Post by TheUdjat on Mar 31, 2009 22:04:20 GMT -5
(Answering Questions/Comments)
Actually, the first is correct. The wind is in a 40’ radius area, so it covers everything, but it’s only blowing in one direction—towards the overturned wagon. The wind’s at your back if you attack them.
I’m still gonna go with the axe attack, though.
You guys worry too much. 
Despite the formidable beating he’s taken, Elric manages to shake his head clear, shouting out commands to his troops, unable to spare them even a glance to see how they fare. Instead he focuses on his target, the first bandit leader, knowing that the heads of this serpent must be brought down. The longsword swoops down again, slicing through thick studded leather and opening another gash in the bandit’s side—but though reeling and barely able to keep his senses, the man remains standing.
Jakob curses the winds, in the chaos not realizing the deliberate direction of it, the design of a magus. He sets his bow down to instead hurl an axe at one of the bandits. For a moment he almost loses his grip on the weapon, but deftly recovers, sending the axe spinning end over end to crash into a bandit. The blow is solid and true, or it would be, but the man turns his body to the incoming blade—it sheers off a good layer of skin on one shoulder, narrowly missing his face.
This time the snipers target the guardsmen on the wagon, hoping to take advantage of their stunned injuries. But with the vicious wind their shots largely miss, though one bolt makes it through to score the leg of the wagon’s passenger. It is an injury, but not a bad one.
The guardsmen are still suffering from the heavy assault, though. The critically injured man still mounted gives a rasping breath and sags limp in his saddle, not even breathing—well and truly dead, no doubt. The horse skitters, uncomfortable with the wind and the sounds of battle, the blood soaking its back, and the missiles flying from above. The two guardsmen on the wagon struggle to regain their senses, casting the spears to the ground, while Elric’s bold companion continues to fend off two of the bandits. He strikes one, but it is a glancing blow, largely deflected by his armor. The last guardsman, still on the ground with his bow, does as Elric commands, lining his bow up on one of the bandits reaching for a club—the shot is true, and the arrow streaks into the bandit’s chest, sending him down with a shrieking cry.
Lost in the chaos of battle, reeling from the spear in her side, Tawno pulls the hateful weapon out and presses a hand to the wound that bleeds fresh. The surrounding clamor seems to disappear for a time, her focus completely on the injury for a dangerous moment.
The bandits continue to fight savagely, knowing their lives depend on it as their numbers grow fewer. The two around the mounted guardsmen continue to plague him, but not with any matter of success. Those around Elric swarm him, trying to stab him and bring him down. One makes a bold thrust with his spear that catches Elric in the chest, but the hard metal of the breastplate deflects it, leaving a long scratch. The last bandit standing with a club gives a wild shout and charges towards Jakob, raising his club to strike…
But suddenly a crossbow bolt streaks out of nowhere, plunking deftly into the side of the man’s neck. He staggers a step or two and collapses at the feet of Jakob’s horse, a hand clutching his neck as blood spurts out, his cries of agony drowned in his own blood. Arnaud, crouched in the foliage, using tree trunks for cover, nods in satisfaction and looks for another target.
Also in the trees, the young boy Rupert tries to do his part to aid the battle—his life is as much at stake as anyone else. His knife between his teeth, Rupert begins to scale one of the trees he spies a bandit in. It’s a bit of a tricky climb, the branches a bit high and far apart for good climbing, but he makes it up all the same, his grunts and movements lost in the chaos of the fight. He soon finds himself within striking distance of a man loading his crossbow, without any clue that Rupert lurks nearby.
Down on the ground, the bandit leaders feverishly try to shake their heads clear—one from the brutal hits he’s taken from Elric, the other because of the mental powers of Amalric. Neither is able to bring their axes to bear—a good thing, to be sure.
Up above, Isabeau beats against the wind, plunging towards one of the snipers in the trees with talons and hooked beak. The man is caught unawares, and though he bats and swipes at the hawk, he is caught full in the face by the avian. He screams as his face is mangled, and even if the ensuing fall hadn’t drowned out his cries, it is likely the hawk had finished him anyway.
Isabeau’s master, meanwhile, turns his mind to another bandit. This touch is gentler, more subtle, as he tries to convince the man to run through disturbing mental images and mind-to-mind fears he hopes the man adopts as his own. It is easy enough to breach the weak-willed man’s mind, and there he is easily susceptible to Amalric’s words. He visibly quakes in fear on the battlefield, but the scene is too chaotic or the man too cowed by his leaders to make a full retreat of it. For now, at least.
Joseph keeps up his rushing winds—a fact that, up above, a certain hawk is not at all pleased with. As another gust rushes through the road, Isabeau is sent tumbling off course, almost plummeting. But as the winds rush in, Joseph speaks more arcane words, shaping some of his rushing air into a blast, which he directs at one bandit in particular. The winds hit the man, making him stagger several steps, but not delivering the knockout blow Joseph would’ve liked. Joseph slumps a little from the effort of the magic--manipulating the winds is taking a great deal of energy out of him.
The battles rages on, but bandits continue to drop, though the Covenant is not without its own casualties…
Initiative: Elric (26), Jakob (20), Bandit Archers (20), Covenant Guards (19), Tawno (17), Bandits (14), Arnaud (12), Rupert (9), Bandit Leaders (7), Amalric & Isabeau (7), Joseph (6).
Description: 5 bandits are clustered around Elric, 3 of them actively attacking him. 2 are attacking the other mounted guardsman. 4 archers sit in the treetops, tricky to spot. The wagon is still a good 20’ from the bandits, but the horses drawing it are looking none too happy. Tawno and the two guardsmen, at the fore of the wagon, are injured but ready to act.
The road is some ten feet wide. Trees are all around off the path. The wind is now gusting powerfully (-2 to ranged attacks and notice checks for sound. Tiny creatures knocked down/blown away). Since Rojito specified he wanted the winds blowing against the bandits, the ranged weapon penalty does not apply if attacking the bandits by the wagon (but does for the archers, who are in different directions).
(Character Status)
Amalric – Normal
Arnaud – Normal
Elric – Mounted, Hurt (-1 vs. lethal), Wounded (-1)
Jakob – Normal, Mounted
Joseph –Mounted, Fatigued (-2 Str/Dex, no charge)
Rupert – Normal
Tawno – Wounded (-1)
Isabeau – Normal
Guardsman 1 – Driving Cart, Wounded (-1)
Guardsman 2 – Mounted, Wounded (-2), Unconscious, Dead
Guardsman 3 – Mounted, Hurt (-2 vs. Lethal)
Guardsman 4 – Normal, Walking
Guardsman 5 –Riding Cart, Hurt (-1 vs. Lethal), Wounded (-1)
Bandit Leader 1 – Shaken, Wounded (-2), Staggered, Disabled, Panicked [in front of Elric]
Bandit 1 – Shaken [attacking Guardsman 3]
Bandit 2 – Shaken [attacking Guardsman 3]
Bandit 3 – Shaken [attacking Elric]
Bandit 4 – Shaken, Unconscious, Dying
Bandit Leader 2 – [attacking Elric], staggered
Bandit 5 – Shaken [attacking Elric]
Bandit 6 – Normal [attacking Elric]
Bandit 7 – [in the open; no spears], dying
Bandit 8 – [in the open; no spears], dying
Bandit Archer 1 – [west side of road, DC 10 Notice check to target], dying
Bandit Archer 2 – Normal [west side of road, DC 10 Notice check to target]
Bandit Archer 3 – Normal [east side of road, DC 10 Notice check to target]
Bandit Archer 4 – Normal [east side of road, DC 10 Notice check to target]
So I understand it, do my ranged attacks have the -2 to them against all targets, or as normal against the baddies at the wagon? Or do only allies at the wagon have the boon of no penalties? I'm thinking its probably the latter, therefore I'll go forward thusly. If not, then shoot any threat I can without penalty.
I’m still gonna go with the axe attack, though.
Looks like we're in for a really short short, LOL.
Despite the formidable beating he’s taken, Elric manages to shake his head clear, shouting out commands to his troops, unable to spare them even a glance to see how they fare. Instead he focuses on his target, the first bandit leader, knowing that the heads of this serpent must be brought down. The longsword swoops down again, slicing through thick studded leather and opening another gash in the bandit’s side—but though reeling and barely able to keep his senses, the man remains standing.
Jakob curses the winds, in the chaos not realizing the deliberate direction of it, the design of a magus. He sets his bow down to instead hurl an axe at one of the bandits. For a moment he almost loses his grip on the weapon, but deftly recovers, sending the axe spinning end over end to crash into a bandit. The blow is solid and true, or it would be, but the man turns his body to the incoming blade—it sheers off a good layer of skin on one shoulder, narrowly missing his face.
This time the snipers target the guardsmen on the wagon, hoping to take advantage of their stunned injuries. But with the vicious wind their shots largely miss, though one bolt makes it through to score the leg of the wagon’s passenger. It is an injury, but not a bad one.
The guardsmen are still suffering from the heavy assault, though. The critically injured man still mounted gives a rasping breath and sags limp in his saddle, not even breathing—well and truly dead, no doubt. The horse skitters, uncomfortable with the wind and the sounds of battle, the blood soaking its back, and the missiles flying from above. The two guardsmen on the wagon struggle to regain their senses, casting the spears to the ground, while Elric’s bold companion continues to fend off two of the bandits. He strikes one, but it is a glancing blow, largely deflected by his armor. The last guardsman, still on the ground with his bow, does as Elric commands, lining his bow up on one of the bandits reaching for a club—the shot is true, and the arrow streaks into the bandit’s chest, sending him down with a shrieking cry.
Lost in the chaos of battle, reeling from the spear in her side, Tawno pulls the hateful weapon out and presses a hand to the wound that bleeds fresh. The surrounding clamor seems to disappear for a time, her focus completely on the injury for a dangerous moment.
The bandits continue to fight savagely, knowing their lives depend on it as their numbers grow fewer. The two around the mounted guardsmen continue to plague him, but not with any matter of success. Those around Elric swarm him, trying to stab him and bring him down. One makes a bold thrust with his spear that catches Elric in the chest, but the hard metal of the breastplate deflects it, leaving a long scratch. The last bandit standing with a club gives a wild shout and charges towards Jakob, raising his club to strike…
But suddenly a crossbow bolt streaks out of nowhere, plunking deftly into the side of the man’s neck. He staggers a step or two and collapses at the feet of Jakob’s horse, a hand clutching his neck as blood spurts out, his cries of agony drowned in his own blood. Arnaud, crouched in the foliage, using tree trunks for cover, nods in satisfaction and looks for another target.
Also in the trees, the young boy Rupert tries to do his part to aid the battle—his life is as much at stake as anyone else. His knife between his teeth, Rupert begins to scale one of the trees he spies a bandit in. It’s a bit of a tricky climb, the branches a bit high and far apart for good climbing, but he makes it up all the same, his grunts and movements lost in the chaos of the fight. He soon finds himself within striking distance of a man loading his crossbow, without any clue that Rupert lurks nearby.
Down on the ground, the bandit leaders feverishly try to shake their heads clear—one from the brutal hits he’s taken from Elric, the other because of the mental powers of Amalric. Neither is able to bring their axes to bear—a good thing, to be sure.
Up above, Isabeau beats against the wind, plunging towards one of the snipers in the trees with talons and hooked beak. The man is caught unawares, and though he bats and swipes at the hawk, he is caught full in the face by the avian. He screams as his face is mangled, and even if the ensuing fall hadn’t drowned out his cries, it is likely the hawk had finished him anyway.
Isabeau’s master, meanwhile, turns his mind to another bandit. This touch is gentler, more subtle, as he tries to convince the man to run through disturbing mental images and mind-to-mind fears he hopes the man adopts as his own. It is easy enough to breach the weak-willed man’s mind, and there he is easily susceptible to Amalric’s words. He visibly quakes in fear on the battlefield, but the scene is too chaotic or the man too cowed by his leaders to make a full retreat of it. For now, at least.
Joseph keeps up his rushing winds—a fact that, up above, a certain hawk is not at all pleased with. As another gust rushes through the road, Isabeau is sent tumbling off course, almost plummeting. But as the winds rush in, Joseph speaks more arcane words, shaping some of his rushing air into a blast, which he directs at one bandit in particular. The winds hit the man, making him stagger several steps, but not delivering the knockout blow Joseph would’ve liked. Joseph slumps a little from the effort of the magic--manipulating the winds is taking a great deal of energy out of him.
The battles rages on, but bandits continue to drop, though the Covenant is not without its own casualties…
- Elric spends a Conviction point (now at 2) to shake off stunned. He attacks Bandit Leader 1 @ +4: 22, easy hit. Toughness Save vs. DC 21: 9, fails by 12. He is staggered and disabled.
- Jakob attacks one of the bandits standing in the open (since they’re not in melee). No bonus for high ground (apparently that’s just melee). Attack @ +2: Natural 1, failure. Edits! Jakob spends a Conviction to reroll: 21, definitely a hit. Toughness Save vs. DC 17: 20, pass. No damage after all.
- Archers try to send down some more bolts, now with a -2 penalty. No longer surprise attacking, either. They aim for the guards on the wagon, two on each. Attacking Guardsman 1: 1, 6, both miss. On Guardsman 5: 1, 9, one hit. Toughness Save vs. DC 18: 16, fails by 2 and is hurt.
- Covenant Guards act. Guardsman 2 makes a Con check: 8, fails. He is now dead. Guardsmen 1 and 5 spend the round shaking of stunned. Guardsman 3 attacks the bandits around him: 14, hit. Toughness Save vs. DC 19: 19, pass on the nose. Guardsman 5 shoots at one of the bandits in the open: 19, hit. Toughness Save vs. DC 18: 15, fail, and as a minion he is instantly dying.
- Tawno also spends a round shaking off stunned. (No action)
- The rest of the bandits act, continuing to attack their targets. 1 and 2 attack Guardsman 3: 6 and 7, both miss.
Bandits 3, 5, and 6 attack Elric: 12, 7, and a Natural 20 (threat). Does not confirm. That’s one hit. Toughness Save @ +4 vs. DC 19: 23, pass. No damage.
Bandit 8 draws his club and advances on Jakob. (Two move actions) - Arnaud, from cover of the forest, attacks the one heading to Jakob (not yet considered in melee): 14 on the roll posted. That’ll hit. Toughness Save vs. DC 17: 4, fails by 13, which would be bad news anyway—but he’s a minion, so he’s dying.
- Rupert tries to scale a tree and attack an archer. Let’s see how fast he climbs! Athletics check: 15, enough to successfully climb at 1/4 speed. With a double move he can reach one, but not yet attack. The archer still hasn’t noticed him.
- Bandit leaders act... or they don’t, really. They spend a round stunned from various maladies.
- Isabeau is sent to try and attack an archer. Since she(?) passed her Fort save last time, I’ll let her act as normal, but she will need another Fort save on Joseph’s round if the wind is still in effect. The wind has a big radius, so she is still within it in the trees. Attack on an archer @ +5: Natural 20, threat. Does not confirm on 10. Toughness Save vs. DC 14: Natural 1. An archer drops anyway.
- Amalric tries to Mind Touch a bandit to convince him to flee. Will Save vs. DC 16: 5, no good. I’ll give him a mental intimidate check with a bonus for being in his head. Intimidate @ 7: 26. Dude cannot hope to resist that. He is shaken. (You need a feat to Incite Fear like Tawno). We’ll call this Bandit 5.
- Joseph wants to use elemental blast... but alas he cannot call out lightning, as there are no storm clouds. I will instead have him blast the guy with Wind (non-lethal, but hey). Ranged Attack @ +0 (-1 Dex due to Winded): 19, that’ll hit, even in the melee. Toughness Save vs. DC 16: 16, succeeds. No damage. Will Save for fatigue vs. DC 13: 10, fail. Joseph is now fatigued.
Almost forgot Isabeau’s renewed Fort Save vs. the winds: 9, fail. Will not be able to act next round, being blown a little ways. - Initiative to Elric.
Initiative: Elric (26), Jakob (20), Bandit Archers (20), Covenant Guards (19), Tawno (17), Bandits (14), Arnaud (12), Rupert (9), Bandit Leaders (7), Amalric & Isabeau (7), Joseph (6).
Description: 5 bandits are clustered around Elric, 3 of them actively attacking him. 2 are attacking the other mounted guardsman. 4 archers sit in the treetops, tricky to spot. The wagon is still a good 20’ from the bandits, but the horses drawing it are looking none too happy. Tawno and the two guardsmen, at the fore of the wagon, are injured but ready to act.
The road is some ten feet wide. Trees are all around off the path. The wind is now gusting powerfully (-2 to ranged attacks and notice checks for sound. Tiny creatures knocked down/blown away). Since Rojito specified he wanted the winds blowing against the bandits, the ranged weapon penalty does not apply if attacking the bandits by the wagon (but does for the archers, who are in different directions).
(Character Status)
Amalric – Normal
Arnaud – Normal
Elric – Mounted, Hurt (-1 vs. lethal), Wounded (-1)
Jakob – Normal, Mounted
Joseph –Mounted, Fatigued (-2 Str/Dex, no charge)
Rupert – Normal
Tawno – Wounded (-1)
Isabeau – Normal
Guardsman 1 – Driving Cart, Wounded (-1)
Guardsman 3 – Mounted, Hurt (-2 vs. Lethal)
Guardsman 4 – Normal, Walking
Guardsman 5 –Riding Cart, Hurt (-1 vs. Lethal), Wounded (-1)
Bandit Leader 1 – Shaken, Wounded (-2), Staggered, Disabled, Panicked [in front of Elric]
Bandit 1 – Shaken [attacking Guardsman 3]
Bandit 2 – Shaken [attacking Guardsman 3]
Bandit 3 – Shaken [attacking Elric]
Bandit Leader 2 – [attacking Elric], staggered
Bandit 5 – Shaken [attacking Elric]
Bandit 6 – Normal [attacking Elric]
Bandit Archer 2 – Normal [west side of road, DC 10 Notice check to target]
Bandit Archer 3 – Normal [east side of road, DC 10 Notice check to target]
Bandit Archer 4 – Normal [east side of road, DC 10 Notice check to target]
