#THE LAST STAND

[caitmayart]

Hey you like Aguefort? I gotchu an Aguefort so you can Aguefort while you Aguefort

This one was a WILD ride XD Such a good time to work on, but EACH AGUEFORT IS AN INDIVIDUAL LAYER. Shout out to Derek and Ruby for animating all of these very silly principals ♥

[figscigfigs]

when the purple worm gets revealed zac asks “this is super strong, right?” to which at the same time emily and murph respond

emily “it’s so bad”

murph (with his head in his hands) “it’s so good”

they meant the same thing (yes this is a super powerful hard to beat monster) but they said it in their own perfect respective player/dm ways ahhhhh

[thisisnotthenerd]

The Last Stand Exam

This file documents the questions administered to the adventuring party known as the Bad Kids during their Last Standard Exam, in their junior year at the Aguefort Adventuring Academy. This assessment was produced from a variety of class materials relevant to the curriculum of the Aguefort Adventuring Academy, as submitted to the principal Arthur Aguefort prior to the start of the school year. This list is accompanied by documentation of the creatures the party known as the Bad Kids was required to face as part of the exam.

The exam is graded out of 100 points; the scoring involves the students correctly answering the questions in the appropriate time interval as well as their heroic last stands. The students are expected to simultaneously fight off a horde of creatures and participate in the examination equally; each student in this party must answer two of the twelve questions.

Neither exam aids, nor outside interference are permitted during the examination period--this excludes clerical divine intervention, as appropriately performed by a member of the party in question. By standard, the proctor must be protected--death of the proctor results in a 30 point score reduction regardless of circumstance.

By Solisian School District Standards, this party reports excellent grades and a high level of competency with regard to independent adventuring.* They were allotted a grace period prior to exam initiation for preparatory spellcasting and review of the exam parameters. Based on prior academic achievement**, the students were allowed two chances to defer a question or utilize previous materials in their response. Questions where these materials were used will be marked with a **.

Exam Proctor: Gavin Pundle

Assisting Cleric: Buddy Dawn

Party Members:

Adaine Abernant | Wizard

Kristen Applebees | Cleric

Figueroth Faeth | Bard / Paladin / Warlock / "Barbarian"

Riz Gukgak | Rogue

Fabian Aramais Seacaster | Fighter / Bard

Gorgug Thistlespring | Barbarian / Artificer

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Exam Questions

These will be listed with the appropriate subject as well as the allotted time, and prospective solutions. This is ordered with respect to how the students answered the questions, with the primary respondent indicated.

Investigation: (2 min)

Question: BONY GIRTH

Solution: NIGHT YORB

Primary Respondent: Riz Gukgak

Athletics: (1 min)

Question: What rival Bloodrush team do our beloved Owlbears most often compete against?

A) Buccaneers

B) Hellions

C) Grapplers

D) Scoundrels

Solution: B) Hudol Hellions

Primary Respondent: Fabian Aramais Seacaster

Religion: (1 min)

Question: Which rad Dwarven deity holds dominion over the art of Shredding?

A) Orrie

B) Ollie

C) Ormry

D) Oggie

Solution: B) Ollie

Primary Respondent: Kristen Applebees

Performance: (3 min)

Question: Please compose a limerick, sonnet, or haiku expressing your feelings and emotions relating to the exam you are currently taking.

Solution:

There was an exam that was hard

But luckily, I am a bard

The demons are slayed

'Cause of how we played

They're hoisted by their own petard

Primary Respondent: Figueroth Faeth

Elven: (1 min)

Question: Please translate the following phrase into Common:

"Pedo Mellon a Minno"

Extra Credit: The word "Mellon" is the root word for which extremely weak form of magic?

Solution: "Speak friends and enter"

Extra Credit Solution: Friendship

Primary Respondent: Adaine Abernant

History: (2 min)

Question: 225 immaculate conceptions occurred on the same day in Solace in reaction to the first public performance of which instrument?

A) The octocord

B) The electric lute

C) The astral piano

D) The hurdy-gurdy

Extra Credit: Nine months later, the newborns were discovered to have been wearing vests in utero. What material were the vests made out of?

Solution: B) The electric lute

Extra Credit Solution: Denim

Primary Respondent: Riz Gukgak

Common: (5 min)

Question: Please write a 300 word essay arguing for a proposed improvement at the aguefort Adventuring Academy in the space provided below.

Solution: We believe a greater amount of our grade should come from the actual good we do in the world. Given the number of times our adventuring party have been put in a situation where the actual fate of our very existence has hung in the balance, it seems only fitting that the result of our efforts impact our academic study. Considering the ultimate goal is to become adventurers, it makes the most sense that actual application of our skills would be most important. If actual adventuring doesn't show our skills, what will? No matter how many class I take, it won't make me a better bard or fighter. I, Fabian Seacaster, son of the great Bill Seacaster, privateer, not pirate... (108)**

Primary Respondent: Fabian Aramais Seacaster

Driver's Ed: (1 min)

Question: What is the proper way to reverse a vehicle's orientation 180 degrees while driving at top speed?

A) Signal the turn correctly

B) Slowly decrease acceleration

C) Engage the emergency brake

D) Rebuild the car facing the other way while driving

Solution: C) Engage the emergency brake

Primary Respondent: Figueroth Faeth

Medicine: (1 min)

Question: What is the most certain way for a wounded adventurer to make a full recovery from even the most grievous injuries?

A) Be healed by a powerful cleric

B) Drink an artifact-level healing potion

C) Receive a greater restoration from a celestial

D) Lie down for eight hours

Solution: D) Lie down for eight hours

Primary Respondent: Kristen Applebees

Arcana: (1 min)

Question: What is the most powerful form of magic?

Extra Credit: What is the easiest object in which to magically trap an opponent?

Solution: Chronomancy

Extra Credit Solution: A Gem

Primary Respondent: Adaine Abernant

Mathematics: (2 min)

Question: Two trains are driving toward one another on the same track. The first train leaves Elmville at 5:05 AM traveling at 60 miles per hour. The second train leaves Bastion City, 135 miles away, at 5:30 AM traveling at 70 miles per hour. What is the exact time that the collision will occur?

Solution: 6:20:46 AM**

Primary Respondent: Gorgug Thistlespring

Biology: (45 sec)

Question: Of the following creatures, which cannot turn its prey into stone?

A) Basilisk

B) Cockatrice

C) Gorgon

D) Manticore

Solution: D) Manticore

Primary Respondent: Gorgug Thistlespring

Written Portion of Exam: Passed (100% + 2 points extra credit)

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Last Stand Monsters

This table documents the monsters faced by the party within the duration of the Last Standard Examination. Note the indicated modifiers for the quantity of enemy combatants and the exam questions.

Format: Monster - Killing Blow

Otyugh - Fireball from Figueroth Faeth

Ochre Jellies - Fireball from Figueroth Faeth, Word of Radiance from Kristen Applebees

Gorgon - Sneak attack with arquebus from Riz Gukgak

Hydra - Attack with Fandrangor from Fabian Aramais Seacaster + Fire Breath from Hangman

Skeletons - Turn Undead from Kristen Applebees

Mimic - Green Flame Blade from Figueroth Faeth

Manticore - Banishment from Kristen Applebees

Shrimp Dragon - Hellish Rebuke from Figueroth Faeth

Roper - Sneak attack with arquebus from Riz Gukgak

Stirges - Spirit Guardians from Figueroth Faeth

Umber Hulk - Sneak attack with arquebus from Riz Gukgak

Wyvern - Spirit Guardians & Booming Blade from Figueroth Faeth

Crab Man - Attack with Fandrangor from Fabian Aramais Seacaster + Bite Attack from Hangman

Rust Monsters - Spirit Guardians from Figueroth Faeth, Erupting Earth from Adaine Abernant, Fire Breath from Hangman

Pentacorn - Green Flame Blade + Divine Smite from Figueroth Faeth

Purple Worm - Soloed by Gorgug Thistlespring

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Proctor Notes:

Party bard Figueroth Faeth used Disguise Self to assume form of proctor

Proctor attacked by Gorgon, not killed

Significant critical hits throughout combat from Gorgug Thistlespring.

Attendant Cleric Buddy Dawn was killed during the exam by unknown assailants; clarification on this event obtained post-exam and reported to the superintendent.

This party is on record as the first party to complete the Last Standard exam without perishing, thereby understanding Arthur Aguefort's intent for the assessment.

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*Reference files for evaluating adventuring party competency: AAA-BKQ-01-KVX, AAA-BKQ-02-CNK, AAA-BKQ-03-CNY

**This was awarded to Gorgug Thistlespring, for exemplary work as a triple-year artificer student, in addition to the junior year barbarian curriculum

[wyyvoren]

something only you can see

[sapphicmuppet]

feeling very very emotional over Buddy dawn rn. A kid who despite not liking Kristen or the Bad Kids, still volunteered to revive them during the last stand. A kid with complete trust in his religion and peers, who died alone by being slashed in the throat before he could realize what was happening, by someone he trusted. People he trusted hiding behind lies and hurting people and killing him in the process (Bobby, kipperlilly). “Helio wouldn’t have let that happen”. Kristen who died on the first day of school, with no intervening miracle. Buddy who was completely devoted to his god and was brutally murdered by his friend, no time left for saving throws. Buddy who is a complete reflection of who Kristen was and who she would continue being if she never questioned her religion. Helio who didn’t intervene when she died, and was only spared because of people she met hours ago, Buddy dying without any miracle or saving throw, by someone he had been led to trust for months. someone hold me actually.

[chungledownathan-bimithy]

I saw someone propose that they should do an episode of um actually with the intrepid hero's where the statements are about their seasons, this feels like the closest we're gonna get. the immaculate conception babies, the hudal hellions, it's truly just 'do you remember the crazy stuff that happened?'

[heytherecentaurs]

What a masterclass of D&D combat from the players and the DM.

Brennan did such a good job of making the combat engaging and dynamic. He juggled so many plates and kept his cards close to his chest regarding aspects no one was aware of until near the end.

The Bad Kids maximized their effectiveness and importantly, they stayed on top of their HP better than they ever have before.

Adaine did some really great spellcasting plus the exploding mephits. Her Bigby’s Hand (or whatever it’s called) dealt solid damage and using it as a bonus action after casting is great. Really helped whittle down the purple worm’s massive HP.

Gorgug took all the punishment from a CR 15 purple worm and beat it after already fighting other monsters. Zac was in crit city this episode and he needed to me to beat that fucker.

Fig got to smite and used Booming Blade and spirit guardians to fuck up enemies basically doubling (sometimes more) her damage output every round (Really effective against the swarms.) and she 1v1ed a Wyvern, which is only a CR 6 but she also had other monsters after her because was disguised as Gaven. Really the mix of hexblade, paladin and bard stuff she did was cool. (Bonus action heals were good.)

Fabian as sort of a floating fighter, getting into the mix and fighting monsters wherever needed was so helpful and his flourishes and using his spell slots for his magical sword were great. He didn’t necessarily get the biggest moments this fight but he was integral and they’d have sorely missed him because he killed a lot of creatures. Not to mention the Hangman’s breath and bite attacks.

Riz doing peak rogue shit with haste and coming in clutch sniping monsters. Saving Gavin’s life, being able to ready an action to shoot from hiding and just all the sneak attack goodness. Plus Murph was so good about the test parts. He and Riz both seem to really thrive in stressful situations.

And Kristen who took her role as the primary healer so seriously it kept everyone up and banished a monster for good. Ally has been far more diligent about using Kristen’s abilities this season and it’s been such a big help. Plus truesight wrecked Killerpally’s plot to fuck them.

And they did all of this while answering timed test questions. This is the best they’ve ever played from a technical standpoint. Bill Seacaster would be proud they took his afterschool lessons to heart.

[yourlazykitkat]

might have been impressive for kipperlily to ace rogue classes within 1 minute of the school year (sus) but riz just aced rogue class twice (two days in a row) so um,,,,, fuck you ms. four dogs

[sunkillerlovechild]

ive been thinking about this today and just feel the need to sing praises to it

the last stand fight is literally one of my favourites if not the favourite from D20

and, you know, its probably not the hardest or the most story important one, but god its just so good

like the fact that non of them dropped??? that they didnt even get that injured and yeah on some part it obviously was the dice as it often tends to be in dnd but it was also them showing how well they work together

i feel like they all play into their strengths very well it this fight and they even talk about it in the adventuring party like if it werent for spell casters with area of effect spell the fighters would stand no chance, but also noone else could probably tank all that shit from the purple worm like gorgug

and like the decision from emily axford to disguise herself as the proctor was so good and yeah again luck also played into that but if she didnt do it, there would be no chance at even having that luck

and also her spirit guardians (love that spell) delt so much damage, and adaine coming in with the scatter to move the proctor away, which leads to kristin coming closer to there, which allows her to see kipper whats her face and stop whatever she was about to do

and then theres the exams part which they fully blow out of the park, like im pretty sure there was at least one question from like freshman year like prompts to you for remembering, also them actually attempting the math and essay and the essay actually kind of making sense and being about something that the characters genuinely care about

even if we go back to the dice, fig is struggling it that fight (and honestly the whole season) but because of so many good strategical decisions that emily makes, the impact of the dice is not as big as it could have been, if she had done things differently

also everyones vibe is so good the entire fight, like this fight was not made to be easy, they were probably met to at least drop maybe even multiple times, but they are having fun with it, joking around about the rats and the jellies and honestly its a very on brand fight for the bad kids

i also just remember the amount of nat 20 zac rolled in that fight, like that was insane

[daftdrac]

There are so many abhorrent X-Men (specifically the movies) takes on Pinterest what do you MEAN the way they tried to push Logan and Jean was weird because Logan is older than her??? ITS WEIRD BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CHEMISTRY BECAUSE THE WRITERS FUCKED HER OVER AND SHES IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH SCOTT. LOGAN DIDN'T EVEN FUCKING KNOW HOW OLD HE WAS!!!!!!

What do you MEAN Scott deserved Jean more than Logan?? BOTH OF THEM DESERVE BETTER THAN HER IN THE MOVIES BECAUSE HER CHARACTER IS FUCKING ASS. FUCK, SCOTT'S CHARACTER IS KINDA ASS TOO BECAUSE THE WRITERS WERE SO FOCUSED ON WOLVERINE AND HE STILL DESERVES BETTER THAN JEAN. HE DESERVES BETTER THAN A WOMAN WHO KISSES AND FLIRTS WITH OTHER DUDES. AND LOGAN DESERVES BETTER THAN A WOMAN WHO LEADS HIM ON ONLY TO ULTIMATELY CAST HIM TO THE SIDE AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THE END.

FUCK YOU PEOPLE ARE STUPID

[secretlyofthefeywild]

i know we're all on the same page abt aguefort not favoring the bad kids, but calling them out by name on a pre-recorded message to be the only ones to actually fully pass the last stand??? i HIGHLY doubt that he made one of those for every single party at the school, i mean he could have but ,,,

[karmicpunishment]

watching the bad kids, who just did the impossible and came out of the last stand exam with virtually perfect score and not one death among them and being so unable to relax and celebrate is so...sad to me

like its completely understandable, obviously, considering they have a dead classmate 10 feet from them and have been burned by authority figures so, so, so many times at this point.

and then seeing how much they still care as well. plane shifting to bastion city just to get the proctor home, Kristen trying to bring buddy dawn back as hard as she can, etc. and I know a lot of this comes from A. not wanting to be blamed for the deaths B. needing to make sure they get the credit for the exam C. wanting to solve the mystery of what the fuck is happening

and instead of celebrating their win, they almost military march their proctor to where he's safe, take a bus back home and go back to their houses in the middle of the night, victorious but still feeling somehow like they've lost.

[bloodyshadow1]

rewatching the last stand for the 9th or so time, Adaine really was the mvp of the fight despite not doing the most damage. All the bad kids did fantastic, but her actions saved them

her portents to save gorgug played a huge role in keeping them alive. Imagine the fight where Gorgug was stone in the beginning, how they would have lost their tank, how gorgug practically 1v1ed the purple worm in ways no one else in the party could, if they had to fight the monsters without gorgug going crit city on them.

She used her other portent to have Fig almost 1 shot another flying monster and help her regain her confidence in her paladin levels.

Scatter helped them so much by getting Gavin, someone who is very vulnerable and in the middle of the battlefield and sending him as far away as possible while moving everyone else. Not to mention positioning everyone in the party to be optimal on the battlefield littered with enemies and corpses, getting fabian out of the roper

The dust mephits that add extra bodies on the field, have crowd control attacks, and of course the little bomb effects that not only blind a bunch of the rust monsters but the umberhulk, disabling it's most potent ability in it's magic eyes that can screw over adventurers, while also giving advantage with the help action or a body so Riz can get sneak attack

The mirror images and using true strike from the sword of sight to keep herself safe through most of the combat with being able to negate some attacks and always having the dodge action on

Bigby's hand to help gorgug out while he duked it out with the purple worm doing massive damage to the behemoth that would have screwed over the rest of the party

Not to mention Siobhan answering quite a few of those questions, including having the root of the elven question with her nerd knowledge, being able to compose a limerick with Emily in seconds,

Again, all the bad kids did phenomenal, but Adaine has been my favorite character since freshman year and it's great to see her shine

[warehouse-in-la-cienaga]

Imagining a Fantasy high Junior year where the rest of the students get involved with the BK’s. There are so many times that bad things happen, and the Bad Kids are isolated from the other students so they have no clue.

Like, the last stand. Thinking of Arthur, instead of making clones, makes the last stand a whole school production, with the Students as the audience. The last stand is a ‘once a decade’ kind of test, due to the difficulty, and a perfect example of adventuring, so it’s very exciting. The students can’t interact with the fight, but the BKs have some kind of microphones, and a screen of spells and stats for the audience. The students can’t be hit, but the proctor still can.

The rest of the students seeing how competent the BK’s are in fighting. Kristin and Fig will have no problem getting followers after this. People are filming Fabian’s fights to put music to. No one can see Riz, but that’s kind of the point, and it’s a game to find any trace of him. Adaine is the most organised, respected Wizard example, even in so much chaos. When Gorgug almost solos that purple worm, at least one person faints.

And they’re joking. They’re having regular conversations. Half the time, there’s no forewarning, they’re just changing tactics on a heel turn, and they’re all on the same page. Those questions are out and answered so quickly, there isn’t a chance for the audience to give an answer. Every correct answer is a slam dunk. The stats on Fig’s damage output is insane. There was a exactly one wrong answer and it’s extra credit.

Then Buddy goes down. I think the plan was for the BKs to have no chance of revivify, so as long as none of the students see KLCK, she goes through with it. So long as the BKs are dead, no one can accuse the Rat Grinders without proof. But they don’t go down. Instead, the rest of the student body see Kristin, after a quick internal battle, run for the guy that she’s had public arguments with, try to save him even as the rest of her party finish the fight. They try to save Buddy, and the Students see it. They see there’s no diamonds, and it’s understood that there was never a plan to revivify the BKs. But they didn’t need to be.

The BKs somehow become even more cool. Gorgug’s little ‘sit down’ gets him a cult following. When Buddy shows up, claiming someone came along after to revivify him, the rest of the students show him how the BKs tried to help. The Rat Grinders, with that kind of attention, go even further underground, and the rest of the students are more and more suspicious about their involvement in the BKs almost-death.

[feelingtheaster99]

The dice were telling a STORY, okay? And that story was that The Bad Kids rock and are heroic and INCREDIBLY skilled adventurers and that The Rat Grinders are fucking bitchass MURDERS and XP-levelers who underestimated them and who fucking SUCK

[littlepawz]

The tallest tree in Wales had been damaged by a storm and was supposed to be cut down, but chainsaw artist Simon O'Rourke found a better solution to symbolize the tree's last attempt to reach the sky.