so the same as my trick.

Mentha, are you able to cast the silence spell? Taking out the tower and the guards there might be a good first step. The Paladin and I can fly and take others with us. We should be able to take them out in a few seconds, before they realize that they have to flee to alert anyone." 
Esprit15
 “No, my blessings are focused on life and death. You want a holy person, or maybe a nerd in a robe if you want those niche types of spells.” 
Stelio Kontos
 "I can make myself appear rather like one of the orcs if I am spotted, that isn't an issue.  If we're planning the tower to start, let me know and find me a vantage"   Torsten offered.   "I should be able to provide good covering fire.  Just need an opening, and they're using it to look out, so stands to reason there's a way for things to get in.  If you do happen to have a way to get me a bit of flight, that  would  be quite useful."
 
 "If we're planning something a bit more direct... not really my preference, but trust I'll stay out of the way and make myself useful when the time comes.  I do speak passing Giant, as it happens."
 
jakarta
Flagg: "There isn't a good vantage on the tower. The trees are cut back too far and it overlooks the area from an uphill grade."
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  


Nale replied to Stelios:  "I can change size to carry you to the right height. Though even at night that might cause attention, unless you can shoot very well over very large distances - though I suspect, that is the case?
In any case, I'd appreciate an illusion from you - those tend to use less energy to maintain." 
Stelio Kontos
 "Well, the wand only works on the person using it"  Torsten replied.   "So, not sure if you can do that or not, but if you can, go for it.  As for flight, that would be good, and yes, I somewhat immodestly believe I am the best shot in at least the region.  You know how in a fistfight the man with the longer reach has an advantage?  Same principle." 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:33/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  
  
"Don't worry, I know my way around magic items.
So we agree that we try to take out the tower crew from range first? After that we can enter the complex with disguises, while our scouts stay invisible. We move from room to room and take out who we find there with as little noise as possible.

Anyone with a better idea should speak now."
  
Nale answered.
jakarta
A few hours later...

Your group is crouched in the trees 500 ft south of the tower windows a few hours after dark.

Only a dim light is seen from the window. No figures are visible.

On either side of the entryway, which faces east, are torches ensconced on either side of the door as well as braziers on either side of the path 10 ft from the door.

"That's new." Flagg points at a rough pyramidal shape 200 ft SE of the door.

As you consider what to do, a strange music is heard from the compound.

 
 Spoiler: Music 

  
 
Esprit15
The gnome - disguised as a goblin - looks up to the human.  “We thinking we want to check it out?” 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  


Nale went for the communal bag of holding and pulled out a scroll.
  
"That's a group invisibility scroll. I'll increase my size, so two can sit on my shoulder while I fly us up to the watch tower. We slaughter the watchstanders and then we can move all to the compound and start our infiltration."
  
 
 Spoiler 


Using the invisibility sphere spell scroll from our inventory

Use Magic Device check:  (1d20+11)[ 27 ]  vs 13 DC

Harness Powerstone: Minor Metamorphosis (1PP) to turn large. Thanks to powerful build, I count as huge for carrying purposes, so no problem to carry two ranged characters with me on my shoulders.

There is also a Silence scroll in the bag that I can use up there to silence the gong or horns, or whatever they have
 (1d20+11)[ 12 ]  vs 12 DC
 
Esprit15
 “If you squeeze me in there, I can summon some shadows to make real nasty work of them,”  Mentha offers.  “ Everyone  loves a shadow outbreak.” 
Stelio Kontos
Torsten grimaced at the gnome.   "Not everyone."

"Nale, it's a fine plan.  If you have to put me down quickly, do try to find someplace without a bunch of giants standing in it." 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  


Nale shrugged:
  
"Sure, get on up."
  
Once everyone was in place and invisibible, Nale accelerated himself again, so he was able to get level within 30ft of the tower's occupants. His sword sheethed on his back allowed him to use his hands to keep the two passengers stable. His third hand held a scroll of silence, ready to cast its magic on the tower.


 
 Spoiler 

Using time skitter to speed up my movement
Running 240 ft per round, we need about two rounds to get in position.
 
jakarta
And so, it begins ...

Path:  (1d6)[ 3 ] ,  (1d2)[ 1 ] , (1d6)[ 5 ]  ,  (1d4)[ 4 ] 

Entryway:  (1d6)[ 3 ] ,  (1d2)[ 1 ] , (1d6)[ 1 ]  ,  (1d4)[ 1 ] 

Tower:  (1d6)[ 1 ] ,  (1d2)[ 1 ] , (1d6)[ 5 ]  ,  (1d4)[ 1 ] 

And what is the druid and bear and ogre skeletons doing?

I assume Persephone is flying near Nale somehow?
jakarta
Spot check!
jakarta
(rolled on Discord)

About halfway through the first round of flight on Nale Airlines, the gnome sees a flicker of light in the tower briefly illuminate a pale face.
Esprit15
 “Creepy, pale face among the watchtower folks. Stay sharp.”  Mentha mumbles some words and casts Bless.
 
 Spoiler 
Range: 50 ft.
Area: The caster and all allies within a 50-ft. burst, centered on the caster
Duration: 1 min./level (9 minutes)

Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.

Bless counters and dispels bane.
 
jakarta
Roll Know: nature and know: local.
jakarta
For those who rolled on discord, it's a giant, but you don't know the type. It looks huge.
Pyrophilios
Just how large is this tower?

Why do they need a tower - they could just have a giant standing outside 😉
jakarta
About 40 by 40.

You see a dim orange spot. The giant seems to be covering his lower face with his hand, and the orange glow is on a finger.
Paddywagon Man
Jeffy is fidgeting and sweating by this point, pretty close to snapping for lack of Zerk, as he pulls a grimy bundle of scrolls from hiding.
 
 "Zerk, pleeeeaassee... I'll sneak in and bring back lots of skeletons, I'll traaaaade..."  
jakarta
Perception/scent check for Jeffy and the bear .
Stelio Kontos
Torsten nocked an arrow, peering into the tower to see if he could spot so much as a sliver of this creepy, pale face the gnome was talking about.  If he had a sight and a shot, he would take it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 (1d20+13)[ 21 ]  Perception?
 
jakarta
 
 Originally Posted by Stelio Kontos 
 Torsten nocked an arrow, peering into the tower to see if he could spot so much as a sliver of this creepy, pale face the gnome was talking about.  If he had a sight and a shot, he would take it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
[roll0] Perception?
 
 
 

Torsten sees it. Know:local and Know:nature checks.
Stelio Kontos
He wasn't sure exactly what that giant was, but he knew it was one that needed a hole in his head.  Carefully, he lined up his shot, and sent his arrow whistling through the air... right through the part in the creature's hair.  A fraction too high.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 
rolled attack in discord, 23, which was sadly a miss
 
jakarta
(You're not getting off that easy. You beat the touch AC...)

 A old cowboy went riding out one dark and windy day.... 

The music has shifted. Oddly beastly accented common begins a song.

The arrow, was only half a hair too high. The giant moves his log sized cigarette away from his face with his right hand, and feels for the tiny cut in his scalp with the other as he peer out into the darkens.

 (1d20+17)[ 31 ] 
jakarta
 Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way.  

The giant head, upon seeing the little flying wingless man...

takes an confused and appraising look at his fat cigarette...

Takes another drag...

And looks to see if the little guy is still there.

He does not otherwise act this round.
Esprit15
Mentha smiles. Big guy wouldn’t know what hit him. She cants another spell, though in the darkness, its effect is slightly unclear. Those riding on Nale’s back feel an unearthly chill, however.  “Stay close for a moment, little one.” 
 
 Spoiler 
Summon Undead: Shadow
 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  


Nale had to resist the urge to facepalm as the arrow landed uselessly on the giant's face. He whispered to the gnome:
  
"Any mindcontrol spells in your arsenal? His willpower seems to be impacted."
  
With his third hand he readied the second spell scroll of silence and spoke the activation words to prevent the giant from saying or doing anything stupid like ringing the gong.


 
 Spoiler 


Use magic device check DC 12

 (1d20+11)[ 28 ] 
 
Esprit15
 “One, two if you count fear, but it’s not useful outside of groups,”  she says simply.  “People keep asking me if I’m anything other than a necromancer and I keep telling them ‘no.’ I make dead, and I make undead. That’s what my patron desires.” 
jakarta
The volume of the music drops noticeably as  Silence  engulfs the top of the tower.

The song emanating from within continues:

[COLOR="#800080"]When all at once a mighty herd of red eyed cows he saw
ploughing through the ragged skys and up the cloudy draws./COLOR]

Torsten, flying through the air with an odd pose seems to have grown a mismatched, ragged shadow.
He and his invisible compatriots (conspirators? "patriots" doesn't seem to match the spirit of the group.) silently halt 20ft from the window.

The pale giant head in the window puffs his cheeks as he peers at the odd flying man.
---

Meanwhile, from their farther perspective, the "ground team" members might notice a bright grey stream of thickening and spreading smoke beginning to billow from the central chimney of the compound.
Paddywagon Man
  "Wanna MOVE! No more standing... want Zerk!

Find thing for Jeffy to do! Or... 'llfind my OWN thing to do!"  
Stelio Kontos
 "That'sssssssss right, I'm jussssssssssst in your imaginaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaation"  Torsten said laconically to the giant in what he presumed would be its native tongue.  Not that it could hear him.  Preparing a fusillade of arrows, he launched them in rapid succession at the giant.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Full attack, with rapid shot.  Not sure what qualifies as a sneak attack, if anything, against a creature who's stoned out of his mind.

Attack1:  (1d20+16)[ 24 ]  to hit,  (1d8+4)[ 5 ]  base damage,  (3d6+9)[ 22 ]  sneak attack damage
Attack2:  (1d20+16)[ 22 ]  to hit,  (1d8+4)[ 12 ]  base damage,  (3d6+9)[ 18 ]  sneak attack damage
Attack3:  (1d20+11)[ 27 ]  to hit,  (1d8+4)[ 11 ]  base damage,  (3d6+9)[ 21 ]  sneak attack damage
 
jakarta
He's not that stoned. You just hadn't done anything worth responding to.

Two of your arrows *pink* off his stone hard skin.

He responds to the arrow in his cheek with the GM being cheeky on special ability wording....

He exhales an  Awesome Blow  of the smoke he was holding. Combat manoeuvre  (1d20+26)[ 34 ] . Effect: knocked 10 ft further from the tower and knocked prone for  (2d6)[ 10 ]  falling damage. And if it affects Nale, your pilot, it affects all of you since he is providing the flying effect.

The shadow is unaffected, but is under orders to "stay close", so it will move to hover near the gnome

As for the smoke...Fort save v poison dc 15 vs Insanity Mist. Initial damage  (1d3)[ 3 ]  wisdom damage. Duration once per 6 rounds, repeat save each round, 1 save stops the additional damage.

The shadow wouldn't usually be affected by a poison, but this is really good $#!7. Will save for shadow:  (1d20+4)[ 21 ] .

The tower is now covered in a 20ft radius Obscuring Mist.  This covers the top floor of the tower. If you aren't within 5 ft (20% miss chance) of the giant(or anything else in the tower upper floor), you can't see him (cannot target using vision, 50% miss chance).

Air (probably now Advanced Ground Team) roll initiative.

Initiative for giant: [roll]1d20[roll]
jakarta
initiative for giant:  (1d20)[ 7 ] 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  


The stealth assault had failed, but at least he hadn't been knocked to the ground. Nale kept his position in the sky and pulled the shield from his back with his third hand, while he drew his sword - now that he had less passengers. The vision impact was bad, but he would have to deal with it. Holding his breath, he dove in.




 
 Spoiler 

CMD 36, so no effect

Fort Save:  (1d20+10)[ 19 ] 
Draw shield with third hand and giant sword with move action. Use regular action to get in close.
 
Esprit15
The gnome goes flying, though she seems oddly unperturbed. In a display of acrobatics (  which was totally cool you guys but I was invisible so you couldn't see it  ) that definitely required magical assistance, Mentha gracefully flips around to land on her feet. Maybe sprained something, but for a 40ft fall? Not bad. She looks up at where she estimates the shadow would be if it was keeping pace with the group.  "Kill the bastard who did that to us, and any of his friends!"  She looks to the ledge of the tower, and points to it.    "Zatoz niregana, itzal espektrala!"    Another shadow appears at around the level that she was at.  "Kill that damned giant and any of his friends!"  she calls up.

Well, so much for her ride in. But, Mentha was nothing if not quick to adapt to a change in plans.  "And now, we sneaks our ways into the campses,"  she chuckles to herself and begins jogging toward the entrance to get back up to the tower.
jakarta
Nale flies into the mist as Mentha orders her shadows to enter the mist to attack the giants....(how much friendly fire could there be there?)

The sniper probably starts walking towards the door...

While the magus and druid ponder what to do...
Jeffy feels a wet voice near his ear, "Heress Friendsss" and feels a sting in is a$$. The old familiar sting.... and feels the ZERK enter him.

As he turns, no one is there.

---
 Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel.
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel. 

The swirling smoke above the compound begins to take the shapes described in the song. Ghostly, Hellish cattle.
Esprit15
Mentha looks for the nearest entrance so she can find some stairs back up the tower and rejoin the fight.
 
 Spoiler 
Stealth if it matters:  (1d20+38)[ 51 ] 
 
Stelio Kontos
Cursing in various tongues, Torsten pulled himself up from his sudden descent and scanned the area for a target.  Finding none, he scanned again for signs of his earthbound allies.
Paddywagon Man
 (1d4)[ 3 ]  Zerk strength bonus
 (1d2)[ 2 ]  Con damage

Jeffy's muscles briefly bulge out, chest first and rippling downward as though swallowing a boulder, while images of anchors briefly materialize on his swollen forearms.

  "Smoke, heh... can't eat smoke, can't kill smoke, can't drown smoke, what's SMOKE for anyway? FOOD time!"  

After brandishing his wand to cure any constitution damage from the zerk, he'll use ogre form to run to the entrance of the compound.
jakarta
The cloud giant is not having the best of times in the mist.

The necromancer and the sniper move towards the door.

Jeffy moves towards the compound.

Nale may make his attack.

Giant business:  (1d100)[ 95 ] , (1d100)[ 42 ] , (1d100)[ 33 ] 
Esprit15
Mentha continues running as her shadows continue fighting.
 
 Spoiler 
Double moving at this point because why not?

 Shadow 1 
Miss:  (1d100)[ 56 ] 
Attack:  (1d20+4)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (1d6)[ 4 ] 

Crit Confirm:  (1d20+4)[ 11 ] 
Bonus Damage:  (1d6)[ 3 ] 
 Shadow 2 
Miss:  (1d100)[ 1 ] 
Attack:  (1d20+4)[ 8 ] 
Damage:  (1d6)[ 4 ] 

Crit Confirm:  (1d20+4)[ 23 ] 
Bonus Damage:  (1d6)[ 5 ] 
 
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 27 (18 T/20 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 66/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: -  
 
  

Lewis steadily continues to move towards the entrance, keeping stealthy approach, and using his teleportation, when possible.

 
 Spoiler: ACTIONS 

 (1d20+22)[ 27 ]  - Stealth
Keeping to move towards the entrance
 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 35 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Having doven into the cloud, Nale used the last moments of his acceleration to attack the giant with everything he had got.



 
 Spoiler 


Power Attack
+1 from haste  (1d20+15)[ 23 ]  damage  (4d6+21)[ 36 ] + (2d6)[ 6 ]  electricity, 2x if crit,  Concealment 20%  (1d100)[ 85 ]   42 damage  
Haste: +1 from haste (1d20+15)[ 34 ]  damage  (4d6+21)[ 31 ] + (2d6)[ 9 ]  electricity, 2x if crit,  Concealment 20%  (1d100)[ 44 ]   80 damage due to crit 
Iterative: +1 from haste (1d20+10)[ 26 ]  damage  (4d6+21)[ 35 ] + (2d6)[ 8 ]  electricity, 2x if crit, Concealment 20%  (1d100)[ 67 ]   43 damage 
 
jakarta
The giant flails at his assailants.

Against shadow 1: Miss:  (1d100)[ 11 ] , to hit  (1d20+14)[ 18 ]  , damage  (2d6+8)[ 19 ]  +  (1d6)[ 4 ]  magical fire.

Against Nale: : Miss:  (1d100)[ 76 ] , to hit  (1d20+18)[ 38 ]  , damage  (2d6+8)[ 14 ] 
jakarta
Nale gets a full body slap, while the giant misses the shadow in the mist.
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 35 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 63/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale took his lumps. He felt as the acceleration left him, but by now - he hoped - he had done enough damage, so that this wouldn't take long.



 
 Spoiler 


Power Attack
 (1d20+15)[ 33 ]  damage  (4d6+21)[ 32 ] + (2d6)[ 12 ]  electricity, 2x if crit ( (1d20+15)[ 30 ] ),  Concealment 20%  (1d100)[ 86 ] 
Iterative:  (1d20+10)[ 29 ]  damage  (4d6+21)[ 32 ] + (2d6)[ 7 ]  electricity, 2x if crit ( (1d20+10)[ 19 ] ),  Concealment 20%  (1d100)[ 88 ] 
 
Esprit15
The shadows split from each other as the giant falls. The next poor creature they see, they attempt to drain of its life force.
 
 Spoiler 
 Shadow 1 
Miss:  (1d100)[ 94 ] 
Attack:  (1d20+4)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (1d6)[ 4 ] 

Crit Confirm:  (1d20+4)[ 22 ] 
Bonus Damage:  (1d6)[ 6 ] 
 Shadow 2 
Miss:  (1d100)[ 74 ] 
Attack:  (1d20+4)[ 6 ] 
Damage:  (1d6)[ 6 ] 

Crit Confirm:  (1d20+4)[ 19 ] 
Bonus Damage:  (1d6)[ 5 ] 
 


Mentha meanwhile keeps running.
Stelio Kontos
Heart pounding, Torsten arrived at the compound’s door, the cacophony of the music lending itself well to a stealthy approach.  He cracked open the door, if he could, just enough to peer inside.
jakarta
 A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky.
For he saw the riders comming hard and he heard their mournful cry. 

Strength check for the Sniper.

There is no sound in the tower and only a the briefist flicker of light illuminates the mist...

as Nale's blade strikes across the giant's chest and throat. Their is a light smell of singe and ozone from the shocking blade, soon overwhelmed by the iron scent and warm spray of blood. The giant collapses into the concealing fog, it's lifeblood drains down the stairwell onto the floor below...

Giant business:  (1d20-7)[ 6 ] 

Shadow 1 direction :  (1d8)[ 7 ] , spot  (1d20+8)[ 10 ] 

Shadow 2 direction :  (1d8)[ 2 ] , spot  (1d20+8)[ 14 ] 

--

As the Sniper tries the door, the invisible necromancer is still a couple rounds from the door.

Meanwhile, the attempted stealth of the magus's walk-teleport-rinse-repeat soon passes Jeffy's jog towards the door.
The druid transforms into a direbear and starts escorting its "cub" up the slope, soon catching up with Jeffy. The ogre skeletons keep pace.

Intelligence check for Nale. And a spot check after stating next action and direction.
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 35 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 63/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Being showered in gore wasn't a particularly new or unpleasant sensation for Nale. He accepted it as the price for doing murder business. Focusing himself for a moment, he waved his blade around in the hopes that it would dispell some of the smoke, while he regained his ability to accelerate his timeframe. Then he went to look if he could sabotage any warning equipment like a gong or horns on the tower. He made sure not to get in contact with the undead shadows that also roamed around here in the smog.

 
 Spoiler 


Use action to regain maneuver
 
jakarta
Nale finds a gong...with a sleeping hill giant on the floor next to it. Good thing Nale is being careful, as a Shadow glides past him and begins choking the giant, who awakens with silenced screams...

Meanwhile the Sniper successfully cracks the door, trigging several rolls from the GM...

H1  (1d20)[ 4 ] 
H2  (1d20)[ 14 ] 

O1  (1d20)[ 14 ] 
O2  (1d20)[ 17 ] 
O3  (1d20)[ 8 ] 
O4  (1d20)[ 10 ] 
O5  (1d20)[ 9 ] 

----

Those approaching the compound see the ghostly cattle galloping in an helical pattern above the compound as the spirits of cowboys on skeletal horses appear in pursuit.

[COLOR="#800080"]
Yippee-I-Oh...
Yippee-I-Ay...
Ghost riders in the sky./COLOR]
jakarta
Though the cracked door the sniper spots 2 hill giants, and 5 ogres, and a tu r n of ale. The tu r n (actually spelled "tun") is dead, which is probably why the rest are asleep scattered around the foyer.
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 65/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale descended after he was sure, that no other threat lurked on the watchtower. He met up with his former passengers. The transformation had run its course, and he was no longer looking like an oger.
With a low voice he whispered:  "Let's wait for the others to catch up to us. Everyone can target a sleeper with a coup de grace - that should make short work of the lot." 
 
 Spoiler 


Regeneration should restore my health back to full until the others arrive.
 
Esprit15
The goblin-looking necromancer turns to the elan with a surprisingly serious look on her face, compared to her usual laxness.  “Tell me, psion: Do you want shadows running around uncontrolled? Or would you like them leashed? Because that decision has to be made right now, before they start making more of themselves and it becomes impossible to figure out which one is the prime spawner. My intent was to keep them under control through commanding the prime that my summons will eventually create. Everyone in there is asleep anyways.” 
jakarta
The little necromancer, now visible, notices, "Hey, look... Harmless projections of ghost cattle....being chased by allip cowboys riding nightmares...80-120 ft above you ..."
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 67/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  
 "It's Aegis, not Psion. You are the expert, but I'd rather prefer not to have to deal with atide of uncontrolled undead - not again. Besides being rather messy, they could kill our principal. And then we'd be in trouble with our minders." 

Nale replied.
Esprit15
 “A difference only a psion would care about,”  the goblin says with a shrug. “That spell lasts less than a minute, so we don’t have time to wait. Come on.”  And with that, she heads in, hoping the safety of the giants’ drunken stupor keeps her safe from harm.
 
 Spoiler 
Specifically not using stealth because that halves your speed. Once she’s past the hill giant she’ll break into a run.
 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 70/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale sighed, but didn't stop the gnome from doing gnome stuff.

Instead he stowed his sword on his back and followed inside. With a thought, a glowing scythe manifested in his hands. Determined, he moved to the meanest looking fellow and went about to deliver a coup de grace

 
 Spoiler 

 
 Spoiler: Coup de grace 

As a full-round action, you can use a melee weapon to deliver a coup de grace (pronounced “coo day grahs”) to a helpless opponent. You can also use a bow or crossbow, provided you are adjacent to the target.

You automatically hit and score a critical hit. If the defender survives the damage, he must make a Fortitude save DC 10 + damage dealt) or die. A rogue also gets her extra sneak attack damage against a helpless opponent when delivering a coup de grace.

Delivering a coup de grace provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening opponents.

You can’t deliver a coup de grace against a creature that is immune to critical hits. You can deliver a coup de grace against a creature with total concealment, but doing this requires two consecutive full-round actions (one to “find” the creature once you’ve determined what square it’s in, and one to deliver the coup de grace).
 


Nale is using his Call the Soul’s Blade Boost to create a magic scythe
It doesn't have any enhancements, but a scythe has a x4 multiplicator to damage

so a total of (2d4+2d6+18)x4
( (2d4+18)[ 24 ] +[/roll]2d6[/roll])x4

Rolled a 5 in chat - so 29x4= 116 damage

DC 126 Fort save to survive
 
Stelio Kontos
"Go on then" Torsten said back to Nale, nodding him inside.   "Probably your department.  I'll cover the door and keep an eye peeled." 
jakarta
Academic fort save roll:  (1d20)[ 15 ] 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 70/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

As no alarm was raised and no-one stirred, Nale moved on to murder the next giant

 
 Spoiler 

 
 Spoiler: Coup de grace 

As a full-round action, you can use a melee weapon to deliver a coup de grace (pronounced “coo day grahs”) to a helpless opponent. You can also use a bow or crossbow, provided you are adjacent to the target.

You automatically hit and score a critical hit. If the defender survives the damage, he must make a Fortitude save DC 10 + damage dealt) or die. A rogue also gets her extra sneak attack damage against a helpless opponent when delivering a coup de grace.

Delivering a coup de grace provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening opponents.

You can’t deliver a coup de grace against a creature that is immune to critical hits. You can deliver a coup de grace against a creature with total concealment, but doing this requires two consecutive full-round actions (one to “find” the creature once you’ve determined what square it’s in, and one to deliver the coup de grace).
 


Nale takes a 5 ft step to coup the grace the next giant
so a total of (2d4+2d6+18)x4
( (2d4)[ 3 ] + (2d6)[ 6 ] +18)x4 = 108 damage


DC 118 Fort save to survive
 
Esprit15
Mentha continues to walk as fast as her small legs allow.
jakarta
 
Their faces gaunt
Their eyes were blurred
Their shirts all soaked with sweat... 

Academic save:  (1d20)[ 11 ] 

Meanwhile in the mists: (1d20)[ 5 ] ,  (1d6)[ 1 ] 

...

Mentha sees a shadow at the bottom of the stairs just as it heads towards a sleeping ogre.

---
The ground team sees the ghost riders as they begin to sing...

 Move 'em on, head 'em up
Head 'em up, move 'em on
Move 'em on, head 'em up
Rawhide! 

and a glowing ghost of a Cloud Giant rises from the tower to join the riders...
jakarta
Nale and the sniper are somewhat surprised to see the ghosts of the just slain giants raise sleepily, standing on/in their corpses...

They begin to sing...

 
Keep rollin', rollin', rollin'
Though the streams are swollen
Keep them dogies rollin'
Rawhide! 
Esprit15
 ”*tst!* This way!”  Mentha hisses to the shadow as she nears it, pointing to the ogres. If the shadow was down here, that meant that there was a giant corpse up top. And that could only mean good things for her future fun.
jakarta
"......der attack!!! Ghosts!!! " screams a hill giant who stagger/runs down the stairs from the tower. His face and voice full of panic, though he seems to be blindly fleeing.
Esprit15
 ”Yes, go find your friends,”  Mentha chuckles as she weaves a spell. The panicking giant feels a great hunger begin to stir inside of him.
 
 Spoiler 
Hunger for Flesh vs Hill Giant

Will Save vs DC24

Your target’s belly distends and its front teeth grow longer and sharper. The creature ravenously craves the flesh of its own kind, gaining the staggered condition as hunger pangs rack its altered body. The target gains a bite attack as a primary natural attack that deals damage appropriate for its size (1d6 if Medium, 1d4 if Small). There’s a 25% chance on each of the creature’s turns that it can’t overcome its hunger. If so, it must move directly toward the nearest corporeal creature of its type and subtype (if applicable) and make a bite attack against it. If the target lacks enough actions to attack on that turn, it moves as close to the creature as it can, but on its next turn, if the percentile dice indicate it overcomes its hunger, the target is not forced to pursue or attack further.

On any round after the target deals damage to another creature of its own type and subtype (if applicable) with its bite attack, the target loses the staggered condition. If it doesn’t continue dealing bite damage to applicable creatures, the target regains the staggered condition at the beginning of its next turn.
 
jakarta
 (1d20+3)[ 19 ] 

The other shadow begins descending the stairs right behind him...
jakarta
As the spell takes effect he is torn between fear and hunger...

 (1d100)[ 93 ] 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale saw the ogre emerge just as his slain victims began producing ghosts. Deciding that the noisy ogre was a priority, he flew towards the brute, to deliver a devastating blow.

 
 Spoiler 

Using my Time Skitter again and drawing my greatsword to attack the ogre

 (1d20+15)[ 33 ]  damage  (3d6+21)[ 34 ] + (2d6)[ 2 ]  electricity damage - if crit chance  (1d20+15)[ 21 ]  to confirm
 
Esprit15
 ”What the hell!?”  Mentha hisses.  “Those ghosts are going to wake everyone up anyways! I don’t cast spells on folks to add  garnish  to your kills!” 
jakarta
Noisy Hill Giant, actually.

Ogre wakeup checks
 (1d20)[ 10 ] 
 (1d20)[ 13 ] 
 (1d20)[ 10 ] 
 (1d20)[ 18 ] 
 (1d20)[ 6 ] 

The Hill Giant bites at Nale with his new teeth: (1d20+6)[ 23 ] 

The first shadow pulls up to sleeping ogre, pulls out a copy of  Pathfinder for Dummies  and starts checking the Coup de grace rules for non-hitpoint-damage attacks while waiting to see if any ogres wake up.

The second shadow, not in on the plan, floats into flanking and continues attacking the hill giant.  (1d20+6)[ 12 ] , dam  (1d6)[ 2 ]  stg

The 2 ghost hill giants continue singing a remix of "Rawhide" and "Ghost Riders"
Esprit15
 “That one’s flesh won’t quiet your hunger,”  the ‘goblin’ says with a toothy grin. She looks to one of the waking ogres and casts the same spell.  “Much fun to be had, chaos to be made, meats to be eaten~” 
 
 Spoiler 
DC24
 
jakarta
The ogre on the north wall nearest the door goes "Huh?", Sits up, and tries a will save while running his eyes.

 (1d20)[ 1 ] 

***
Meanwhile. ...

The ground team arrived 30 ft from the door.

Everyone re-roll initiative and let's sort this out a bit.

Sniper gets two attacks. To catch up. (If desired)
Stelio Kontos
Torsten cocked his head, eyeing the noisy hill giant with curiosity.  Then he launched a fusillade of arrows at the massive target.

 
 Spoiler: Round 1 
Studied target as swift, then:

 (1d20+15)[ 16 ]  attack,  (1d8+4)[ 12 ]  base damage, possible  (3d6+15)[ 18 ] sneak attack?  Ignores 30' limit on sneak attack
 (1d20+15)[ 16 ]  attack,  (1d8+4)[ 7 ]  base damage, possible  (3d6+6)[ 18 ] sneak attack?
 (1d20+10)[ 12 ]  attack,  (1d8+4)[ 8 ]  base damage, possible  (3d6+6)[ 18 ] sneak attack?
 

 
 Spoiler: Round 2 
 (1d20+15)[ 31 ]  attack,  (1d8+4)[ 10 ]  base damage, possible  (3d6+15)[ 27 ] sneak attack?  Ignores 30' limit on sneak attack
 (1d20+15)[ 21 ]  attack,  (1d8+4)[ 9 ]  base damage, possible  (3d6+6)[ 14 ] sneak attack?
 (1d20+10)[ 22 ]  attack,  (1d8+4)[ 11 ]  base damage, possible  (3d6+6)[ 19 ] sneak attack?
 
jakarta
Much to the sniper's embarrassment, 3 arrows fly past the head of the hill giant...
...the next 3 impact shoulders...
...the hill giant is injured but still standing as a shadow rakes his back.  This also does not kill him.

Actions for Jeffy and Lewis please.
Xav
      
      Lewis Blackheart     
 Tiefling Legendary Magus 
 AC: 27 (18 T/20 FF) 
 DR: - 
 HP: 66/66 
 Perception: +14 
 Initiative: +7 
 Conditions: -  
 
  

Lewis teleports to the entrance and looks inside.

 
 Spoiler: ACTIONS 

Teleport to the door, look inside. If it's closed - open, then look.
 
jakarta
The door is open.

Looking over the sniper's shoulder...

In approximate order of concern...

Inside at about 30 ft are 2 softly glowing, singing, images of hill giants, standing on top of and partially in, what are presumably their own bodies. The bodies are in rapidly widening pools of blood on either side (n /s) of the hall.

About 60 ft in Nale is tie to toe with a wounded Hill Giant. A shadow is attacking the same hill giant from behind.

Mentha is on the floor about 40 ft in. She is laughing and casting.

Just inside the door on the floor on the north wall is an awake ogre. Looks like something is wrong with his mouth, which is full of fangs. Looks like he just woke up and hasn't stood yet. A shadow is floating towards him with what seems melevolant intent.

There are 2 more ogres, asleep, along the north wall.

There are 2 more ogres, asleep, along the south wall.

There is an empty tun in the middle of the floor between the sleeping ogres. Various mugs and drinking horns are scattered about.

The shadow nearest Lewis starts singing along with the ghostly giants...some thing about herding cattle...
Esprit15
Mentha calls out to her skeletons as they shamble into view.  “Well? Kill the giants and ogres!” 
Paddywagon Man
  "Ogres? Not... not kill this ogre! Stupid bone-mens! Not even good for chewing!"  

These skeletons are out for ogre blood and Jeffy... well, he looks pretty ogre-like at the moment. Butchery's what he does best, but too many butchers spoil the feast. Chaos more or less in hand already by the looks of things, he reads a scroll of invisibility, then invisibly advances through the door, keeping his killer instincts in check for the moment for a slightly subtler approach.
jakarta
Ok...let's get this train-wreck back on track...

The shadows' forms smudge and refocus into cowboys with long dusters as they attack their prey and join in with the song.

The ogre with the gruesomely deforming jaws scrambles right though the shadow approaching him, diving teeth first into the nearest sleeping ogre who awakens with a screech of pain as his friend takes a bite out of his neck. The two roil on the floor in a bloody grapple as the shadow dives on both slashing wildly with its claws while crooning "Yippy Ki YA-a-YaY..Yippy KI-Ooooh..."

The shadow flanking the hill giant with Nale begins sining "Though the streams are swollen..."
It rakes the giant's back as Nale slices once more with is sickle. The spirit of the hill giant remains standing as its split corpse slumps to the floor. The ghost holds up its ten-gallon hat and joins in " Do or diiiiiiiie...."

The shadow floats past Nale the way to another sleeping ogre..."Keep them doggies moving....Rawhide."

The bloody bones skeletons respond to Mentha's attack command...by linking arms and walking in sideways....boot skoot-and-boogy-ing their way into the hall. They then pair off, spin their partners, and doe-see-doe to the nearest living ogre...

In a few moments of song, bone and shadow claws, and a bit of cannibalism...the screams and gurgles of the dying are replaced by the songs of the dead as the spirts of each ogre stand in vests and chaps and join in the song.

The bloody bones begin stomping and slapping themselves and each other in-time.... playing each other as percussion, producing the sounds of galloping horses....

 Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky.
All horses snorting fire as they ride on.... hear their cry.

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name. 

Suddenly, all the undead, bones included, point at the party members...

 'If you wanna save your soul
From hell a-riding on our range
Then, cowboy, change your ways today
Or with us you will ride
Trying to catch the devil's herd
Across these endless skies....
 

The shadows and ghosts then together rise though the ceiling...

 

Yippie-yi-o
Yippie-yi-yay
Ghost riders in the sky.... 

The skeletons resume line dancing for a moment as Jeffy walks though the madness towards the middle of the hall, leaving bloody foot prints from the gore he strolls though...

The bloody bones stop dancing. Whatever spell effect that was influencing them seems over, but they seem to now have permanently bow-legged gaits...and where did they get those Stetsons from?

 RAWHIDE!!! 

There is uproarious cheering from deeper in the compound. The music pauses...

The party is now all in the entry hall with 3 dead hill giants and 5 dead ogres and Mentha's bloody bones ogre skeletons.

The 3 doors leading from this room are all closed and all go north.  The middle one is a double door that you map indicates goes to the main dining hall.

  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...-6o/edit#gid=0 

(I compressed a few rounds to get the party together and finish off the sleeping ogres. The shadows would have timed out about now and were never really on track to do strength damage faster than the rest of the group would have done HP damage, so the 'shadow spawn' question doesn't need to be addressed. Party may explore "out of rounds" for the moment. )
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale cracked his neck, losening his tight muscles a bit, while he refocused himself to regain his maneuvers.
 
"Alright. So this was... well I'm not sure what this was, but it sure was something.

So, let's go over our plan again, because I have the slight suspicion, we were not on the same page earlier.

Sending in waves of undead is an option, though I have no idea why they start singing - I'm pretty sure that is not normal.

And maybe we should keep them a bit in reserve and try to murder sleeping giants in their sleep, before we have to deal with the whole building. One room at a time would be best.

Any objections?" 
Stelio Kontos
 "None"  whispered Torsten.

 "Check out the side rooms first, may be one or two stragglers?"  he suggested, taking a position against a wall where he could be well hidden at the corner of the doorway.
Esprit15
The fake goblin shifts back to looking like her normal, gnome self.  "Yeah, whatever, go the boring route,"  Mentha says, disappointment clear in her voice.  "I have a prize up top to claim - Oh. I'll be letting go of a couple of undead though to claim it."  The short woman skips over to the bearer of the bag of holding, opening it and pulling out several skeletons - birds and rats and one humanoid.  "Make chaos, my sweeties. Goblins and giants and ogres - climb the exterior walls and kill them all."  The undead all wander outside and begin trying to climb the walls, though don't experience much luck.  "You too, big guy,"  seh says to the first of the ogres she raised. The large skeleton also lumbers out the door.

Mentha quietly shuts the door behind them all.  "I'm gonna let them all just... join in on the cacophony that is going on outside. If we meet any of them, they'll res in an hour after being destroyed, so just... leave them for the giants to futz with. Now,"  the gnome skips up the stairs to check on the status of the giant that so rudely knocked her off the lookout tower.
Paddywagon Man
  "STOP! TELLING! BONE MANS! TO KILL JEFFY!"   comes the irritated bellow from below, followed by the unmistakable sound of a goblin slurping gore off his own feet.
Esprit15
(That’s why they were sent outside first)
 “Then drop the disguise! They’re almost as dumb as you, they take very simple commands! We’re not going with the original plan anyways!”  she calls down.
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  

Nale shrugged. That was as much buy in as he expected.
 
"Let's see if those guys had anything useful on them." 

While the gnome was doing unspeakable things with a dead body, he went about to loot their corpses

 
 Spoiler 

Perception
 (1d20+11)[ 23 ] 
 
Stelio Kontos
Paying the corpses no mind, Torsten kept an arrow nocked in one hand as he gently tested the door with the other -- not enough to actually open it, just enough to see if it *would* open nicely, if asked.
jakarta
Sniper: All the doors were made by giants for giants. It takes a bit of effort to "check" them. (Strength check) when you put your shoulder into it, the door budges.

Gnome: The cloud giant is damaged, but only in ways that would concern a cleric, not in ways that would bother a necromancer. (Does strength damage linger on a body?)

Nale: one hill giant has a cask of cheap ale. Another has a box of colorful fishing tackle. The line is hopelessly snarled, but the lures and floats are servicable. The third gas s necklace of humanoid skulls (12) wired together.

One ogre has a hand sized purple dragon scale.

Another has 6 large iron arrow heads.

The third has a collection of elf bones. Random, but about 2.9 skeletons worth.

The 4th has a set of ram horns. (About .1 skeletons worth)

The 5th has a giant sized flint hand axe.

Jeffy: plenty of snack food around. What do you want to do during about 10 min of looting and necromancy?

---
Esprit15
Indeed it would only bother a cleric, though Mentha  is  annoyed at the lack of a shadow. Hard to say whether the summoned shadow failed or whether her companion’s glee at stealing kills from her happened up here too.  “Well, no helping that now. There’s always next time,”  she says to herself. Taking out yet more gems, the gnome scoops out the great humanoid’s eyeballs. Taking out her bag of onyx, she begins counting out black onyx - twice the standard amount. Next she takes out a vial of unholy water. While yes, it was possible for her to merely use the blood rubies she had been gifted, she wanted to save those for emergencies. And for, frankly, less expensive projects. And her first giant, she wanted to make the old fashioned way.

The tiny woman coats her tattooed arm with the contents of the vial of unholy water and splashes it in each cardinal direction. Taking a sip of the last of it, she spits the contents over the body of the giant. At this point, she begins to her cant:    “Hezurren Itsasoaren indarraz…”    Mentha reaches the still wet hand into the bag of silver dust and with a flourish tosses it in a spiraling shape. The dust clings to the wet surface, and as the gnome speaks, it shapes itself to resemble a clasping ribcage. Her voice rises to shout briefly over the singing undead around her, just for a moment.    “Santutasun eremu hau garbitzen dut!”    The silver dust flashes and the ground is burned with the shape of a skeletal snake.

Mentha smiles as the sense of her patron fills her bones. The crispness of the hair gives her a pleasant chill.  “You should be honored, George. You’ll be the first Cloud Giant to serve the Sea of Bones. Maybe if you survive this I’ll give you your own name. Or even awaken you…   Jaiki, hezurdura odoltsua!  ” 
 
 Spoiler 
Cast Desecrate, for the next 18 hours the tower top is desecrated

Cast Animate Dead, create a Bloody Cloud Giant Skeleton. I’ll whip up a sheet for it in a few. Hopefully George gets to earn a real name.
 
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  
 
"Damn, if there is one thing I dislike more than stinking ogres, it's stinking poor ogres. I'd kill them again for their bad monetary and fiduciary conduct if I could." 

The bones he threw on a pile, although he doubted that their necromancer really needed them for more undead.

The dragon scale he pocketed. Might be fun to have around on a rainy sunday afternoon if someone with true resurrection came around.
jakarta
"George" sits up, barely fitting in the area.

Immediately, you know something is atypical.

He reaches into the remains of his skin and clothing, fishes out a bag...rolls (using the blood clinging to his jaw), lights, and begins smoking a cigarette... This is quite a feat for not having lips. The smoke just filters out his ribs.

He hangs his "kit" on a rib.

He seems to relax...and looks to the gnome as though awaiting instructions.
Esprit15
Mentha climbs into the giant’s pelvis and makes herself snug.  “Let’s introduce you to the group, George. Take us downstairs.” 
jakarta
The transit down the stairs is rather awkward as the cloud giant barely fits on the stairs. The contortion required alome ejects the gnome from the pelvis...

The rest of the party sees a skeleton pregnant with a gnome unfold itself at the bottom of the staircase.
Esprit15
 “So?  Mentha says, joy emanating from her voice, eyes sparkling as she hops down from the giant.  “ This  is more like it! I  wanted  to make a zombie and really take advantage of his muscles and general bulk. Gods, he would have been a  titan  with his flesh. But if those break, they’re gone for good. Bloody boys like this though? Just keep going. I’ll make a chunky one out of the next giants we kill though. Once the ogres have broken down a bit.” 
Paddywagon Man
  "Jeffy can -  shluuurp  - help."  

Jeffy is helping break down the ogres and fill his gullet. That's not all he'll get up to, though, he'll rummage through his rat's nest of supplies to find a few extra scrolls and antitoxins... and alchemical weapon coating... he'd half-forgotten about.

 
 Spoiler: Brilliant Planner 

Jeffy spends his 900 banked brilliant plan gold on 10 scrolls of True Trike, 2 antitoxins (keyed to his burrowing claws and wings of darkness elixirs), a scrolls of bear's endurance, a scroll of Death Knell, 2 Ghost Salt weapon blanches, an alchemist's fire, a scroll of vanish, a tindertwig and... 4 gold left... let's say a gnome eyeball for dessert.
 


With that complete he'll ready himself up for battle by making a quick fire and applying the ghost salt to 20 arrows, setting them aside for any possible spooks. He'll also check the various doors once Mentha's new skeleton is up and running.

 (1d20+7)[ 26 ]  Strength
jakarta
Jeffy opens the door on the right (just inside the steading entrance).

There is 50 ft of hallway ending in a "t" intersection.

There is a door 40 ft ahead on the left.
jakarta
The hallway is 10 ft wide, narrow for giants. There is one torch in a sconce on the right wall about 15 ft down the hall. There is another on the North wall of the intersection.
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  


Nale stepped confidently through the now open door and indicated to the closest door to the left, so everyone could get ready when he opened it.
Paddywagon Man
Jeffy uses his longstrider wand to juice up a bit before any potential throwdown.
Stelio Kontos
Torsten nodded at Nale and then the door, nocking an arrow and positioning himself against the wall in a spot where a narrow -- but plausibly large -- section of doorway would be open for a projectile to fly through.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Take 10 on Stealth, 27
 
Esprit15
Mentha stands proudly, though the lack of reaction to the giant does disappoint her slightly. No matter.  “Follow them, George. Attack anything that attacks us.”  She looks to the ogres.  “You lot as well. You’re the shock troops of this outfit.” 

Mentha meanwhile remains toward the back.
jakarta
The ogre skeletons move up behind Nale and the sniper (south of them in the hall).
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  


With everyone in position, Nale opened the door.

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+6)[ 20 ]  Str check
 
jakarta
The door opens to reveal that This place contains a scattering of furnishing (hides on the floors, a bear skin on the wall, a chair, a stool, a huge chest on the south wall, and a vast bed mounted with furs). On the north wall is a shelf 9' above the floor.

On the west wall is a bed covered with a mound of furs.

Spot checks.

Luck checks
 (1d20)[ 3 ]  Awk
 (1d20)[ 20 ]  prg
 (1d20)[ 7 ]  ran
 (1d20)[ 8 ]  mus
 (1d20)[ 10 ]  wer
Pyrophilios
      
      Nale     
 Elan Aegis 
 AC: 36 (22 T/27 FF) 
 DR: 4 
 HP: 76/76 
 PP:32/37 
 Perception: +11 
 Initiative: +3+4 
 Conditions: Elemental Flux Stance (Air) (+4 ini +4 dodge Electricity Resistance 15, +2d6 electricity damage   
 
  


Nale held a finger to his lips and indicated towards the large bed. Flying over there, he peaked beneath the mattress.
 
 Spoiler 

Spot check in Discord: 24

Trying to identify what's hiding underneath

Stealth:  (1d20+9)[ 14 ] 
 
Stelio Kontos
Torsten nodded, mouthing the words  "Five, four... " as he honed in on whatever it was under the covers.
Esprit15
Mentha watches from the back.