Quote from Engineered_Beard >>

So goals we still have before returning to the towns defenses:

1) Ballistas

       A) Retrieve ballistas for use by the towns guard

       B) Destroy if can't retrieve 

                I) Use on enemies before destroying

2) Remaining CA4

         A) Capture to question 

         B) Take out before it keeps killing 

3) Townsmen - Retrieve the fallen to either heal or keep from this half people army from getting

 These sound reasonable

[[ As a quick reminder, melee attacks can be non-lethal. I don't believe ranged attacks can though. ]]

The remaining crossbow arm continues the fight. Though the odds are so heavily stacked against it, the programming of its mechanical addition keep it staying the course.

Target: 1-Hamma, 2-Callow, 3-Boigo, 4-Scout 4 //targeting the ones I don't think would have 1/2-cover

Crossbow Arm @ Target 2
Attack: 23 Damage: 5

Crossbow Arm @ Target 2
Attack: 10 Damage: 9

Scout 4 dashes across the field as the plan starts to be put into action with the apprentice wizard holding his magic, but ready if needed.

Readied Arcane Burst @ CA4 //trigger: a party member tells him to loose it
Attack: 8 Damage: 8 force

Initiative
Aronan (2 turn. concentrating on hex, blessed), Boigo (concentrating on bless, blessed), Callow (blessed), Expos, Hamma <-------------- currently up
CA4
S4, Apprentice Wizard

Other Statuses
Northern Ballista: stuck in lurch, DC 15 Athletics to free it so it can move again.

Southern Ballista: bolt loaded and aimed

Hamma will shoot another blast at CA4, hoping to injure it for another to subdue. Looks like it takes 4 to move the ballistas, and there are just enough by them. Looks like we could only steal one if possible, and that will take just about everyone out there, so that leaves the apprentice and the lone scout to manage this ... mechanical mystery. "Take down the last one, if it lives we can interrogate it later, but take it down." (Trying to trigger the apprentice and only talking loud enough to reach the scout and apprentice).

Eldritch Blast: 9 to hit

"i guess were moving these ballistas to the town.. however i cant see that working out- as all the 1,000,000 enemies behind us need to do is dash and the will swarm us way before we get these inside town's walls - anyone have any ideas"

"Turn it, fire it, sabotage it, run!" Boigo shouts, putting a shoulder into the ballista trying to turn it

Athletics 20

Hamma's blast misses but the apprentice's strikes, severely wounding the crossbow-arm.

[[ for Boigo's turning of it, can feel free to assume it was already pointing in the direction you want (unless I'm misunderstanding) but can also use that athletics to say Boigo could easily shift it where needs be too ]]

Quote from VitusW >>

Hamma's blast misses but the apprentice's strikes, severely wounding the crossbow-arm.

[[ for Boigo's turning of it, can feel free to assume it was already pointing in the direction you want (unless I'm misunderstanding) but can also use that athletics to say Boigo could easily shift it where needs be too ]]

 [[I was trying to point it at the enemy, if that's already done I would instead like to fire it into the masses of enemies and then, if possible start sabotaging the ballista before retreating]]

[I assume Boigo is shooting the southern ballista as it is aimed and pointing towards the enemy and because the northern one is stuck?

Assuming the ballistae are mode of wood? Also, If i move a bit north, i'm assuming I can hit both Ballista's with a Burning Hands? If so..]

After Boigo shoots the ballista, Expos will step back and cast burning hands on them, attempting to set both ballistae aflame and burn them to the ground. He will then retreat towards town!

Callow stops his progression as he decides on something, looking back to the party and calling out 'If you wish to ride, get on!' before suddenly lurching forward as he shifts into a draft horse. Whilst it isn't the fastest of his forms, it's certainly the most hardy, and he will then move closer to the members of the party gathered around the burning ballistae in case they want a ride.

Quote from Shiverquill >>

Callow stops his progression as he decides on something, looking back to the party and calling out 'If you wish to ride, get on!' before suddenly lurching forward as he shifts into a draft horse. Whilst it isn't the fastest of his forms, it's certainly the most hardy, and he will then move closer to the members of the party gathered around the burning ballistae in case they want a ride.

 [[Boigo will take them up on the offer]]

[[
Expos being able to hit both ballistas with burning hands sounds good. Would certainly set them on fire and be enough to get them destroyed in time.

As a heads up, busy this weekend so might be a while for the next post.
]]

[[ Just when I was going to make a post, DDB decided to go down yesterday... ]]

As the party burns the ballistas and readies the retreat, the crossbow arm takes a shot at the newly appeared draft horse.

Attack: 13 Damage: 12

Attack: 8 Damage: 10

After that the apprentice wizard follows Hamma to loose another burst

Attack: 23 Damage: 5

With the ballistas successfully set on fire the party makes it back behind friendly lines as the large force continues its march. As they take up their positions, some things are noticed.

1. The Main Force
The main force is continuing to advance, readying to engage with the town's forces.

2. The Secondary Force
The party is able to notice the secondary force leaving the road, heading into the woods in the North.

3. The Catapult
The catapult and its crew continues to march down the road, still far away.

4. Flying Modrons.
Over the fields, figures can be seen in the sky as force of modrons begins to fly towards Chesterfeld.

Is there a plan on where the party feels they wish to aid? Or plans on how they want to proceed? (Current you're with the Town Main Force on the road.)

(Is it safe to assume they are to close for a short rest since we didn't think we had time ro save that ballistics, how about a ritual spell casting? Do we have any healing available to us?)

"Clearly these mechanical nuisances have some plan for that force in the woods. We will also have an aerial assault, including projectiles, to content with. Not to mention the bulk of our troubles with that army. Perhaps we send a small task force to intercept the ones in the woods, and from there attemp to either flank the army, flyers. Perhaps even make an assault of our own on the Catapults. Or perhaps we take some of thise bombs and sacrifice the forest to a burning to flush them out or trap them in there. If only we had managed to save one of those ballistics to try and take out the Catapults from here... we will need an answer to those flyers... Any suggestions?" Hamma scratches his chin as he starts to pace. "I do hope you're taking notes for all these accounts." Tne apprentice wasn't exactly his apprentice, but so far had listened to his words and he did miss having an assistant.

[how much healing do you need? Expos have 3 spells left before we rest.]

Quote from Engineered_Beard >>

(Is it safe to assume they are to close for a short rest since we didn't think we had time ro save that ballistics, how about a ritual spell casting? Do we have any healing available to us?)

[[ per the homebrew I mentioned in the recruitment, short rests can be 5 minutes (though effects/spells count down like an hour) so if you guys want to rest, could do that. Would certainly be enough time for the main biodrone force to start engaging with the town force in their though. ]]

(Hamma doesn't need healing, could use a spell slot back as he's down to 1. I figured some people got targeted a bit more. 

Also thanks for the reminder about short rests, clearly I forgot about it!

I was thinking Hamma could creat an Unseen Servant to carry the bombs they set off, of course he would been to be within 60' of it. )

Quote from Engineered_Beard >>

(Is it safe to assume they are to close for a short rest since we didn't think we had time ro save that ballistics, how about a ritual spell casting? Do we have any healing available to us?)

"Clearly these mechanical nuisances have some plan for that force in the woods. We will also have an aerial assault, including projectiles, to content with. Not to mention the bulk of our troubles with that army. Perhaps we send a small task force to intercept the ones in the woods, and from there attemp to either flank the army, flyers. Perhaps even make an assault of our own on the Catapults. Or perhaps we take some of thise bombs and sacrifice the forest to a burning to flush them out or trap them in there. If only we had managed to save one of those ballistics to try and take out the Catapults from here... we will need an answer to those flyers... Any suggestions?" Hamma scratches his chin as he starts to pace. "I do hope you're taking notes for all these accounts." Tne apprentice wasn't exactly his apprentice, but so far had listened to his words and he did miss having an assistant.

 "I'm not much use against the flying assault, the force moving north most likely aims to cut off our escape. If we can stop them more of the townsfolk can retreat before the siege. While the catapult is going to cause damage, I think we'd be more effective coming at it from the flank" Boigo says with urgency in his voice 

"My vote is for the ones moving north"

Expos sees them all as similiar threats and doesn't have a strong sense which is best, so he is fine with Boigo's proposal to head north!