May 7th Combat With Headless + Sho Forces

Initiative order for reference:
'Headless'
Rory
Higaide
Sclavi
Javan
Sethos


The large creature lunges towards Javan, provoking an Attack of Opportunity from Higaide, which sadly misses. A large metal fist slams into Javan, smacking him for 25 Physical damage. The gauntlet flashes as the gems on it glint with magical energy, and Javan takes another 23 Earth damage.

It is Rory's turn.

last word before first punch: "Sethos, decide!"

"No! Stop!" Rory charges the Headless Lugian. The enemy looks real tough, so he doesn't bother pulling his punches. [Lethal]

Actions
Move + Attack (Stunning Blow)
To-hit: 13

damage: 1d8+6 (crit = x2)
Stunning on hit: DC10 + (1/2 Pugilist Level) + CON
Should be right.

[I don't think I'm next to him, but if I am, I'm doing Hail of Fists + Stunning instead.]

Rory smashes into the hard metal for 28 damage, but had to rush over to attack the thing. The thing does not appear to be stunned, though. It does respond verbally though, "You had the chance to come quietly!"

It is now Higaide's turn.

"Duly noted." - Higaide mutters back.

Charge Attack, if more than 2 squares away (the one where i charge at the enemy, not the one where i expend one of my Charges).

Flurry of blows + Monkey Beats the Gong. Ki Strike (Magic) if Headless has Damage Reduction.

Higaide charges over to the creature, bashing it in the leg with a Ki Strike for 12 magical damage.

The seven Sclavi move forwards to attack, all targeting Javan, flanking him and in fact completely surrounding him. 3 miss, 3 hit, 1 crits. The three that hit deal 34 damage total, the remaining crits for 28.

It is now Javan's turn.

Javan, who's been almost brought to his knee by the devastating work of the Sclavi and the headless creature suddenly feels something coming from inside him... or was it outside. Doesn't matter, as Javan is suddenly enveloped by some kind of light-emitting meld of crystalline and metallic material that looks unnatural, reminding a humanoid figure wearing some kind of aberrant armor. He keeps his tower shield up, which is now under the influence of some kind of elemental magic. Otherwise, all his doing right now is holding them off the best he can.

Actions:

There are several cries of surprise, and the headless creature orders, "Kill the abomination!" Sethos seems frozen with indecision, undecided based on severely conflicting information and things the party doesn't know about.

The headless creature goes for a full round attack of punches and kicks on Abominavan. Thanks to Lucid Barrier, none of his attacks land, each blow resounding with a loud gong.

It is Rory's turn.

Javan was bleeding on the ground a second ago. He looked far worse than all those hits would have done combined. And it's Rory's fault. He shines with an inspiring radiance, some sort of power borne of desperation Has everything been Rory's fault? It all comes rushing in at once, every mistake, the way he's acted since he confessed his idiocy to Kolson on that ship. Still reckless, still blinded by rage in everything he does. Did he do this? Dammit. Why!?

"NO!" Rory screams. There's fury there, but balanced by something else. Fear? Real desperation? Fueled by a genuine concern for his allies, for once not overridden by his fury, but joined by it. A familiar change comes over him, the same tunnel-vision fury he fights with. This time, he can almost see the color red fading in, his vision blurring slightly. "I WILL NOT LET YOU HURT THEM!"

Actions
Rage
Taunt (Aggro)
Full Attack, Hail of Fists vs Headless

Rory wails on the headless, managing 40 damage across his flurry of attacks, denting the armor slightly. The headless... can't react yet because it's not his turn.

It is Higaide's turn.

Full attack. Physical damage, Flurry of Blows + Monkey Beats the Gong. Expend Charge (Ammo: 38) and Combat AP.

Javan:

Higaide wails on the headless, dealing 56 damage total, mostly Physical but some Air, but failing to knock the creature down. Oddly.

The Sclavi, continuing to follow orders, continue target Javan. The dice favor him as the only Sclavi who would have hit him hits the Barrier instead, with another loud gong.

It is Javan's turn.

Javan, just now feeling the taste of blood on his mouth and a little startled by his suddenly elevated defensive abilities as well as pretty angry at the headless guy, just wants to finish this as quick as possible so he can think on what's going on. The air's blessing quickly removes him from the ground, as he prepares to give his all into this one jump and unleash something that was only theorical before. If the jump connects, a crackling sound and a flash of lightning happens as two Lightning Balls are forced into a single point. Just as the fulminating jump is done, some kind of storm of light aimed at the headless starts and ends as suddenly.

Actions:

The miraculous combination elemental Jump slams into the creature, alongside with the Light Storm, healing Javan for 25 total. The headless creature shrieks in pain, and the Sclavi back off slightly from the attack. "Are our reinforcements here yet?!" the headless thing yells, starting to sound considerably more upset.

Sethos... takes no action.

The headless creature, now taking its turn, burns its turn doing STR checks against Rory and Higaide, succeeding in both, and grabs one in each hand.

It is now Rory's turn.

Rory attempts to pry himself free of Headless's one-handed grasp...

Action
Designate dodge vs Headless (+1 AC)
Escape Grapple (8 BAB + 7 Str + 6 gauntlets + 1 Focus + 4 Improved Grap)
Draw sword [Move]

Rory struggles valiantly, but the metal gauntlets clench him all the tighter, not letting him go. He does manage to draw his sword though.

It is Higaide's turn, also grappled.

Assuming Headless has it's arms outstretched to grab us, and Higaide is being held by his upper body, his legs should be free, and what Headless has for ribs should be exposed.

Higaide will grab onto the gauntlet in order to get a pivot (inner arm against the wrist, outer arm against the outside of the elbow), and stomp/kick hard against Headless' exposed torso, where it's ribs under the arm would be. He will put all the force for his kicking against the gauntlet (whereas he'd otherwise normally use the ground), in an attempt to use Headless' own grip against it.

If Headless folds it's arms in defense, thereby covering it's ribs and reducing the range, Higaide will target the abdomen instead, using his knee if it's too short range for a proper kick.


Expend Charge (Ammo: 37)

Higaide's interesting maneuver manages a rather punishing kick against where the thing's ribs would be, the metal clanging loudly in the air and the creature howling in pain. His grip does not loosen, however.

The Sclavi flip their swords slightly and begin battering Javan with the flat ends, successfully bypassing the Lucid Barrier and doing enough damage to knock him to 0 and leave him unconscious.

It is Javan's turn, if Javan can think of anything to do while unconscious.

A tired voice can be heard being uttered by Javan as he starts to fall to the ground and the bright meld begins to dissipates, "Let go of them... you big bully! ... Why, Sethos..."

Javan is now unconscious.

Sethos stealthily casts something on Javan, allowing Javan to regain consciousness at effectively 1 HP, keeping him stable.

The headless creature suddenly runs several volts of stunning energy through both hands, shocking both Higaide and Rory. Both take 28 subdual Air damage, but both make their saving throws to stay conscious. The creature, clearly starting to sound irritated, mutters about how this is for their own good.

It is Rory's turn.

Well, the sword's out now. Better use it. Rory becomes frustrated by his inability to escape. Inane fury, directed more inward than at anything else, drives the barbarian, who simply starts whaling his weapon on top of the lugian as many times as he can muster. "For your own good," the giant said. Rory may believe it, but his course is set. Perhaps he hopes that he might be able to sort this whole thing out after he overpowers the ungainly foe.

Full Attack, two-hands
A helpful AP offers itself up to try and ensure that a failed attack still connects!