Chapter Seventeen: Taking the Fight to Loviatar!

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Tag.

(Part 1 of 2 - Lady Paladin Alisa of Mielikki)

She sheathed her rapier, and raised both her palms in an apparent display of surrender. If the kobolds thought she was going to give herself up however, they would soon be corrected when Alisa opened her mouth and called out "If you ogres think you can catch me, you are truly without reason!"

The nearest brainless brute pauses and scratches what remains of his ratty hair with a knotted finger.

"Wut?"

"Hur hur hur!" One of his brethren beside him points and chuckles. "Da skinny human sed you is ogre!"

"WHAAAAT?!" howls the first muscle-brained monstrosity with a hateful scowl aimed at Alisa. "We not ogres! Ogres is stoopid! We is DUMBSTUMPS!!"

Alisa has fought enough ogres to know that the only thing more legendary than their great strength is their enormous stupidity. Alisa can reasonably surmise that these ogres are perhaps trying to change their sorry reputation merely by changing their name.

As Alisa darts off, the ogres, knowing they are slower than she, begin storming forward and picking up anything nearby and throwing them at her. Thankfully, they are terrible shots.

The kobolds, being no fools, shriek in unison when Alisa runs off. They flee behind her in a line except for the new guy. He stumbles, his snout striking the dirt. To his horror, he is picked up by one of the ogres.

"Goodbye, cruel world!" cries the shivering kobold.

But the ogre is in throwing mode. He grins cruelly as if he has just struck upon a good idea - an event that does not happen very often for the average ogre. With a mighty heave, he hurls the now-spastic kobold through the air... and straight at the fleet-footed Alisa.

"Gaaaah!" The little reptilian flaps his arms.

What does Alisa do?

 

[Purr]

(Part 2 of 2 - The Wayward Wanderers)

High above the great horde of chasing ogres, it is Luna, Otiorin, and Kaerri whose attention finds another, smaller pack of abput eight armored ogres chasing something else - a single fleet figure with four smaller creatures behind it. The leading figure appears to be guiding the monsters away from something, but what?

"Haaay!" points Nitwit as he holds onto the wagon for dear life. "Dose are my peepses! My scalykin! Can't weez be goody-guys an' gals an' help them somehow?"

What do the Wayward Wanderers do?

 

[Sherwood]

Luna is about to unleash her first spell on the ogre magi and many of the ground pounders with it when Nitwit alerts them about his people down below. She looks out to where Nitwit is pointing, taking in the situation, then turns to Oreleth. "I can cast on either set of targets, but I need to know which group to engage. I say we should help the little guys. It's why we're out here, after all."

 

[Psychie]

Oreleth doesn't hesitate when asked. "Yes, absolutely. Our focus is to try and save lives, not engage in pointless battles. Same general plan as before, but this time, we start by toasting the ogres chasing the kobolds and that one other person down there. Everyone, don't forget about the larger group of ogres and the ogre magi. Once we start throwing magic around, it will alert them to our presence big time, and it will undoubtedly send them racing after us."

She looks at the pyromancer with a grin. "Luna, will you do us the honors of starting off with that Chain Lightning spell of yours? Then the rest of us will clean up what is left over."

 

[Sherwood]

Luna nods. "One bunch of cooked ogres coming right up!" She then turns her attention to the bunch chasing the kobolds and the armored figure, marshalling her concentration to make the magic energies flow. Once she has the spell ready, she points her finger out and lets fly with the magic! "Chain Lightning!"

Spoiler

Spell is now marked off my list. 13d6+7 damage to all of the ogres, save DC of 24, and +4 to bypass Spell Resistance. All 1's and 2's count as a '3' on the damage dice.

Level: 13
Class: Wizard
Hit Points: 74 +1d6
Action Points: 11 / 10
Diamond of Fate: 1

Armor Class: 18 - 24 Mage Armor II. +2 from Ring of Force Shield
Touch AC: 14 Flat Footed: 22

Initiative Bonus: 2
Fortitude Save: +6
Reflex Save: +7
Will Save: +16

Base Attack: +6 / +1
Melee: +4 / -1
Ranged: +8 / +3

Mage Armor II and Protection From Arrows active; duration of 13 hours

Spells memorized:
Cantrips (4): Mage Hand, Light, Detect Magic, Read Magic
1 (7): Magic Missile x4, Shield x2, Unseen Servant
2 (7): Web x2, Protection From Arrows, Glitterdust x2, Scorching Ray
3 (6): Haste x2, Fireball x2, Slow, Lightning Bolt
4 (5): Empowered Scorching Ray x3, Ball Lightning
5 (5): Cone of Cold x3, Empowered Fireball x2
6 (4): Chain Lightning, Maximized Lightning Bolt x2
7 (2): Prismatic Spray, Mage Sword

+7 damage to all Evoker spells

 

[Kaerri]

Kaerri salutes Oreleth and re-aims her crossbow onto one of the chasing ogres. "Aye, aye, cap'n!"

 

[jaydude]

Captain Hesperus Tag.

(Part 1 of 2 - Lady Paladin Alisa of Mielikki)



The nearest brainless brute pauses and scratches what remains of his ratty hair with a knotted finger.

"Wut?"

"Hur hur hur!" One of his brethren beside him points and chuckles. "Da skinny human sed you is ogre!"

"WHAAAAT?!" howls the first muscle-brained monstrosity with a hateful scowl aimed at Alisa. "We not ogres! Ogres is stoopid! We is DUMBSTUMPS!!"

Alisa has fought enough ogres to know that the only thing more legendary than their great strength is their enormous stupidity. Alisa can reasonably surmise that these ogres are perhaps trying to change their sorry reputation merely by changing their name.

As Alisa darts off, the ogres, knowing they are slower than she, begin storming forward and picking up anything nearby and throwing them at her. Thankfully, they are terrible shots.

The kobolds, being no fools, shriek in unison when Alisa runs off. They flee behind her in a line except for the new guy. He stumbles, his snout striking the dirt. To his horror, he is picked up by one of the ogres.

"Goodbye, cruel world!" cries the shivering kobold.

But the ogre is in throwing mode. He grins cruelly as if he has just struck upon a good idea - an event that does not happen very often for the average ogre. With a mighty heave, he hurls the now-spastic kobold through the air... and straight at the fleet-footed Alisa.

"Gaaaah!" The little reptilian flaps his arms.

What does Alisa do?

Upon hearing the ogres' projectiles landing all around her, Alisa looked over her shoulder while continuing to run, hence why she was able to see the unfortunate kobold being thrown directly at her. Instead of trying to dodge, some instinct made her spin around at the last moment before the kobold hit her, and raise her arms in an attempt to catch the 'projectile'.

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Otiorin Taletreader

Otiorin changed targets smoothly and without comment, launching a bolt from his magically-charged crossbow. Without waiting to see if his shot landed, he threw himself from the top of the wagon and plummeted toward the distant ground below. As he fell, his lips and fingers worked through the arcane motions of another spell. A spell to grant him the power to *Fly*.

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Tag.

(Part 1 of 2 - The Wayward Wanderers)

Wizards in Sharseya are an unpredictable lot. Wizards on the continent of Averlund come in many varieties, from many backgrounds, and toward many destinies. Wizards from Summerset however, are some of the best-trained in the land. =)

Chain Lightning is a 6th-level spell, the highest in Luna's beloved, well-protected spellbook, and this is the first time Miss Callen has ever called upon this kind of magic outside of practice. It is one matter to recite and rehearse at one's pleasure inside of her private chambers with only a polite and helpful psuedo-dragon familiar as company. Quite another to cast this most-difficult spell atop a golem-driven magical wagon in flight while raging, chill winds threaten to fling her and Sparkle off and down, down into the evening-shrouded glens and great trees that rush with striking swiftness beneath the Wayward Wagon.

Having long taken on the training required to eschew minor material components like those required of the spell, Luna is free to focus herself on the vocal and physical requirements of the spell and this she completes with great skill born of great practice.

Spoiler: But first, just a little reminder of why Mother Nature is still in charge.

Get it? In "charge?"

8D

Not Safe For Work! (Profanity)
"The Best Lightning Strikes Compilation 2018"

The eruption of pure lightning that sprouts from Luna's fingertips carries a touch of its electricity throughout her whole body - in an instant, Luna is feeling quite alive and awake as if she had imbibed about 6 cups of strong coffee! The crazed and crooked bolt that lashes out from her wizardly powers is as violent as it is unerring. For the span of a human's heartbeat, everyone on the battlefield (Lady Paladin Alisa most-definitely included) experiences the dim of the evening becoming bright as day before the flash is gone. But what of the 400-foot line of elemental fury that Luna has loosed?

The first armored ogre it strikes, a cruel and brutal-looking thug of a monster clad from head to heels in dirty ring mail armor, melts obliviously into a giant mass of burned flesh. He does not even have time to scream.

The other seven caught in the mighty spell's grasp try leaping to the side or ducking in some manner to save their lives. Against the carefully-cultivated might of the Wizard, only one succeeds. He is left howling in agony. Kaerri and Otiorin can put him down with ease.

The rest of the ogres notice the flash. Some flinch and look to the heavens perhaps expecting the bane of their existence and a cosmic being who relatively recently gave his blessing to Highwind - Thor, the God of Thunder. Seeing no god, dozens of brutish eyes find instead the Wayward Wagon. While the armored ogres scream and cry hateful curses and turn from their chase, their smarter and more cunning brethren, the sorcery-wielding ogre magi, waste no time in calling upon their own fell magic.

And in ones and twos, the Wayward Wanderers notice some of the armored ogres lift off of the ground and into the air. Gravity no longer a burden, the ogre magi are causing their dim-witted skull-smashers to fly! In doing so, the Wayward Wanderers instantly realize the evil horde can begin to bring its main power into play - brute strength by way of huge steely swords!

Whatever the Wayward Wanderers seek to do, they do not have long to do it!

 

[Purr]

(Part 2 of 2 - Lady Paladin Alisa of Mielikki)

From the ogre's stinking clutches, the wailing new guy sails through the air with prayers on his lips! While not prayers to Mielikki, someone up there must have been listening, for Alisa reaches out to catch the little fellow whom the ogre intended to smash into her and trip her up. Instead, Alisa's hands manage to deflect and cause the little reptilian to bounce upward, and with a frantic action not unlike a cat scrabbling with her claws, Alisa focuses solely on catching the fellow and it pays off - all while running and dodging other, harder objects pitched her way from the chasing Dumbstumps!

Alisa finds the little red-scaled bundle of nerves is now safely in her grasp. Looking about frantically, he can't believe his luck! The new guy, having more mouth than manners and even less wisdom, taunts your pursuers with the following shout. "Haaa haaa! Yer justa buncha dumb.... dumb.... OGRES!"

"ARAAAAAHH!" comes at least a half-dozen savage replies.

Then one moment, Lady Paladin Alisa is running with a howling scale-footed little caravan of fleeing kobolds close behind her, while the ground trembles with the surging of the terrible ogre company running behind her. There is a tremendous flash of light that seems to illuminate the very sky. A series of lightning bolts flash all over - from a higher perspective, Alisa realizes the chained electrical bolts would form a bright and shining "W" - and all of the air around Alisa and the kobolds is filled with tremendous energy! The Dumbstumps roars of anger turn to cries of incredible pain which die quickly with them as in twos and threes, they smash against the ground as lifeless as the innocent creatures they slew in their evil lives. But slay they will no longer for some great force has permanently laid them low! Only one remains alive and he is charred and unhappy and most bewildered, but still trying to chase Alisa down!

Above Alisa's head, swift in the evening sky, she spies a most unusual sight! There about a hundred feet above her and closing fast is a magnificent towering wagon led by huge hippogriffs with strange figures atop and about it, most of whom are wielding weapons - and they are heading her way!

 

[Psychie]

With the initial blast of Luna's Chain Lightning so very effective, Oreleth smiles as she shifts her targeting to take on the closest of the ogre magi. As she draws back on the bowstring, she says, "We have incoming! Get ready for melee combat!" She then lets fly with a string of arrows, all flying straight and true at the closest of the magic-using foes.

Spoiler

OOC At this moment, I am not using my Deadly Aim Feat, and instead I'm keeping the to-hit bonus up to try and make sure to tag the sucker as many times as possible. Rapid Shot and Many Shot are in use, though. We'll see if I can't remove the one monster from the fight.

Attacks per Round:
1st - Manyshot (firing two arrows). "To Hit:" +18 (+20 First Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 2d8+12 (+6 Base damage).
2nd - Improved Vital Strike. "To Hit:" +13 (+15 Second Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 3d8+6 (Improved Vital Strike, +6 Base damage).
3rd - Normal Attack. "To Hit:" +8 (+10 Third Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 1d8+6
4th - Rapid Shot Bonus Attack. "To Hit:" +18 (+20 First Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 1d8+6

+1d6 per arrow of either Cold, Fire or Electrical from Arcane Archer class.

Hit Points: 91 +d10 per level
Action Points: 11 / 11
Bonus Action Point: 1 / 1
Diamond of Fate: 1

Armor Class: 24
CMD: 26
Fort Save: +9
Reflex Save: +13
Will Save: +6 (+11 vs Fear)
Perception: +15

Spells Memorized
Cantrips: Mage Hand, Detect Magic, Ray of Frost, Message
1: Shield x2, Shocking Grasp x2, Burning Hands
2: Flaming Sphere, Glitterdust x2, Web
3: Fireball x2

+3 damage to Evoker spells.

 

[Sherwood]

Luna gives off a quick fist pump of success as she sees the ogres on the ground drop. "Yes! That is how it is done!" She quickly turns to look at the other, larger group of ogres and raises an eyebrow to see the armored ones on the ground take to the air, along with Oreleth's call to prepare for a close-in fight. "Melee combat? I will pass on that, thank you very much! But let's see how many of these flying fools we can take down before they turn tail and run!"

With that, the pyromancer once more begins to gather together the mystic energies needed to cast another spell.

Spoiler

Level: 13
Class: Wizard
Hit Points: 74 +1d6
Action Points: 11 / 10
Diamond of Fate: 1

Armor Class: 18 - 24 Mage Armor II. +2 from Ring of Force Shield
Touch AC: 14 Flat Footed: 22

Initiative Bonus: 2
Fortitude Save: +6
Reflex Save: +7
Will Save: +16

Base Attack: +6 / +1
Melee: +4 / -1
Ranged: +8 / +3

Mage Armor II and Protection From Arrows active; duration of 13 hours

Spells memorized:
Cantrips (4): Mage Hand, Light, Detect Magic, Read Magic
1 (7): Magic Missile x4, Shield x2, Unseen Servant
2 (7): Web x2, Protection From Arrows, Glitterdust x2, Scorching Ray
3 (6): Haste x2, Fireball x2, Slow, Lightning Bolt
4 (5): Empowered Scorching Ray x3, Ball Lightning
5 (5): Cone of Cold x3, Empowered Fireball x2
6 (4): Chain Lightning, Maximized Lightning Bolt x2
7 (2): Prismatic Spray, Mage Sword

+7 damage to all Evoker spells

 

[jaydude]

(Part 2 of 2 - Lady Paladin Alisa of Mielikki)

From the ogre's stinking clutches, the wailing new guy sails through the air with prayers on his lips! While not prayers to Mielikki, someone up there must have been listening, for Alisa reaches out to catch the little fellow whom the ogre intended to smash into her and trip her up. Instead, Alisa's hands manage to deflect and cause the little reptilian to bounce upward, and with a frantic action not unlike a cat scrabbling with her claws, Alisa focuses solely on catching the fellow and it pays off - all while running and dodging other, harder objects pitched her way from the chasing Dumbstumps!

Alisa finds the little red-scaled bundle of nerves is now safely in her grasp. Looking about frantically, he can't believe his luck! The new guy, having more mouth than manners and even less wisdom, taunts your pursuers with the following shout. "Haaa haaa! Yer justa buncha dumb.... dumb.... OGRES!"

"ARAAAAAHH!" comes at least a half-dozen savage replies.

Then one moment, Lady Paladin Alisa is running with a howling scale-footed little caravan of fleeing kobolds close behind her, while the ground trembles with the surging of the terrible ogre company running behind her. There is a tremendous flash of light that seems to illuminate the very sky. A series of lightning bolts flash all over - from a higher perspective, Alisa realizes the chained electrical bolts would form a bright and shining "W" - and all of the air around Alisa and the kobolds is filled with tremendous energy! The Dumbstumps roars of anger turn to cries of incredible pain which die quickly with them as in twos and threes, they smash against the ground as lifeless as the innocent creatures they slew in their evil lives. But slay they will no longer for some great force has permanently laid them low! Only one remains alive and he is charred and unhappy and most bewildered, but still trying to chase Alisa down!

Above Alisa's head, swift in the evening sky, she spies a most unusual sight! There about a hundred feet above her and closing fast is a magnificent towering wagon led by huge hippogriffs with strange figures atop and about it, most of whom are wielding weapons - and they are heading her way!

The sudden sound of lightning striking close by - alongside the ogres' screams of pain - made Alisa stumble and almost trip over as she continued to run with the hapless kobold. Looking over her shoulder once again, she saw all but one of the ogres collapsing as electricity racked their bodies, as well as the airborne wagon that was approaching her.

The paladin's first thought regarding all of this was something along the lines of 'Now what?!', before she considered that whatever was currently going on, the odds were now a lot more in her favour. The ogres pursuing her had been greatly reduced in numbers, and some instinct told her that whoever they might be, these airborne newcomers were most certainly no allies of theirs.

Alisa came to a stop, and placed the kobold down on the ground. Then she turned to face the sole-surviving ogre, drawing her rapier as she did so.

 

[Kaerri]

Spoiler: Kaerri Rainshadow, Shadowdancer

^{Art by Peritwinkle}
Character sheet
Hit Points: 99/99
Armor Class: 27
Touch Armor Class: 17
Shadow Illusion: 3/3
Shadow Call: 2/2
Shadow Jump distance: 80/80 feet
Defensive Roll: 1/1
Rogue Talent Resiliency: 1/1
Stinger -- uses of Slow remaining: 3/3
Charm of Bastet -- uses of Cat's Grace remaining: 1/1
Action Points: 14

Kaerri cheers. "Nice one, Luna! Now let's finish 'em off before the others close in!" She sights down her crossbow at the one remaining ogre in range, then shoots. Quickly she reloads, hoping to catch one of the ogre-magi next.

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Psychie

Suddenly from the direction of the ogre horde, a low and loud horn sounds in the distance, its long droning bellow floats ominously through the woods. The ogre charging at Alisa pays it no heed though the cringing kobolds behind her shiver in fear and trepidation. Still, the small scaly folk ready their thin weapons and grit their fangs in preparation.

Another horn sounds, this one from a slightly different direction that you did not detect ogres in. And then a third rips through the air, a trumpeting blast that causes causes the ogres and ogre magi to give pause and look about them. Several guttural commands in the giant tongue and the ogres scatter as best they can into the woods, hiding themselves and spreading out their ranks. The main force of ogre magi and ogres appears occupied at the moment and such moments provide opportunities.

"Oreleth!" Mamapaw shouts over the wind. "Do you want me to land or pass them over?"

As the jungle-born Druidess turns her attention back to not careening the Wayward Wagon into the tossing trees or hard ground, Otiorin and Kaerri send their bolts unerringly at the remaining ogre who lifts his great steel sword high in preparation to try and hack the human who dares bar his way. Their shots slow the terrible monster, but it is Oreleth's first flight that sinks deeply, past the ogre's chain mail armor and into something softer and far more precious. Alisa feels more than sees the great wagon pass high over her head lest she take her eyes off of her opponent, but opponent he is no more. The bleeding ogre staggers on a few more steps, curses something terrible in his own tongue, and those prove to be his last words as he topples to the ground, shaking it one last time to the brief but spirited cheers of the kobolds, Nitwit beside Oreleth among them.

The Wayward Wanderers and Alisa have a few moments it seems. How do you choose to spend them?

 

[Psychie]

Oreleth replies to Mamapaw, "They are distracted by something, giving us a chance to gather up the kobolds and the armored person with them and get them out of here before the ogres can regroup. Quickly, land and we'll gather them up and get back into motion before we are attacked en masse." She cranes her neck over to try and keep her eye on the ogres so they can't approach the Wagon without being noticed.

Spoiler

Attacks per Round:
1st - Manyshot (firing two arrows). "To Hit:" +18 (+20 First Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 2d8+12 (+6 Base damage).
2nd - Improved Vital Strike. "To Hit:" +13 (+15 Second Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 3d8+6 (Improved Vital Strike, +6 Base damage).
3rd - Normal Attack. "To Hit:" +8 (+10 Third Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 1d8+6
4th - Rapid Shot Bonus Attack. "To Hit:" +18 (+20 First Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 1d8+6

+1d6 per arrow of either Cold, Fire or Electrical from Arcane Archer class.

Hit Points: 91 +d10 per level
Action Points: 11 / 11
Bonus Action Point: 1 / 1
Diamond of Fate: 1

Armor Class: 24
CMD: 26
Fort Save: +9
Reflex Save: +13
Will Save: +6 (+11 vs Fear)
Perception: +15

Spells Memorized
Cantrips: Mage Hand, Detect Magic, Ray of Frost, Message
1: Shield x2, Shocking Grasp x2, Burning Hands
2: Flaming Sphere, Glitterdust x2, Web
3: Fireball x2

+3 damage to Evoker spells.

 

[Sherwood]

Luna sits on the edge of her seat, ready to hurl another spell at the ogres. She hangs on as the Wagon turns in the air, saying, "I don't suppose anyone recognizes those horns that have the ogres scattering for cover? The old saying is, 'an enemy of my enemy is my friend', but whatever it is might be more dangerous than the ogres!"

Spoiler

Level: 13
Class: Wizard
Hit Points: 74 +1d6
Action Points: 11 / 10
Diamond of Fate: 1

Armor Class: 18 - 24 Mage Armor II. +2 from Ring of Force Shield
Touch AC: 14 Flat Footed: 22

Initiative Bonus: 2
Fortitude Save: +6
Reflex Save: +7
Will Save: +16

Base Attack: +6 / +1
Melee: +4 / -1
Ranged: +8 / +3

Mage Armor II and Protection From Arrows active; duration of 13 hours

Spells memorized:
Cantrips (4): Mage Hand, Light, Detect Magic, Read Magic
1 (7): Magic Missile x4, Shield x2, Unseen Servant
2 (7): Web x2, Protection From Arrows, Glitterdust x2, Scorching Ray
3 (6): Haste x2, Fireball x2, Slow, Lightning Bolt
4 (5): Empowered Scorching Ray x3, Ball Lightning
5 (5): Cone of Cold x3, Empowered Fireball x2
6 (4): Chain Lightning, Maximized Lightning Bolt x2
7 (2): Prismatic Spray, Mage Sword

+7 damage to all Evoker spells

 

[jaydude]

The familiar-sounding horns of the Highwind Rangers were a comfort to Alisa. And whoever these people were, they surely seemed to be on the paladin's side so far, if the arrows that had felled the ogre attacking her were any indication.

Keeping her rapier drawn in case any more ogres arrived on the scene, Alisa turned her attention to the airborne wagon, awaiting its next action - and those of the people on it.

[OOC: Decided to redo my post after some private discussion with Purr .]

 

[Kaerri]

Spoiler: Kaerri Rainshadow, Shadowdancer

^{Art by Peritwinkle}
Character sheet
Hit Points: 99/99
Armor Class: 27
Touch Armor Class: 17
Shadow Illusion: 3/3
Shadow Call: 2/2
Shadow Jump distance: 80/80 feet
Defensive Roll: 1/1
Rogue Talent Resiliency: 1/1
Stinger -- uses of Slow remaining: 3/3
Charm of Bastet -- uses of Cat's Grace remaining: 1/1
Action Points: 14

"Good shooting!" Kaerri congratulates Oreleth as the last ogre (within range) falls. Turning her eyes to watch the ogre-magi and those ogres not in range, she grins in Luna's general direction. "Sounds like the Highwind Rangers to me. Just their kind of thing, too; tricks to keep the enemy off-balance and guessing. It's definitely not more ogres or ogre-magi, if that's what you're worried about. They're into drums -- probably not smart enough to manage anything more complicated than beating on it with sticks!"

 

[Psychie]

Oreleth keeps a firm grip on her bow as the Wagon continues to fly, saying, "I hope that if it is the Rangers you speak of that they have the ability to deal with so many ogres at once. Of course, it may be that they are out there, hunting these ogres, but it is not a guarantee that it is so. I will be much happier once we have our new passengers onboard and we are on the way once more."

"I wonder if there is any way we might have at our disposal to warn the Rangers of the threat, assuming that they are not already aware?"

Spoiler

Attacks per Round:
1st - Manyshot (firing two arrows). "To Hit:" +18 (+20 First Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 2d8+12 (+6 Base damage).
2nd - Improved Vital Strike. "To Hit:" +13 (+15 Second Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 3d8+6 (Improved Vital Strike, +6 Base damage).
3rd - Normal Attack. "To Hit:" +8 (+10 Third Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 1d8+6
4th - Rapid Shot Bonus Attack. "To Hit:" +18 (+20 First Attack, -2 Rapid Shot). Damage: 1d8+6

+1d6 per arrow of either Cold, Fire or Electrical from Arcane Archer class.

Hit Points: 91 +d10 per level
Action Points: 11 / 11
Bonus Action Point: 1 / 1
Diamond of Fate: 1

Armor Class: 24
CMD: 26
Fort Save: +9
Reflex Save: +13
Will Save: +6 (+11 vs Fear)
Perception: +15

Spells Memorized
Cantrips: Mage Hand, Detect Magic, Ray of Frost, Message
1: Shield x2, Shocking Grasp x2, Burning Hands
2: Flaming Sphere, Glitterdust x2, Web
3: Fireball x2

+3 damage to Evoker spells.

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Tag.

Aided by his sorcerous magic, Otiorin the rugged-looking half-elf soars through the air without the aid of the Wayward Wagon, his shadowy outfit flapping in the wind as that same wind seems to want to try and filch some of the crossbow bolts held in his quiver. Otiorin notices the smoking and now sorry-looking ogre whom he, Kaerri, Luna, and Oreleth felled is quite dead, never to stir or cause pain to other again.

The huge quartet of jade hippogriffs faithfully pull that same wagon down from the sky. As the wagon approaches, Lady Paladin Alisa notices not only the shivering kobolds slowly branching out from behind her but the wagon itself holds occupants every bit as unusual as the flying wagon. A brown-furred feline creature the size of an ogre and clad in red leathery armor attentively guides the wagon to a slow halt while another such white-furred feline creature in shining chain mail with a pair of huge mauls across his back easily leaps up to the carriage's top, a massive curved longbow in his paws. There, he nocks a large arrow and scans the troubled woods of Shandra's Evergreen.

More unusual people settle down from their flight as the wagon touches down about forty feet from Alisa. Alisa notes a youthful and hardy-looking wood elf - a very rare sight this far north - seems to be directing the group, a magnificent recurve bow in her hand. Beside her with a small serpentine creature of some sort on her shoulder stands a robed human lady with her hand absently on some tome. She appears a bit out of her element in these woods as most city folk often are in Alisa's experience. Alisa almost fails to notice a strawberry-blonde-haired human-looking lass who moves like a shadow and is just as easily unnoticed. She carries a gleaming trident of gold and green - a treasure in itself to be sure. A gentle-looking young human wearing the brown and white robes Alisa knows to represent the Ko monastery of monks - strange and humble allies of Highwind. Upon spotting this monk, something in Alisa seems to softly nag at her as if there is some invisible tug between her and this monk. Alisa has only felt such pulls - certainly spiritual in nature - among the holiest of personages she has met - only a handful so far in Alisa's young life.

The kobolds whom Alisa has saved form up around her, their spears and little bows at the ready. "Hay! Who're deze peeps, huh?'

"Yeah!" another of the scaly little ones pipes up in warning to the newcomers. "You'd-- you'd better stay away from our human if you knows whuts good fer ya!"

The muscular warrior-cat atop the wagon continues to look for signs of hostile forces, but hearing this, he cracks a wide grin. In a boyish voice that leans toward a speech impediment, he chuckles upon hearing the kobolds. "Oreleth, I'm tellin' ya, dese wittle scaly-faces are all right! Anybuddy wif dat much fight in such wittle skinny bodies is cool by dis kitty-face!"

Alisa notices one more creature - a seventh kobold - this one on the newly-arrived wagon. He cringes fearfully as the peaceful monk appears to be trying to soothe his fears with soft words filled with wise content. Her approach seems to be working.

What do the Wayward Wanderers and Lady Paladin Alisa do?

 

[Psychie]

Oreleth calls out to the armored figure and the kobolds, saying, "Don't worry about us; we're allies from HIghwind! Now quickly! Get to the Wagon so we can get the hell out of here! Before that large bunch of ogres decide that taking us all out is something to put on their to-do list!"

 

[jaydude]

Captain Hesperus Tag.

Aided by his sorcerous magic, Otiorin the rugged-looking half-elf soars through the air without the aid of the Wayward Wagon, his shadowy outfit flapping in the wind as that same wind seems to want to try and filch some of the crossbow bolts held in his quiver. Otiorin notices the smoking and now sorry-looking ogre whom he, Kaerri, Luna, and Oreleth felled is quite dead, never to stir or cause pain to other again.

The huge quartet of jade hippogriffs faithfully pull that same wagon down from the sky. As the wagon approaches, Lady Paladin Alisa notices not only the shivering kobolds slowly branching out from behind her but the wagon itself holds occupants every bit as unusual as the flying wagon. A brown-furred feline creature the size of an ogre and clad in red leathery armor attentively guides the wagon to a slow halt while another such white-furred feline creature in shining chain mail with a pair of huge mauls across his back easily leaps up to the carriage's top, a massive curved longbow in his paws. There, he nocks a large arrow and scans the troubled woods of Shandra's Evergreen.

More unusual people settle down from their flight as the wagon touches down about forty feet from Alisa. Alisa notes a youthful and hardy-looking wood elf - a very rare sight this far north - seems to be directing the group, a magnificent recurve bow in her hand. Beside her with a small serpentine creature of some sort on her shoulder stands a robed human lady with her hand absently on some tome. She appears a bit out of her element in these woods as most city folk often are in Alisa's experience. Alisa almost fails to notice a strawberry-blonde-haired human-looking lass who moves like a shadow and is just as easily unnoticed. She carries a gleaming trident of gold and green - a treasure in itself to be sure. A gentle-looking young human wearing the brown and white robes Alisa knows to represent the Ko monastery of monks - strange and humble allies of Highwind. Upon spotting this monk, something in Alisa seems to softly nag at her as if there is some invisible tug between her and this monk. Alisa has only felt such pulls - certainly spiritual in nature - among the holiest of personages she has met - only a handful so far in Alisa's young life.

The kobolds whom Alisa has saved form up around her, their spears and little bows at the ready. "Hay! Who're deze peeps, huh?'

"Yeah!" another of the scaly little ones pipes up in warning to the newcomers. "You'd-- you'd better stay away from our human if you knows whuts good fer ya!"

The muscular warrior-cat atop the wagon continues to look for signs of hostile forces, but hearing this, he cracks a wide grin. In a boyish voice that leans toward a speech impediment, he chuckles upon hearing the kobolds. "Oreleth, I'm tellin' ya, dese wittle scaly-faces are all right! Anybuddy wif dat much fight in such wittle skinny bodies is cool by dis kitty-face!"

Alisa notices one more creature - a seventh kobold - this one on the newly-arrived wagon. He cringes fearfully as the peaceful monk appears to be trying to soothe his fears with soft words filled with wise content. Her approach seems to be working.

What do the Wayward Wanderers and Lady Paladin Alisa do?

Oreleth calls out to the armored figure and the kobolds, saying, "Don't worry about us; we're allies from HIghwind! Now quickly! Get to the Wagon so we can get the hell out of here! Before that large bunch of ogres decide that taking us all out is something to put on their to-do list!"

Alisa looked down at the Kobolds, finding herself surprisingly fond of their newfound willingness to defend her. "I think we can trust them. I mean, they did help us out with those ogres just now, right?"

That was certainly one of the factors behind that logic. But there was also the young monk of Ko, and the fact that the paladin felt like something was drawing her towards this other woman. She couldn't quite put her hand on it - besides the fact that the monk was clearly a holy person who practiced what she preached - but she decided that she could hardly shun her.

She gestured to the kobolds that they should get on the wagon first, intending to get on after them, then looked to the elven archer who had spoken to her. "I am Alissa Virtanen of Highwind, Paladin of Mielikki. Who are you people?"

 

[Psychie]

Oreleth offers up a smile as she holds out her hand to aid Alissa and the bunch of kobolds up and onto the wagon. "Well met, Lady Paladin of Mielikki. I am Oreleth Soumral, and we are the Wayward Wanderers, a band of adventurers coming most recently from Highwind. We can go through introductions once we are away from here. Once all are onboard and safe, we need to take off and get on our way."

 

[jaydude]

"Thank you, Oreleth." replied Alisa, giving the wood-elf a smile of her own and a nod of her head, before glancing towards the Ko monk.

She then turned back to Oreleth. "I was aiding the Highwind Rangers when the ogres came upon us and forced us to scatter. They can no doubt handle themselves within this forest, but I would like to make contact with them, if only to let them know I'm still around."