It all comes down to this. Mina Monisario, in disguise, must join with her sworn enemies, the fanatical Machine Cultists, in a final, desperate battle against the Piperunners for control of the explosives stashed beneath the Great Machine. And if she fails, the entire city is forfeit!

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Chaos Factor 4

Altered Scene: No

FATE: do the Cultists surrender? (50/50) No

NPC Tactics

NPC opponents have an Aggression rating of 1 to 6, with most starting on 4.

As they take or inflict wounds, gain or lose the advantage in a fight, NPC opponents' Aggression will raise or lower. Experienced fighters will change only a small amount, while green, frightened or vengeful opponents will change more. Each time someone in the fight (either PC or NPC) suffers a setback, there should be a chance for Aggression to change. If the NPCs are nervous or demoralised, Aggression will drop when they suffer a setback and rise when a PC does. If they are angry or undisciplined, Aggression will rise when they suffer a setback and drop when a PC does.

Roll 2D6 (gold), 1d6 (black). 

Black die 1, 2, 3: same tactic as previous round. 

Black die 4, 5: Gold dice plus Aggression= NPC Tactic 

Black die 6: Roll again for a Twist 

NPC Tactic table

1. Panic - flee without caution, open self up to opportunistic attack


2. Surrender - throw down weapons and submit to opponent


3. Disengage - attempt to divert opponent's attention away from self


4. Retreat - move towards cover or out of range


5. Guard - defend only, no attack


6. Probe - attack cautiously, testing opponent's defenses


7. Wear down - draw the fight out and try to tire the opponent


8. Stand-off - wait for opponent to make the next move


9. Balance - attack and defend evenly, no particular strategy


10. Feint - try to trick opponent into defending against the wrong move


11. Reverse - rapidly switch from aggressive to defensive fighting to off-balance opponent


12. Taunt - try to anger or dismay opponent into making a mistake


13. Press - keep opponent on the defensive and hope their skill is inferior


14. Strike - try to penetrate opponent's defence with a fast attack


15. Charge - attack with ferocity, risking injury to wound opponent


16. Frenzy - attack wildly, risking death to wound opponent

Twist Table

1. Re-enforce - Call for help from allies/bystanders


2. Change - weapon/objective/ground


3. Disadvantage opponent - throw a burning candelabra, maneuver into uneven terrain, cut a curtain so that it falls over their head


4. Advantage self - take the higher ground, move so that they are not facing the sun, draw/pick up a second weapon


5. Bargain - try to persuade opponent to surrender/back out of combat/change sides


6. Trick - try to convince opponent they are about to suffer a setback or gain a false advantage

Initiative

Bandit Captain 21 (A5e MM 470) Starting Aggression 4

Cult Fanatic 20 (A5e MM 472) Starting Aggression 5

Mina 14

Squads of Bandits (x3) 13 (A5e MM 466 & 470) Starting Aggression 4

Squads of Cultists (x4) 10 (A5e MM 466 & 472) Starting Aggression 4

ROUND 1

FATE: Does he try to smash open a barrel? (50/50) yes

Bandit Captain: Hatchet: Multiattack: 24 and 21 vs barrel AC15, 7hp and 5hp vs barrel, 6 of 18hp remaining (DMG 246)

Cult Fanatic: Hold Person DC WIS: 4: Fail, Bandit Captain Paralysed (1 min, save at end of each turn). Concentration. 

Mina: Crossbow 16 vs AC 15: 8hp (57/65), draw sword, move to engage Bandit Squad 1. Bonus: Barbican Disarm

Barbican: 30ft leap, Athletics check 15 vs DC 16, 4hp falling damage. Disarm (flare)

Squad of Bandits 1: Twist: Reinforce

FATE: More Bandits? (Likely) no (Jukti, joins next round Init 10)

Squad of Bandits 2: Attack: crossbow vs Cultists 1: 17 vs AC 12: 20hp: 25/45

Squad of Bandits 3: Twist: change ground: leap 10’ to barrels, close on Barbican

Squad of Cultists 1 (25/45): Move and attack Bandits 2: 14 vs AC 12: 30hp: 14/45 (bloodied) 

Squad of Cultists 2 Move and attack Bandits 2: 4 vs AC 12 miss

Squad of Cultists 3 Move and attack Bandits 1: 14 vs AC 12: 20hp: 25/45

Squad of Cultists 4 Move and attack Bandits 2: 9 vs AC 12: miss

ROUND 2

Bandit Captain (paralysed) Will save: 9 fail

Cult Fanatic Maintain Concentration, Inflict Wounds vs Bandits 2: 22 vs AC 12: 8hp (7/45)

Mina: Crossbow vs Bandits 2 15 vs AC 12: 8hp: squad becomes 2 bloodied bandits. Bonus Barbican: Dodge

Squad of Bandits 1 (25/45): Complete portal

Squad of Bandits 3 Attack Barbican (DIS) 7 vs AC 15, miss

Ouma Jukti: Cone of Cold vs Cultists 4: CON save 15 vs DC 17: 78hp squad becomes 2 bloodied cultists

Squad of Cultists 1: Attack Bandits 2: 8 vs AC 12 miss

Squad of Cultists 2: Change ground: Attack Jukti. Opportunity attack from Bandits 1: 21 vs AC 12: 20hp (25/45). Attack Jukti 22 vs AC 11: 20hp (29/49). Jukti reaction: Misty Escape

Squad of Cultists 3: Attack Bandits 1: 12 vs AC 12 20hp (5/45, bloodied)

Bandit 2A (4/9 hp) Crossbow vs Cultists 3: 18 vs AC 12 3hp (42/45)

Bandit 2B (4/9hp) Probe: test defences of Cultists 2: Scimitar 12 vs AC 12 7hp 18/45 Bloodied)

Cultist 4A (4/9hp) Strike: Bandit 2B 7 miss

Cultist 4B (4/9hp) Attack Bandit 2A 19 vs AC 12: 4hp dead

ROUND 3

Bandit Captain (paralysed) Will save: 10 fail

Cult Fanatic Maintain Concentration, move, Sacred Flame v Bandit 2B saves 

Mina: Bonus: barbican Dodge, Ready crossbow attack, trigger: Julti appears

Squad of Bandits 1 (5/45 Bloodied): Attack Cultists 2: 9 vs AC 12 miss

Squad of Bandits 3 Attack Barbican (DIS) 14 vs AC 15 miss

Ouma Jukti: Twist: re-enforce: summon ice guard drake next to Cult Fanatic: ring exhausted

Interrupt: Mina crossbow: 10 vs AC 11 miss. Jukti Perception to spot Mina: Int 18 vs DC 15

FATE: does she say anything about Cadmus? (50/50) no

Squad of Cultists 1: Attack Bandit 2B 13 vs AC 12 dead

Squad of Cultists 2: (18/45 Bloodied) Attack Bandits 1: 6 vs AC 12 miss

Squad of Cultists 3: (42/45) Attack Bandits 1: 20 vs AC 12 7hp squad becomes 2 bloodied bandits

Cultist 4A (4/9hp) Change: Attack Drake 22 vs AC 14 5hp (47/52)

Cultist 4B (4/9hp) Advantage Self: Flank Drake (ADV) 21 vs AC 14 5hp (42/52)

Guard Drake (42/52) Attack Cult Fanatic: Bite 11 vs AC 12 miss, tail 16 vs AC 12 8hp (31/39), Cult Fanatic Concentration check 17 success 

Bandit 1A (4/9) Attack Cultists 3: 11 vs AC 12 miss

Bandit 1B (4/9) Attack Cultists 2: 11 vs AC 12 miss

ROUND 4

Bandit Captain (paralysed) Will save: 2 fail

Cult Fanatic (31/39) Maintain Concentration, re-enforce

FATE: Cultist squad? (Likely) no (3 Bronze Scouts, near Fanatic)

Mina: move, crossbow vs Jukti 15 vs AC 11 16hp (13/39), Bonus Barbican Dodge

Squad of Bandits 3 Attack Barbican (DIS) 14 vs AC 15 miss

Ouma Jukti (13/39) Conjure Fey (Ice Maiden) near Mina

Squad of Cultists 1: Change target: jump, attack Bandits 3: 5 miss

Squad of Cultists 2: (18/45 Bloodied) Attack Bandit 1A 14 vs AC 12 dead

Squad of Cultists 3: (42/45) Change target: jump, attack Bandits 3 8 vs AC 12 miss

Cultist 4A (4/9hp) Twist ADV vs Drake: 15 vs AC 14 4hp (38/52)

Cultist 4B (4/9hp) Attack Drake 10 vs AC 14 miss

Guard Drake (38/52) Bite 22 vs AC 12 11hp (20/39) Tail 23 vs AC 12 8hp (12/39) Concentration Broken

Bandit 1B (4/9) Attack Cultists 2 19 vs AC 12 3 hp (15/45)

Bronze Scout 1 Attack Drake Bite 18 vs AC 14 9hp (29/52) 

Bronze Scout 2 Attack Drake Bite 17 vs AC 14 10hp (19/52)

Bronze Scout 3 Attack Drake Bite 24 vs AC 14 9hp (10/52)

Ice Maiden: Ice Storm vs Mina Dex 13 vs DC 17 fail, 18hp (48/70)

ROUND 5

Bandit Captain 

FATE Does he have another Flare? (50/50) No

Attack Barbican: 2 misses, one hit: regains the flare

Cult Fanatic (12/39) Hold Person 15 vs DC 12: spell fails. Drake opportunity attack 12 vs AC 12 4hp (8/39)

Mina: crossbow vs Jukti (opportunity attack 20 vs AC 16: 5 miss spend Hero Point CRITICAL HIT!!! 26hp Jukti dead. Bonus Barbican get Flare: Barb