PRP: Hold The Line!

HOLD THE LINE Players: Verna, Duncan, Aurala, Hassan DM: Vuk

So word had come a small garrison needed aid. Though the manner in which it came was perhaps -odd-. An officer of the watch was found in a half sunken river boat used to ferry supplies up river from the trade post to the garrison, close to starvation, eyes wild, armor and clothing rent and unkept. Babbling for aid and the road unsafe. As the river tradepost had it's fighting men at the tradepost, they sent a swift rider to Alexandria to request aid.

In turn, this fell onto the Adventurer's of the city, whom were tasked to send relief and ascertain what the current situation was. Fortunately, an artificer powered river boat was heading the same way, cutting travel time significantly.

Aurala is looking forward to get out and about. She cocks her head to the side a little as she rides the river boat, "Any idea what kind of relief we need to offer?" she asks.

Hassan leans against the edge of the boat, robes hiked up to urinate into the water with a groan. "I knew I shouldn't have drank so much tea this morning." Once his business is finished, he sorts his robe out meticulously and finds a seat nearby. "I imagine the kind that involves killing a large number of brigands."

Duncan is towards the rear of the boat, tightening the straps on the armor on his Digger wears. "That sounds about right," he calls out. "I just hope it doesn't involve undead. Or dragons. Or undead dragons."

Madness, if not always the blatant babbling sort, seems to be a growing trend as of late. Heth defiling the lost t the north, Dragonieri councils, rumors of wartidings from Dran. Now, even nearby outposts are under threat. Verna is displeased about all of this, even moreso than the uncomfortable boat ride. The only benefit: it is much easier to read upon a boat than in the mids of the other concerns. "Given the great increase in bound souls, the presence of undead would be little surprise." Perhaps that is one reason she is present.

You paged Verna with 'you notice in passing, this trip is bringing you close to the now missing Kulthus Ruins!'

The boat ride is fortunately, uneventful, and the river tradepost is amply able to receive you all with out the dockworkers pitching you into the drink, though the night is slowly drawing in, which is of course, natural. One of the older dock workers, one of the ones who found the guardsman can direct you on a crude maps drawn by..likely him self, towards the Blockhouse requesting aid. It sits on the fork of the river, in a small valley, giving it the ability to overlook both trade along the river, and protect the sole 'road' to the tradepost. A logical and ancient fortification. Of course it's a good thirty miles away.

<OOC> Vuk says, "Knowledge/Local or Geography or History if any one wants :)

GAME: Hassan rolls Knowledge/History: (15)+9: 24 GAME: Hassan rolls Knowledge/Local: (14)+9: 23 GAME: Hassan rolls Knowledge/Geography: (19)+9: 28

GAME: Verna rolls knowledge/local: (20)+7: 27 GAME: Verna rolls knowledge/history: (13)+7: 20 GAME: Verna rolls knowledge/geography: (10)+7: 17

You paged (Hassan, Verna) with 'You vaguely recall through reading, or simply looking at ancient maps, this Blockhouse was built by a long forgotten Merchant house that has since disappeared, it used to be part of a small interconnected system of watch posts across the valley and reportedly had some enchantments built into the stone it self.'

Hassan takes the time to haggle tooth and nail for a cart and a mule to ride along in, deriding the quality of both the entire time during the bargaining process and during the ride there, especially if nobody volunteers to take the reins while he can watch the scenery while he drinks and smokes. "If I recall my studies correctly, and I do, because this gurla root is simply superb...." He pauses to spit a chewed portion of the mild euphoric out before stuffing another pinch in his mouth, "This looks like it used to be part of a merchant house that I can't remember the name of. They were wealthy enough, as they worked magic into the stone of the building itself." He takes another look at the map, before sighing and handing it off to whomever will take it from him. "It's a pity there aren't more brothels, bathhouses, or wineries in need of adventurers." Aurala shakes her head and sighs a little as she does hear that and shrugs a bit. She was looking to get out of the city and this provided a good opportunity. Not all of the company with her...well some things you just have to put up with.

Verna puts her tome away to disembark. "I believe that you are correct. Perhaps the magic nature of the fortifcation is cause for the trouble? If it were taken from merchants, a military force could create a formidable strongpoint."

For Hassan's effort, it isn't hard to find a decent cart, or mule. This isn't some backwater tradepost, it's fairly large, but much of the population are transients, maybe under a hundred of the people here stay more then a few weeks at a time. Brothels exist, along with all other conceivable thing traveling merchants of various degrees of wealth.

The Townhall incidentally looks fairly old, and has a few of the original markings; an old merchant guild that was headquartered here, not to surprising is it? The night will be no longer be young as you mark your way along the road, it isn't hard to follow it, there's patches still covered in cobble stone, giving the impression at some point, there was a great project here before things went terribly awry when the finnacial aspect fell apart.

Verna does not mind the growing dim. "How different the post and road would be, had profitable trade continued. It could well have grown to be a vast city, larger than Alexandria." Nor does she object to a cart. While not adverse to foot travel, why walk when one can ride?

Aurala nods and looks around for a moment as they arrive and look around. She watches the others and for the most part stays quiet.

<OOC> Vuk says, "Need Perception checks please :)" GAME: Verna rolls perception: (7)+7: 14

GAME: Aurala rolls perception: (9)+14: 23

GAME: Duncan rolls perception: (20)+7: 27

GAME: Hassan rolls Perception: (2)+1: 3

You paged (Duncan, Aurala) with 'The path to the Blockhouse seems to be overgrown with underbrush like it hasn't been used in several months..and against a tree, you find a militia man, dead, shot through the chest several times. His upper body is slumped up right, and looks as if he has only been dead a day or two..his lower half, extended towards the blockhouse..is stripped clean, the armor rusting.'

Aurala cocks her head to the side a little, and then gestures, "Body, not sure...something." she looks towards the blockhouse and then back to the others.

Duncan nods in agreement. "Looks like he's militia," the Khazad adds. He has his Digger stay with the others and then goes over for a closer look, sliding his axe out as he approaches. "He's been shot, but his lower half's stripped clean," Duncan reports.

Well, he is usually bombed out of his mind on drink and mind altering substances, so if Hassan actually made a perception check it'd be surprising. Rising from the cart from his nap, he throws off the blanket and stares at the body for a long moment. "Ugh, is that a person?"

Aurala shakes her head, "Almost looks like...maybe something stripped the lower half and since its pointing towards the blockhouse? Maybe it came from there, but maybe its...something that wouldn't disturb the foliage."

Investigating the body would be fine and dandy if it wasn't for the sudden and distinct cracking of rifle fire. A rolling barrage of it from the blockhouse no doubt, but the night is to dark to truly see the blockhouse at this distance, or maybe it's the way the valley is?

Duncan whirls towards the blockhouse at the sound rather than take cover. He's still not used to rifles on the battle field. "We should go check that out - maybe that's why they needed us!"

Aurala cocks her head to the side, "Hello the blockhouse, are you firing on us?" she isn't sure if it was coming towards them or if it was shooting somewhere else.

Hassan's ears perk up at the report of rifle fire, taking momentary cover behind the cart. Once it's apparent that they aren't shooting at him after looking for plumes of dust kicked up or whizzing bullets or the like, the Veyshanti wizard adjusts his robe and climbs into the driver's seat of the cart. "Well, let us investigate, then."

Verna startles at the unexpected sounds of weapons fire. "Perhaps whatever the messenger attempted to report has now arrived?" She knows nothing of a body, save that there may be some ahead.

Getting to the blockhouse isn't difficult..it's just up the road a few miles. It's well situated, with clear views all around, but the area show signs of cannons or the like being used, gouges in the low walls around it, pock marks from rifles, and the only entry way from your side being manned by a man who has bloodied bandages on his neck. It's not even clear if he's conscious.

Though briefly, you hear a chanting in your minds, a hundred voices speaking both at once, and alone. It's disconcerting, and looking up reveals that the sky overhead is both night and day.. and the rifle fire seems to be coming from beyond the blockhouse.

'Halt! You bastards aren't getting in here!'

Guess that guard on the entry way you see isn't dead after all, closer inspect reveals his form is emacitated, and his hair is much longer then you'd expect..unkempt..and he has a beard easily down to his lower throat!

Certainly not dead. Few corpse speak, and rarer still do they do so with such eloquence. As well, in Verna's experience, the reek of the man and that of the deceased is distinctly different. "We come to offer an aid to your troubles, not compound them. What happens here? At whom do you..." She pauses at the unexpected sounds within her skull.

Duncan rests his axe over his shoulders, in a gesture meaning to make him seem less threatening. It might be more convincing if he didn't keep his hand on the handle, ready to lift and swing. "What's going on here?" he barks at the man. "Where's all that shooting coming from?"

"Is anyone else hearing that in their minds, or did I get into a bad batch again?" Hassan inquires, rubbing a temple. He quietens up once he sees the emaciated guardsman.

Duncan tears his gaze off of the guard and glances first at Hassan and then the others. "I hear something," he affirms. "Though maybe it was just me."

Aurala cocks her head to the side and does stop, "WE stopped, don't shoot, and we aren't bastards...Well at least not all of us are."

The Guard doesn't take much convincing..you -did- just come from the direction of the tradepost. "Oh thank god...we thought they managed to flank around..reinforcements..REINFORCEMENTS! FOOD!" He shouts, banging on the sturdy door so it opens. Voices? What voices, no voices! They're gone as quick as they were heard. But at least now you can follow the man into the blockhouse, which at least provides cover from stray shots. "We sent for you over a month ago!" He says as he waits for every one to rush in. "Shots..oh yes..shots..shots...they've been doing that for a week now.."

"Whom or what do they fire upon?" Verna is concerned on several levels. Her head turns towards the others. "Be on your guard. There is something familiar to the voices, though they were brief. The last event was a rift in the planes. It may not be so strong, here, but there remains a dire danger." Duncan reaches into his pack as he follows, withdrawing his longbow. After a moment's thought he reaches in again, producing a bread roll that he offers to the guard. "A week? Who? How many are there? -What- are they?" Aurala cocks her head to the side, "A month ago...it...wasn't that long." she shakes her head, "There is something going on." The guardsman isn't going to wait forever for them to get into the multistory blockhouse. Strong sturdy stone with broad stairs leading up to the next level, and another leading to the sub level. Protective runes in several langauges every few feet, at major seams or joints. No doubt there might truly be magic at play here. "They keep shooting at us..we can't even go out for berries any more. Been down to hardtack and a few dead rats.." The man says, bolting the door behind them. The room they are on must serve as the main level of the garrison, thin shuttered arrow slits, some with holes blown straight through the shutters. There's a good twenty cots around...one holds a man who is struggling to breathe, clearly unconscious. "Eh? Week? I told you all! Over a month!" Then he hobbles towards the staircase. "The gods bring us food and relief!" About four other men come hobbling down, one of whom has the aires of an officer. Though none look well fed..or healthy, all showing signs of a certain amount of madness, though the officer looks the most steady. "Food? Oh god I haven't had a bit o salt pork in going on two months I haven't.."

Aurala shakes her head a bit and is really confused and it shows.

"I regret that the passage of time appears... altered, by some unknown cause," Verna admits, "though I did bring some supplies." Supplies which she produces from her cloak. Some salt pork, pressed and dried fruit, and some small loaves of hardtack. Not a feast, but enough for one or two to survive for a few days without utter starvation.

Duncan frowns. "I don't have enough for -all- of you," he begins. "But I can go out hunting. Surely they can't shoot at you all day and all night." He considers and then adds, "Under cover of darkness, we might even be able to root them out."

Food is food, and the men approach..fortunately, they don't seem intent on trying to tear every thing apart, still a discplined milita, stew is more likely, their apparent officer doesn't seem so rash. "I...I think I remember when it started..we can't get out..tried. They cut us down..some thing said if we wouldn't leave, they'd starve us out." Then there's a barrage of fire and a few shutters get new holes and the garrison drops to the ground and one looks through the shutter nearest to him. "Sir! They're amassing!" He says, but when he tries to rise up to retrieve his musket, he can barely crawl. It's like the arrival of new blood has left them all spent, unable to muster their energies. "Make ready damn you! We don't want to go out like Godfrey! Trying to break into the cold storage to eat the dead!" The men just simply lack the strength, and a low chant is building outside. Time to take a look?

Aurala goes to look to see what is amassing.

"So you have not observed your attackers?!" Verna inquires incredulously... as she ducks. The men are too weak to extricate themselves, so they must render aid, as requested. She moves for a window to peek, cautiously. Yes, it is time to take a look.

Duncan puts an arrow to his bow and then goes to peer through one of the open arrow-slits.

The Officer spends a few more minutes shouting cries to rally, and stand by, like a mad man, or some one unaware of their surroundings until he seems to remember and force the madness to bay as he follows, his long barrel pistol in hand. "Aye...we know the bastards alright..or some of them. Bandits! Even got some infernal device of artifice, moves around like a cart under it's own power..firing at us!" It it easy to see what is amassing, even with sporadic gun fire to keep one from looking to long. The entire valley in front of the Blockhouse is shell churned, a few Militia men in forward positions. Trench systems dug deep, making it hard to track the movement of the bandits, other then the ones who are clearing another trench as you look. A dozen or so, getting ready to charge the battered lower door into the sub level. One of the shots from afar tears into the shutter beside Duncan, the blast spreading a green energy against the stone, leaving it blackened and a few slivers of rock falling ..

Aurala pulls out her bow, "Wish I could charge out there, but this is probably the better way to go. Smoke them if you got them." she says as she readies her quiver and strings her bow. Something about the bow says that it takes quite a bit of strength to string it.

"They look to be preparing to assault!" Verna is not a military tactician, but she does have a keen eye for the obvious. Therefor, she dons her armor, in a fashion, conjuring a protective field of force about her person.

Duncan flinches away from the exploding shutters. He stares at the aftereffects of the blast, then edges back almost hesitantly to peer out of the arrow-slit he was looking out earlier. He glances over at the others, then nods quickly at the remains of the shutter. "They've got more than arrows - more even than rifle shots. Maybe we should go out there, to take the fight to them."

<OOC> Vuk says, "for the purposes of this, unless you try to go outside, or climb the stairs and the ladder to the roof, you have a +4 to AC from the cover. So please do keep that in mind. :)"

The chanting isn't some discplined clerical chant, nor that of Templars of a faith, this is the chant of soldiers, their muskets smashing to their hand as they begin a charge forward, unaware of the reinforcements in the fort, or uncaring. They clearly have a goal; make the next trench towards their objective. Then they can make a mad dash to close under the firing arc of the block house!

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+10: (6)+10: 16

GAME: Duncan rolls perception: (17)+7: 24

GAME: Duncan rolls 1d20+8-2: (17)+8+-2: 23 GAME: Duncan rolls 1d8+4: (8)+4: 12

Duncan winces slightly as something goes wizzing by. He scans the advancing enemy but doesn't spot any rifles. So instead Duncan draws the bow and fires an arrow. At this range he has to send it sailing through the air in a huge arc, and it takes a few seconds to reach it's destination - but when it does is pierces the lead soldier's knee.

GAME: Aurala rolls perception: (15)+14: 29 You paged Aurala with 'you make out the movement of the sniper a few dozen yards beyond the skirmishers charging forward <250feet>.' GAME: Aurala rolls ranged+1-3: (14)+10+1+-3: 22 GAME: Aurala rolls ranged+1-3: (16)+10+1+-3: 24 GAME: Aurala rolls ranged+1-3-5: (11)+10+1+-3+-5: 14

GAME: Aurala rolls 1d8+5: (8)+5: 13 GAME: Aurala rolls 1d8+5: (4)+5: 9

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+10: (6)+10: 16

Aurala takes a deep breath and then notices something as she looks out. She sees something in the distance and then says a command word. Her boots start to glow for a moment and then she seems to move a bit faster. She pulls out an arrow and then looses it at the distance, much farther than the soldiers. She quickly pulls a second and third arrow loosing them in the same direction. The first two arrows sink into the chest of her target, still mostly concealed in the distance. The last arrow goes wide. She swears a bit, "Never really liked the bow." she murmers.

GAME: Verna rolls perception: (15)+7: 22

GAME: Verna rolls ranged-2: (4)+5+-2: 7

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (4)+5: 9 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+10: (1)+10: 11

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (14)+5: 19

"I am not a ballista," Verna frowns. "My magic is not especially effective at this distance." This would explain why she produces a light crossbow from her cloak, aims, and looses. It strikes a threatening bush at the two o'clock mark. In the knee.

GAME: Vuk rolls 2d6: (7): 7

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (19)+5: 24

GAME: Vuk rolls 2d6: (8): 8

One of the snipers goes down with twin arrows through his chest and his comrade, trying to bring their long rifle to take down Aurala, ends up with a distinctive problem; their rifle explodes, the blast and roar visible across the battlefield as a red flare of power. Guess that takes care of him.

The other 'bandits' have taken a position in the first trench, one dragging the man with an arrow in his knee and they begin to fire upwards at the shutters, some shots find their mark with their green tinted energies exploding across their markets, another few not so much. Three of the remaining soldiers seem tasked to leg it to the next trench. Presumably to provide covering fire from there.

GAME: Duncan rolls weapon7-2: (5)+8+-2: 11

Duncan takes a hit on the shoulder. He curses in Khazdul, tears off the fur cloak he wears as it begins to smolder. Then he checks his beard once to make sure it's not on fire. And finally he raises his bow and lets fly with another arrow. The hasty shot digs harmlessly into the ground a few feet behind one of the advancing soldiers.

GAME: Aurala rolls ranged+1-2: (16)+10+1+-2: 25 GAME: Aurala rolls ranged+1-2: (6)+10+1+-2: 15 GAME: Aurala rolls ranged+1-2-5: (7)+10+1+-2+-5: 11

GAME: Aurala rolls 1d8+5: (3)+5: 8 GAME: Aurala rolls 1d8+5: (6)+5: 11

Aurala takes a deep breath and growls a bit as she is shot, its just a flesh wound but mostly because the barbarian is quite tough. She sights and looses an arrow at one of the wounded soldiers and takes him down before putting two more arrows at one of the advancing soldiers, first strikes and leaves him staggering, the last arrow misses. GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (8)+5: 13

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (18)+5: 23

GAME: Vuk rolls 2d6: (10): 10

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d6: (9): 9

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (8)+5: 13

GAME: Verna rolls ranged-2: (17)+5+-2: 20

GAME: Verna rolls 1d8: (8): 8

Verna catches a blast of the sickly green energy. It is also a glancing blow, thanks to the wall. Unlike Aurala, however, she is not quite so large nor sturdy. She reloads regardless and steps out to loose. This time, the Harsh Lady is more approving: the bolt flies true to stop the one Aurala wounded.

With two of the men trying to reach the next trench down or wounded, the attack is faltering and a signal..a horn blast..or a trumpet, seems to signal a retreat! The man who just about reached the new trench is the first to bolt, he's the most exposed, and the others are trying to fall back in an orderly fashion..this is no Bandit ragtag band. These men are retreating, in staggered formation..but then there's am Omnious rumble of machinery approaching some where.

GAME: Duncan rolls 1d20+8-2: (5)+8+-2: 11

Duncan winces as he takes another hit. This time he's sure his beard was singed. He fires off one last shot at the retreating 'bandits' before lowering his bow. Then he tilts his head to one side. "The cart?" he asks the nearest militiaman, though from his expression he thinks he knows the answer.

Aurala pulls away and then hears the noise, "Sounds like an artifice of some kind. How close does it get? Are our bows even going to do anything?" she bites her lip.

The men who are there seem to know that sound, since one defecates him self with out a second thought, the only one who seems to make much sense is the officer.

'Man the Cannons! Run them out! The bastards are bringing her back! Man the Cannons!'

It doesn't take long if one heads to the second level, to realize the cannons, are thoroughly destroyed, and the only one still operational is on the roof, and it seems rather small, a swivel gun of sorts, and the shell box for it reveals..two shells. Below the officer is still shouting orders for a loading drill.

The effects of the last attack by what ever approached is still visible on the roof and gun floor, two men are in the blasted wreckage of the cannons below, though it isn't clear what killed them, direct fire, or the cannons slamming into them. The corpse on the roof was torn in half, rotting entrails spilling out on the cannon housing from where it seems they took a direct blast..their torso still leaning to sight the gun, fingers clutched around the lanyard from when it was last fired..

Duncan puts away his bow and then unwraps the chain of his flail from around his waist. "I don't know," he admits to Aurala. "But I don't to be trapped in here while we find out!" He heads for the door.

Aurala nods, "WEll going out might not be the best option either." she murmers and then shakes her head and tries to see what might be approaching.

Indeed, Aurala, if she's on the roof, can see the artifice vehicle lurching forward, it looks like a mad man ..oh wait, Artificers -are- mad men, took a riverboat of some kind, and hammered wheels to it, and a semi enclosed cannon of some kind, along with a second, mounted weapon. It looks like an oversized musket..or three, hard to exactly say. There's patched holes all over it, and it's smoke stacks are belching think oily smoke and embers out. Any crew are well concealed in their armor cabins, or behind gun shields...about that time the officer seems to have gotten his wits back. "We've only two shots left..the damned thing, keeps being pulled back, and we can't keep their crews from it when we disable it!" His sanity is back as he watches. "If they can breach the door this time...old Winslow died a week ago from infection. He was the only metal worker we had to replace the door.." They also lack any materials to even try and fashion into a door..or a mage to let them smelt the metal with blasts of arcane fire.

Aurala nods her head, "Do you think you can disable it with your two shots? If so then we can go out and try to keep their crews from it and finish it off." Duncan pauses with one hand on the latch for the door. "Sounds like they'll be shooting at the Blockhouse!" he shout

Verna takes cover behind the wall when the rumbling starts. Aurala goes upwards and it seems Duncan goes the opposite. After a moment of thought, Verna follows Duncan for the entrance. "If you can disable it, all the better. At the least you might draw its attention. We can hinder their soldiers and possibly the artifice if need be." While she is not a soldier, she did admit that her magic is not aligned as artillery.

The artifice powered ..land boat isn't going to approach to closely, seems they tried bonzai charges before. "Aye! I remember how to load the rounds..can't..aim..head.." The officer says, blood is -actually- dripping from his nose and ears, and it looks sickly. God knows what diseases are coursing through him! "MAN THE CANNONS! GUNNER TAKE AIM!" He starts shouting as he grabs a round to load into the breach. Ominously, the barrels on the artificer vehicle are turning towards the block house.

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5-3: (7)+5+-3: 9

Verna peeks out through the door, only to see weapon barrels traverse in their direction. "We cannot remain here!" Their intent was to approach the vehicle, as well. She darts out the door, moving at a respectable speed. The lack of burdensome armor helps with haste. The sudden barrage of energy or projectiles that pepper the area about the door helps even more.

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5-3: (18)+5+-3: 20 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (9)+2: 11

Duncan is about to follow Verna out when shots start slamming into the door. He stumbles back away from the doorway with a curse, but he's unwilling to leave her alone outside of the 'protection' of the Blockhouse. Duncan waits until the shots end and then leaps out himself - only to leap into another hail of fire.

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (1)+5: 6

Aurala takes a deep breath and then calls on her rage. Flames burst from her body and run down her arms as she seems to be on fire. Her boots glow a moment and then she takes off, covering an incredible distance, almost half the way to the tank, maybe she moves too fast for them to realize but luckily the cannon misses her.

The tank crew had been prepared to suppress the defenders, more the remaining cannon, but they could shift their weapons fire..or at least, that odd cluster of muskets as it opens up, hammering heavy minnie balls against the door frame and those leaving. The main cannon gives off a crunching sound of a shell casing being chewed up and shouts of dismay. Unfortunately, the cluster of muskets on the strange device is still function as it keeps firing!

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+12: (9)+12: 21

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (11)+5: 16

LEaving the doorway seemed a wise idea at the time. After the barrage misses too close for comfort, Verna is not so certain. Another projectile ricochets from her force armor near enough to her hood that she can see said ricochet. That does it. She breaks into a dead run for the nearest cover, which happens to be a trench portion. Her drab cloak and robes flutter behind her, revealing a flash of white cloth beneath. Apparently, Vardaman apparel is not entirely bleak. Once near enough, she dives into the trench. In retrospect, this plan now seems rather devoid of wisdom.

Duncan is struck by several muskets, one skipping off of his upper arm and leaving a bloody crease in his bicep, the other striking him the abdomen and no doubt leaving a nasty bruise under his chain shirt. Others strike the ground around him and he breaks into a run, moving a bit faster than most Khazad but only just keeping up with Verna. He leaps into the trench a few paces away from her, then tries to duck down while he catches his breath.

Aurala continues her blinding speed across the field getting closer to the tank construct thanks to her natural speed as a barbarian and her boots of speed. She is almost within striking distance.

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (20)+5: 25

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (8)+5: 13

GAME: Duncan rolls reflex: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Verna rolls reflex: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Vuk rolls 3d10+6: (17)+6: 23

Aurala is -definitely- the fastest moving thing here and she's receiving a scathing amount of fire from the cobbled together muskets...Verna and Duncan unfortunately, are the receiving end of fire, this is what happens when you cluster together. The trench becomes riddled with fiery balls of metal, cannister shot as it were, or grapeshot, though this is technically, cannister shot. It practically explodes around them, Verna by luck, or fate, manages to not become riddled with shrapnel. Duncan...well. Duncan seems to be not so lucky.

It could be luck, divine favor, or simply Duncan's flesh absorbing the shrapnel that spares Verna. "Are you fit to continue?" She does not look back, focused on moving and keeping her head down. Fortunately, she is not tall, so that portion is not difficult.

GAME: Aurala rolls melee+2+1+2: (11)+16+2+1+2: 32 GAME: Aurala rolls 2d6+23+1d6: (2)+23+(4): 29 Duncan moves along the trench in a crouch. Which does nothing to protect him from the rain of fiery metal that suddenly fills the trench. He collapses in a heap, scorched and battered and bleeding from multiple wounds all at the same time.

Aurala roars as she continues across the battlefield. The flames move up her body and along the greatsword as she gets close to the tank and leaps slashing down leaving a good dent, maybe even a rent in the side of the thing.

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+8: (13)+8: 21 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d6: (8): 8

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+8: (11)+8: 19

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+6: (4)+6: 10 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (2)+2: 4

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+6: (3)+6: 9

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+6-4: (2)+6+-4: 4

The tank suddenly finds it self being hammered by an angry giant and begins to reverse away, giving it's cannon a chance to fire on it, slowly picking up speed! Two soldiers pull them selves up from the trenches as it goes, to fire into Aurala's back. Cold calculations, maybe this was all a trap to lead the heroes into an ambush..or is it just the fortune of wars? Aurala is finding her self faced with alot of sudden, high speed metallic death!

GAME: Verna casts Cure Moderate Wounds. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15 GAME: Verna rolls 2d8+5: (9)+5: 14 When Verna receives no response to her query following the explosion, she now looks back. Spying Duncan appearing very much not fit, she backtracks hastily. "Harsh Lady, it is not yet his time to stand before You..." Verna calls upon her Matron's aid in delaying Duncan's journey and meding his wounds. Duncan's eyes open and he lurches to his feet. He looks around, trying to remember what happened. Gives Verna a quick nod of thanks. Then runs for the next trench, a look of resignation on his face.

GAME: Aurala rolls melee+2+1: (16)+16+2+1: 35 GAME: Aurala rolls 2d6+23+1d6: (4)+23+(3): 30 Aurala growls as the thing pulls back and starts moving away, "hold still." she mutters and then moves after it, and slashes her flaming sword down on it yet once again, sparks flying as she leaves a large gouge in the front of the boat. GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (8)+5: 13 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (1)+5: 6 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d6: (10): 10 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+6: (6)+6: 12 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+6: (15)+6: 21 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (6)+2: 8 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (10)+2: 12 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+6-4: (18)+6+-4: 20 GAME: Vuk rolls 3d10+6: (19)+6: 25 The soldiers and ARTIFICER MODIFIED ARTIFICE RIVERBOAT. Not a Tank seem to make properly shortwork of Aurala as smoke bellows from the multiple rents in it's sides and bow. Gears grinding to a halt again as the soldiers shift to new positions. Aurala sustains the full effect of the cannon at close, a blast of cannister shot that is nigh unavoidable, tearing through protective gear as cheers erupt across the battlefield. For a moment maybe the 'Bandits' thought they were in trouble?

GAME: Verna casts Shield. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14 Duncan winces every time the cannon fires now, fully expecting to for fiery death to rain down on him soon after. But that doesn't stop him from climbing out of the trench and running forward again. Aurala falls where she is after those blasts, collapsing to the ground, smoke and flames rising from her body as she isn't moving at the moment. Verna also winces, but also acts practically. Or as much as one could considering their current situation. She moves after Duncan, though now not as rapidly, as she conjures a second field of force for protection.

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (20)+5: 25 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (10)+5: 15 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (7)+2: 9 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (8)+2: 10 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12 GAME: Verna rolls reflex: (4)+4: 8 GAME: Vuk rolls 3d10+2: (14)+2: 16

GAME: Verna rolls 2d6: (4): 4

When Verna decides to sacrifice her self and her comrade in the trench, things go from bad to weirder when the soldiers and their modified rivercraft don't approach directly, some thing else seems to. A tall brass being, literally, made of brass, pulsating with an inner light and raising an odd device towards the blockhouse..and the thousand voices come back, speaking as one and many.

'Containment failure, stabilization failing! Containment barriers holding!'

Then the blockhouse 'explodes' in a bright flash of light, explode may not be the correct word so much as slowly breaks down, the protective runes on it flaring brightly as the Brass being maintain it's device on the building till it's a pile of carefully formed rubble, all that is left is the stones and mortar with protective runes, and suddenly the dawn breaks overhead, a cleasing rain cascading down before it turns to leave. Booming out in an oddly mechanical tone, so out of place from the 'bandits' with them.

"Two days, then you must attack again, we will return to the encampment to consider the infestation."

As it leaves, and the soldiers and Artifice vehicle with it, the rains wipe away pain and knit wounds in the party... now what has been unleashed? What will it strike next?